[SOLVED] Having trouble setting higher resolution

[pelikan]

Puppy 511 running off the CD (pfix=ram)
Nvidia 7300GS
32" LCD TV monitor, default 1024x768 or 1360x768 PC mode resolutions

During boot I chose 1360x768 LCD flat panel.

I've tried the nvidia 173 and 256 drivers, using Quickpet and following the instructions.

I can use 1024x768, 60 Hz, but choosing 1360x768 (via nvidia-settings or editing xorg.conf) causes blank screen.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Edit: Here is my xorg.conf:

Code: Select all

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier     "X.org Configured"
	Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
	InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
	InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Keyboard0"
	Driver      "kbd"
	Option      "XkbRules" "xorg"
	Option      "XkbModel" "pc102"
	Option      "XkbLayout" "us" #xkeymap0
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier  "Mouse0"
	Driver      "mouse"
	Option	    "Protocol" "IMPS/2" #mouse0protocol
	Option	    "Device" "/dev/mouse"
	#Option      "Emulate3Buttons"
	#Option      "Emulate3Timeout" "50"
	Option      "ZAxisMapping" "4 5" #scrollwheel
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier   "Monitor0"
	VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
	ModelName    "Monitor Model"
	HorizSync    48.36
	VertRefresh  60.00
	#UseModes     "Modes0" #monitor0usemodes
	Option      "PreferredMode" "1360x768"
	EndSection
	
Section "Modes"
	Identifier "Modes0"
	#modes0modeline0
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier  "Card0"
	Driver      "nvidia" #card0driver
	VendorName  "nVidia Corporation"
	BoardName   "G71 [GeForce 7300 GS]"
	BusID       "PCI:8:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Screen0"
	Device     "Card0"
	Monitor    "Monitor0"
	DefaultDepth 24
	#Option         "metamodes" "1360x768_60 +0+0" #METAMODES_0
	Subsection "Display"
		Depth       24
		Modes       "1360x768"
	EndSubsection
EndSection

[pelikan]

I can set 1360x768 using the NV driver. The only problem is my screen is shifted to the right side. I can't see the right one inch of the screen and the left side has a black strip. I was able to correct some of it with my monitor's controls, but not much.

Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

[disciple]

Yes; on my (different) hardware I get the same result with the nv driver... except the controls on the monitor are just enough to get it centred. The nvidia driver works fine.

Does the same resolution (and colour depth) work with the same hardware in another operating system?
If you can't figure out how to get the nvidia driver working try changing the refresh rate (probably increasing it)... hopefully the nv driver supports the right refresh rate on your hardware.
Better do some research on how to change it - I've never changed it myself

[disciple]

Also, there's a good chance it will work well automatically if you choose 16 bit colour...

[pelikan]

Hi disciple, thanks for the help.

The same resolution and color depth work in Windows XP, and various linux distros, including Puppy, that are about 2 years old and older. I had success with both the NV and Nvidia drivers. I don't remember the exact versions of the distros.

I'll try changing the refresh rate and using 16 bit color.

Edit: Using the NV driver and setting my monitor's refresh rate in xorgconfig moved my screen to the left a little. The change in the refresh rate was a slight increase to HorizSync. I will try increasing it a little more and see if that centers the screen.

I'm still using 32 bit color. It just sounds better to me. Will try 16 bit if my evil plan fails.

I'm fine with using the NV driver as long as it works well for watching movies. I don't play video games.

[pelikan]

On a whim I changed the settings in my monitor itself to 1280x768. This setting, combined with using the NV driver at 1360x768 gives me a 1280x768 resolution. Other combinations do not work. The picture is centered. I lose a little bit of screen real estate on each side, but it's only 40 pixels so no big deal.
I tried so many settings and combinations of settings, with every driver I could find. I also had the same problem in Ubuntu 10.10 and solved it there, but in a different way (using the Nouveau driver and xrandr).
I'll mark this as solved.