Puppy Linux Discussion Forum

[GlassBell]

Hi, the default driver for my radeon hd 5450 randomly changed resolution from 1280x1024 to 1024x768. My monitor is an acer AL1716 and after that resolution change occurred the monitor will periodically flicker. Should I replace my gpu with a newer low profile gpu or is there a driver solution to this?

[bigpup]

Always, always, always rell us what Puppy version you are using!!!!

Welcome to Puppy land.

Post the info from Pup-Sysinfo>Devices>Display>Summary

[GlassBell]

The version of Puppy I am using is Xenial 64 bit, kernel: Linux 4.9.58 (x86_64). Below is the general hardware summary:

-Computer-
Processor : 2x Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.00GHz
Memory : 3080MB (986MB used)
Machine Type : Physical machine
Operating System : Puppy Linux
User Name : root (root)
Date/Time : Thu Jan 31 20:58:46 2019
-Display-
Resolution : 1024x768 pixels
OpenGL Renderer : Gallium 0.4 on AMD CEDAR (DRM 2.49.0 / 4.9.58, LLVM 4.0.0)
X11 Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
-Audio Devices-
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA SIS966
Audio Adapter : PC-Speaker - pcsp
Audio Adapter : HDA-Intel - HDA ATI HDMI
-Input Devices-
Power Button
Power Button
AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
ImPS/2 Logitech Wheel Mouse
PC Speaker
HDA Digital PCBeep
HDA SIS966 Front Mic
HDA SIS966 Rear Mic
HDA SIS966 Line
HDA SIS966 Line Out Front
HDA SIS966 Line Out Surround
HDA SIS966 Line Out CLFE
HDA SIS966 Line Out Side
HDA SIS966 Front Headphone
HDA ATI HDMI HDMI/DP,pcm : 3=
-Printers (CUPS)-
CUPS-PDF : <i>Default</i>
-SCSI Disks-
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM_GSA-H60N
ATA WDC WD3200AAJS-5
ATA ST3160022ACE
Generic USB SD Reader
Generic USB CF Reader
Generic USB SM Reader
Generic USB MS Reader

Below is my display information:

-Display-
Resolution : 1024x768 pixels
Vendor : The X.Org Foundation
Version : 1.18.4
-Monitors-
Monitor 0 : 1024x768 pixels
-Extensions-
BIG-REQUESTS
Composite
DAMAGE
DOUBLE-BUFFER
DPMS
DRI2
GLX
Generic Event Extension
MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
MIT-SHM
Present
RANDR
RECORD
RENDER
SECURITY
SGI-GLX
SHAPE
SYNC
X-Resource
XC-MISC
XFIXES
XFree86-DGA
XFree86-VidModeExtension
XINERAMA
XInputExtension
XKEYBOARD
XTEST
XVideo
XVideo-MotionCompensation
-OpenGL-
Vendor : X.Org
Renderer : Gallium 0.4 on AMD CEDAR (DRM 2.49.0 / 4.9.58, LLVM 4.0.0)
Version : 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7
Direct Rendering : Y_es

[perdido]

[bigpup]

[GlassBell]

Here is the PupSysInfo display summary:

▶—— Video ——◀

Display Specifications:
• Monitor VertRefresh: 60.00 times/s
• Screen Dimensions: 1024x768 pixels (270x203 millimeters)
• Screen Depth: 24 bits (planes)

Xorg Startup Log (/var/log/Xorg.0.log):
• Xorg Driver in use: ati
• Loaded Modules: dbe dri2 exa fb fbdevhw glx kbd mouse radeon ramdac
• X.Org version: 1.18.4

OpenGL 2D/3D Rendering:
• Direct Rendering: Yes
• Vendor: X.Org
• Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on AMD CEDAR (DRM 2.49.0 / 4.9.58, LLVM 4.0.0)
• Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7

VGA controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Cedar [Radeon HD 5000/6000/7350/8350 Series] [1002:68f9]
• Kernel Driver: radeon
• Memory Used by Driver: 1356.61 KB
• Path: /lib/modules/4.9.58/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/radeon/radeon.ko
• Description: ATI Radeon
• Video RAM: 256M

[bigpup]

You are using the correct driver and all the other settings seem correct.
Monitor VertRefresh: 60.00 times/s is about standard for monitors.
So the flickering is not caused by that.

There is a chance you have a monitor going bad.
See if you can find any monitor internal settings you can play with and change.
Especially anything about default resolution.
Looking at the manual for your monitor there are all kinds of internal settings for it.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/205361/Acer-Al1716.html?page=8#manual
That OSD auto or reset may be good to use.

After checking the monitor internal settings.
See if you can change the resolution to what you want by using menu>Setup>Screen/Graphics Wizard.

If still having problems.
You do what?
You see what?

[bigpup]

For future postings.

[GlassBell]

Yes I am using Xenialpup64 7.5, I think I just need a new monitor because this monitor is getting really old. Would anyone be able to suggest a good GPU for gaming that works well with Xenialpup64 7.5, I hear that Nvidia GPUs work better.

[p310don]

Were you playing a game or similar before it happened?

This has happened to me a number of times. I play an old school game in WINE which runs at 800 x 600 resolution. Every now and again, the resolution gets stuck on that after exiting the game, rather than reverting back to full HD.

[bigpup]

Try what I suggest first.
Another thing is check the cable that connects the monitor to the computer.
Loose connection, bent pins, dirty connection, actually bad cable, etc....
Also, connections inside the computer can work loose, get dirty, etc......

Also what p310don is talking about.

I will answer the question about Nvidia graphics hardware.
Yes, Nvidia hardware is better supported in Linux.
Mainly because Nvidia builds and offers drivers for Linux and good ones.
Even the latest Nvidia generic Nouveau driver is very good, now.

However, to get a Nvidia graphics card that will work in your computer. It is all about what connector slots the computer has. What additional power plugs it has. How much power the power supply provides.
Looking at the specs you did provide.
That is some very old hardware.
The Nvidia hardware will probably have to be old style too.
Not sure it would give you any better graphics than what you already have.

What is the computer make and model?
If it is a laptop that is another set of problems to add a graphics card if even possible.

Here is some info:
https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/pc-components/how-know-if-graphics-card-is-compatible-3588810/