Intel 915G Can't get 1680x1050 to work

[david rankin]

>I saw your post on the freedesktop.org archives.
>
> Did you ever get the problem solved?
>
> I have an emachines computer with Intel 915G card and a Samsung 225BW 
> monitor with 1680x1050 resolution. I have tried many different 
> distributions of Linux, even going so far as to try and get help from 
> Xandros. Even they can not figure it out.
>
> I have tried all the resolution fixes as you have with no luck. I have 
> just installed the latest Feisty Fawn version of Ubuntu and installed the 
> most recent versions of  xserver-xorg-video-intel and xserver-xorg-core, 
> but it still does not work correctly.
>
> Even though it shows that my resolution is 1680x1050x60, it really is not. 
> In the past it would be at 1024x768 or some other 1.33 ratio instead of 
> 16:9 or 16:10 ratio. Now it is able to run at 1400x1050 according to the 
> actual signal being received by the monitor.
>
> Any help you can give would be most appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Rick Williams
> Misty Ridge Farm
> Viroqua, WI
>

Rick,

    Yes, I got it fixed and it was a lot easier than I thought. You just 
have to *slow* down and follow the steps one at a time. Basically, what you 
need to do is compile X, mesa and drm from the tarballs and that will leave 
you with a fresh X window install in /tmp/modular if you follow the 
following instructions. You don't have to worry about screwing up your 
system because the new X window install is totally independent of your 
present working X setup.

    (1) First *read* http://www.intellinuxgraphics.org/install.html

    (2) Make sure you have a current version of 'git' installed. Download 
and install: 
http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/git-core-0.99.9i.tar.bz2 and 
http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/git-1.5.1.2.tar.bz2 and read 
http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/

    (3) Go to: http://intellinuxgraphics.org/download.html and download the 
tarballs

    (4) Read and *follow* very *closely*: 
http://wiki.x.org/wiki/ModularDevelopersGuide  That means *step-by-step*

    (5) Read and *follow* very *closely*: 
http://dri.freedesktop.org/wiki/Building Same cautionary statement

    (6) Generate a new modeline using the Linux command line 'gtf' for your 
1680x1050 display to put in /etc/X11/xorg.conf: (presuming your lcd runs at 
60 MHz)

david at providence:~>  gtf 1680 1050 60

  # 1680x1050 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 65.22 kHz; pclk: 147.14 MHz
  Modeline "1680x1050_60.00"  147.14  1680 1784 1968 2256  1050 1051 1054 
1087  -HSync +Vsync

    *Remember* your modeline name ( "1680x1050_60.00") must match your 
"ModelName" in the "Monitor" section of xorg.conf

    (7) Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf to install the new modeline in "Modes" 
section along with the "intel" and dri changes discussed in the links above. 
The modeline will be:

Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline "1680x1050_60.00"  147.14  1680 1784 1968 2256  1050 1051 1054 
1087  -HSync +Vsync
EndSection

    The DRI section will be:

Section "DRI"
    Group      "video"
    Mode       0660
EndSection

    The *primary* thing to remember is to *slow* down and follow the 
information in the links *step-by-step*. The folks at Xorg have done a 
fantastic job packaging X, mesa and drm with *all* the instructions needed 
to build and install a new X setup that will give you a gorgeous 1680x1050 
display. Just follow the directions and all will be well in you world.


--
David C. Rankin, J.D., P.E.
510 Ochiltree Street
Nacogdoches, Texas 75961
(936) 715-9333
(936) 715-9339 fax
www.rankinlawfirm.com
--