I need to make my Gnome backend resolution larger than my frontend resolution, so I have only a portion of my LCD used. Does anyone have any idea how this could be done, preferably with the nvidia driver? Thanks in advance.

Hello,
I believe you are searching for the Virtual setting within xorg.conf

Virtual 2048 1024
would set your Desktop size to 2048x1024 pixels. If your screen
resolution is set to 1/4 of the Virtual size, you are only showed
1/4 of your Desktop.

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That's actually the opposite of what I need. That sounds like it would be the equivalent of the "Panning" option in the display configuration tool, am I correct? I need something that would make my virtual desktop smaller than my actual desktop, with nothing in the remaining space.

Unless, of course, it does that too. Then, that would be great!

I assume you're just using NVIDIA's config tool that comes with the proprietary driver? There should be an option to set the "GPU Scaling Method" in the settings under your display's options (should be called "DFP-0 (<display manufacturer name/model here>) to "Centered" as opposed to "Stretched" or "Aspect Ratio Scaled", and then you can reduce the display resolution as you normally would. It should letterbox the display area appropriately (i.e. "black bars" placed on sides/top/bottom of the screen if the resolution is lower than the screen's native display res).

This is assuming you're using a display with a digital (e.g. DVI) connection, as opposed to analog VGA. I'm on a laptop, so mine is a digital connection by default. Yours may or may not provide as many options, but the GPU Scaling Method option should be there, at least if you're on a digital display.

Well, that would work except for one thing: The monitor I want the smaller picture on stretches the image all the way out, regardless of the settings I use. I know I'm doing it right, because my other monitor does it just fine, with exactly the same settings.

Nevertheless, I'm going to try it once more. :P

Edit: I found the problem XD I had them set as a twinview setup, and GPU scaling doesn't work that way. Thanks for your help!