Problem: Whenever I run a full-screen game (such as barrage or tux-racer) the screen splits into several vertical strips, each showing the left most inch of the screen. Logging out and then back in fixes the problem.

Red Hat 9, 1024x768, 2.4.20-8

/sbin/lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8361 [KLE133] Host Bridge
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT8361 [KLE133] AGP Bridge
00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 40)
00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586/B/686A/B PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 06)
00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 1a)
00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 1a)
00:07.4 Bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 40)
00:07.5 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 50)
00:09.0 Communication controller: Rockwell International HCF 56k Data/Fax/Voice/Spkp (w/Handset) Modem (rev 01)
00:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Trident Microsystems CyberBlade/i1

If you need any more info, just ask

The problem might be to do with how the monitor operates when at lower resolutions. Make sure that 800x600 and 640x480 are added to the list of resolutions in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and then try sizing down resolutions with CTRL+ALT+PLUS and CTRL+ALT+MINUS. If this also causes the same problem then it may help to adjust the horizontal sync and/or vertical refresh rate. If not then the problem may be due to the graphics card's DRI driver code having a bug in which case searching for a better driver may well be your only option.

Seeing your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file might help.

P.S. If you've never edited /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 before then it can be intimidating. Ask for instructions.

It looks as though my resolutions are good, and my refresh rate is off a list onlne, tellin me exactly what I need for my monitor. (CTX PL5) And where could I get drivers?

my /etc/X11/XF86Config:

# XFree86 4 configuration created by redhat-config-xfree86

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "DevInputMice" "AlwaysCore"
EndSection

Section "Files"

# RgbPath is the location of the RGB database. Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db"). There is normally
# no need to change the default.
# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (they are concatenated together)
# By default, Red Hat 6.0 and later now use a font server independent of
# the X server to render fonts.
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "unix/:7100"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "fbdevhw"
Load "glx"
Load "record"
Load "freetype"
Load "type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# Specify which keyboard LEDs can be user-controlled (eg, with xset(1))
# Option "Xleds" "1 2 3"
# To disable the XKEYBOARD extension, uncomment XkbDisable.
# Option "XkbDisable"
# To customise the XKB settings to suit your keyboard, modify the
# lines below (which are the defaults). For example, for a non-U.S.
# keyboard, you will probably want to use:
# Option "XkbModel" "pc102"
# If you have a US Microsoft Natural keyboard, you can use:
# Option "XkbModel" "microsoft"
#
# Then to change the language, change the Layout setting.
# For example, a german layout can be obtained with:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# or:
# Option "XkbLayout" "de"
# Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
#
# If you'd like to switch the positions of your capslock and
# control keys, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:swapcaps"
# Or if you just want both to be control, use:
# Option "XkbOptions" "ctrl:nocaps"
#
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "keyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

# If the normal CorePointer mouse is not a USB mouse then
# this input device can be used in AlwaysCore mode to let you
# also use USB mice at the same time.
Identifier "DevInputMice"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "CTX VL510 series, PL5 series"
DisplaySize 280 210
HorizSync 30.0 - 55.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 120.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "trident"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "Trident CyberBlade (generic)"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 16
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Group 0
Mode 0666
EndSection

I don't have a '-4' file... Is this bad?

The -4 was added to the filename when XFree86 version 4 was released so that both an old and new form of the file could exist on one machine. Since your file appears to obey version 4 syntax, it shouldn't be causing a problem.

It would appear that DRI is not functioning. Try Load "dri" in the Modules Section.

P.S. A friend once had the situation where games wouldn't work unless they used CTRL+ALT+MINUS to switch down to the lower resolution before starting the game.