[SATLUG] Problem geting best resolution from monitor

[Vern Davis]

On 10/23/06, Matt Kinsel <mk.spacecowboy at gmail.com> wrote:
> Vern, here's my "Monitor" info:
>
> Section "Monitor"
>         Identifier   "Monitor0"
>         VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
>         ModelName    "Unknown monitor"
>         HorizSync    31.5 - 37.9
>         VertRefresh  50.0 - 70.0
>         Option      "dpms"
> EndSection
>
> I hope that helps.  Jeremy, I'm not sure what my screen is.  I'll try to
> find out.


OK. Here's what I seem to have figgered out after several installs
using Xorg - this is just my personal experience, and Your Mileage
Will Most Likely Vary (YMWMLV);

The modelines are important, but *apparently* the HorizSync and
VertRefresh override them.

Since it is *supposedly* possible (I've never done it) to screw up a
monitor/display by running it with HorizSync and VertRefresh rates
that are more than it can handle, I think Xorg has erred
on the side of safety, and they have put severely conservative values
in the default xorg.conf file.

You should try and find the Horizontal Sync and Vertical Refresh rates
for the display on your laptop from your owner's manual, or maybe from
the Dell website.

I poked around on google this PM, and it seems a Dell Inspiron 4000
has a 14.1 inch TFT display, 1024 x 768; identified as a Samsung
LT141X8-L02. However, I couldn't find the manufacturer's
specifications for Horizontal Sync and Vertical Refresh rates.

I'd bet several Shiner Bocks that the HorizSync and VertRefresh ranges
in your xorg.conf are too conservative (narrow) for your display. As
an example, here's the monitor section for an LCD monitor I have;

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "Samsung"
        ModelName    "Samsung SyncMaster 740n"
        HorizSync    30.0 - 81.0
        VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0

and here's one for an old CRT monitor;

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Sceptre D97A"
        HorizSync    31.0 - 95.0
        VertRefresh  50.0 - 120.0

There is a way to calculate the values you need, but it's been a few
years since I fooled around with that stuff.

Anyway, the bottom line is; I think you need to increase the ranges
for HorizSync and VertRefresh in your xorg.conf file, but I can't tell
you how much, since I don't have the specs for your particular
display.

-- 
vern.davis at gmail.com