Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "Felix Miata" <mrmazda@earthlink.net> wrote:

> On 2010/08/26 10:47 (GMT) Nasa composed:
> 
> > I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which
> is the
> > native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID
> or DDC 
> > information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by
> the 
> > driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I
> would like
> > to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh
> rates, horizontal
> > syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor. 
> However, there
> > doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items.
> I tried options
> > like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to
> change 
> > resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse
> than the 
> > intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than
> the area
> > available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable
> solution
> > is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in
> to what 
> > I am missing.  Thanks in advance,
> 
> > Chipset:  945GM
> 
> From openSUSE 11.3 on i845G
> http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/xinitrc-113-t2240-1600x1200v1920
> should
> serve as a template for you to construct an /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
> file with
> required xrandr commands included to be run _before_ $WINDOWMANAGER
> starts.
> 
> Note that the reason for preferring high refresh rates on CRT displays
> does
> not exist on flat panel displays. I've yet to find any flat panel
> that
> doesn't work perfectly in close proximity to 60 if not exactly 60.
> So,
> K.I.S.S., and use CVT and/or GTF without bothering with refresh spec.
> 'gtf
> 800 480' will default to 60, which would invariably be just right.
> 
> Supposedly xorg.conf can still be used with legacy Intel chips to do
> the same
> things as xinitrc/xrandr do, but I've yet to confirm it, succeeding
> only on
> MGA so far.

Given Meego's setup where is the appropriate place to put the xrandr 
commands?  I was confused on this point when I tried that before...

X seems to be started from 3 files in /etc/X11/xinitrc (xinitrc, 
xinitrc-common, and Xclients)

I opted to add the lines to xinitrc thus:

# Mandatorily source xinitrc-common, which is common code shared between the
# Xsession and xinitrc scripts which has been factored out to avoid duplication
. /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc-common

xrandr --newmode "840x480_60.00"   31.25  840 864 944 1048  480 483 493 500 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA1 840x480_60.00
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 840x480_60.00
xrandr --fbmm 152x91

# The user may have their own clients they want to run.  If they don't,
# fall back to system defaults.
if [ -f $HOME/.Xclients ]; then
    exec $CK_XINIT_SESSION $SSH_AGENT $HOME/.Xclients || \
    exec $CK_XINIT_SESSION $SSH_AGENT $HOME/.Xclients
elif [ -f /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients ]; then
    exec $CK_XINIT_SESSION $SSH_AGENT /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients || \
    exec $CK_XINIT_SESSION $SSH_AGENT /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients
else
    # Failsafe settings.  Although we should never get here
    # (we provide fallbacks in Xclients as well) it can't hurt.
    [ -x /usr/bin/xsetroot ] && /usr/bin/xsetroot -solid '#222E45'
    [ -x /usr/bin/xclock ] && /usr/bin/xclock -geometry 100x100-5+5 &
    [ -x /usr/bin/xterm ] && xterm -geometry 80x50-50+150 &
    [ -x /usr/bin/twm ] && /usr/bin/twm
fi



As there isn't a .Xclients file in the user directory -- the /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients
is what is executed next:

#!/bin/bash

GSESSION="$(which gnome-session 2>/dev/null)"
STARTKDE="$(which startkde 2>/dev/null)"
STARTXFCE="$(which startxfce4 2>/dev/null)"
STARTMOB="$(which startmoblin 2>/dev/null)"

# check to see if the user has a preferred desktop
PREFERRED=
if [ -f /etc/sysconfig/desktop ]; then
    . /etc/sysconfig/desktop
    if [ "$DESKTOP" = "GNOME" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$GSESSION"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "KDE" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTKDE"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "XFCE" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTXFCE"
    elif [ "$DESKTOP" = "MOBLIN" ]; then
        PREFERRED="$STARTMOB"
    fi
fi

if [ -n "$PREFERRED" ]; then
    exec "$PREFERRED"
fi

# now if we can reach here, either no desktop file was present,
# or the desktop requested is not installed.

if [ -n "$STARTMOB" ]; then
    # by default, we run Moblin.
    exec "$STARTMOB"
elif [ -n "$STARTXFCE" ]; then
    exec "$STARTXFCE"
elif [ -n "$GSESSION" ]; then
    # if Moblin isn't installed, try gnome
    exec "$GSESSION"
fi

# Failsafe.

# these files are left sitting around by TheNextLevel.
rm -f $HOME/Xrootenv.0

# Argh! Nothing good is installed. Fall back to twm
{
    # gosh, neither fvwm95 nor fvwm2 is available; 
    # fall back to failsafe settings
    [ -x /usr/bin/xsetroot ] && /usr/bin/xsetroot -solid '#222E45'
    if [ -x /usr/bin/xclock ] ; then
        /usr/bin/xclock -geometry 100x100-5+5 &
    elif [ -x /usr/bin/xclock ] ; then
        /usr/bin/xclock -geometry 100x100-5+5 &
    fi
    if [ -x /usr/bin/xterm ] ; then
        /usr/bin/xterm -geometry 60x25-130+50 &
    fi
    if [ -x /usr/bin/firefox -a -f /usr/share/doc/HTML/index.html ]; then
        /usr/bin/firefox /usr/share/doc/HTML/index.html &
    fi
    if [ -x /usr/bin/twm ] ; then
        exec /usr/bin/twm
    fi


Where I have it placed now doesn't work (after removing my edited xorg.conf, I get
the original resolution back).  So I must not understand where it should be placed.
Could you enlighten me, *pretty please*  :}

Nasa

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Felix Miata]

On 2010/08/26 23:14 (GMT) Nasa composed:

> Given Meego's setup where is the appropriate place to put the xrandr 
> commands?  I was confused on this point when I tried that before...

I know nothing about Meego other than that you are using it. :-p

> X seems to be started from 3 files in /etc/X11/xinitrc (xinitrc, 
> xinitrc-common, and Xclients)

It worked for me in openSUSE 11.3 adding everything in xinitrc near the end,
right before the actual window manager startup commands. An alternative that
worked for me was using ~/.xinitrc and leaving /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc untouched.

> I opted to add the lines to xinitrc thus:
...
> xrandr --newmode "840x480_60.00"   31.25  840 864 944 1048  480 483 493 500 -hsync +vsync
...

> Where I have it placed now doesn't work (after removing my edited xorg.conf, I get
> the original resolution back).  So I must not understand where it should be placed.
> Could you enlighten me, *pretty please*  :}

I did more experimenting. It worked for me with no xorg.conf, modifying
nothing in /etc/X11/xinit, and putting what used to work in the monitor
section of xorg.conf into /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-monitor.conf.

http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/50-monitor.conf.02-113-t2240-1600x1200x120-60_i845G
worked for me to get 1600x1200 instead of the 1024x768 default, but you may
need to add the above xrandr data as a Modeline in order to get your 800x480.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

 Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Felix Miata]

On 2010/08/26 21:56 (GMT-0400) Felix Miata composed:

Future Intel/800x480 Googlers might welcome finding this thread extended,
preferably to successful conclusion.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

 Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "Felix Miata" <mrmazda@earthlink.net> wrote:

> On 2010/08/26 21:56 (GMT-0400) Felix Miata composed:
> 
> Future Intel/800x480 Googlers might welcome finding this thread
> extended,
> preferably to successful conclusion.
> -- 
I wish I could provide a successful completion -- but not so far...

I'm starting to look at the code and see if I can hardwire support
for vertical refresh rates greater than 60.0 (haven't figured that
out yet)

Nasa

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Felix Miata]

On 2010/09/26 19:21 (GMT) Nasa composed:

> I'm starting to look at the code and see if I can hardwire support
> for vertical refresh rates greater than 60.0 (haven't figured that
> out yet)

It's rare for a flat panel display to either need refresh higher than "60",
or product better performance using a supported refresh higher than "60". The
reasons for using refresh higher than 60 on a CRT do not exist on flat panels.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

 Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "The Fungi" <fungi@yuggoth.org> wrote:

> On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 12:26:21AM +0000, Nasa wrote:
> > 800x480 is what I am/should be attempting to get...
> [...]
> 
> I apologize for not following the thread too closely but if you're
> just looking for working 800x480@60 timings, this is the native
> resolution of the panel on my Asus EEE PC and xrandr reports it's
> using 60.0Hz successfully:
> 
>    800x480 (0x44) 32.0MHz *current +preferred
>       h: width  800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 30.3KHz
>       v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total  505        clock 60.0Hz
> 
> Hope that helps, and sorry if I'm totally off track with the reply!
> -- 
Thanks for the reply Fungi,

Looking at your info it looks like your hsync is 30.3 (am I reading 
that right?), which is lower than the default set by the driver -- which 
is 31.  I know this because I tried a host of modelines in the monitor 
section (a file in xorg.conf.d) and checked the error messages for 
the X log.

The problem is a result of the monitor not providing EDID info (which I 
am really sure yours does) and intel drivers removing the ability to set
some user defined options (specifically, refresh rates).

Again, I appreciate the input -- and if I have messed something up, please
let me know.

Nasa

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[The Fungi]

On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 01:11:02AM +0000, Nasa wrote:
> Looking at your info it looks like your hsync is 30.3 (am I reading
> that right?), which is lower than the default set by the driver -- which
> is 31.  I know this because I tried a host of modelines in the monitor
> section (a file in xorg.conf.d) and checked the error messages for
> the X log.

Yes, xrandr is claiming 30.3 KHz horizontal sync on that particular
mode. The Xorg.0.log has this for it:

Modeline "800x480"x60.0 32.00 800 840 968 1056 480 481 484 505 (30.3 kHz)

> The problem is a result of the monitor not providing EDID info (which I 
> am really sure yours does) and intel drivers removing the ability to set
> some user defined options (specifically, refresh rates).
[...]

Actually, mine's not from DDC/EDID, but rather from an LVDS probe
performed by kernel/DRM during boot and then picked up by Xorg
directly from there. I'm assuming your device isn't LVDS either
though...
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Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "The Fungi" <fungi@yuggoth.org> wrote:

> On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 01:11:02AM +0000, Nasa wrote:
> > Looking at your info it looks like your hsync is 30.3 (am I reading
> > that right?), which is lower than the default set by the driver --
> which
> > is 31.  I know this because I tried a host of modelines in the
> monitor
> > section (a file in xorg.conf.d) and checked the error messages for
> > the X log.
> 
> Yes, xrandr is claiming 30.3 KHz horizontal sync on that particular
> mode. The Xorg.0.log has this for it:
> 
> Modeline "800x480"x60.0 32.00 800 840 968 1056 480 481 484 505 (30.3
> kHz)
> 
> > The problem is a result of the monitor not providing EDID info
> (which I 
> > am really sure yours does) and intel drivers removing the ability to
> set
> > some user defined options (specifically, refresh rates).
> [...]
> 
> Actually, mine's not from DDC/EDID, but rather from an LVDS probe
> performed by kernel/DRM during boot and then picked up by Xorg
> directly from there. I'm assuming your device isn't LVDS either
> though...

Yep,

Good guess :}


> -- 
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> }
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> Intel-gfx mailing list
> Intel-gfx@lists.freedesktop.org
> http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/intel-gfx

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "Felix Miata" <mrmazda@earthlink.net> wrote:

> On 2010/09/26 20:09 (GMT) Nasa composed:
> 
> > I should be a little more clear -- to create a modeline for a
> resolution
> > of 800x400
> 
> Are all your attempts so lax in typing accuracy? According to
> http://www.lilliput.cn/EBY701-NP.html you should be trying for
> 800x480. Typos
> compound your difficulty, especially if they go unnoticed.

Your right,

800x480 is what I am/should be attempting to get...  I wasn't 
so lax on my the post starting this thread, which you and Alan
have been gracious enough to join in on.  And I do appreciate 
you noting the error, preventing it from going unnoticed.

Nasa

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[The Fungi]

On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 12:26:21AM +0000, Nasa wrote:
> 800x480 is what I am/should be attempting to get...
[...]

I apologize for not following the thread too closely but if you're
just looking for working 800x480@60 timings, this is the native
resolution of the panel on my Asus EEE PC and xrandr reports it's
using 60.0Hz successfully:

   800x480 (0x44) 32.0MHz *current +preferred
      h: width  800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 30.3KHz
      v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total  505        clock 60.0Hz

Hope that helps, and sorry if I'm totally off track with the reply!
-- 
{ IRL(Jeremy_Stanley); PGP(97AE496FC02DEC9FC353B2E748F9961143495829);
SMTP(fungi@yuggoth.org); IRC(fungi@irc.yuggoth.org#ccl); ICQ(114362511);
AIM(dreadazathoth); YAHOO(crawlingchaoslabs); FINGER(fungi@yuggoth.org);
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Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "Felix Miata" <mrmazda@earthlink.net> wrote:

> On 2010/09/26 19:21 (GMT) Nasa composed:
> 
> > I'm starting to look at the code and see if I can hardwire support
> > for vertical refresh rates greater than 60.0 (haven't figured that
> > out yet)
> 
> It's rare for a flat panel display to either need refresh higher than
> "60",
> or product better performance using a supported refresh higher than
> "60". The
> reasons for using refresh higher than 60 on a CRT do not exist on flat
> panels.
> -- 
Ok,

I should be a little more clear -- to create a modeline for a resolution
of 800x400 (using this site: http://xtiming.sourceforge.net/cgi-bin/xtiming.pl )
I need a combination of horizontal sync of over 31 and refresh rate over 65
to get it too work.  So yes, I could look to drop the horizontal sync to 30, 
which would drop the refresh rate to 60, -- but I don't know where to look 
for the default settings for that either.

Nasa

BTW: If I wasn't clear, the default Hsync is 31 (based on the output from the X
logs)

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Felix Miata]

On 2010/09/26 20:09 (GMT) Nasa composed:

> I should be a little more clear -- to create a modeline for a resolution
> of 800x400

Are all your attempts so lax in typing accuracy? According to
http://www.lilliput.cn/EBY701-NP.html you should be trying for 800x480. Typos
compound your difficulty, especially if they go unnoticed.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

 Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2010-08-26 18:40-0000 Nasa wrote:

>
> ----- "Alan W. Irwin" <irwin@beluga.phys.uvic.ca> wrote:
>> [...]I have assumed above that the horizontal frequency limits have been
>> set correctly for your particular monitor.  That is not always the
>> case.  Check your monitor manual for the correct vertical and
>> horizontal frequency limits and if your X log shows those are not
>> being discovered properly by X than specify the correct ranges using
>> the
>> VertRefresh and HorizSync values in the Monitor section.  In my case
>> I used
>>
>> HorizSync       30-96
>> VertRefresh     48-120
>>
>> corresponding to values published in my Sony g200 manual, but your
>> monitor manual is very likely to require different ranges.
>>
>> Alan
>
> There in lies the problem....  I have created an xorg.conf file with
> the settings you mention -- but the settings are ignored.  Trying to
> tell Xorg not to use EDID/DDC/Default values hasn't worked (see 1st
> part of my orignal message).  Worse off, the log file doesn't report
> what values it is using!  So it's been a guessing game...

Look through the log file for the "ranges" string.  For my modern (LCD
monitor on Debian testing) system the result is

(II) intel(0): Ranges: V min: 55 V max: 75 Hz, H min: 30 H max: 80
kHz, PixClock max 140 MHz

(II) intel(0): Using hsync ranges from config file
(II) intel(0): Using vrefresh ranges from config file

However, despite those messages, it turns out HorizSync (and probably
VertRefresh) in my xorg.conf are ignored, and instead the values
reported by the monitor are used. (The above values are consistent
with those reported on the web for my particular monitor.  I set those
same values using HorizSync and VertRefresh except that I specified a
smaller H max via HorizSync as an experiment and it was ignored.)

Ignoring the frequencies in xorg.conf didn't hurt in my modern
LCD/Debian testing case, but probably does in yours.  To confirm
that what is the exact result you get for Ranges in the log file?

In general, I am troubled by any misguided tendency of Intel
developers to remove xorg.conf capability.  Sure, it is nice to
generally not require that file at all by default, but when you really
need control for situations where bad values or no values are being
reported by a monitor, a fully capable xorg.conf file is absolutely
essential.  So let's hope this ignoring of frequencies specified in
xorg.conf (at least for my Debian testing Intel X stack)
is a temporary aberration by the Intel developers that has been fixed
in later versions.

Alan
__________________________
Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the libLASi project (unifont.org/lasi); the Loads of
Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
__________________________

Linux-powered Science
__________________________

Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

Hi,


I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which is the
native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID or DDC 
information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by the 
driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I would like
to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh rates, horizontal
syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor.  However, there
doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items. I tried options
like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to change 
resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse than the 
intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than the area
available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable solution
is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in to what 
I am missing.  Thanks in advance,

Nasa


Chipset:  945GM
Model:  MB899 Intel Core Single/Duo Mini-Itx Motherboard 945GM
Monitor:  Lilliput EBY-701
Driver:  intel
OS:  Meego (IVI image)

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2010-08-26 10:47-0000 Nasa wrote:

> Hi,
>
>
> I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which is the
> native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID or DDC
> information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by the
> driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I would like
> to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh rates, horizontal
> syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor.  However, there
> doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items. I tried options
> like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to change
> resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse than the
> intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than the area
> available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable solution
> is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in to what
> I am missing.  Thanks in advance,

Earlier this year before I replaced my long-time Sony monitor with an
LCD, and upgraded from Debian Lenny to Debian testing, the results of
gtf and PreferredMode worked for me. For example, my xorg.conf file
for that monitor had the following lines in the Monitor section

#gtf 1024 768 85
# 1024x768 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 68.60 kHz; pclk: 94.39 MHz
Modeline "1024x768_85.00"  94.39  1024 1088 1200 1376  768 769 772 807
-HSync +Vsync
Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768_85.00"

Of course, intead of using the above example, you will want to run
something like

gtf 800 400 85

from the command line (man gtf), paste the results to your Monitor
section, and consistently update the identification of the mode used
by PreferredMode.

I emphasize the above configuration lines worked for an old version of the
Intel driver (Debian Lenny), and I don't know whether they  would work
for a modern version.  But it is worth a try.

Alan
__________________________
Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the libLASi project (unifont.org/lasi); the Loads of
Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
__________________________

Linux-powered Science
__________________________

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Nasa]

----- "Alan W. Irwin" <irwin@beluga.phys.uvic.ca> wrote:

> On 2010-08-26 10:47-0000 Nasa wrote:
> 
> > Hi,
> >
> >
> > I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which
> is the
> > native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID
> or DDC
> > information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by
> the
> > driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I
> would like
> > to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh
> rates, horizontal
> > syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor. 
> However, there
> > doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items.
> I tried options
> > like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to
> change
> > resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse
> than the
> > intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than
> the area
> > available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable
> solution
> > is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in
> to what
> > I am missing.  Thanks in advance,
> 
> Earlier this year before I replaced my long-time Sony monitor with an
> LCD, and upgraded from Debian Lenny to Debian testing, the results of
> gtf and PreferredMode worked for me. For example, my xorg.conf file
> for that monitor had the following lines in the Monitor section
> 
> #gtf 1024 768 85
> # 1024x768 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 68.60 kHz; pclk: 94.39 MHz
> Modeline "1024x768_85.00"  94.39  1024 1088 1200 1376  768 769 772
> 807
> -HSync +Vsync
> Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768_85.00"
> 
> Of course, intead of using the above example, you will want to run
> something like
> 
> gtf 800 400 85
> 
> from the command line (man gtf), paste the results to your Monitor
> section, and consistently update the identification of the mode used
> by PreferredMode.
> 
> I emphasize the above configuration lines worked for an old version of
> the
> Intel driver (Debian Lenny), and I don't know whether they  would
> work
> for a modern version.  But it is worth a try.
> 
> Alan

Thanks Alan,

I actually attempted this via CVT which ended up with horizontal sync out
of range errors.  Reading the MAN page for CVT didn't show any options to
put in options to set that.  Does GTF have this capability?  I also tried
an online modeline creation site (link alludes me, as I am at work right 
now) with slightly better, but still not totally work results.

Nasa

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2010-08-26 17:37-0000 Nasa wrote:

>
> ----- "Alan W. Irwin" <irwin@beluga.phys.uvic.ca> wrote:
>
>> On 2010-08-26 10:47-0000 Nasa wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>>
>>> I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which
>> is the
>>> native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID
>> or DDC
>>> information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by
>> the
>>> driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I
>> would like
>>> to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh
>> rates, horizontal
>>> syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor.
>> However, there
>>> doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items.
>> I tried options
>>> like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to
>> change
>>> resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse
>> than the
>>> intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than
>> the area
>>> available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable
>> solution
>>> is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in
>> to what
>>> I am missing.  Thanks in advance,
>>
>> Earlier this year before I replaced my long-time Sony monitor with an
>> LCD, and upgraded from Debian Lenny to Debian testing, the results of
>> gtf and PreferredMode worked for me. For example, my xorg.conf file
>> for that monitor had the following lines in the Monitor section
>>
>> #gtf 1024 768 85
>> # 1024x768 @ 85.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 68.60 kHz; pclk: 94.39 MHz
>> Modeline "1024x768_85.00"  94.39  1024 1088 1200 1376  768 769 772
>> 807
>> -HSync +Vsync
>> Option "PreferredMode" "1024x768_85.00"
>>
>> Of course, intead of using the above example, you will want to run
>> something like
>>
>> gtf 800 400 85
>>
>> from the command line (man gtf), paste the results to your Monitor
>> section, and consistently update the identification of the mode used
>> by PreferredMode.
>>
>> I emphasize the above configuration lines worked for an old version of
>> the
>> Intel driver (Debian Lenny), and I don't know whether they  would
>> work
>> for a modern version.  But it is worth a try.
>>
>> Alan
>
> Thanks Alan,
>
> I actually attempted this via CVT which ended up with horizontal sync out
> of range errors.  Reading the MAN page for CVT didn't show any options to
> put in options to set that.  Does GTF have this capability?

No, but it doesn't matter.  Play with either cvt of gtf (I don't think
there is any real difference between them) with a fixed resolution and
varying vertical refresh rate, and you will see that the horizontal
sync frequency of the generated mode line is proportional to the
vertical refresh you specify.  So for your desired resolution if the
generated horizontal sync is lower than your allowed range, increase
the vertical refresh until you have a value within the allowed range.
Or if it is above (extremely unlikely for such a low resolution)
reduce the vertical refresh.

I have assumed above that the horizontal frequency limits have been
set correctly for your particular monitor.  That is not always the
case.  Check your monitor manual for the correct vertical and
horizontal frequency limits and if your X log shows those are not
being discovered properly by X than specify the correct ranges using the
VertRefresh and HorizSync values in the Monitor section.  In my case
I used

HorizSync       30-96
VertRefresh     48-120

corresponding to values published in my Sony g200 manual, but your
monitor manual is very likely to require different ranges.

Alan
__________________________
Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the libLASi project (unifont.org/lasi); the Loads of
Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
__________________________

Linux-powered Science
__________________________

Re: Problems configuring unique xorg.conf file

[Felix Miata]

On 2010/08/26 10:47 (GMT) Nasa composed:

> I am trying to configure a rather obscure resolution (800x480) which is the
> native resolution for my monitor.  The monitor doesn't provide EDID or DDC 
> information (it's connected over VGA).  And the default settings by the 
> driver produces displays that don't fit the monitor properly.  I would like
> to construct a xorg.conf file with appropraite vertical refresh rates, horizontal
> syncs, and/or modelines to work correctly with the monitor.  However, there
> doesn't seem a way to turn off the driver defaults for those items. I tried options
> like NoDDC, UseEDID, etc with no luck.  I also tried using xrandr to change 
> resolutions after X has started.  The results end up being worse than the 
> intial problem I was trying to fix (ie: the screen is bigger than the area
> available to display it).  I expect my inability to find a suitable solution
> is due to my lack of knowledge -- so I hope someone can fill me in to what 
> I am missing.  Thanks in advance,

> Chipset:  945GM

>From openSUSE 11.3 on i845G
http://fm.no-ip.com/Tmp/Linux/Xorg/xinitrc-113-t2240-1600x1200v1920 should
serve as a template for you to construct an /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc file with
required xrandr commands included to be run _before_ $WINDOWMANAGER starts.

Note that the reason for preferring high refresh rates on CRT displays does
not exist on flat panel displays. I've yet to find any flat panel that
doesn't work perfectly in close proximity to 60 if not exactly 60. So,
K.I.S.S., and use CVT and/or GTF without bothering with refresh spec. 'gtf
800 480' will default to 60, which would invariably be just right.

Supposedly xorg.conf can still be used with legacy Intel chips to do the same
things as xinitrc/xrandr do, but I've yet to confirm it, succeeding only on
MGA so far.
-- 
"The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant
words are persuasive." Proverbs 16:21 (New Living Translation)

 Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409

Felix Miata  ***  http://fm.no-ip.com/