How to set custom screen resolution

Whether you are using Linux on the desktop or as a server, it's still good that you're using Linux. Linux related questions go here.

Moderator: General Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Benjamin
Site Administrator
Posts: 6935
Joined: Sun May 19, 2002 10:24 pm

How to set custom screen resolution

Post by Benjamin »

I searched for a few hours the other day on how to do this but didn't find anything useful.

What I want to so is find the configuration file where my screen resolution is set so that I can manually change it.

I want to do this so that I can plug in an HDTV and have it run at it's native screen resolution so that it looks decent.

Does anyone know how to do this? I know that my video card is capable, and I tried adding this custom resolution to the xorg.conf file but it still does not show up in the drop down menu. I guess it checks the bios or something?
User avatar
Chris Corbyn
Breakbeat Nuttzer
Posts: 13098
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by Chris Corbyn »

Doesn't show up in what dropdown menu? KDE, Gnome, EvilWm, what? ;) xorg is nothing more than a layer in which to run X applications ;)
User avatar
Benjamin
Site Administrator
Posts: 6935
Joined: Sun May 19, 2002 10:24 pm

Post by Benjamin »

Fedora 7 running KDE in the /usr/bin/system-config-display Resolution menu.
facets
Forum Contributor
Posts: 273
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:53 am
Location: Detroit

Post by facets »

Fedora 7 users Xorg. The config file is *usually* /etc/X11/xorg.conf
User avatar
Benjamin
Site Administrator
Posts: 6935
Joined: Sun May 19, 2002 10:24 pm

Post by Benjamin »

I have already attempted to edit that file. The changes were not applied.
facets
Forum Contributor
Posts: 273
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:53 am
Location: Detroit

Post by facets »

Please post your xorg.conf file.
What video card are you using? Do you have the latest drivers installed?

Will../
User avatar
Jenk
DevNet Master
Posts: 3587
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2005 6:24 am
Location: London

Post by Jenk »

have you restarted X11 since changing the file?
User avatar
Benjamin
Site Administrator
Posts: 6935
Joined: Sun May 19, 2002 10:24 pm

Post by Benjamin »

Yeah I restarted..

Code: Select all

# Xorg configuration created by livna-config-display

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "single head configuration"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
	InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
	ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions/nvidia"
	ModulePath   "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
	Option	    "AIGLX" "on"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option	    "Protocol" "auto"
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
	Option	    "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
	Option	    "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

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

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor0"
	VendorName   "Unknown"
	ModelName    "Unknown"
	HorizSync    30.0 - 110.0
	VertRefresh  50.0 - 150.0
	Option	    "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Videocard0"
	Driver      "nvidia"
	Option	    "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
	Option	    "DisableGLXRootClipping" "True"
EndSection

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

Section "Extensions"
	Option	    "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection
So, what I want to do is set an arbitrary screen resolution, of say something like 1368x768.
facets
Forum Contributor
Posts: 273
Joined: Wed Apr 13, 2005 1:53 am
Location: Detroit

Post by facets »

Hi,

Something like this should get you going. You may need to edit the VertRefresh and HorizSync, check your manual or the web for those.
Also checkout your /var/log/Xorg.log for errors. If all else fails google "nvidia xorg hdtv" you could also add your Graphics card and TV models.

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Philips"
ModelName "HD30"
Option "IgnoreEDID"
VertRefresh 30-90
HorizSync 20-150
ModeLine "720p" 73.825 1280 1320 1368 1640 720 722 724 751 +hsync +vsync
ModeLine "1080i" 74.52 1920 1952 2016 2208 1080 1084 1096 1126 -hsync -vsync interlace
DisplaySize 320 180
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
Option "DisableGLXRootClipping" "True"
Option "RenderAccel" "true"
Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
EndSection

Hope this helps..
Will./
alex.barylski
DevNet Evangelist
Posts: 6267
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:00 pm
Location: Winnipeg

Post by alex.barylski »

I tried to do this to when tinkering with KDE (Kubuntu)....PITA so I gave up and switched back to (Ubuntu) which has a gui tool to let you easily change resolutions. Couldn't find it in Kubuntu if it does exist.
Post Reply