GixEsperiene: UBUNTU 9.10 resolution problems solved.

The fastway.

cvt 1280 1024
# 1280x1024 59.89 Hz (CVT 1.31M4) hsync: 63.67 kHz; pclk: 109.00 MHz
Modeline "1280x1024_60.00" 109.00 1280 1368 1496 1712 1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_60.00" 109.00 1280 1368 1496 1712 1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

xrandr --addmode VGA1 1280x1024_60.00

xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1280x1024_60.00

Resetting an out-of-range resolution

If you set a resolution inappropriate for your monitor in the Screen Resolution GUI tool, you can reset it by running rm ~/.config/monitors.xml from a terminal.

Dynamically testing different resolutions

You can either use the Screen Resolution GUI tool to experiment with different resolutions, or the more powerful xrandr command-line tool:

  $ xrandr

shows you the names of different outputs available on your system (LVDS, VGA-0, etc.) and resolutions available on each:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1400 x 1050, maximum 1400 x 1400
VGA disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
LVDS connected 1400x1050+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 286mm x 214mm
 1400x1050      60.0*+   50.0
[...]

You can direct xrandr to set a different resolution like this:

  $ xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768

The refresh rate may also be changed, either at the same time or independently:

  $ xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1024x768 --rate 75

Note that changes you make using xrandr only last through the current session. xrandr has a lot more capabilities - see man xrandr for details.

Adding undetected resolutions

Due to buggy hardware or drivers, your monitor's correct resolutions may not always be detected. For example, the EDID data block queried from your monitor may be incorrect.

If the mode already exists, but just isn't associated for the particular output, you can add it like this:

  $ xrandr --addmode S-video 800x600

If the mode doesn't yet exist, you'll need to create it first by specifying a modeline:

  $ xrandr --newmode

You may create a modeline using the gtf or cvt utility. For example, if you want to add a mode with resolution 800x600, you can enter the following command: (The output is shown following.)

  $ cvt 800 600
# 800x600 59.86 Hz (CVT 0.48M3) hsync: 37.35 kHz; pclk: 38.25 MHz
Modeline "800x600_60.00"   38.25  800 832 912 1024  600 603 607 624 -hsync +vsync

Then copy the information after the word "Modeline" into the xrandr command:

  $ xrandr --newmode "800x600_60.00"   38.25  800 832 912 1024  600 603 607 624 -hsync +vsync

Setting xrandr changes persistently

There are several ways to make xrandr customizations permanent from session to session: a) .xprofile, b) kdm/gdm, c) xorg.conf. Each of these mechanisms will be discussed in turn.

Setting xrandr commands in .xprofile

A user's ~/.xprofile file is executed on Xorg startup if it exists and is executable. You can copy and paste xrandr command line strings into this file so they're executed when you log in. For example:

  $ xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 800x600

There are two disadvantages to using .xprofile for xrandr settings. First, it occurs fairly late in the startup process, so you'll see some resolution resizing during the initial screen draw; in some cases panel windows may resize improperly as a result. Second, as this is a per-user setting, it won't affect the resolutions of other users, nor will it alter the resolution on the login screen.

Setting xrandr commands in kdm/gdm startup scripts

Both KDM and GDM have startup scripts that are executed when X is initiated. For GDM, these are in /etc/gdm/ , while for KDM this is done at /etc/kde4/kdm/Xsetup. In either case, you can paste in an xrandr command line string into one of these scripts. For GDM, try putting them right before initctl -q emit login-session-start DISPLAY_MANAGER=gdm in /etc/gdm/Init/Default

This process requires root access and mucking around in system config files, but will take effect earlier in the startup process than using .xprofile, and will apply to all users including the login screen.

Setting resolution changes in xorg.conf

While xorg.conf is largely empty these days, it can still be used for setting up resolutions. For example:

Section "Monitor"
  Identifier      "External DVI"
  Modeline        "1280x1024_60.00"  108.88  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1025 1028 1060  -HSync +Vsync
  Option          "PreferredMode" "1280x1024_60.00"
EndSection
Section "Device"
  Identifier      "ATI Technologies, Inc. M22 [Radeon Mobility M300]"
  Driver          "ati"
  Option          "Monitor-DVI-0" "External DVI"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
  Identifier      "Primary Screen"
  Device          "ATI Technologies, Inc. M22 [Radeon Mobility M300]"
  DefaultDepth    24
  SubSection "Display"
      Depth           24
      Modes   "1280x1024" "1024x768" "640x480"
  EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
      Identifier      "Default Layout"
      Screen          "Primary Screen"
EndSection

See man xorg.conf for full details on how to craft an xorg.conf file.

Setting resolution changes in xorg.conf -- resolution lower than expected

Try this first

If you video card is recognized but the resolution is lower than you expect, you may try this.

Background: I use Ubuntu 9.0.4 x86, ATI X1550 based video card and two LCD monitors DELL 2408(up to 1920x1200) and Samsung 206BW(up to 1680x1050). Upon first login after installation, the resolution default to 1152x864. xrandr does not list any resolution higher than 1152x864. You may want to try editing /etc/X11/xorg.conf, add a section about virtual screen, logout, login and see if this helps. If not then read on.

Change the default xorg.conf

Section "Device"
      Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
      Identifier      "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
      Identifier      "Default Screen"
      Monitor         "Configured Monitor"
      Device          "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
      Identifier      "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
      Identifier      "Default Screen"
      Monitor         "Configured Monitor"
      Device          "Configured Video Device"
->        SubSection "Display"
->                Virtual 3600 1200
->        EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Device"
      Identifier      "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

About the numbers: I put DELL on the left and Samsung on the right. So the virtual width is of sum of both LCD width 3600=1920+1680; Height then is figured as the max of them, which is max(1200,1050)=1200. If you put one LCD above the other, use this calculation instead: (max(width1, width2), height1+height2).

If that does not help, here's what I did:

Use cvt/xrandr tool to add the highest mode the LCD can do

The actual order was different, as I tried to add new mode to one LCD at a time. Below is the combined/all-in-one quote

aa@aa-desktop:/$ cvt 1920 1200 60
# 1920x1200 59.88 Hz (CVT 2.30MA) hsync: 74.56 kHz; pclk: 193.25 MHz
Modeline "1920x1200_60.00"  193.25  1920 2056 2256 2592  1200 1203 1209 1245 -hsync +vsync
aa@aa-desktop:/$ cvt 1680 1050 60
# 1680x1050 59.95 Hz (CVT 1.76MA) hsync: 65.29 kHz; pclk: 146.25 MHz
Modeline "1680x1050_60.00"  146.25  1680 1784 1960 2240  1050 1053 1059 1089 -hsync +vsync
aa@aa-desktop:/$ xrandr --newmode "1920x1200_60.00"  193.25  1920 2056 2256 2592  1200 1203 1209 1245 -hsync +vsync
aa@aa-desktop:/$ xrandr --newmode "1680x1050_60.00"  146.25  1680 1784 1960 2240  1050 1053 1059 1089 -hsync +vsync
aa@aa-desktop:/$ xrandr --addmode DVI-1 "1920x1200_60.00"
aa@aa-desktop:/$ xrandr --addmode DVI-0 "1680x1050_60.00"

Preference -> Display">Goto Ubuntu Menu: System -> Preference -> Display

Change one of the LCD's resolution to a lower one, e.g. 800x600. Apply change, then (I don't remember the exact order/wording here:) hopefully the GUI will give you a prompt saying something like "the resolution can be improved but virtual screen has to be enabled, you need to however logout and log back in". I did it and on 2nd login, I am able to find the higher resolution listed for that LCD. After that I follow suite and make similar change to 2nd LCD and am able to get both of them working.

sabato 6 marzo 2010

UBUNTU 9.10 resolution problems solved.