Arch Linux

meolson

Member

From: Logan, UT

Registered: 2009-05-31

Posts: 7

[SOLVED] Arch Linux on Macbook - Can't fix Screen Resolution

I just installed Arch Linux as a dual-boot on my Macbook.  I really like it so far.  However, I came across a problem that is really bothering me.  It may seem simple, but no matter what I try, I only get "1024x768" and "800x600" resolution options.  What I need is "1280x800."  Here is my xorg.conf file right now:

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/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
    FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "dri2"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "dbe"
    Load  "dri"
    Load  "record"
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"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
    ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
        ### [arg]: arg optional
        #Option     "ShadowFB"               # [<bool>]
        #Option     "DefaultRefresh"         # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ModeSetClearScreen"     # [<bool>]
    Identifier  "Card0"
    Driver      "vesa"
    VendorName  "Intel Corporation"
    BoardName   "Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller"
    BusID       "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     1
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     4
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     8
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     15
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     16
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Viewport   0 0
        Modes    "1280x800"
        Depth     24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

I just followed the instruction on the Arch Linux - Macbook Wiki page, and everything worked perfectly, except the resolution question.  The only thing I added to the file is the 'Modes    "1280x800"' lines.  This is exactly what I've always done with linux, and it has always worked.  So I'm perplexed, and I can't find any solutions that actually work by googling it.  Has anyone else come across this problem, and even more important, does anyone know what is wrong?

Thanks.

Last edited by meolson (2009-09-23 04:44:23)

meolson

Member

From: Logan, UT

Registered: 2009-05-31

Posts: 7

Re: [SOLVED] Arch Linux on Macbook - Can't fix Screen Resolution

Ok.  I figured it out.  I found this forum:

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=56899

I found it before, but I had done everything, or so I thought.  At the end, he mentions two things that are important to fix the resolution.  I've repeated them here, and adapted them to what I had before:

pacman -S xf86-video-intel
edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf, and change video card driver from 'vesa' to 'intel'

I thought I had installed xf86-video-intel already, but apparently I hadn't.  So, I followed those two steps, and now, it looks so much better!  Thanks to anyone who tried to looked for a solution.