howto get hi res screens with Ubuntu 10.04 and ATI Rage XL card

buffler · 07-20-2011, 04:30 PM

I can only get 640x480 as highest resolution. Dell 2650 with ATI rage xl 8 mb card in it. Can't change the card. Some suggestions are to change the xconf file, but it doesn't exist, appparently X functions now in the kernel!?
Sooo, how the heck do I get the higher resolutions???
Thanks

TobiSGD · 07-21-2011, 08:46 AM

Which distribution? Do you have the drivers installed?
If there is no xorg.conf file just create one.

colucix · 07-21-2011, 08:59 AM

Once I successfully set a higher resolution using the xrandr utility. It was on Scientific Linux 6, but the procedure should be the same on Ubuntu. You need xrandr provided by x11-xserver-utils and cvt provided by xserver-xorg-core. Here is what I've done:

Code:

#
#  Check the current available resolution
#
xrandr -q
#
#  Compute a new mode (1280x1024)
#
cvt 1280 1024
#
#  Define the new mode (use the Modeline given by the previous command)
#
xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_60.00"  109.00  1280 1368 1496 1712  1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync
#
#  Add the new mode
#
xrandr --addmode VGA1 1280x1024_60.00
#
#  Test the new resolution
#
xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1280x1024_60.00

If all goes well you have to make changes permanent, by editing /etc/gdm/Init/Default (I assume you use GNOME) and add the last three xrandr commands as above. Then in System --> Preferences --> Display choose the new resolution and apply. Hope this helps.

buffler · 07-22-2011, 12:02 AM

Thanks. I'm using Ubuntu 10.04. Thing is, the wise Ubuntuistias seem to have put all the display stuff in the kernel. Why the $#^%&$% I don't know, I thought the kernel was not supposed to have that kind of stuff in it but what the heck.
I'll try making a .conf file, colucix, and your suggestion.
Thanks
Don