Dell Precision M60 display resolutions [solved]

ash · n00b Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 27

Hello All,

I've got a Dell Precision M60 that currently dual boots XP and Gentoo. Every piece of hardware is working perfectly under Gentoo with the exception of the display. Not that it isn't working, because it is - I just don't want to run at 1920x1200 resolution.

Using the nv driver I can run various display modes, just not any widescreen modes which is what this display is (natively). Using the nvidia driver, if I select, say 1280x800, or 1680x1050, it will fallback (or fallup) to 1920x1200. This works, and gives me an amazing amount of workspace, it just puts an unnecessary amount of strain on my eyes.

Note: I do wish to remain using the nvidia driver as DRI is important.

Looking around, many people seem to have gotten this display working, and either seem to be perfectly content with 1920x1200, or just haven't been able to get any other resolution working.

Has anyone gotten something other than 1920x1200 working (using the nvidia driver) on this laptop? Does anyone have any idea why it is defaulting to this resolution?

The video card is:

beatryder · Veteran Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 1138

This might sound absurd, but you could increase the sizes of your fonts and widgets.

Which window manager are you using? KDE has an easy way to adjust all the font sizes at once.
_________________
Dont make it idiot proof, make it work.
Neucode.org
<suppressed key>

ash · n00b Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 27

That is actually what I am currently doing, but I'd like to get away from that as it is making things look a bit absurd. =)

I use Window Maker.

beatryder · Veteran Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 1138

I didnt know the M60 had an nvidia card. when you say NV you mean the nvidia binaries right?
_________________
Dont make it idiot proof, make it work.
Neucode.org
<suppressed key>

ash · n00b Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 27

Yes, the M60 has an nvidia card. I forget if it had an option for a different graphics card or not. I know that there was a certain level of configurability for it from Dell, but I forgot what the options were with regards to graphics...

When I say nv, I mean the standard kernel source provided nvidia support, the "nv" module. By nvidia I mean the proprietary kernel modules available from nvidia, the "nvidia" module.

beatryder · Veteran Joined: 08 Apr 2005 Posts: 1138

Why not use the nvidia module then? I am sure it would work better for you.
_________________
Dont make it idiot proof, make it work.
Neucode.org
<suppressed key>

ash · n00b Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 27

If you read above, I _am_ using the nvidia module. It does work better with the exception that it defaults to (appears to only run at) that insane (1920x1200) resolution, that is, when I attempt to use a valid widescreen resolution.

axit · n00b Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Netherlands

I had a similar problem with my Dell 4100. I wanted the 1400x1050 resolution, but X refused to use it. I added a modeline and now it works fine:

Modeline "1400x1050_60.00" 122.61 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -HSync -Vsync

I'm afraid that you have to figure out the correct settings for your resolutions yourself (I used google to find some guides). I had to use the "-HSync -Vsync" note the "-" (minus) sign. The default "+" (plus) sign did not work.

Hope this helps.

Best,
Machiel.

ash · n00b Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 27

axit (Machiel),

Thank you sooo much... I haven't seen a Modeline explicitly set since the old XFree86 configuration files... seeing them disappear in the newer configuration format left me with the (incorrect) impression that everything was automagically configured (probed most likely).

Dropping this in worked:

Modeline "1680x1050" 147.14 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087

and for the record if anyone wants something lower, this works too:

Modeline "1280x800" 85.7 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 835

Thanks again,

axit · n00b Joined: 19 Sep 2005 Posts: 42 Location: Netherlands