Changing desktop resolution on Debian 4.0 with Xorg and KDE
 

Hello. I'm having some problems getting my desktop set to the correct resolution. When I configured xorg, I specified the 1440X900 resolution to be kept, but when I go into KDE and try to change the resolution using the display manager, the only options listed are 1024X768, 800X600, and 640X480. My graphics card is an ATI RADEON X850 XT. I also don't have the RADEON drivers installed because they don't seem to want to install on Etch.

Thanks in advance! :)

Which driver is being used in xorg.conf?

Here's my entire xorg.conf

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc104"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-72
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1440x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Change "vesa" to "ati" or "radeon". It may also help to bump the top of the HorizSync range up to 99.

I would use radeon in place of vesa. And if the HorizSync and VertRefresh values were auto detected, I would leave them alone. If you know these values, you should use the correct ones in xorg.conf.

Alright. I changed the setting in xorg.conf to both radeon and ati, and both worked. Howver, in both cases the display was off to the left about 1/3 of the screen. (i.e. I could only see the right 2/3 of my desktop, and the rest of the screen was black). Could this be because of incorrect sync rates?

EDIT: This is my monitor: http://www.westinghousedigital.com/d...spx?itemnum=54

I was just about to ask what type of monitor it is.

Check my post above. I can't find any website that has this sync rates listen. Maybe you'll have better luck?

I'm not sure if the HorizSync and VertRefresh values even matter with an LCD. It might be a problem if you are trying to run the monitor at anything but the native resolution. I don't have much experience with LCD monitors though.

The native resolution is 1440X900.

According to the link you posted, the native resolution is 1280x1024.

I'm sorry. I forgot to mention that the manufacturer's site is actually wrong (believe it or not). The monitor is that exact model (I'm looking at the box now), but the native resolution is definitely 1440X900 (which is also stated on the box).

I've been doing some searching, but I'm not having much luck. The only thing I've noticed is mention of the UseEDID option in xorg.conf, but I'm not sure how to use it in this case.

I'm sort of old-fashioned; I still use "modelines" to specify custom resolutions in my xorg.conf. You can calculate modelines using something like "COLA's free modeline generator". With a modeline, it's possible to completely tweak the timings of the video mode--even adjusting a letterboxed or windowsboxed active screen area with black borders all around.

I fixed it. I went in and ran the xorg config again and then used the auto-adjust feature on my monitor and it alligned itself properly. Thanks for the suggestions! :)