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DR GM SEDDON posted <437F0FBC.6010908@×××××××××××××.uk>, excerpted below, |
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on Sat, 19 Nov 2005 11:42:52 +0000: |
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|
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> Hi I'm trying to configure my display. I have successfully created a |
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> xorg.conf file that works. However, I have tried to optimise my display |
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> as recommended in the manual. From 'lspci' my graphics card is |
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> unknown. It is an ATI radeon but I entered unknown. I have tried |
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> 'Screen0' and 'default screen'. When I startx I get 'unknown monitor |
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> type' in the log. Can anyone advise? |
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> Gavin |
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|
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That's xorg trying to scan the DCC info from the monitor (as most modern |
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monitors should provide) and failing to get it. It's not complaining |
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about your graphics card (altho it's possible if it's using the wrong |
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driver that it won't be able to get the monitor info due to that), but |
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that your monitor isn't returning any info for xorg to use to set itself |
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up. |
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|
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The below info is for analog video cards and monitors. I'm not sure how |
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digital ones, lcd and the like, may differ, except that I know their |
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resolutions are typically lower for their size, they sell by displayed |
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size, not tube side, so a 19" CRT is usually about the same viewable size |
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as an 18" LCD (tho the LCD is lower max resolution), and they are more |
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expensive but not nearly as heavy or bulky! Oh, LCDs also tend to come in |
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widescreen ratios far more frequently than CRTs! |
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|
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The good thing (within context) about LCDs is that they are newer |
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technology, so often a newer product, meaning it's easier to find specs |
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for them. If it's a laptop, look for the laptop specs, and you'll get the |
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video card info at the same time! |
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|
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Since xfree86-4 and now with xorg, setting up monitors is generally pretty |
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easy, even if it can't get the info automatically, because xorg has |
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default resolution and timing modes that it will use, given the basics. |
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|
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man xorg.conf, take a look at the monitor section, then google your |
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monitor (if necessary) and get the necessary specs. I've done this with |
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more than half dozen used monitors that needless to say I had no manuals |
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for, thus no from the factory specs. They are generally fairly easy to |
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find, once you feed google the make and model number of your monitor. |
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|
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The numbers you will need: |
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|
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Horizontal sync, normally in KHz. Here's the numbers from one of mine, |
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from xorg.conf, to give you an idea of the range. (Don't just use mine, |
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if it's wrong and you let the monitor go for long, it can burn it out!) |
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High resolutions will use near the top end. The bottom end isn't used |
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much any more, unless you like to use xorg's ctrl-alt-numplus and numminus |
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sequences to zoom, as I often do, and want to get close to the min |
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resolution as well. |
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|
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HorizSync 30-110 |
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|
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Vertical refresh, normally in Hz. High resolutions will use lower numbers |
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here. The high end is the one not so often used any more. Note however |
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that most folks can't stand refresh rates below 60, and many need 75 or |
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better to be comfortable. Of course, that means you can't drive it to as |
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high a pixel-count resolution. Here, I can tolerate 60 Hz with dark |
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backgrounds and light text/foregrounds, so mostly dark. With a white |
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screen background, I need higher refresh rates, 68-75. Again, here's mine |
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to give you an idea, but don't just use mine. |
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|
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VertRefresh 50-180 |
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|
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Those will go in the Monitor section. You can use xorg's autosetup (there |
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are several choices for tools to try) to generate a basic xorg.conf, then |
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create or change the Monitor section as necessary. |
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|
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Two option but useful numbers for the same section, if you can find them. |
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Dotclock, usually in MHz (maximum typically runs ~230-ish with a decent |
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monitor), and DisplaySize in x and y mm. xorg usually does fine without |
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the former if you can't find it, by using the numbers above. The latter |
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is only used to ensure semi-normal font sizes, otherwise various versions |
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may change the default font size, if they can't find it and you didn't set |
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it, rather drastically, for the same settings in your X environment. |
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Thus, it's not vital, but it's nice to have, and usually pretty easy to |
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find, tho you might have to do a bit of inch/mm conversion (25.4mm/inch). |
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|
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The other place your monitor numbers come into play is in the Display |
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subsection of the Screen section, in the Modes listing. This is just a |
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listing of the main and any additional pixel resolutions you may desire |
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(that xorg agrees are possible given the settings for video card and |
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monitor). If your numbers are good enough, and your screen large enough, |
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2048x1536 is the highest practical resolution available (assuming the |
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standard 4x3 ratio) -- but only on 20" and larger monitors or it's |
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overkill. 1600x1200 is, however, often the rated maximum for the 19-22" |
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monitor size, and more comfortable for many, particularly as it allows a |
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higher refresh rate. (Monitors rated for 75 Hz refresh at their rated |
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maximum, however, can generally do 60 Hz at higher resolutions, if your |
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eyes can stand it, of course.) For a 19" monitor, 1280x920 resolution |
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(4x3 ratio) or 1280x1024, altho that gives you rectangular pixels. For a |
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17" monitor, 1280x1024 is high end, 1024x768 is standard. 15" do 1024x768 |
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and 800x600. Old and small monitors will generally do 640x480, 800x600 if |
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you are lucky and can tolerate the lower refresh. |
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|
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Here's one of my screen mode line entries, listing all the resolutions I |
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run (22" monitor, the highest normally resolution normally, lower ones for |
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zoom, using the zoom keys mentioned above, DisplaySize is 400x300mm, so at |
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that resolution, my pixels are a full mm square!). Most folks probably |
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don't have half that many resolutions (plus many won't want to run |
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2048x1536 at the refresh possible on their monitor, even if they can, so |
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that and the 1792 resolution won't be so common). Note that the 640x480 |
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resolution is square pixels, the 640x400 isn't, but I have a game that |
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runs that, so... That one is also a custom modeline, as well, as it's not |
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one that xorg has preconfigured. |
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|
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Modes "2048x1536" "1792x1344" "1600x1200" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" "640x400" "512x384" "400x300" "320x240" |
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|
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It should be easy to find the maximum resolution for your monitor, as |
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that's one of the selling features, so even hits that don't list anything |
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else often list that. |
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|
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-- |
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Duncan - List replies preferred. No HTML msgs. |
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"Every nonfree program has a lord, a master -- |
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and if you use the program, he is your master." Richard Stallman in |
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http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2004/12/22/rms_interview.html |
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|
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|
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-- |
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