I can't set the best refresh rate
 

I recently installed Debian Etch on a Dell GX280 with Intel 910/gl chipset.
I need the refresh rate to be 60 hz to be compatible with my lcd tv but the Gnome Screen Resolution tool only offers 85 hz.

I have tried running dpk-reconfigure xserver-xorg and changing the rate with no success. Also editing the etc/x11/gconf file directly with gedit. The correct numbers appear in the vertrefresh field of the file but nothing changes - the screen remains at 85 hz.

Can someone please help? This is making me nuts!

Thank you.

what u see in the GUI is just a coat on the actual configuration files...
edit the monitor section in etc/x11/gconf ..
change the resolution to 60 Hz
and save it as root

tell me one thing.
what is ur screen resolution???
and is ur lcd monitor size of 19"

I have already done those things (see original post). My preferred resolution is 1024x768 60hz.

Since my last post I've tried placing a modeline for my monitor in xorg-conf (that didn't work).

I've run across lots of people whose refresh rate IS at 60hz and they are trying to increase it and can't. I have the opposite problem...

Someone suggested installing grandr but I've been unable to find out much about it. Does anyone know where to find and how to install?

Perhaps I'll make the grandr thing a new post - I'm kind of off-subject here.

TIA

You should save back up file config before

Did you install the drivers for your video card?

If you have an Nvidia card, you can download the Nvidia settings packages (I believe Deb has it in one of the base repositories.) and set your resolution that way. It'll even write resolution and refresh to xorg.conf.

I don't know about ati, but I'd assume it has something similar.

Thanks for all replies. To respond to a few:

RE: backup - Gedit automatically keeps a copy of a changed file (with tilde appended to the file name)

RE: nvidia - unfortunately, I have an Intel 910 chipset. Perhaps I'll have to install a different video card to solve this problem.

Oops. Missed the part about your chipset.

Installing a card seems a bit extreme. Why don't you post your monitor and screen sections.

I tried the vesa driver instead of the i810 driver (which is the one chosen for me by the etch installer) and my system came right up at 60 hz so I guess this is a driver problem. The vesa driver is a generic vga one and is REALLY slow so unless I can find a better Intel driver I will probably install an nvidia card - from reading the forums it seems they provide the best support for Linux.

Can someone suggest a specific Nvidia card? I don't do any high-tech gaming so I don't need a state-of-the-art card with tons of memory onboard.

Thanks to all who replied to my post.