Screen Resolution Wrong -- Can't Change via YaST Ctrl Ctr

I recently installed openSUSE 11.1 on an older notebook (vprMatrix 200A5). The display is using 1024x768 but I want the full 1280x854. I have tried changing the monitor to a different model (model not available, picked closest generic: 1200x800) under Card and Monitor Properties and changing the resolution to 1200x800 under the resolution drop down menu. I run the test server and it always comes up 1024x768. Even if I save and reboot, resolution stays at 1024x768.

I used the 1-click install to update the nVidia Drivers on the machine, and it killed the system and I have now installed fresh.

How do I get the full resolution. Should I just use GNOME?

Notebook LCD specs:
15.2" AU Optronics B154EW01
1280 x 854 maximum resolution
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce4 420 Go 32M

first, try to (as root) to type in console:
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia

Kill X by pressing ctrl+alt+ 2x backspace, and see how it goes