Linux makes me ill ...

phoeniXflame · 01-22-2004, 10:42 AM

I couldn't think where else to post this so here goes ...

I recently converted to SuSE 9 on my desktop machine, normally I wouldn't use linux as my desktop OS because of my love for games and the need to use a few windows applications for uni. However I decided to give the 'desktop linux' idea a go, the only problem is that after any long period of time I feel really ill using X, my eyes feel tired really quickly and I feel sick, I'm running at the same refresh rate as I was in windows (1600x1200@85Hz) yet it just 'feels' wrong if that makes any sense ?

any help anyone could offer me would be great

EDIT: I have an iiyama vision master pro 454 19" CRT

jtshaw · 01-22-2004, 11:01 AM

Do you have all your horizontal refresh and vertical sync rates correct for your monitor if the xf86 config?

phoeniXflame · 01-22-2004, 04:06 PM

yup I'm pretty sure they are correct, thing is, my monitor reports my vertical and horizontal refresh rates to be exactly the same as in windows, so I don't know what could be causing it

h/w · 01-22-2004, 04:18 PM

what does your 'xdpyinfo' tell you? everything loook ok in it?

phoeniXflame · 01-22-2004, 05:01 PM

Code:

name of display:    :0.0
version number:    11.0
vendor string:    The XFree86 Project, Inc
vendor release number:    40300001
XFree86 version: 4.3.0.1
maximum request size:  16777212 bytes
motion buffer size:  256
bitmap unit, bit order, padding:    32, LSBFirst, 32
image byte order:    LSBFirst
number of supported pixmap formats:    7
supported pixmap formats:
    depth 1, bits_per_pixel 1, scanline_pad 32
    depth 4, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
    depth 8, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
    depth 15, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
    depth 16, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
    depth 24, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
    depth 32, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
keycode range:    minimum 8, maximum 255
focus:  window 0x3200002, revert to PointerRoot
number of extensions:    30
    BIG-REQUESTS
    DOUBLE-BUFFER
    DPMS
    Extended-Visual-Information
    FontCache
    GLX
    LBX
    MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
    MIT-SHM
    MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
    NV-CONTROL
    NV-GLX
    NVIDIA-GLX
    RANDR
    RENDER
    SECURITY
    SHAPE
    SYNC
    TOG-CUP
    X-Resource
    XC-APPGROUP
    XC-MISC
    XFree86-Bigfont
    XFree86-DGA
    XFree86-Misc
    XFree86-VidModeExtension
    XInputExtension
    XKEYBOARD
    XTEST
    XVideo
default screen number:    0
number of screens:    1

screen #0:
  dimensions:    1600x1200 pixels (363x272 millimeters)
  resolution:    112x112 dots per inch
  depths (7):    16, 1, 4, 8, 15, 24, 32
  root window id:    0x8d
  depth of root window:    16 planes
  number of colormaps:    minimum 1, maximum 1
  default colormap:    0x20
  default number of colormap cells:    64
  preallocated pixels:    black 0, white 65535
  options:    backing-store NO, save-unders NO
  largest cursor:    64x64
  current input event mask:    0xda4031
    KeyPressMask             EnterWindowMask          LeaveWindowMask          
    KeymapStateMask          StructureNotifyMask      SubstructureNotifyMask   
    SubstructureRedirectMask PropertyChangeMask       ColormapChangeMask       
  number of visuals:    20
  default visual id:  0x21
  visual:
    visual id:    0x21
    class:    TrueColor
    depth:    16 planes
    available colormap entries:    64 per subfield
    red, green, blue masks:    0xf800, 0x7e0, 0x1f
    significant bits in color specification:    8 bitsname of display:    :0.0
version number:    11.0
vendor string:    The XFree86 Project, Inc
vendor release number:    40300001
XFree86 version: 4.3.0.1
maximum request size:  16777212 bytes
motion buffer size:  256
bitmap unit, bit order, padding:    32, LSBFirst, 32
image byte order:    LSBFirst
number of supported pixmap formats:    7
supported pixmap formats:
    depth 1, bits_per_pixel 1, scanline_pad 32
    depth 4, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
    depth 8, bits_per_pixel 8, scanline_pad 32
    depth 15, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
    depth 16, bits_per_pixel 16, scanline_pad 32
    depth 24, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
    depth 32, bits_per_pixel 32, scanline_pad 32
keycode range:    minimum 8, maximum 255
focus:  window 0x3200002, revert to PointerRoot
number of extensions:    30
    BIG-REQUESTS
    DOUBLE-BUFFER
    DPMS
    Extended-Visual-Information
    FontCache
    GLX
    LBX
    MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
    MIT-SHM
    MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
    NV-CONTROL
    NV-GLX
    NVIDIA-GLX
    RANDR
    RENDER
    SECURITY
    SHAPE
    SYNC
    TOG-CUP
    X-Resource
    XC-APPGROUP
    XC-MISC
    XFree86-Bigfont
    XFree86-DGA
    XFree86-Misc
    XFree86-VidModeExtension
    XInputExtension
    XKEYBOARD
    XTEST
    XVideo
default screen number:    0
number of screens:    1

screen #0:
  dimensions:    1600x1200 pixels (363x272 millimeters)
  resolution:    112x112 dots per inch
  depths (7):    16, 1, 4, 8, 15, 24, 32
  root window id:    0x8d
  depth of root window:    16 planes
  number of colormaps:    minimum 1, maximum 1
  default colormap:    0x20
  default number of colormap cells:    64
  preallocated pixels:    black 0, white 65535
  options:    backing-store NO, save-unders NO
  largest cursor:    64x64
  current input event mask:    0xda4031
    KeyPressMask             EnterWindowMask          LeaveWindowMask          
    KeymapStateMask          StructureNotifyMask      SubstructureNotifyMask   
    SubstructureRedirectMask PropertyChangeMask       ColormapChangeMask       
  number of visuals:    20
  default visual id:  0x21
  visual:
    visual id:    0x21
    class:    TrueColor
    depth:    16 planes
    available colormap entries:    64 per subfield
    red, green, blue masks:    0xf800, 0x7e0, 0x1f
    significant bits in color specification:    8 bits

    ........................................................................

Then 19 more bits like the last 7 lines, but since it says the default is 0x21 I've only included that

h/w · 01-22-2004, 05:33 PM

not an expert here, but it's using 16-bit for depth. change your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file where it says "DefaultDepth 16" to "DefaultDepth 24". you'll have to make the change as root. see if that makes it any better.

95se · 01-22-2004, 10:41 PM

Honestly, this fix is probably more money then you'll want to spend, but... LCD monitors are amazing for eye strain. If you stare at monitors for hours on end, you'll be all the better.

itsme86 · 01-23-2004, 02:12 AM

Might also want to try something as simple as changing the background color/image. You might be using a color that just doesn't agree with you

rehab junkie · 01-24-2004, 06:14 AM

Or (and I hate to say it) try using a window manager that more closely resembles Windows. There are a couple out there.

24-bit as opposed 16-bit colour makes a big difference, too.

Nimoy · 01-24-2004, 07:40 AM

And remember to take breaks - once an hour at least you should take 10 minutes to do something not screen related.

A more frequent break rate, such as getting up every 20 minutes is recommended by many work/health related inquiries/reports.

Changing your work position while working also cuts strain and room lighting is of the utmost importance.

natalinasmpf · 01-24-2004, 11:53 PM

Quote:

And remember to take breaks - once an hour at least you should take 10 minutes to do something not screen related.

Except thats impossible to do when I am engaged in a heated multiplayer online game (netpanzer, etc.) over Linux (and Windows yes).

Nimoy · 01-25-2004, 06:08 AM

I know that feeling - but at least now you know what the doctors said ;o)