1440x900 on Acer Aspire 5630

Dinges · #1 6th October 2007, 12:38 PM

Hi all,

I am trying to get my laptop to spit out a 1440x900 signal on the VGA port to my monitor. But all I seem to get is some boxed in image. The monitor reports it is doing 1440x900, but it looks like if it is getting a 1024x768 image, with black borders around it. The image itself is compacted from 1440x900, as it looks distorted.

Meanwhile, the internal laptop display is showing a clone of the image at 1280x800, which misses the bottom and right part of the image as if it is actualy running 1440x900.

My hardware:
Acer Aspire 5630 laptop
Intel GMA 950 Videocard
Intel T5500 Centrino C2D

Internal monitor: Laptop Display 15.4" @ 1280x800
External monitor: LG L194WT 19" @ 1440x900 (connected via VGA)

Using 'intel' video driver, updated to latest version.

Turning off the internal display with:
xrandr --output LVDS --off
does not change the situation. It just turns the laptop display off. The image on the other screen is still not changed.

Changing the external monitor using something like:
xrandr --output VGA --mode 1024x768
sends out a correct image to the screen, alltough the screen stretches it outward.

When I try to set it to 1440x900, it still shows the wrong image, even with the laptop display turned off.

Can anybody help me on this one, I do not need to have dual head, but would like to use the external display at it's optimal resolution.

TIA

wneumann · #2 7th October 2007, 12:37 AM

It would help to see your /etc/X11/xorg.conf and /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Dinges · #3 8th October 2007, 05:58 PM

Here is my xorg.conf

# Xorg configuration created by pyxf86config

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Synaptics" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbVariant" "intl"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "intel"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

And Xorg.0.log:

shavexfed · #4 11th October 2007, 04:32 AM

What would cause this?! http://s16.photobucket.com/albums/b2...=fedorwhat.png

o and when i check the resolution it wont change any higher than 1024x768

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Synaptics" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
ModelName "LCD Panel 1440x900"
HorizSync 31.5 - 100.0
VertRefresh 59.0 - 75.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "intel"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

nick.stumpos · #5 11th October 2007, 04:54 AM

you might want to check with some others that have your same laptop or at least chipset, I know some of those onboard graphics cards just plain wont pu out a higher res than the screen they were made for.

BlueC · #6 11th October 2007, 09:44 AM

Couple of ideas...

I notice you have an Intel video card... I have no experience with this card, but I do know that 915resolution is a BIOS hack for intel 8xx/9xx video cards to make them support other resolutions. Check the 915resolution site here.

Also... just a couple of days ago I was trying to achieve the exact same as you on my own Acer laptop, albeit with a ATI video card. The solution I eventually found (after 4 hours - I don't recall it ever taking 4 hours to change resolution under windows!!

) was to issue the command..

Code:

gtf 1440 900 60.0

where 1440 x 900 was my desired resolution, and 60.0 was my desired frequency, yours may be slightly different. For me, this outputted the following:

Code:

# 1440x900 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 55.92 kHz; pclk: 106.47 MHz
  Modeline "1440x900_60.00"  106.47  1440 1520 1672 1904  900 901 904 932  -HSync +Vsync

I then added the Modeline above in the "Monitor" section of my xorg.conf and also added "1440x900_60.00" as a "Mode" in the "Display" subsection of the "Screen" section.

Relevant bits of xorg.conf pasted below for clarity...

Code:

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "HP"
        ModelName    "Desktop LCD Panel 1440 x 900"
        HorizSync    30.0 - 81.0
        VertRefresh  56.0 - 75.0
        ModeLine     "1440x900@60" 106.5 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -hsync +vsync
        Option      "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Videocard0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"
        DefaultDepth     24
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
                Modes    "1440x900@60" "1280x800"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Maybe one of these ideas will lead you in the right direction!

Chris

shavexfed · #7 11th October 2007, 04:10 PM

Weeelllll I tried that and it gave the same output and the file looks similar.... but it still looks like the picture i posted.

Dinges · #8 11th October 2007, 04:10 PM

The atached screenshot is what I am getting on my laptop display, which is not very important if that happens. I would just like that my external screen gets a correct image. I have allready tried 915resolution, so far, no results, but I will see if I can get it correct. Maybe somebody has another idea?

My monitor is actualy reporting that it is recieving a 1440x900 signal, but it is padded in some large black area. It looks like the 1440x900 is resized into a box that is about 1024x768 pixels large, which sits in the middle of the screen. I will try and make a picture of it soon.

BlueC · #9 11th October 2007, 04:32 PM

Hmmmm... so it is actually sending the correct signal... maybe perhaps try adding the following line underneath "Modes" in the "Display" SubSection of xorg.conf...

Code:

Virtual 1440 900

Dinges · #10 15th October 2007, 05:54 PM

See the attachment, that is what it looks like. Adding that line to xorg.conf didn't change it.

As you can see, the external image is ruined, and the internal display is displaying something that does not fit (which is normal for clone mode). The external monitor reports it is recieving a 1440x900 signal @60hz

EDIT: I just upped the refresh rate to 75hz, now it is getting a 1152x900 signal, very weird.

BlueC · #11 15th October 2007, 06:37 PM

Ok, I'm only going on what I can find on google here as I don't have an Intel video card.

The following page looks like it contains the info you need to set up the external VGA as a true clone or as a separate desktop on the GMA 950 card...

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_...ccelerator_950

One of the important things seems to be that you should use the "i810" driver, and not the x.org "intel" driver.

I would suggest trying something like this in your xorg.conf...

Code:

# Xorg configuration created by system-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "single head configuration"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Synaptics" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
ModelName "LCD Panel 1440x900"
HorizSync 31.5 - 100.0
VertRefresh 59.0 - 75.0
ModeLine     "1440x900@60" 106.5 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -hsync +vsync
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "i810"
Option "MonitorLayout" "NONE,LFP+CRT"
Option "DevicePresence" "true"
Option "CheckLid" "false"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes    "1440x900@60" "1440x900" "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Try restarting X with that. And then use the command "xrandr" from a terminal to see what available display modes there are. Then use "xrandr -s 0" to change display mode - changing the last "0" to different numbers for each display mode (1,2,3 etc).

Let me know how you get on with that.

Dinges · #12 15th October 2007, 07:11 PM

OK, tried it, had to use 915resolution to get 1280x800 on LVDS. I also made a patch for 1440x900.

The result, the LVDS is running 1280x800, the screen is showing 1024x768 clone.

furthermore, xrander only sees a Screen 0, with 3 modes: 1280x800, 1024x768, 800x600 and 640x480

BlueC · #13 15th October 2007, 07:34 PM

So... I think you're getting closer!

xrandr should only see one screen when in true clone mode so thats not a problem. however, you should be able to make it see the 1440x900 mode! I guess the solution is going to lie somewhere in either finding the correct "ModeLine" or using 915 resolution to patch to 1440x900.

Unfortunately this is kinda beyond my knowledge and experience now... I guess I would look next at the output of /var/log/Xorg.0.log for what is happening when it tries to select the 1440 modes.

Dinges · #14 15th October 2007, 07:42 PM

Well, I find it very frustrating, is the problem I am having some problem of the intel driver, maybe I should contact intel about it?

BlueC · #15 15th October 2007, 10:50 PM

I don't think its a bug... I think the driver is just badly documented and it's difficult to work out how you're supposed to go about setting the display resolutions in clone mode. I spent a solid 4 hours working out the same thing using an ATI radeon card, so you're not alone. You could try seeking further help by posting on a specific mailing list that is relevant to your card/drivers.