Slackware 9.1 monitor setup
 

Slackware installed like a breez and at the moment I'm setting up software I used to have in Mandrake (xchat, avifile, ...) Compiling isn't that hard so all goes fine.

Problem I do have is with my monitor. I installed the Nvidia drivers with no problems and edited the XF86config file. Now I'd like to get my monitor (Dell P1110) back to 1600x1200 at 85hz. How do I do this? just adding 1600x1200 in the XF86config file doesn't do the job for some reason. Setting up the refresh rates is kinda new to my and I don't want to damage the monitor. Can anyone explain what settings to use? Why isn't there a XF86config-4 file in Slack? Is Slack using a different or older kind of XF86?

Reagards

Oughta be /etc/X11/XF86config

what's the difference between the XF86Config file and the XF86Config-vesa file? Should I edit them both?

You can just edit /etc/X11/XF86config or you can run the setup program "xf86config" in root.

I also use the nVidia drivers for my GeForce4. The standard xfree86 drivers are quite happy for my resolution to be 1280x1024. However when I downloaded and installed the official nVidia ones, they wouldn't run past 1024x768. Basically the way I got round it was to add the option "ignore EIED" or something similar to XF86Config, and then it would work at whatever I set to be the maximum resolution. Be warned though! This could damage your monitor. If however like me you know that your monitor can handle this, it should be o.k. This may not be your problem, I would check your error logs for xfree86 somewhere in /var (long story I am not able to get you the exact info at the moment, sorry). If there are messages about trying the resolution and them being rejected, thats what tipped me off. I am just googling now for the exact option and where to add it in XF86Config. I'll post them when I find it.

The line is:

Option "IgnoreEDID"

and I think its in the "Screens" section!

Well, for me the solution was even easier. I just went true the Xconfig in slack and used the monitor specifications I found online. Next screen gave me the options I needed and just selected 1600x1200 at 85 and it works fine! Thanx for helping me out.