can't get better than 640x480 using s3 Inc 86c775 card

bruce384 · 09-09-2007, 02:42 PM

I installed xubuntu on an old 133MHz machine with a modern monitor. Finally got a picture with the vesa driver, but can't get any resolution except 640x480. Very unsatisfactory.

xorg.conf shows 1280x1024 and others, but kcontrol only shows 640x480 and ctrl-alt-+ doesn't do anything.

I can stand the slowness, but gotta have a better picture.
bruce384

aus9 · 09-09-2007, 07:31 PM

it appears you are using the vesa driver?

I used to have a s3 card but not the exact card than yours, but Mandriva still have drivers for S3...Trio 3d so try selecting that type in Ubuntu.

maroonbaboon · 09-09-2007, 08:08 PM

Do you know how much memory your card has? Also check the 'DefaultDepth' setting in xorg.conf. If set at 24 bits you could try reducing it to 16 or even 8.

I seem to recall back in P133 days 1280x1024 at 24 bits would have been beyond the average video card.

The log file /etc/var/Xorg.0.log usually says why some video modes are being rejected.

bruce384 · 09-10-2007, 11:00 PM

The graphics is built in to the mother board. Appears I have only 1mb of video memory. When I get back to it I will try adding a video card and see if that works.

maroonbaboon · 09-10-2007, 11:16 PM

1mb will will max out at about 800x600/16bit. Check if you can increase the video memory in the BIOS settings.

For 1280x1024/24bit you need 1280x1024x3 bytes or about 3.9mb minimum. In P133 days luxury was an 8mb graphics card.