NVIDIA can't lower resolution

[hogg101]

Hi,

Am still struggling with this.

This is the current output from xrandr -q

Screen 0: minimum 1680 x 1050, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1050
default connected 1680x1050+0+0 0mm x 0mm
1680x1050 50.0*

Is the problem that the info from the EDID shows that min, max and default size is 1680x1050? Can a modeline work if it is outside the min/max range? If so, how do I do it???

[deano_ferrari]

I'm not sure how you can set multiple modes with Xorg. I have more experience with laptop displays where it makes sense only to operate at the native resolution. I can only give you basic tips on this. You can disable EDID probes with these options in your xorg.conf "Device" section:

Option "NoDDC" "true"
Option "IgnoreEDID" "true"

Modlines can be generated with the gtf commandline tool. For example, 1280x800 @ 60Hz:

dean@linux:~> gtf 1280 800 60

# 1280x800 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 49.68 kHz; pclk: 83.46 MHz
Modeline "1280x800_60.00" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -HSync +Vsync

You can put any valid modelines in the "Modes" section like this. (Make sure the "1280x800" identifier appears in your "Screen" section as one of the display modes):

Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
Modeline "1280x800" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -HSync +Vsync
EndSection

You may also need to set the "PreferredMode" (in "Monitor" section) to the desired mode as well.

[hogg101]

Originally Posted by deano_ferrari

I have more experience with laptop displays where it makes sense only to operate at the native resolution.

Deano,

This is a laptop and this is my monitors native resolution (1680x) but this makes everything so ****ed small on the screen, and the taskbar at the bottom of the screen only extends halfway across the screen!!!

It can run in any resolution it wants, I just want to be able to run my display at 1280 or 1024 to a) make things bigger and b) not waste half the screen!

Am I talking about the right thing here - under windoze, by right clicking on the desktop, going to properties, I could set the display on the monitor to whatever I wanted. Is this the same function?

Excuse my lack of experience with Suse!

[deano_ferrari]

Ok. I don't think this is a resolution issue, so much as a desktop configuration issue. Can you tell us which desktop (KDE or Gnome)? Which version of openSUSE do you have installed? More info about which driver you're using might be helpful as well. This terminal command can help with latter:

/usr/sbin/hwinfo --gfxcard

It should be possible to set default font and icon sizes, as well as making sure task bar spans entire desktop.

[hogg101]

As requested - I am using 11.1 with KDE.

25: PCI 100.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
[Created at pci.318]
UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/pci_10de_407
Unique ID: VCu0.x9ZOvMlpz35
Parent ID: vSkL.GplIvOMTy34
SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0
SysFS BusID: 0000:01:00.0
Hardware Class: graphics card
Model: "nVidia GeForce 8600M GT"
Vendor: pci 0x10de "nVidia Corporation"
Device: pci 0x0407 "GeForce 8600M GT"
SubVendor: pci 0x1462 "Micro-Star International Co., Ltd."
SubDevice: pci 0x3fad
Revision: 0xa1
Driver: "nvidia"
Driver Modules: "nvidia"
Memory Range: 0x92000000-0x92ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0x80000000-0x8fffffff (rw,prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0x90000000-0x91ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
I/O Ports: 0x5000-0x5fff (rw)
Memory Range: 0x93000000-0x9301ffff (ro,prefetchable,disabled)
IRQ: 16 (77038 events)
I/O Ports: 0x3c0-0x3df (rw)
Module Alias: "pci:v000010DEd00000407sv00001462sd00003FADbc03sc0 0i00"
Driver Info #0:
XFree86 v4 Server Module: nvidia
Driver Info #1:
XFree86 v4 Server Module: nvidia
3D Support: yes
Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
Attached to: #8 (PCI bridge)

Primary display adapter: #25

I must admit, the more I fiddle with this, the more I also don't think it is a resolution issue. Too much windoze - my screen works fine, I just want to make text and things bigger on the screen.

Having fiddled, I have just worked out to set/change the size of my taskbar (if that is the right name!) so that is fixed. Just the font size and things.

[deano_ferrari]

Do you know which version of KDE4.x you're running? This command will give you an idea on this:

kde4-config -v

If KDE4.1.3, then you might want to upgrade. Numerous how to's if you search (within forums).

Have you tried setting font and icon sizes from

Menu > Configure Desktop > Appearance

As for the task bar, if you right-click on the task bar, then select 'Unlock Widgets' then right-click on the task bar again, you will get an option called 'Panel Options'. You can then select 'Panel Settings' and alter the task bar as required. Don't forget to 'Lock Widgets' when done.

[hogg101]

Qt: 4.4.3
KDE: 4.1.3 (KDE 4.1.3) "release 4.10.4"
kde4-config: 1.0

This is the KDE I am runnning. I, too, think this is a desktop configuration problem, not a monitor resolution problem. Too much time wasted with windoze and their terminology.

Any guidance would be appreciated!!

[deano_ferrari]

Did you see my info regarding font and icon sizes and adjusting task bar length in my previous post?

Read this guide re upgrading to KDE 4.3:

KDE 4.3.2 HowTo for 11.1 - openSUSE Forums

Some more upgrade info here:

KDE/Upgrade - openSUSE

KDE/KDE4 - openSUSE

[hogg101]

Yes, my friend, I think I have got it now.

Thank you for all your help!

[deano_ferrari]

Good result. Thanks for the update.