HDMI to DVI cable > overscan on monitor

bennypr0fane · 12-24-2013, 07:55 PM

My computer (Zotac Zbox Nano ID62 with IntelHD graphics) has an HDMI out, and the monitor has only a DVI in, so I'm using a HDMI to DVI converter cable to connect them. Part of the image is cut off on the borders, as if the monitor is too small (it is an old Samsung LE27T51B with 1366x768 res).
Since exactly the same has happened with a RaspberryPi too, I figure it's due to this converting of video output. XBMC distros for Raspberry Pi had the ability to fix that in system settings.
LMDE is the OS I run on the Zotac, so I'm wondering if there's a utility for fixing that in the OS, do you happen to know any such program (LMDE forums visitors seem to not know)?
Otherwise, how would you try to fix it?
LMDE thinks the monitor is 7 inches with 1280x720 resolution, and it won't go any higher.
The settings for that monitor itself which I can access via its remote only let me choose between 4:3 and 16:9 ratio, but there isn't a way to actually adjust the image size.

business_kid · 12-25-2013, 03:35 AM

As a shot to nothing, you could possibly fix it in X with

Virtual 1280 720

in the config. That limits the screen size to 1280 x 720. X is not inclined to run a larger resolution, so the question would be asked of your monitor if it can do 1280 x 720.

bennypr0fane · 12-25-2013, 06:35 AM

delete this post

bennypr0fane · 12-25-2013, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by business_kid

As a shot to nothing, you could possibly fix it in X with

Virtual 1280 720

in the config. That limits the screen size to 1280 x 720. X is not inclined to run a larger resolution, so the question would be asked of your monitor if it can do 1280 x 720.

It definitely can, it's 27 inches!
The OSs running on my desktop PC, which is connected to the same monitor via VGA, resolve it at 1360x768.
The way I see it, the fix would not be changing the resolution, but size of the picture.
It won't help if I see the same picture cut off at the borders with a higher res.

qlue · 12-25-2013, 07:46 AM

Your tv should have a 'pc-mode' according to this manual.
That should eliminate overscan.
You can do some manipulations with xrandr that may help. But I don't think that can fully compensate for overscan.

metaschima · 12-25-2013, 12:50 PM

For a monitor you should press the menu button and see if you can change the horizontal and vertical stretch.

You can use xrandr to setup overscan/underscan.

First run xrandr and look at the output. Near the bottom there should be some options about underscan or overscan. If not, you're out of luck.

For one of my TVs I have to run:

Code:

xrandr --output 'LVDS-1' --auto --output 'HDMI-1' --mode 1920x1080 --below 'LVDS-1' --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36

For a single monitor you would want to run:

Code:

xrandr --output 'HDMI-1' --mode 1366x768 --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36

and adjust the numbers.

bennypr0fane · 12-27-2013, 11:54 AM

xrandr says:

Code:

~ $ xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 1280 x 720, current 1280 x 720, maximum 1280 x 720
default connected 1280x720+0+0 0mm x 0mm
   1280x720        0.0*

Out of luck?

I installed XBMC from the LMDE repos. It has a very easy utility in system settings for adjusting the picture size, which fixes my problem - as long as I'm in XBMC. When I shut down XBMC, the screen goes back to overscanning, of course.
But, if XBMC can do this, why not another program? It should be just a matter of finding a standalone utility with that functionality, shouldn't it?

bennypr0fane · 12-27-2013, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qlue

Your tv should have a 'pc-mode' according to this manual.
That should eliminate overscan.
You can do some manipulations with xrandr that may help. But I don't think that can fully compensate for overscan.

PC mode works only with the VGA input.

In fact, when I press "PC" on the screen's remote, it switches the source to my desktop PC which goes in the VGA-in of the same monitor.
Right now I don't have a gadget that can convert HDMI or DisplayPort output from the ZBox to a VGA signal - if such a thing even exists, whereas I do have an HDMI>DVI cable.
Do DisplayPort>DVI cables exist?

bennypr0fane · 12-27-2013, 12:57 PM

aaw man, now my Xserver is broken. I used LMDE's Device Driver Manager to try the Vesa gfx driver.
Now X won't start and I only got the command line. I managed to remove the Vesa driver and reinstall the Intel one from the command line, but it seems X still wants to load Vesa. Now I'm stuck. Would anyone know the commands or edits I need to make to at least get a functioning Xserver back?
Thanks, Ben

metaschima · 12-27-2013, 01:29 PM

Use nano or vim to edit '/etc/X11/xorg.conf'. Add or change the following section:

Code:

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "intel"
    Driver      "intel"
EndSection

bennypr0fane · 12-30-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metaschima

You can use xrandr to setup overscan/underscan.
First run xrandr and look at the output. Near the bottom there should be some options about underscan or overscan. If not, you're out of luck.
For one of my TVs I have to run:

Code:

xrandr --output 'LVDS-1' --auto --output 'HDMI-1' --mode 1920x1080 --below 'LVDS-1' --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36

For a single monitor you would want to run:

Code:

xrandr --output 'HDMI-1' --mode 1366x768 --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36

and adjust the numbers.

ok, I got a DP>DVI cable, the picture looks the same, but xrandr gives a different output:

Code:

~ $ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 720, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI1 connected 1280x720+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 160mm x 90mm
   1280x720       60.0*+   50.0  
   720x576        50.0  
   720x480        59.9  
   640x480        60.0  
HDMI2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

~ $ xrandr --output 'HDMI1' --mode 1366x768 --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36
xrandr: cannot find mode 1366x768

~ $ xrandr --output 'HDMI1' --mode 1280x720 --set 'underscan' on --set 'underscan vborder' 16 --set 'underscan hborder' 36
X Error of failed request:  BadName (named color or font does not exist)
  Major opcode of failed request:  150 (RANDR)
  Minor opcode of failed request:  11 (RRQueryOutputProperty)
  Serial number of failed request:  36
  Current serial number in output stream:  36

Can you help me make sense of this? What portion of the xrandr command contains a font/color? How would you adjust it?
Thanks, Ben

metaschima · 12-30-2013, 12:50 PM

It won't work because the monitor doesn't support changing the underscan/overscan using xrandr. Usually only TV support this. Try the monitor settings instead.

bennypr0fane · 12-30-2013, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metaschima

It won't work because the monitor doesn't support changing the underscan/overscan using xrandr. Usually only TV support this. Try the monitor settings instead.

But this is a TV! It does not have the settings for adjusting the pictures like a PC monitor.

metaschima · 12-30-2013, 08:01 PM

Well, then the converter cable somehow interferes. I know a regular HDMI cable works. I've had problems with converter cables.