I have tried very hard to figure out a solution to this problem and I have been unable. I am using the volatil 2.6.9 'vanilla' development kernel from kernel.org. I am using the gentoo linux distro. Here is the problem.

I have my xorg.conf gile edited to run Display at default depth 24 with
modes "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x960"
when I run startx, the nvidia logo is huge and pixelated and the desktop is as well
If xorg.conf is edited with the 'nv' driver, the desktop is a normal size, but there is no nvidia.

running /var/log/xorg.0.log shows me these troubling lines...
(WW) NVIDIA (0): The user specified HorizSync "31.500-100.00" has been
(WW) NVIDIA (0): adjusted to "31.500-55.000" (the intersection with
(WW) NVIDIA (0): EDID-specified HorizSync "29.000-55.000")
(WW) NVIDIA (0): The user specified VertRefresh "59.000-75.00" has been
(WW) NVIDIA (0): adjusted to "59.000-60.000" (the intersection with
(WW) NVIDIA (0): EDID-specified HorizSync "0.000-60.000")

I'm pretty sure that all P25s use the same 31.5-100 horiz sync and 59-75 vert refresh rates.
Anyway, I've always used those refresh rates succesfully. I am wondering if there is something compiled into the kernel which affects the display of x-windows. I have installed the system three times in a row, and each time this has happened (on one install I used the 2.6.8 kernel) The one thing that all of these installs have in common is that they are the first three times I have configured my own kernel.

No one on the gentoo message boards seems able to help me and I hope someone here might be able to help me. Thanks

Have you tried to override what EDID says about refresh rates? I know there's an option to nvidia drivers to override this, but cannot remember which. Anyway, on the nvidia readme you have all the options to pass to nvidia drivers.

I added Option "IgnoreEDID" "1"
to my xorg.conf
startx went nuts, showing bands of flourescent ping, yellow dots, and the like.
I didn't check the log (I'm pretty sure you have to be in Xwindows to do it?) I simply Alt+Ctrl+Bckspce'd out of there.
Thanks, I really thought that passing the IgnoreEDID option would solve the problem. Looks like I am in a dead end again.

The only time I've had a weird problem like that is when I used the virtual screen sizing thing i.e. where the system is actually generating a screen size much bigger than your actual monitor, and you can run/scroll off the edge of the screen. That was when I was meddling with debian though (if my memory serves me correctly).

Or, given your comment as above, have you looked here

regards

John