How to hardcode xorg.conf

coldbeer · 03-07-2017, 07:54 AM

In the good old days of Slackware 12 and prior, we use to set up the xorg.conf file to get our video monitors tweeked in. So that part I'm familar with.

How do I use xorg.conf to hardcode my video settings in 14.1, 14.2?

The situation is that I have a dedicated computer for my TV. Even though the TV is 1920x1080, I set the resolution up in KDE Display for 1280x720 (or lower) so I can easily see the text when sitting 10 feet away from the TV.

So currently I have this setup in KDE but I'd like to use Fluxbox.

With Fluxbox and the current KDE configured Display setup, IF the TV is on AND the tv source is set to the computer while booting, the resolution in Fluxbox comes up with the lower resolution -- good.

But in most cases, the TV is off OR its source is the antenna when the computer boots so then the 1280x720 is not used and the default of 1920x1080 is used for Fluxbox -- not what I want.

So I would like to just hardcode the resolution in xorg.conf but when I have tried this, Slackware doesn't like it at all and I get no video at all. Is there something I have to disable in order to use xorg.conf?

phenixia2003 · 03-07-2017, 08:12 AM

Hello,

A configuration file in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d (ex: 10-My-Screen.conf), with contents as shown below should do the trick :

Code:

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device "Device0"
        Monitor "Monitor0"
        DefaultDepth 24 # or 16
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth 24 # or 16
                Modes "1280x720" "1920x1080"
        EndSubSection
EndSection

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dugan · 03-07-2017, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldbeer

The situation is that I have a dedicated computer for my TV. Even though the TV is 1920x1080, I set the resolution up in KDE Display for 1280x720 (or lower) so I can easily see the text when sitting 10 feet away from the TV.

If that's the issue, why aren't you just setting the font dpi to something higher, like 160 or 192? You can set that by starting X with "-dpi 160".

For actually setting the resolution, I'd just run xrandr (or an NVidia equivalent) when X starts.

bassmadrigal · 03-07-2017, 09:35 AM

I would also recommend dugan's suggestion. Setting the DPI to a higher setting would increase your font sizes at the benefit of keeping your tv at its native resolution (which tends to make the images sharper, not to mention the gains in picture quality from 720p to 1080p).

You can easily try it out using:

Code:

startx -- -dpi 160

coldbeer · 03-07-2017, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugan

If that's the issue, why aren't you just setting the font dpi to something higher, like 160 or 192? You can set that by starting X with "-dpi 160".

For actually setting the resolution, I'd just run xrandr (or an NVidia equivalent) when X starts.

Yeah, I've tried increasing the font. But then Firefox font sizes don't follow and its never very satisfactory tweaking firefox fonts. Plus, with the lower screen resolution, Youtube reduces its max video resolution automatically (without having to login) to 360 dpi - which is what I want, so watching videos doesn't stall out all the other computers in the house or degrade our Ooma phone. Plus at 10 feet away and being 50+ yo, I can't see a difference between 360dpi and anything higher.

phenixia2003 · 03-07-2017, 10:14 AM

Hello,

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldbeer

Yeah, I've tried increasing the font. But then Firefox font sizes don't follow and its never very satisfactory tweaking firefox fonts.

Firefox does not respect the system dpi, but, you can play with layout.css.devPixelsPerPx (in about:config).

For instance, if you start X with dpi at 160 (~1.6 times the default 96 dpi), set layout.css.devPixelsPerPx to 1.6.

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