[SOLVED] Framebuffer question

Intrepidus · 2007-03-14 17:19:14

Alright, so on with my ArchLinux adventure. Since I don't intend on using a GUI, I'd love to get the framebuffer to 1280x1024, and really use my monitor up. So I read the menu.lst file, and it told me to add "vga=795" to my kernel line to get 1280x1024. So I appended it to the end, and when I boot I get the following error:

You passed an undefined mode number
Press <RETURN> to see video modes available, <SPACE> to continue or wait 30 secs

So I hit return, and I see the following:

Video apapter: VESA VGA
Mode:      COLSxROWS:
0  0F00    80x25
1  0F01    80x50
2  0F02    80x43
3  0F03    80x28
4  0F05    80x30
5  0F06    80x34
6  0F07    80x60
7  0100    40x25
8  0108    00x02

Enter mode number or 'scan':

Which means almost nothing to me. I'm very confused. Scan gets me a resolution that fits the text right, but it's not 1280x1024. Can anyone help me with this?

Last edited by Intrepidus (2007-03-15 16:39:39)

noriko · 2007-03-14 17:28:26

the vga modes are such as 773, 795
there are examples in /boot/grub/menu.lst (i think)

Intrepidus · 2007-03-14 17:32:08

Yes, I know. That's what I already tried.

What I'm asking is why isn't it working?

Susu · 2007-03-14 18:48:20

Just try vga=791
I know it's just 1024x768 but it works well for me.

phrakture · 2007-03-14 18:54:40

Intrepidus wrote:

Yes, I know. That's what I already tried.
What I'm asking is why isn't it working?

It isn't working because vesafb (the default framebuffer) is not very good at figuring out exactly what your hardware supports (well, that's backwards... the hardware manufacturers tend to have flakey EDID info, making it hard to figure everything out via DDC, but I digress)....

You have a few options:
fiddle with the vga= option until you find something that works. It may not be the highest that your monitor supports.

alternatively, use a framebuffer specific to your hardware... i.e. my laptop supports "radeonfb". The configuration here is a bit more complex, but you can find examples all over google.

Intrepidus · 2007-03-14 20:08:43

phrakture wrote:

Intrepidus wrote:
Yes, I know. That's what I already tried.
What I'm asking is why isn't it working?
It isn't working because vesafb (the default framebuffer) is not very good at figuring out exactly what your hardware supports (well, that's backwards... the hardware manufacturers tend to have flakey EDID info, making it hard to figure everything out via DDC, but I digress)....
You have a few options:
fiddle with the vga= option until you find something that works. It may not be the highest that your monitor supports.
alternatively, use a framebuffer specific to your hardware... i.e. my laptop supports "radeonfb". The configuration here is a bit more complex, but you can find examples all over google.

I'll try the lower resolutions, however, I've got an Intel chipset, so no luck with specific ati/nvidia framebuffer support. It's an older board from a Dell GX270, onboard video, nothing special. So is there any alternative besides trying different resolutions? I've tried to find intel-specific posts, but they're all rather vague, and most end up using radeon-specific directions.

Small update: It's an Intel 82865G.

Last edited by Intrepidus (2007-03-14 20:56:22)

phrakture · 2007-03-14 23:07:03

Dunno if that's supported by this one or not, but there should be an "i810fb" which is for the intel i810 driver...

Intrepidus · 2007-03-15 16:40:33

Well, this problem is resolved. It's always the things you don't expect.

Apparently in my last bios flash, the default available ram for the buffer was set at 1, instead of 8.

Turned it back to 8mb, and lo and behold, proper resolutions. Problem fixed. Thanks for the help.

sh__ · 2007-03-16 15:27:53

For the record, the framebuffer module that should work for Intel 830M/845G/852GM/855GM/865G is "intelfb". i810fb is for older chipsets.

shifteight · 2007-03-22 01:34:54

Intrepidus wrote:

Well, this problem is resolved. It's always the things you don't expect.
Apparently in my last bios flash, the default available ram for the buffer was set at 1, instead of 8.
Turned it back to 8mb, and lo and behold, proper resolutions. Problem fixed. Thanks for the help.

Ok, i met the same problem, then please tell me how to "turn it back to 8mb", i.e., where the configuration files are?

Last edited by shifteight (2007-03-22 01:35:34)

Arch Linux

#1 2007-03-14 17:19:14

[SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#2 2007-03-14 17:28:26

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#3 2007-03-14 17:32:08

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#4 2007-03-14 18:48:20

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#5 2007-03-14 18:54:40

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#6 2007-03-14 20:08:43

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#7 2007-03-14 23:07:03

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#8 2007-03-15 16:40:33

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#9 2007-03-16 15:27:53

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

#10 2007-03-22 01:34:54

Re: [SOLVED] Framebuffer question

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