Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

Behemot · 2011-06-28 14:08:56

Hello everybody,

so now I've succesfully run out of patience and want to deal with this damn thing once for ever. I would like to solve resolution AND refresh rate settings. I've been usually messing with xorg.conf and displays.xml under user's XFCE4 settings till it somehow begun to work, but I don't want to do this anymore. If there would be anyone helpfull, we can make WORKING manual out if this later on wiki.

so what bothers me:
1) everybody immediatelly redirects you to xorg.conf, but you know what? First thing you find under every graphics environment documentation is that xorg.conf is old and is used no more. Great. Isn't this paintfully dumb?
2) Most Xorg manuals are too old, many settings do not work for me (may be my typos, may be that these settings do not work anymore). Every environment also has its own graphics settings somewhere but who on Earth knows how this stuff works? It usually does whatever it wants. Even if I make Xorg configuration file, there is usually almost nothing inside and as I said, I can count on my fingers the number of occassions when I succeeded with changing something here. It looks almost like the environments are taking just something out of it and ignoring the rest or what?
3) EDID is evil. Why everything relies on this stuff so much when it is useless (it either does not work, or manufacturer programmed just a fraction of physically supported modes in it), I am not able to understand.

So, in this case, I have old Xpert 2000 with R128 driver installed and Iiyama Vision Master Pro 410 (17" Trinitron CRT). Display manager sees some modes but there are useless refresh-rates.

Xrander shows this:

xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 1600 x 1200, maximum 1600 x 1200
default connected 1600x1200+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1600x1200 75.0* 70.0 65.0 60.0
1400x1050 75.0 60.0
1280x1024 75.0 60.0
1280x960 60.0
1152x864 75.0
1024x768 75.0 70.0 60.0
960x720 60.0
928x696 60.0
896x672 60.0
832x624 75.0
800x600 75.0 72.0 60.0 56.0 70.0 65.0
700x525 75.0 60.0
640x512 75.0 60.0
640x480 75.0 73.0 67.0 60.0
720x400 70.0
576x432 75.0
512x384 75.0 70.0 60.0
416x312 75.0
400x300 75.0 72.0 60.0 56.0
320x240 75.0 73.0 60.0

So my question is: where are these modes stored (or are these from the evil EDID?) as there is nothing in xorg.conf (as you can see below) and how to add refresh rate modes there? Also there is some stuff about brightness, another evidence how EDID sucks…

The VertRefresh line I added myself with no luck. Also changing the refresh rate in displays.xml directly did not help.
________________________________________________________

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "X.org Configured"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF/"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/OTF/"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "record"
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "dri"
    Load  "dri2"
    Load  "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Mouse0"
    Driver      "mouse"
    Option        "Protocol" "auto"
    Option        "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    #DisplaySize      320   240    # mm
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "IVM"
    VertRefresh  60.0 - 85.0
    ModelName    "1740"
    Option        "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz",
        ### <percent>: "<f>%"
        ### [arg]: arg optional
        #Option     "NoAccel"                # [<bool>]
        #Option     "SWcursor"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "Dac6Bit"                # [<bool>]
        #Option     "Dac8Bit"                # [<bool>]
        #Option     "DMAForXv"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ForcePCIMode"           # [<bool>]
        #Option     "CCEPIOMode"             # [<bool>]
        #Option     "CCENoSecurity"          # [<bool>]
        #Option     "CCEusecTimeout"         # <i>
        #Option     "AGPMode"                # <i>
        #Option     "AGPSize"                # <i>
        #Option     "RingSize"               # <i>
        #Option     "BufferSize"             # <i>
        #Option     "EnablePageFlip"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "Display"                # <str>
        #Option     "PanelWidth"             # <i>
        #Option     "PanelHeight"            # <i>
        #Option     "ProgramFPRegs"          # [<bool>]
        #Option     "UseFBDev"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "VideoKey"               # <i>
        #Option     "ShowCache"              # [<bool>]
        #Option     "VGAAccess"              # [<bool>]
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "r128"
    BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     1
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     4
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     8
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     15
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

ANY HELP APPRECIATED!!

//EDIT: code tag added :-)

Last edited by Behemot (2011-06-28 14:19:20)

Inxsible · 2011-06-28 14:09:51

please use BBCode [code ] tags to post files and outputs.

perbh · 2011-06-28 14:36:03

Dumb question, but someone has to ask it ...
I presume you restarted X after making changes to xorg.conf?

Behemot · 2011-06-28 14:42:33

Yep, every time. Usually it either did not start at all with error, which I

a) either corrected (sometimes it than behaved as I wanted, sometimes it just ignored, or maybe it needed other settings which I did not provide)
b) or had to remove at all because it did not start no matter how I changed the string

or just ignored from the beginning :-)

In this case I changed almost nothing, just the single line. I tried to at least add the mode manually with xrandr and use it but I am stuck on some crtc (or something like that) error.

Last edited by Behemot (2011-06-28 14:43:58)

ConnorBehan · 2011-06-28 15:00:43

1) It is true that xorg.conf is old, but "not used anymore" is wrong. It is now possible to get away with only certain configuration sections in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/ meaning you can use X without an xorg.conf, but if you have one, X will still use it. IMO xorg.conf is still the best way to have fine grained control over your GUI, especially if the new way is giving you trouble. I still use it, and I do plenty of tweaks like disabling auto-adding of input devices and killing the server with Ctrl+Alt+Bksp.

2) Per-environment graphics settings, I know nothing about. I haven't made any effort to figure out all that non-standard stuff because I instead just use xorg.conf - when all configuration is done in one file that makes me happy.

3) If you do not specify a restricted list of modelines, I'm pretty sure all of them will be read from the EDID. I have only one modeline appearing in the output of xrandr and only one appearing in the XFCE display dialog. I do this in the "Display" SubSections where you list all the bit depths.

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth 16
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
        Modes      "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

vacant · 2011-06-28 15:10:52

Use cvt to generate the resolution and refresh you want.
Use xrandr to (1) define a new mode (2) add the new mode to your monitor (3) set your monitor to use the new mode

e.g. for some reason my HD TV stopped reporting EDID fully and connecting it only gave 1024x768. So I run a script to play videos on my TV (if connected) thus:

if ( xrandr | grep -q "VGA1 connected" ) ; then
    xrandr --newmode 1368x768 85.25 1368 1440 1576 1784 768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync
    xrandr --addmode VGA1 1368x768
    xrandr --output LVDS1 --off
    xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1368x768
fi

You could add something similar somewhere when you start X

Last edited by vacant (2011-06-28 15:11:38)

Behemot · 2011-06-28 15:29:19

ConnorBehan wrote:

3) If you do not specify a restricted list of modelines, I'm pretty sure all of them will be read from the EDID. I have only one modeline appearing in the output of xrandr and only one appearing in the XFCE display dialog. I do this in the "Display" SubSections where you list all the bit depths.
Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth 16
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Depth     16
        Modes      "1024x768"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

I never restricted anything, the modes are simply not there in the EDID. Call it manufacturers safety, I call it manucafturers dumbness. Anyway, what I like is full list of modes from 640x480 to maximum supported with every single refresh rate mode which wont kill my eyes (85+ Hz). Usually the highest modes aren't there even if the display supports them. Missing refresh rate modes are the most typical flaw here.

vacant wrote:

You could add something similar somewhere when you start X

vacant: Yes, this is one solution, although not nice, but in this case I get

xrandr: Configure crtc 0 failed

when trying manually added mode, as I already wrote.

Behemot · 2011-07-03 11:32:49

Another problem is desktop over two displays for me (this is on another machine). I am able to get it work using xrandr, but not with xorg.conf. Once again, the problem is dumb EDID without higher modes which both displays runs just fine. In this case I want two 1920×1440, 85 Hz displays.

George.Harmony · 2011-07-03 13:16:45

I gave up trying to figure out how to set up monitors in Xorg. I used the xorg.conf way and the xorg.d way. I could not disable monitors or make them work just the way I wanted.

This use to work no problem a few years ago.

I simply use xrandr and write resolution and configuration scripts now and run them accordingly.

I'm with you on this one Behemot. The manual don't seem to have the info needed to disable or properly configure X anymore.

Not much help from me just some moral support for Behemot's situation

Behemot · 2011-07-03 19:18:04

Thanks :-)

I think the situation is much simpler today because 98 % of people have LCD these days, where it is usually fine (or you just add one resolution). But those of us who use former profi-class CRT's are stuck here. There is SOME progress, I noticed that e.g. XFCE4's display manager which came with XFCE 4.8 brought some better support for multiple displays, it at least detects them, but still only clonning (no bigger desktop) and you cannot add custom resolution modes.

On the other hand, newer GPU drivers for Windows suck the same way. But there is at least some solution, for 7 I managed to make my own modes with utility called PowerStrip :-)

Last edited by Behemot (2011-07-04 15:35:17)

pablox · 2011-07-03 21:15:01

George.Harmony wrote:

I gave up trying to figure out how to set up monitors in Xorg. I used the xorg.conf way and the xorg.d way. I could not disable monitors or make them work just the way I wanted.
This use to work no problem a few years ago.
I simply use xrandr and write resolution and configuration scripts now and run them accordingly.
I'm with you on this one Behemot. The manual don't seem to have the info needed to disable or properly configure X anymore.
Not much help from me just some moral support for Behemot's situation

Or arandr/grandr, even simpler, the former creates and then let you save the according script.

Cdh · 2011-07-03 21:21:58

I have a very old monitor where EDID doesn't work. When I input just the refresh rates in xorg.conf without the modelines the correct resolutions do appear.

You could give it a try:

I for example got the values for my monitor from http://www.monitorworld.com/monitors_home.html ("H Freq/ V Freq").
There are some tools but when the monitor doesn't report the values correctly or the graphic card fails with receiving them that won't help...

Then put it in xorg.conf in the Section "Monitor":

        HorizSync    30-107
        VertRefresh  48-120   #whatever values you get

Behemot · 2011-07-07 11:17:50

Unfortunately it isn't there. It's Phillisp Brilliance 202P4, but it has standard Sony Trinitron display, maybe it will be the same as for soem other CRTs of this size…?

Arch Linux

#1 2011-06-28 14:08:56

Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#2 2011-06-28 14:09:51

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#3 2011-06-28 14:36:03

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#4 2011-06-28 14:42:33

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#5 2011-06-28 15:00:43

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#6 2011-06-28 15:10:52

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#7 2011-06-28 15:29:19

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#8 2011-07-03 11:32:49

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#9 2011-07-03 13:16:45

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#10 2011-07-03 19:18:04

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#11 2011-07-03 21:15:01

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#12 2011-07-03 21:21:58

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

#13 2011-07-07 11:17:50

Re: Resolution and refresh rate settings: lets bring the FINAL SOLUTION

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