You arent alone, lots of poeple find the ubuntu 'unity' interface harder to use than gnome 2.X.

You could try using one of the other DEs (eg KDE, Xfce, Lxde) with ubuntu, then you wont have to deal with unity.

'Full HD' is just 1920x1080 resolution, and video cards have been capable of that for a long time.

I'd get a ATI/AMD HD 5450/6450 (6450 is slightly better), or nVidia G210/GT430/GT520. (GT520 might have problems with the open soruce 'nouveau' drivers in 12.04).

All avaible in passive cooled models, and (possibly) apart from the GT520 should run 'out of the box' with the open source drivers. Both the ATI/AMD and nVidia cards have the option to install the closed source drivers as well.

Cascade,

Many thanls for the reply and for the recommendations on the graphics cards. I appreciate it very much.

As far as using one of the other DEs (eg KDE, Xfce, Lxde), I wouldn't know where to begin to convert it over. I am still very much a novice at Linux and Ubuntu in general. Is it an easy process? How would I switch back to something ore user friendly.

At the rate I am having trouble with 12.04, I am starting to regret "upgrading" at all. In the very old words of my father, "if it isn't broke, don't fix it" are ringing very true!

Thanks again mate.

Paddy

No problem, glad it helped.

Its very easy.

You can get the other DEs from software center, synaptic or the command line (eg, 'sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop'). With ubuntu, you can install either the full desktop package (Xfce- xubuntu-desktop, Lxde- lubuntu-desktop, KDE- kubuntu-desktop). Or you can install more minimal packages if you know what you are doing and what you want, but its more difficult for a beginner to know what to do, and how to do it. Its far simpler to install the x/l/kubuntu-desktop package.

Adding xubuntu-desktop, lubuntu-desktop or kubuntu-desktop will install more programs and applications onto your system, and will make your menus more messy. For example, lubuntu-desktop will install chromium-browser, where ubuntu-desktop uses firefox-browser (you can get around this, as both are not 'core' packages but only 'recommended', but lets ignore that for now, or unless it matter to you). Having both lubuntu-desktop and ubuntu-desktop installed means that you will have both firefox and chromium. There will be other new software added with any of the DEs.

Once you have installed the new DE, log out, then select the new desktop on the login page. Sorry, if I had a link to some screenshots that showed you exactly where to change the DE it would be easier on you, but I dont know of anywhere that shows that for 12.04.

If you decide you like one of the other DEs enough to move to it full time, and you dont want the old ubuntu-desktop (unity) package anymore, you can remove ubuntu-desktop and all its packages easily-

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purexubuntu

You'll see a huge command that you are meant to copy and paste into terminal, then run. Works easily, and IMO its faster than going into a software center/synaptic and trying to do the same thing.

That page is for 'how to get pure xubuntu-desktop', for 'pure lubuntu' or 'pure kubuntu' just check the links down the left hand side of the page.

BTW, if you decide you like one of the other DEs but prefer the file manager/media palyer/etc that came with ubuntu-desktop, dont worry, you can just install the programs you want. To install nautilus (gnome/ubuntu-desktop file manager) you can just go to software center, synaptic or run this command-

sudo apt-get install nautilus

"If it aint broke, dont fix it" works really well in some situations, not so well in others. While you still had support for 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) it runs out in just under a year, so you would have had to upgrade/update at some point. Or risk security problems. While security problems probably wont 'break' your system, nobody wants someone hacking the OS they are using.

Wow, Cascade...

MANY MANY THANKS!!! Your explanation sounds pretty easy and I will definitely get around to doing it at some point in the near future.

I agree with you about the requirement to upgrade soon eventually and thus the reason I went ahead with it when I did. I fully agree that someone hacking my OS is the last thing any of us want.

Again, I appreciate and thank you immensely for the lengthy reply. You are truly an asset to this forum amd i cannot thank you enough for your genorosity in sharing your time.

All the best,

Paddy O

I'm a little overwhelmed by that. Thanks for your kind sentiments. I've got more than a few hints, tips and solutions from forums. 'What goes around comes around', etc..

Good luck with trying different DEs, hopefully you'll find one that suits you more than unity.

Hey there, Cascade.

Was hoping you or someone else might be able to help me again.

I ordered and installed a new ASUS GTX550 Ti (1GB GDDR5) graphics card. The monitor is now able to detect the DVI output, and I am able to view and use the monitor with a DVI cable.

My problem is, while I can use it, it doesn't allow me to set the resolution to full HD where it needs to be.

Under System settings>displays, the monitor is detected as "laptop" (but it isn't a laptop, it's a desktop tower computer) and the best resolution it gives me to select is 1280x1024(5:4) and the only other options are 1024x768 4:3, and 800x600 4:3.

I have gone to software updates and download a lot of new updates and rebooted. I got a screen asking me it I wanted to boot normally, or a graphics fail safe mode, and a few other options to include previous versions of Ubuntu (which I thought was weird since I upgraded to 12.04LTS, I thought I would only have the one option).

Any idea what I am missing to make this puppy run in full HD at the right resolution? My monitor is a widescreen 27" needing 16:9 ratio.

I also looked onlune for a Linux driver from the Asus web site, however, I don't see where to get drivers.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance. Hope you can help.

Paddy O

I dont know why you got a GTX550Ti. They are better cards for gaming than the ATI/AMD HD5450/6450 or nVidia G210/GT430/GT520, btu for desktop use they are no better than the 'slower' cards (and a GTX550Ti isn't a good gaming card anyway).

You didnt make the mistake of assuming that '$120 card has to be better than a $60 or less card', or telling some salesperson how much your budget was?

Seems like the DVI on your monitor isnt reporting EDID (Extended display identification data) properly. Or some dodginess has happened with upgrading, its a known ubuntu problem. You could just use VGA, it wont make much if any difference.

I'd guess that you dont know about jockey (the 'hardware drivers' tool on ubuntu). With 12.04 its located in System settings-> Hardware dirvers IIRC. Running that will allow you to get the nVidia closed source drivers from the desktop without having to use the terminal. Its possible that installing the nVidia drivers will get the ddogy EDID working. Unlikely, but possible. If you try installing the closed source drivers, dont try to change resolution from where you are tryign now, use the nvidia-settings tool (System settings-> nvidia-settings IIRC).

If you install the closed source drivers, and you dont get 1920x1080 in the avaible list of resolutions with DVI then you'll have create than to do a bit of file editing on the 'xorg.conf' file. You can create an xorg.conf file with the open source drivers, or you can do it with the closed source drivers.

With the open source drivers, run this command-

sudo Xorg -configure

With the closed source drivers, run this command-

gksudo nvidia-settings

Then in 'X server display configuration' hit the 'save to X configuration file' button. Save the file to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.

Once saved, you should get a file that looks something like this (this is my current xorg.conf file, and its not from ubuntu so some details will be different)-

You will probably have a section that reads "metamodes" "1280x1024 +0+0; nvidia-auto-select +0+0" Replacing 1280x1024 with 1920x1080 _should_ get you 1920x1080.

You might just want to get the closed drivers, check to see if you get 1920x1080. If that works, solved. If it doesnt, then create and save an xorg.conf file, navigate to where it is, open it with a text editor, and then copy it results here (please use 'code' tags, its the # symbol above the posting area when you use 'go advanced' to post).

Hey there Cascade,

I purchased the GTX 550Ti for $70 at a local computer swap meet vendor new in the box. The guy had one left and was desperate to move his stock. I did a search for the card on my phone and saw where they run $120-130 as you said and so I figured that was a good deal. Also, I don't play games at all, so I figured this card wouold suit my needs for some time to come and if anything be a little overkill for my needs.

I rolled back my distro to 10.04 LTS by performing a clean re-install via my old 10.04 disc and voila! Problem resolved. I did have to get the recent nivida driver set from the terminal command to make it full HD, but that was a snap and all is well now. My monitor is displaying via DVI and at full resolution and the card looks fantastic. Movies look SO much nicer now and the overall temp and noise levels are down on my machine.

Anyway, I appreciate the reply and the previous advice and cannot thank you enough for your advice and assistance.

All the best,

Paddy O

$70 for a GTX550Ti from a swap meet would have made me nervous. I've heard of people getting badly ripped off from swap meets, particularly if its a 'to good to pass up' deal. But it works, you've got 1920x1080 resoltution- cool, everythings sorted.

No problem, glad it helped.

*edit- the only 'problem' I had with moving to 1920x1080 was that a lot of media I have that looked just fine at 1280x960 or 1280x1024 looked awful at 1920x1080.