[SOLVED] Setting up Gentoo, KDE4, X and Nvidia

scheme · 10-14-2009, 10:59 PM

What are you after with that Option switch?
I've seen that thread but I can't find where nvidia-settings would let me make the edid file.
Also, now I'm on the beta drivers (190.32) and nothing has changed.

manwithaplan · 10-15-2009, 01:44 PM

The option that I had posted was only a suggestion... I was suggesting this, so maybe you could look into it.. that's all. I am at loss as far as "Why your not getting EDID info to the driver."

The driver initiates, pulls the EDID info from the hardware, passes to the X server, and reads your preferences. So I would suggest its possible that it might be the DVI to VGA adapter or cord. The only way I can think you could narrow down, would to try using a LiveDVD that detects your Vid card. Then look at the Xorg log file for any similar output. Then use nvidia-settings to "Acquire your EDID" and save to a bin file and use this option.

Code:

Option "CustomEDID" "DFP-0:/etc/X11/edid.bin"

This option is in the nvidia-settings menu under "DFP-0 (Your monitor name)" So.. If you are not seeing this option in your driver, and after an upgrade of the Nvidia driver. Gives me the assumption that its hardware related, and that the only way to truly narrow it down is to use another distro. Too see if it acquires the EDID, and if it does... save it, and use the above xorg option.

I've had great Nvidia detection with the Sabayon LiveDVD. It was the only distro I tried that detected my card at boot and set the "glx" properly.

I came across this option here... It turns off mode detection for your Vertical and Horizontal.

Code:

Option         "ModeValidation" "CRT-0: NoHorizSyncCheck, NoVertRefreshCheck"

rolf · 10-16-2009, 09:13 PM

I've spent some time figuring how to get my Samsung flat panel to display the resolution I want, in defiance of its EDID and xorg's default actions. Don't know if it's anywhere near to what you need. Part of it was to use cvt to get a modeline:

Code:

# 1280x800 59.91 Hz (CVT 1.02MA-R) hsync: 49.31 kHz; pclk: 71.00 MHz
    Modeline "1280x800R"   71.00  1280 1328 1360 1440  800 803 809 823 +hsync -vsync

The 'R' signifies using the -r|--reduced switch with cvt. From the manual:

Code:

-r|--reduced
               Create a mode with reduced blanking.  This allows for higher frequency signals, with  a
               lower or equal dotclock. Not for Cathode Ray Tube based displays though.

Valid xorg or driver options seem to change with development. I've gone through a couple, gleaned from the nvidia driver documentation, that have worked for me at one time. Currently, using 180.51, the Device section in xorg.conf looks like:

Code:

#
Section "Device"
    Identifier "Device0"
    VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName "GeForce 9500 GT"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "ExactModeTimingsDVI" "yes"
#    Option "UseEDIDFreqs" "false"
#    Option "ModeValidation" "DFP-1: NoMaxPClkCheck, NoEdidMaxPClkCheck, AllowNon60HzDFPModes"

The commented lines show failed tries, perhaps something that once worked but no longer does.

My experience was that my desired mode had to be first in the Display subsection and the highest resolution available; xorg seemed to go for the highest resolution.

Code:

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "Device0"    
    Monitor "monitor1"  
    DefaultColorDepth 24
                        
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 8         
        Modes "1280x800R" "1152x720R" "1152x768" "720x480" "360x240"
    EndSubsection                                                   
                                                                    
    Subsection "Display"                                            
        Depth 15                                                    
        Modes "1280x800R" "1152x720R" "1152x768" "720x480" "360x240"
    EndSubsection                                                   
                                                                    
    Subsection "Display"                                            
        Depth 16                                                    
        Modes "1280x800R" "1152x720R" "1152x768" "720x480" "360x240"
    EndSubsection                                                   
                                                                    
    Subsection "Display"                                            
        Depth 24                                                    
        Modes "1280x800R" "1152x720R" "1152x768" "720x480" "360x240"
    EndSubsection                                                   
EndSection

scheme · 10-28-2009, 04:04 PM

I've tried other than the R option. I might look into it although I doubt it's of much significance.

I actually replaced Gentoo with Fedora, but the problem preserves, especially with the Fedoras auto-config obsession.

PS: I wouldn't call this a Gentoo problem anymore, moving the thread might turn useful.

scheme · 11-11-2009, 05:40 PM

I installed Arch. The Nvidia drivers couldn't find edid so I went to nouveau, which now let me quite painlessly use the resolution I wanted. But Nouveau's 3d support is limited and it's a must for me. I actually ordered an ATI card, if that doesn't work I can blame the monitor or something more exotic.

I still can't find the <get edid> button of Nvidia-settings, if someone is willing to give any advice on that (specific nvidia-settings version?) I am willing to continue trying to solve this even after the ATI arrives.

scheme · 11-16-2009, 07:15 PM

I installed the ATI card and Catalyst drivers. Had an amount of hassle with those too because the edid information still wasn't there. A few times I had the right resolution and all the 3d acceleration I needed but with the lovely "Unsupported Hardware" watermark. After hours of tweaking I looked around and decided to switch the VGA -> DVI adapter to the one shipped with the new graphic card. Everything worked. The edid was found, resolution set up correctly, all the monitor values showed nice and accurate.

It was bad luck having a few broken VGA->DVI adapters lying around.