Getting the right screen resolution (Intel 855 GM)

English Hardware
#1

Hi everyone:

I’ve recently installed openSUSE 10.3 on my Panasonic CF-Y2 laptop. Unfortunately, openSUSE apparently doesn’t support the right screen resolution out of the box (oddly, I might add; I used to use Kubuntu before and everything was fine there from the start … ), so I’m currently trying to get it to work.

Let’s see where my problems are:

My laptop display is a Matsushita TFT 14.1 inches display; it uses an Intel 855 GM chip and should be supporting 1400x1050 @ 60Hz.

Displays are apparently managed under openSUSE by SaX2, so I went there to check the settings. “Card” says “Intel 855 GM”, so that’s fine. But … Question/Mystery No.1: Why are the 2 separate settings for the display? One, “Monitor”, which is set to “–> LCD 1280x1048”, and another one, “Properties - Resolution”, which is set to “1280x1048”. Which one manages my laptop card?

Now, I played around with the settings a bit (so my screen is looking strangely distorted at the moment … :mad: ). I went into the “Monitor - Change” setting, figuring that perhaps I should change the driver, and … Mystery No.2 there is no entry for my display, neither under “Matsushita” (the maker) or under “Intel”. Why?

Even stranger, the tab “Display size” is set to 17.1 inches, which is definitely not the size of my screen. However, Mystery No.3: Changing the setting to 14.1 inches seemed to decrease my laptop screen resolution (and caused the distortion).

I read the posts regarding the Intel chip set and apparently there is a known problem that the 1400x1050 resolution is not supported out of the box. I installed the recommended 915resolution videobios hack and used it to change the resolution to 1400x1050, but – Mystery No. 4: What I am looking at right now is definitely NOT it (horizontally I probably have around 1200, and vertically perhaps under 1000 because the screen is all streched … )

For comparison, Kubuntu used a driver called “Intel 85x - i810”, and everything worked fine.

Any advice on how I could get my 1400x1050 res?

#2

This is a known problem and is down to the BIOS not reporting the correct screen size, so the installer doesn’t know what to set. Windows gets round this with a kludge, which AIUI is doesn’t work in Linux. This is a kernel level thing, but there is a simple work-around.

You need to install 915resolution which is in the standard 10.3 OSS repo. Open YaST, select Software Management, and search for it. Once installed, you need to open a terminal as root.

There are instructions here: Patch the Video BIOS - openSUSE
and here: Intel 945gm And 1280x800 Laptop Monitor Problem Suse 10.2 - openSUSE Forums

Once you do the 915resolution patch you should be able see the new resolution in Yast and once set it should be stored. There is a good instruction on LinuxQuestions.org, but their server seems to be down at the moment. If you have problems with the links I gave, come back here and I’ll post a walk through.

#3

Update.

LQ forums are back. The 915resolution Howto is at: Using 915resolution to Support Wide Aspect Displays with Intel Extreme Graphics Cards - LinuxQuestions.org

#4

Update. LQ forums are back.

The 915resolution Howto is at: Using 915resolution to Support Wide Aspect Displays with Intel Extreme Graphics Cards - LinuxQuestions.org

Also look at the last page of this thread: 1440x900 resolution problem … help - Page 5 - LinuxQuestions.org

And this one has some more info getting the settings to “stick” if you have a problem with that: 915resolution on MEPIS 3.4 - LinuxQuestions.org

#5

sid1950: Thanks for all the links.

I’ve gone through them and tried to implement the advice on my laptop, but so far I’m still looking at a distorted screen … :confused:

I’ve installed 915resolution and used it to modify my videobios (I’ve used the slot 4d to set a resolution of 1400x1050 at 24bit), and I’ve also added the command ‘915resolution 4d 1400 1050 24’ to both /etc/sysconfig/videobios and /etc/init.d/boot.local.

I’ve attached the printouts below – does someone have an idea what I am doing wrong?

Thanks a lot,

homoludens
(nunc non ludens sed iratus)

915resolution -l:


Intel 800/900 Series VBIOS Hack : version 0.5.3

Chipset: 855GM
BIOS: TYPE 1
Mode Table Offset: $C0000 + $29f
Mode Table Entries: 39

Mode 30 : 640x480, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 32 : 800x600, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 34 : 1024x768, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 38 : 1280x1024, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 3a : 1600x1200, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 3c : 1400x1050, 8 bits/pixel
Mode 41 : 640x480, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 43 : 800x600, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 45 : 1024x768, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 49 : 1280x1024, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 4b : 1600x1200, 16 bits/pixel
Mode 4d : 1400x1050, 24 bits/pixel
Mode 50 : 640x480, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 52 : 800x600, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 54 : 1024x768, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 58 : 1280x1024, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 5a : 1600x1200, 32 bits/pixel
Mode 5c : 1400x1050, 32 bits/pixel

/etc/sysconfig/videobios:


## Path:        System/Hardware/Graphicscard
## Description: Additional options for graphics cards
## Type:        yesno
## Default:     no
#
# Should the Intel(R) video BIOS be patched to let the X Server run with
# resolutions unknown to the BIOS? Warning, this is potentially dangerous,
# read the documentation in /usr/share/doc/packages/915resolution.
#
VIDEOBIOS_PATCH="yes"

## Type:        string
## Default:
#
# The options passed to 915resolution, usually 3 numbers:
# the video mode to patch, X and Y resolution.
#
VIDEOBIOS_PARAMETERS="4d 1400 1050 24"

/etc/init.d/boot.local:


#! /bin/sh
#
# Copyright (c) 2002 SuSE Linux AG Nuernberg, Germany.  All rights reserved.
#
# Author: Werner Fink <werner@suse.de>, 1996
#         Burchard Steinbild, 1996
#
# /etc/init.d/boot.local
#
# script with local commands to be executed from init on system startup
#
# Here you should add things, that should happen directly after booting
# before we're going to the first run level.
#
915resolution 4d 1400 1050 24
#6

/Computer/Posts (2)

/etc/X11/xorg.config:


# /.../
# SaX generated X11 config file
# Created on: 2008-06-18T23:14:09+0900.
#
# Version: 8.1
# Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005
# Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users>
#
# Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)
# PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!
#

Section "Files"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/local"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/URW"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Speedo"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/PEX"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/kwintv"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/truetype"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled"
  FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/xtest"
  FontPath     "/opt/kde3/share/fonts"
  InputDevices "/dev/gpmdata"
  InputDevices "/dev/input/mice"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
  Option       "AllowMouseOpenFail" "on"
EndSection

Section "Module"
  Load         "freetype"
  Load         "type1"
  Load         "dbe"
  Load         "glx"
  Load         "extmod"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "kbd"
  Identifier   "Keyboard[0]"
  Option       "Protocol" "Standard"
  Option       "XkbLayout" "jp"
  Option       "XkbModel" "jp106"
  Option       "XkbRules" "xfree86"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "synaptics"
  Identifier   "Mouse[1]"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
  Option       "Name" "Touchpad"
  Option       "SHMConfig" "on"
  Option       "Vendor" "Synaptics"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver       "mouse"
  Identifier   "Mouse[3]"
  Option       "Buttons" "5"
  Option       "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
  Option       "Name" "ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse"
  Option       "Protocol" "explorerps/2"
  Option       "Vendor" "Sysp"
  Option       "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  DisplaySize  340 272
  HorizSync    29-82
  Identifier   "Monitor[0]"
  ModelName    "1280X1024@60HZ"
  Option       "DPMS"
  VendorName   "--> LCD"
  VertRefresh  50-60
  UseModes     "Modes[0]"
EndSection


Section "Modes"
  Identifier   "Modes[0]"
  Modeline 	"1280x1024" 108.88 1280 1360 1496 1712 1024 1025 1028 1060
  Modeline 	"1280x1024" 89.25 1280 1328 1360 1440 1024 1027 1034 1053 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1280x960" 102.10 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994
  Modeline 	"1280x960" 83.75 1280 1328 1360 1440 960 963 967 987 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1280x800" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828
  Modeline 	"1280x800" 69.75 1280 1328 1360 1440 800 803 809 823 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1152x864" 81.62 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 895
  Modeline 	"1152x864" 68.75 1152 1200 1232 1312 864 867 871 889 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1280x768" 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795
  Modeline 	"1280x768" 67.00 1280 1328 1360 1440 768 771 778 790 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 64.11 1024 1080 1184 1344 768 769 772 795
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 55.00 1024 1072 1104 1184 768 771 775 790 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1280x600" 61.50 1280 1336 1464 1648 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"1280x600" 52.50 1280 1328 1360 1440 600 603 613 619 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1024x600" 48.96 1024 1064 1168 1312 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"1024x600" 43.00 1024 1072 1104 1184 600 603 613 619 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"800x600" 38.22 800 832 912 1024 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"800x600" 34.75 800 848 880 960 600 603 607 617 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"768x576" 34.96 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 597
  Modeline 	"768x576" 32.25 768 816 848 928 576 579 583 593 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"640x480" 23.86 640 656 720 800 480 481 484 497
  Modeline 	"640x480" 23.25 640 688 720 800 480 483 487 494 +HSync -Vsync
  Modeline 	"1280x1024" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
  Modeline 	"1400x1050" 104.88 1400 1480 1632 1864 1050 1051 1054 1082
  Modeline 	"1280x1024" 93.04 1280 1352 1488 1696 1024 1025 1028 1055
  Modeline 	"1280x960" 86.40 1280 1344 1480 1680 960 961 964 989
  Modeline 	"1366x768" 88.83 1368 1440 1584 1800 768 769 772 796
  Modeline 	"1280x800" 83.46 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828
  Modeline 	"1152x864" 75.93 1152 1216 1336 1520 864 865 868 892
  Modeline 	"1280x768" 82.91 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 796
  Modeline 	"1024x768" 66.33 1024 1080 1184 1344 768 769 772 796
  Modeline 	"1280x600" 63.55 1280 1336 1464 1648 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"1024x600" 50.60 1024 1064 1168 1312 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"800x600" 39.49 800 832 912 1024 600 601 604 622
  Modeline 	"768x576" 36.13 768 792 872 976 576 577 580 597
  Modeline 	"640x480" 24.70 640 656 720 800 480 481 484 498
EndSection


Section "Screen"
  DefaultDepth 24
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      15
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      16
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      24
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
  EndSubSection
  SubSection "Display"
    Depth      8
    Modes      "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1280x768" "1024x768" "1280x600" "1024x600" "800x600" "768x576" "640x480" 
  EndSubSection
  Device       "Device[0]"
  Identifier   "Screen[0]"
  Monitor      "Monitor[0]"
EndSection


Section "Device"
  BoardName    "855 GM"
  BusID        "0:2:0"
  Driver       "intel"
  Identifier   "Device[0]"
  Option       "SaXDualHead"
  Option       "usevnc" "no"
  Option       "monitor-LVDS" "Monitor[0]"
  Option       "SaXDualMonitorVendor" "--> VESA"
  Option       "SaXDualOrientation" "LeftOf"
  Option       "SaXDualResolution" "1400x1050"
  Option       "SaXDualMode" "Clone"
  Option       "SaXDualHSync" "31-50"
  Option       "SaXDualMonitorModel" "1024X768@60HZ"
  Option       "SaXDualVSync" "50-60"
  Option       "SaXExternal" "Identifier&EXT+DisplaySize&+VendorName&--> VESA+PreferredMode&1400x1050+HorizSync&31-50+ModelName&1024X768@60HZ+VertRefresh&50-60"
  Screen       0
  VendorName   "Intel"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
  HorizSync    31-50
  Identifier   "EXT"
  ModelName    "1024X768@60HZ"
  Option       "PreferredMode" "1400x1050"
  VendorName   "--> VESA"
  VertRefresh  50-60
EndSection


Section "ServerLayout"
  Identifier   "Layout[all]"
  InputDevice  "Keyboard[0]" "CoreKeyboard"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[1]" "CorePointer"
  InputDevice  "Mouse[3]" "SendCoreEvents"
  Option       "Clone" "off"
  Option       "Xinerama" "off"
  Screen       "Screen[0]"
EndSection


Section "DRI"
    Group      "video"
    Mode       0660
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
EndSection
#7

Well, I still haven’t solved the issue, but I upgraded to openSUSE 11.0 today, and now at least the distortion is gone, although I’m still stuck with 1280x1048. Nothing more frustrating than being unable to solve an issue … :mad: But at least I got a usable screen again.

#8

Hmmm … I really don’t get the display management under openSUSE …

I was just testing some new backgrounds and I noticed that I actually DO have 1400x1050 resolution now. Is that a feature / bugfix of openSUSE 11?

Well, almost no reason to complain anymore, but … could someone explain to me why my SaX2 look like this … :


Card: Intel 85 GM
Monitor: --> LCD 1280x1024@60Hz

Properties
Resolution: 1280x1024     Colors: 24bit

Also, what is the “Dual Head Mode”?? (I suspect that this one has to do with fixing my resolution since it says “Activated in Clone mode with 1400x1050”, but I have no idea what this means … )

:confused::confused::confused:

#9

Dual head mode is the external output for you to attach a monitor to.

You should have a vga output on your laptop. That’s what it’s for.