nVidia custom resolutions

r00tb33r · 02-08-2008, 11:08 PM

I would like to know how I can create a custom resolution such as "1024x640" which is 16:10 aspect ratio. I use this resolution a lot on windows, but I can't seem to get the X server to use it. I added it into my xorg.conf in the 24 bit color line where the rest of the "normal" resolutions are.
Anyone?
Thanks in advance.

johnsfine · 02-09-2008, 07:10 AM

You want to know how to compute the modeline? Or where to put it in xorg.conf?

One method to compute it is to use the videogen program (probably you'll need to install the videgen package first). The command is

videogen -m=1024x640 -mdc=### -mhf=### -mvf=###

The mdc value is the maximum dot clock of you video card (in mhz) which is reported in the xorg.0.log file. The mhf value is the maximum horizontal rate of your monitor (in khz) which you can also find in that file. The mvf is the maximum refresh rate. You can set it lower if you don't want maximum, otherwise that is the maximum vertical rate of your monitor, which you can also find in that log file.

r00tb33r · 02-09-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsfine

You want to know how to compute the modeline? Or where to put it in xorg.conf?

One method to compute it is to use the videogen program (probably you'll need to install the videgen package first). The command is

videogen -m=1024x640 -mdc=### -mhf=### -mvf=###

The mdc value is the maximum dot clock of you video card (in mhz) which is reported in the xorg.0.log file. The mhf value is the maximum horizontal rate of your monitor (in khz) which you can also find in that file. The mvf is the maximum refresh rate. You can set it lower if you don't want maximum, otherwise that is the maximum vertical rate of your monitor, which you can also find in that log file.

I compiled videogen and it seems to run properly. Now I need to figure out what numbers to give it.
I searched for that log file:

Code:

BitX:/~
rootbeer:$ locate xorg
/etc/X11/xdm/pixmaps/xorg-bw.xpm
/etc/X11/xdm/pixmaps/xorg.xpm
/etc/X11/xkb/rules/xorg
/etc/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.lst
/etc/X11/xkb/rules/xorg.xml
/etc/X11/xkb/rules/xorg-it.lst
/etc/X11/xorg.conf-vesa
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup
/usr/X11R6/bin/xorgcfg
/usr/X11R6/bin/xorgconfig
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/config/xorg.cf
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/config/xorgsite.def
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/config/xorg.tmpl
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/config/xorgversion.def
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/getconfig/xorg.cfg
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xorg.conf.eg
/usr/X11R6/man/man1/xorgcfg.1x.gz
/usr/X11R6/man/man1/xorgconfig.1x.gz
/usr/X11R6/man/man5/xorg.conf.5x.gz
BitX:/~
rootbeer:$

Without any luck...
Where else can I get these dot clock, vertical and horizontal refresh rates?
Thanks in advance.

******************

Update:
The file is Xorg.0.log and is located in /var/log.
I found the maximum pixel clock value for the monitor, the only one in the log. The refresh rates I got off the monitor OSD menu.
And so I fed them into videogen:

Code:

BitX://home/rootbeer
root:# videogen -m=1024x640 -mdc=330 -mhf=65 -mvf=59
could not open configuration file "~/.videogen" (errno=2)
Modeline "1024x640" 52.17 1024 1056 1216 1312 640 642 643 674  # 52 MHz, 39.8 kHz, 59.0 Hz

Great!
Now what do I do with this Modeline?
Thanks so far!!!

******************

Update:
I found a guide and here is the useful piece of it:

Quote:

Using your custom Modeline

Edit your /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 file and find the section labeled Section "Monitor". Add the modeline into that section of the config file (I put mine just above the EndSection line).
Now find the section labeled Section "Device". Find the line:

Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"

Change this line to the resolution you are using for your HTPC:

Option "MetaModes" "1024x576"

I did not remove my other modes but added the new one at the end. Works great!!!
Thanks alot!!!

johnsfine · 02-09-2008, 05:19 PM

Sorry I didn't type more carefully. I meant /var/log/Xorg.0.log

The capital X is probably the reason your search failed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by r00tb33r

The refresh rates I got off the monitor OSD menu.

Those were the current rates for the display mode you were in at the time, not the monitor's max rates. So you ended up with a low rate that may flicker more than you like.

In my log file, I have the following lines
(II) ATI(0): DELL M992: Using hsync range of 30.00-96.00 kHz
(II) ATI(0): DELL M992: Using vrefresh range of 60.00-160.00 Hz
So I could use -mhf=96 -mvf=160
I expect you have similar lines in your log file, probably including the text "hsync range", (probably not including "DELL M992").

r00tb33r · 02-09-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsfine

Sorry I didn't type more carefully. I meant /var/log/Xorg.0.log

The capital X is probably the reason your search failed.

Those were the current rates for the display mode you were in at the time, not the monitor's max rates. So you ended up with a low rate that may flicker more than you like.

In my log file, I have the following lines
(II) ATI(0): DELL M992: Using hsync range of 30.00-96.00 kHz
(II) ATI(0): DELL M992: Using vrefresh range of 60.00-160.00 Hz
So I could use -mhf=96 -mvf=160
I expect you have similar lines in your log file, probably including the text "hsync range", (probably not including "DELL M992").

Thanks alot for your help.
This part is the only place my monitor appears:

Code:

(II) Setting vga for screen 0.
(**) NVIDIA(0): Depth 24, (--) framebuffer bpp 32
(==) NVIDIA(0): RGB weight 888
(==) NVIDIA(0): Default visual is TrueColor
(==) NVIDIA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "MetaModes" "1680x1050 +0+0; 1024x768 +0+0; 800x600 +0+0; 640x480 +0+0; 1024x768_75 +0+0; 1024x640 +0+0"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "Coolbits" "1"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) NVIDIA(0):     enabled.
(II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce 7900 GT/GTO at PCI:5:0:0 (GPU-0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): Memory: 262144 kBytes
(--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 05.71.22.14.02
(II) NVIDIA(0): Detected PCI Express Link width: 16X
(--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce 7900 GT/GTO at
(--) NVIDIA(0):     PCI:5:0:0:
(--) NVIDIA(0):     Acer X223W c (DFP-1)
(--) NVIDIA(0): Acer X223W c (DFP-1): 330.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(--) NVIDIA(0): Acer X223W c (DFP-1): Internal Dual Link TMDS
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-1
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1680x1050+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1024x768+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "800x600+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "640x480+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1024x768_75+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1024x640+0+0"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1680 x 1050
(--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (90, 88); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config
(--) NVIDIA(0):     option
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp

Since this is an LCD monitor flicker isn't going to be a problem. I will look up specifications for this monitor to determine the maximum horizontal and vertical refresh rates.
A quick question though, 1024x640 appears to be a virtual image, where the 1024x640 rendered frame is stretched to the 1680x1050 resolution. My monitor still reports 1680x1050. If I were to switch to a "real" resolution such as 1024x768, the monitor would report it as 1024x768.
In case with the nVidia Windows driver, I am able to generate a true 1024x640 resolution, eliminating the need to consume resources to upscale to some base resolution.
The original thread was nVidia driver specific, I was actually hoping to configure the driver to make the hardware do the work.
I will try posting on the nVidia forum to see if there is anything nVidia specific I can do.
Thanks alot.