Hello everyone,
I’m new to Linux and just recently installed openSUSE 11.4 on my Toshiba Portege 3505 using a Trident Cyberblade XP graphics card. I’m receiving a 800x600 resolution and my machine is capable of 1024x768.
After reading other threads, I did a level 3 boot and edited the 50-device.conf file via mcedit to load Driver “trident” - no change in resolution and 1024x768 is not an option.
I also attempted Driver “vesa” - that loads the correct resolution however results in a refresh of “0.0” and boots slow and won’t shut down properly.
Please help.
Thanks in advance,
Nate
Update-
After loading Driver “trident” I realized I lost stylus/tablet capabilities and removed Driver “trident” from 50-device.conf file reverting to the original Driver “radeon”.
Can I edit/add a modeline to the 50-monitor.conf file to accept the higher resolution?
Thanks,
Nate
The trident driver is probably the optimal one for your old graphics card (although the vesa driver will provide basic framebuffer graphics too).
After loading Driver “trident” I realized I lost stylus/tablet capabilities and removed Driver “trident” from 50-device.conf file reverting to the original Driver “radeon”.
The radeon driver is not correct for your hardware, but 50-device.conf contains a commented line by default
#Driver "radeon"
Starting over (without any config adjustments made by yourself), please confirm which driver is reported by
/usr/sbin//hwinfo --gfxcard
and the available display modes via
xrandr
If the 1024x768 resolution is available, the solution is simple, and further advice can be given when you post the requested information.
Can I edit/add a modeline to the 50-monitor.conf file to accept the higher resolution?
It may be as simple as uncommenting and adjusting the horizontal sync frequencies and vertical refresh rates in 50-monitor.conf
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Default Monitor"
## If your monitor doesn't support DDC you may override the
## defaults here
HorizSync 35-50
VertRefresh 50-65
## Add your mode lines here, use e.g the cvt tool
EndSection
You can also add a modeline if needed, but try the above first. Then restart the X-server with CTRL-ALT-Backspace (twice). I assume your comfortable with editing system files (with root write permissions)?
The last post in this thread uses the same approach.
Another potentially useful Ubuntu thread on the same topic.
IT could also be a driver issue aswell
Okay, here’s what I have:
Nathaniel@linux-lkpw:~> /usr/sbin//hwinfo --gfxcard
21: PCI 100.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
[Created at pci.318]
Unique ID: VCu0.6cQOYSsnuTD
Parent ID: vSkL.UhtfYY3x88D
SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0
SysFS BusID: 0000:01:00.0
Hardware Class: graphics card
Model: “Trident Microsystems 8820”
Vendor: pci 0x1023 “Trident Microsystems Inc.”
Device: pci 0x8820 “8820”
SubVendor: pci 0x1179 “Toshiba America Info Systems”
SubDevice: pci 0x0010
Revision: 0x82
Memory Range: 0xfc000000-0xfdffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0xfbc00000-0xfbffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0xf8000000-0xf9ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0xf7ff8000-0xf7ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
Memory Range: 0x38000000-0x3800ffff (ro,non-prefetchable,disabled)
IRQ: 11 (1773 events)
I/O Ports: 0x3c0-0x3df (rw)
Module Alias: “pci:v00001023d00008820sv00001179sd00000010bc03sc00i00”
Driver Info #0:
XFree86 v4 Server Module: trident
Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
Attached to: #8 (PCI bridge)
Primary display adapter: #21
Nathaniel@linux-lkpw:~> xrandr
xrandr: Failed to get size of gamma for output default
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 240, current 800 x 600, maximum 800 x 600
default connected 800x600+0+0 0mm x 0mm
800x600 60.0* 56.0
640x480 60.0
400x300 60.0 56.0
320x240 60.0
I removed any configurations I entered with the exception of Driver “trident” I’m 100% comfortable editing system files, although I have too large a resolution in level 3 boot and have to watch my keystrokes because I’m literally typing commands blind. What I need to see in mcedit displays fine though. I’ll wait to attempt further configurations on 50-device.conf and 50-monitor.conf until this post has been reviewed.
Thanks for your help!
Nate
Your xrandr output suggests that the X-server may be having a problem with your display’s EDID, so it falls back to the ‘safe’ 800x600 display mode. As a first approach, try a minimal edit of /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-monitor.conf, as outlined previously. (Editing of 50-device.conf should be necessary). If this does not help with getting 1024x768, then it may also be necessary to add a mode reference in 50-screen.conf like this
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Default Device"
## Doesn't help for radeon/radeonhd drivers; use magic in
## 50-device.conf instead
Monitor "Default Monitor"
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection
An alternative, is to use the legacy /etc/X11/xorg.conf approach, which puts all the applicable sections in one file instead. You’ll need to create it from scratch.
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Default Monitor"
HorizSync 35-60
VertRefresh 50-65
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Driver "trident"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Default Device"
Monitor "Default Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Hi,
I edited the 50-monitor.conf and 50-screen.conf files as suggested and…SUCCESS! I am now enjoying the correct resolution on my notebook plus restored tablet functions!
Many thanks!
Nate
Well done! 
I have just installed Suse 11.4 on a Toshiba Portege R100 - same Trident Cyberblade adaptor as the Portege 3505
After install - Failsafe was fine, but otherwise I had a black border round the screen and could only get 600x800 resolution with the same error regarding failing to get size of gamma for output device
Just to say that editing the 50-monitor.conf and 50-screen.conf (after backing them up) as mentioned here worked perfectly!
Thank you so much for a fantastic post.
Just to say that editing the 50-monitor.conf and 50-screen.conf (after backing them up) as mentioned here worked perfectly!
Thank you so much for a fantastic post.
Looks like you’ve learned a useful configuration method. Well done! 