Hi.
I’m trying to configure XFree86 but so far I haven’t been able to success on getting a readable screen.
I have Mandrake 9.0, XFree86 4.2.1, KDE, Trident TGUI9680 (1MB), Packard Bell 1412sl (HF 31.5, 35.2, 35.5, 48.4, VF 50-90, have manual).

Things that I tried:
-XFdrake
-XF86Config (no errors or warnings here)
-Using on-line modeline generators (3)
-Reading Video Timings How To (several times)
-Making my own modelines
-xvidtune (but the image is so distorted that I can’t figure out where the controls are and wich buttons to press)

The problem is that I’m not able to find any modeline that properly displays the screen.
All the modelines (standard and specially made) that should work result in a strange screen where everything seems to be bigger that it actually is, I can’t access some parts of the screen (problem not related to virtual desk, since I can scroll it) and regarding the splash screen (and other windows), for instance, I can see half of it and disappears on the right side of the screen and the missing half reappears on the left side. I also have some “ghost” images and the icons look bigger than they are. (all the distortions are the same even changing resolution and color depth). I didn’t find anybody with this same distortion.

I know the problem could be related to the timings and sync pulse, but so far the modification of the values didn’t work.
I should also say that I had some problems configuring the monitor (PB1412sl) on Win98 on some resolutions (1024x768).

Any ideas?

terisa

Make sure you're loading the XF86Config that you've been editing. 'grep XF86Config /var/log/XFree86.0.log' should give you the full plath of the configuration you're using.

Post your XF86Config here if you're still havig any grief with it.

I'm modifing the right one (XF86Config-4) and both the log and the config file are ok, no errors. I even had someone from work who's been using Linux for some years check it for me, but he didn't find anything strange about it (he even made 2 config files but the distortion remained). The problem it's not on the config, but in the modelines.

Could the problem be related with the monitor having weird parameters in it's sync pulse, front porch and back porch???

Anyone with similar distortions?


terisa

maybe try running xvidtune. If you get a better image after playing with it, use "Show" to post a list of numbers which you can then use as your ModeLine

I just wanted to let you now that I finally found a way to configure XFree86 using the vesa driver for the video card, so the problem seems to be related with the trident 9680 rather than the monitor.

Anyway, the available resolutions aren't perfect, and the monitor's timings are unusual, so the picture quality isn't perfect (image has wrong scales in 800x600, cannon't run xvidtune, refresh rates too low in 1024x768, and others).

So if anyone has any ideas on how to make the trident TGUI9680 work at its best, I'll appreciate the help.

terisa