Arch Linux

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Sizing

My Arch install went quite well and I like it a lot. The default video resolution is currently set at 1024x768. Beng a creature of habit I always use this resolution and it has worked fine for me on every other distribution I have ever tried. However, under Arch, I noticed that the relative screen size (and font size) of most applications is a bit small compared to Mepis, PCLinux, Ubuntu, etc... even with the window fully open! I can increase the relative application size by dropping the resolution but I prefer 1024x768. My monitor is a ViewSonic A75f and is capable of 31.5-70 HorizSync and 50-160 VertRefresh. The only thing I can think of is that perhaps I need to set the HorizSync to a specific value rather than a range. Being a senior citizen, the 1024x768 resolution under Arch is a bit tough for me to read. At first I thought it was just my immagination but running two systems side by side clearly showed the Arch implementation to be rendered somewhat smaller... on the order of 10-15%. Any suggestions on how I can tweak the video setup?

phrakture

Arch Overlord

From: behind you

Registered: 2003-10-29

Posts: 7,879

Website

Re: Sizing

what does xdpyinfo report your screen dpi at?

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http://phraktured.net

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Re: Sizing

Thanks for the response. I ran "xdpyiinfo" and it showed the following:
dimensions: 1280x1024 pixels (332x241 mm)
resolution: 98x108 dots per inch.
If I drop the resolution down to 1024x768 the virtual screen is larger than the monitor screen. This does not occur on any other distribution when set to 1024x768.

phrakture

Arch Overlord

From: behind you

Registered: 2003-10-29

Posts: 7,879

Website

Re: Sizing

Thanks for the response. I ran "xdpyiinfo" and it showed the following:
dimensions: 1280x1024 pixels (332x241 mm)
resolution: 98x108 dots per inch.
If I drop the resolution down to 1024x768 the virtual screen is larger than the monitor screen. This does not occur on any other distribution when set to 1024x768.

You can set the virtual size in your xorg.conf (I have to do it on my laptop, because xorg doesn't understand 1440x900 too well)

Also, try setting your dpi when you start X (-dpi 96) - you want a square dpi (96x96) instead of something weird (98x108)

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http://phraktured.net

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Re: Sizing

I'm a little confused. My monitor is not square as I am not using a laptop. 1024x768 is what I want but it produces a desktop that is larger than the screen

phrakture

Arch Overlord

From: behind you

Registered: 2003-10-29

Posts: 7,879

Website

Re: Sizing

I'm a little confused. My monitor is not square as I am not using a laptop. 1024x768 is what I want but it produces a desktop that is larger than the screen

that happens.. it has to do with monitor/video card (in this case, most likely the nvidia module...) - sometimes they don't know how to work the settings right...

add "Virtual 1024 768" to your Display section in xorg.conf

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http://phraktured.net

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Re: Sizing

Thanks for all your patience and suggestions. I added the "Virtual 1024x768" to xorg.conf which prevented kdm from switching to graphical mode. I simply removed the line and all was OK. I also installed mozilla-firefox and the apparent size reduction is dramatic. I'm going to continue tinkering with xorg.conf and perhaps I will find missing parameter.

I appreciate your help.

phrakture

Arch Overlord

From: behind you

Registered: 2003-10-29

Posts: 7,879

Website

Re: Sizing

Thanks for all your patience and suggestions. I added the "Virtual 1024x768" to xorg.conf which prevented kdm from switching to graphical mode. I simply removed the line and all was OK. I also installed mozilla-firefox and the apparent size reduction is dramatic. I'm going to continue tinkering with xorg.conf and perhaps I will find missing parameter.

I appreciate your help.

no "x" in the middle, it's a space.

also, if you change something in the xorg.conf and it causes problems, check out /var/log/X.0.log for lines marked (EE) at the beginning... that should help ya a bit.

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http://phraktured.net

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Re: Sizing

I'll give it a try tonight.

zzano

Member

Registered: 2005-05-18

Posts: 40

Re: Sizing

I've removed the "x" from 1024x768 and tried quoting the whole string  (as well as quoting the 1024 768 only) but that did not seem to make any difference.  I've noticed that the size reduction is really apparent on graphics as I can increase the default font size through preferences... but not the graphics.