Why does Ubuntu set my resolution to 1152x864?
I'm trying out Ubuntu 8.10 on my new system. It insists on setting the resolution in X to 1152x864 by default. This is a real pain because it looks awful on my Dell display which has a native resolution of 1600x1200. I can set the user desktop to 1600x1200 but that doesn't change anything else, for example the gdm login is still at the lower (fuzzy) resolution and if I change to anothe window manager that's at the lower resolution too. Where does the 'default' come from now that there are no explicit resolutions in xorg.conf? Can I put 1600x1200 explicitly in xorg.conf and, if I do that, will it cause any problems? -- Chris Green
On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 08:56:41PM +0100, Chris G wrote:
I'm trying out Ubuntu 8.10 on my new system.
It insists on setting the resolution in X to 1152x864 by default. This is a real pain because it looks awful on my Dell display which has a native resolution of 1600x1200.
I can set the user desktop to 1600x1200 but that doesn't change anything else, for example the gdm login is still at the lower (fuzzy) resolution and if I change to anothe window manager that's at the lower resolution too.
Where does the 'default' come from now that there are no explicit resolutions in xorg.conf? Can I put 1600x1200 explicitly in xorg.conf and, if I do that, will it cause any problems?
Well I've found where/how it decides on 1152x864 but I don't know *why* and I don't really know how to fix it. In my Xorg.0.log file there is:- (II) intel(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines: (II) intel(0): Modeline "1600x1200"x0.0 162.00 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync (75.0 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "800x600"x0.0 40.00 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync (37.9 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "640x480"x0.0 31.50 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync (37.5 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "640x480"x0.0 25.20 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync (31.5 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "720x400"x0.0 28.32 720 738 846 900 400 412 414 449 -hsync +vsync (31.5 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1280x1024"x0.0 135.00 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync (80.0 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1024x768"x0.0 78.80 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync (60.1 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1024x768"x0.0 65.00 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync (48.4 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "800x600"x0.0 49.50 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync (46.9 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1280x1024"x60.0 108.88 1280 1360 1496 1712 1024 1025 1028 1060 -hsync +vsync (63.6 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1600x1200"x60.0 160.96 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync (74.5 kHz) (II) intel(0): Modeline "1152x864"x75.0 104.99 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 902 -hsync +vsync (67.7 kHz) (II) intel(0): EDID vendor "DEL", prod id 40967 (II) intel(0): I2C device "HDMIDDC_C:ddc2" registered at address 0xA0. (II) intel(0): I2C device "HDMIDDC_C:ddc2" removed. (II) intel(0): Output VGA connected (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-1 disconnected (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-2 connected (II) intel(0): Using fuzzy aspect match for initial modes (II) intel(0): Output VGA using initial mode 1152x864 (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-2 using initial mode 1152x864 (II) intel(0): detected 512 kB GTT. (II) intel(0): detected 131072 kB stolen memory. (==) intel(0): video overlay key set to 0x101fe Xorg has simply chosen the last value returned by ddcprobe as the default, which IMHO is wrong. What's the 'right' way to fix it? All I want to do is set the resolution to 1600x1200 by default for everything that doesn't have a resolution set. -- Chris Green
On 13/10/2008 21:48:50, Chris G wrote:
Well I've found where/how it decides on 1152x864 but I don't know *why* and I don't really know how to fix it. In my Xorg.0.log file there is:- ... (II) intel(0): Modeline "1152x864"x75.0 104.99 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 902 -hsync +vsync (67.7 kHz) (II) intel(0): EDID vendor "DEL", prod id 40967 ...
Xorg has simply chosen the last value returned by ddcprobe as the default, which IMHO is wrong. What's the 'right' way to fix it? All I want to do is set the resolution to 1600x1200 by default for everything that doesn't have a resolution set.
Chris, I replies to a previous question on this or something similar which I repeat below. Although my answer relates to Debian it should work for Ubuntu too as I believe Ubuntu is based on Debian. I have Debian on my desktop and I recently had a similar problem. After an upgrade of X it chose a default resolution that was substaintially poorer than the monitor can cope with. What I think happenned in my case is that X switched from using the values in the x.org config file by default to using the values obtained from the monitor and then applied an incorrect or too simplistic algorithm to chosing the best mode. The solution in my case was to add an option to the x.org config file: "PreferredMode". This makes the whole of the monitor portion of my x.org config file as follows: Section "Monitor" Identifier "CPD-G500" Option "DPMS" ModeLine "1600x1200" 229.50 1600 1668 1860 2152 1200 1201 1 204 1250 +hsync +vsync Option "PreferredMode" "1600x1200" EndSection The ModeLine above is not wrapped in my config file. The timing in this line are those reported by the monitor as seen by examining the X :0.log file. HTH, Steve.
Steven, You fixed it for me, thank you! For comments/feedback see below. On Mon, Oct 13, 2008 at 11:48:38PM +0100, Steve Fosdick wrote:
On 13/10/2008 21:48:50, Chris G wrote:
Well I've found where/how it decides on 1152x864 but I don't know *why* and I don't really know how to fix it. In my Xorg.0.log file there is:- ... (II) intel(0): Modeline "1152x864"x75.0 104.99 1152 1224 1352 1552 864 865 868 902 -hsync +vsync (67.7 kHz) (II) intel(0): EDID vendor "DEL", prod id 40967 ...
Xorg has simply chosen the last value returned by ddcprobe as the default, which IMHO is wrong. What's the 'right' way to fix it? All I want to do is set the resolution to 1600x1200 by default for everything that doesn't have a resolution set.
Chris,
I replies to a previous question on this or something similar which I repeat below. Although my answer relates to Debian it should work for Ubuntu too as I believe Ubuntu is based on Debian.
I have Debian on my desktop and I recently had a similar problem. After an upgrade of X it chose a default resolution that was substaintially poorer than the monitor can cope with.
What I think happenned in my case is that X switched from using the values in the x.org config file by default to using the values obtained from the monitor and then applied an incorrect or too simplistic algorithm to chosing the best mode.
'New' xorg.conf files don't have *any* resolution settings for the monitor, you just get the resolution that Xorg thinks is right. This was my fundamental problem. The *whole* of my xorg.conf file as generated by Ubuntu (8.10) installation is:- Section "Device" Identifier "Configured Video Device" EndSection Section "Monitor" Identifier "Configured Monitor" EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Default Screen" Monitor "Configured Monitor" Device "Configured Video Device" EndSection
The solution in my case was to add an option to the x.org config file: "PreferredMode". This makes the whole of the monitor portion of my x.org config file as follows:
Section "Monitor" Identifier "CPD-G500" Option "DPMS" ModeLine "1600x1200" 229.50 1600 1668 1860 2152 1200 1201 1 204 1250 +hsync +vsync Option "PreferredMode" "1600x1200" EndSection
The ModeLine above is not wrapped in my config file. The timing in this line are those reported by the monitor as seen by examining the X :0.log file.
Excellent, that's done it, thank you very much! I had to 'tune' it a very little but what I have is:- Section "Monitor" Identifier "Configured Monitor" Modeline "1600x1200" 160.96 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync Option "PreferredMode" "1600x1200" EndSection The Modeline in my Xorg.0.log file was actually:- Modeline "1600x1200"x60.0 160.96 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync (74.5 kHz) I had to remove that x60.0 after the 1600x1200 and the frequency off the end, after that it all worked perfectly. -- Chris Green
On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:20:01AM +0100, Chris G wrote:
The solution in my case was to add an option to the x.org config file: "PreferredMode". This makes the whole of the monitor portion of my x.org config file as follows:
Section "Monitor" Identifier "CPD-G500" Option "DPMS" ModeLine "1600x1200" 229.50 1600 1668 1860 2152 1200 1201 1 204 1250 +hsync +vsync Option "PreferredMode" "1600x1200" EndSection
The ModeLine above is not wrapped in my config file. The timing in this line are those reported by the monitor as seen by examining the X :0.log file.
Excellent, that's done it, thank you very much! I had to 'tune' it a very little but what I have is:-
Section "Monitor" Identifier "Configured Monitor" Modeline "1600x1200" 160.96 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync Option "PreferredMode" "1600x1200" EndSection
The Modeline in my Xorg.0.log file was actually:-
Modeline "1600x1200"x60.0 160.96 1600 1704 1880 2160 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync (74.5 kHz)
I had to remove that x60.0 after the 1600x1200 and the frequency off the end, after that it all worked perfectly.
Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!! I just connected the DVI-D output from my new system to the Dell monitor and now it's back at 1152x864 even with the above "Preferred Mode" line in xorg.conf. For some reason Xorg does different things when the DVI-D output is connected. Now it says in Xorg.0.log :- (II) intel(0): EDID vendor "DEL", prod id 40968 (II) intel(0): I2C device "HDMIDDC_C:ddc2" registered at address 0xA0. (II) intel(0): I2C device "HDMIDDC_C:ddc2" removed. (II) intel(0): Output VGA disconnected (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-1 connected (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-2 connected (II) intel(0): Using fuzzy aspect match for initial modes (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-1 using initial mode 1152x864 (II) intel(0): Output HDMI-2 using initial mode 1152x864 (II) intel(0): detected 512 kB GTT. (II) intel(0): detected 131072 kB stolen memory. There are no Modeline lines in Xorg.0.log. ... and I'm stuck in 1152x864 again. Grrrrr -- Chris Green
On 14/10/2008 15:47:01, Chris G wrote:
I just connected the DVI-D output from my new system to the Dell monitor and now it's back at 1152x864 even with the above "Preferred Mode" line in xorg.conf. For some reason Xorg does different things when the DVI-D output is connected.
I wonder if X considers the two outputs to be two different screens. If you connect a monitor to each do you get a different picture on each? If that is the case I still haven't done the background reading for how to mark xorg.conf setting for use on a particular screen but that may be a good place to start. HTH, Steve.
On 14/10/2008 15:47:01, Chris G wrote:
I just connected the DVI-D output from my new system to the Dell monitor and now it's back at 1152x864 even with the above "Preferred Mode" line in xorg.conf. For some reason Xorg does different things when the DVI-D output is connected.
I wonder if X considers the two outputs to be two different screens. If you connect a monitor to each do you get a different picture on each? If that is the case I still haven't done the background reading for how to mark xorg.conf setting for use on a particular screen but that may be a good place to start. HTH, Steve.
Hi, 2008/10/13 Chris G <cl@isbd.net>:
I'm trying out Ubuntu 8.10 on my new system.
It insists on setting the resolution in X to 1152x864 by default. This is a real pain because it looks awful on my Dell display which has a native resolution of 1600x1200.
I can set the user desktop to 1600x1200 but that doesn't change anything else, for example the gdm login is still at the lower (fuzzy) resolution and if I change to anothe window manager that's at the lower resolution too.
Where does the 'default' come from now that there are no explicit resolutions in xorg.conf? Can I put 1600x1200 explicitly in xorg.conf and, if I do that, will it cause any problems?
Did you not ask this before? Do you make a habit of ignoring people's suggestions? Does the following help (fill in the ID, device, monitor)? Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "ATI Technologies, Inc. FireGL Mobility T2 (M10 NT)" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Depth 1 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 4 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 8 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 15 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 16 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection EndSection - Srdjan
On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:00:41AM +0100, Srdjan Todorovic wrote:
Hi,
2008/10/13 Chris G <cl@isbd.net>:
I'm trying out Ubuntu 8.10 on my new system.
It insists on setting the resolution in X to 1152x864 by default. This is a real pain because it looks awful on my Dell display which has a native resolution of 1600x1200.
I can set the user desktop to 1600x1200 but that doesn't change anything else, for example the gdm login is still at the lower (fuzzy) resolution and if I change to anothe window manager that's at the lower resolution too.
Where does the 'default' come from now that there are no explicit resolutions in xorg.conf? Can I put 1600x1200 explicitly in xorg.conf and, if I do that, will it cause any problems?
Did you not ask this before? Do you make a habit of ignoring people's suggestions?
I asked a similar question but this time around I had found out more about what was going on so I thought it was worth providing the extra information.
Does the following help (fill in the ID, device, monitor)?
Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "ATI Technologies, Inc. FireGL Mobility T2 (M10 NT)" Monitor "Monitor0" DefaultDepth 24 SubSection "Display" Depth 1 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 4 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 8 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 15 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 16 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection SubSection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "1600x1200" EndSubSection EndSection
As I understand it all the above shouldn't be necessary. However see my response to Steve's solution which has worked perfectly for me and provides exactly what I want with minumum change to the xorg.conf file. -- Chris Green
participants (4)
-
Chris G -
Srdjan Todorovic -
Steve Fosdick -
Steve Fosdick