Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

FUBAR · 2005-08-16 07:52:34

I've had my Dell 2005FPW for around a month now, and I really like it. Unfortunately it had a better image on Windows than on Linux (X). Dell has a Windows-driver for its TFT, but obviously not for Linux.

So I googled around and came up with these lines to put in xorg.conf to make everything look crisp:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf

...

Section "Modes"
        # 1680x1050 @ 60 Hz
        # Horizontal pixels
        # Front porch: 104 Back porch: 280 Sync width: 176
        # Sync polarity: - Scan rate: 65.29kHz Active pixels: 1680
        # Vertical lines:
        # Front porch: 3 Back porch: 30 Sync width: 6
        # Sync polarity + Refresh rate 59.954Hz Active pixels: 1050
        # Pixel clock: 146.25MHz
        Identifier "16:10"
        ModeLine "1680x1050" 146.2 1680 1960 2136 2240 1050 1080 1086 1089 -hsyn
c +vsync
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "2005FPW UltraSharp Flat Panel Monitor"
        VendorName   "Dell"
        UseModes "16:10"
 ### Uncomment if you don't want to default to DDC:
        HorizSync    30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0
        Option "dpms"
EndSection

...

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "GeForce4 Ti4200"
        Monitor   "2005FPW UltraSharp Flat Panel Monitor"
        DefaultDepth     24
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
                Modes    "1680x1050"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Before this, I just edited the "Monitor"-section and made it look like

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "2005FPW UltraSharp Flat Panel Monitor"
        VendorName   "Dell"
        UseModes "16:10"
 ### Uncomment if you don't want to default to DDC:
        HorizSync    30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0
       ModeLine "1680x1050" 147.1 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsyn
c +vsync
EndSection

I was happy to get X to use 1680*1050, but when I gave the screen a closer look, there was a pattern of sharpness and fuzzyness: a horizontal line of around 2 CM wide with a sharp image followed by the same line with a fuzzy image. This wasn't really noticable unless there was a lot of text (e.g. with XChat) on the screen.
With the new xorg.conf, the text is sharp on the entire screen!

I'm still using the D-SUB connection: my VGA doesn't have a DVI. I don't know if this xorg.conf is usable for every TFT with similar specs or just this Dell (perhaps even only my Dell). Because of all that I just posted the info here instead of on the Wiki.

phrakture · 2005-08-16 16:17:03

If it's only text you should mess with the sub pixel rendering stuff in /etc/fonts/local.conf - check the wiki page about fonts.... there's like 20 values to experiment with

iBertus · 2005-08-16 17:54:12

phrakture wrote:

If it's only text you should mess with the sub pixel rendering stuff in /etc/fonts/local.conf - check the wiki page about fonts.... there's like 20 values to experiment with

Yes, I always bitched about how horrible the fonts looked on my flat panel until I found this wiki. Now my Windows using friends all say "wow! how can I get my fonts to look that smooth?"

longhornxtreme · 2006-02-08 05:07:58

That config works wonders on my 2005 fpw... thank you!

iphitus · 2006-02-08 06:46:18

The fuzzy/non fuzzy thing is a flaw in using LCD/TFT's a inherently digital output, with a d-sub, analog output. It's gotta convert from digital, to analog, and then back to digital at the screen.

My samsung fortunately has this really nifty auto adjust button which does an awesome job of fixing the signal and locking on. It doesnt work quite so well in a terminal though sometimes and I get what you describe, sharp, blurry, sharp.

It does seem to remember whatever it finds as a good setting though, so theoretically I shouldnt need to touch it again, but sometimes I cant help but try and tweak that terminal image.

Check your monitor's menus, you might have a similar option. Otherwise, try tweaking with xvidtune, you might be able to discover a better modeline for it.

iphitus

FUBAR · 2006-02-08 09:59:54

I've recently bought a new computer with a DVI-output on the VGA. The image now is just ... perfect!

I used the included DVI -> D-SUB convertor to compare the image and it's really noticable. I don't have to press the auto-adjust button anymore when booting into Windows either.

iphitus · 2006-02-08 11:02:53

lol i didnt realise how old this thread was!

elasticdog · 2006-02-08 17:51:33

FUBAR wrote:

I've recently bought a new computer with a DVI-output on the VGA. The image now is just ... perfect!

Did you have to change your ModeLine in xorg.conf at all when you switched from VGA to DVI? I have a 2005FPW as well, and am fairly confused by all the ModeLine numbers. I did have to change mine when running through DVI, and it seems like Googling around reveals that everyone with the same monitor has a wide range of differing ModeLines. Is there any way to tell what the it is supposed to be?

I don't know if it's related, but sometimes my display refuses to wake up when I hit a button on the keyboard or move the mouse...any thoughts?

longhornxtreme · 2006-02-08 20:35:13

I'm with elastic dog... I know NOTHING about the DVI stuff...

FUBAR · 2006-02-10 10:43:01

This is my current xorg.conf:

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW"
 ### Comment all HorizSync and VertSync values to use DDC:
        HorizSync    30.0 - 83.0
        VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier  "Leadtek WinFast PX-6800GT TDH"
        Driver      "nvidia"
        Card        "* Generic VESA compatible"
        Option          "CursorShadow" "true"
        Option          "NoLogo"        "true"
        Option          "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
        Option          "RenderAccel"   "true"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen"
        Device     "Leadtek WinFast PX-6800GT TDH"
        Monitor    "Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW"
        DefaultDepth     24
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
                Modes    "1680x1050"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

elasticdog · 2006-02-12 00:42:51

You don't specify a ModeLine at all?!?

FUBAR · 2006-02-25 11:02:52

Heh, nope. I don't know why, but this worked right out of the box. I guess I have the DVI to thank for that.

Arch Linux

#1 2005-08-16 07:52:34

Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#2 2005-08-16 16:17:03

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#3 2005-08-16 17:54:12

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#4 2006-02-08 05:07:58

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#5 2006-02-08 06:46:18

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#6 2006-02-08 09:59:54

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#7 2006-02-08 11:02:53

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#8 2006-02-08 17:51:33

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#9 2006-02-08 20:35:13

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#10 2006-02-10 10:43:01

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#11 2006-02-12 00:42:51

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

#12 2006-02-25 11:02:52

Re: Perfect image on Dell 2005FPW TFT.

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