Vid cards & Monitors

[OOPS!]

Hi!

After using Linux now for about a month, I am getting ready to start learning about how to configure and reconfigure my system. The place I want to start is with my monitor and video card.

When I loaded Linux, RedHat 6.2, it asked for my vid card, ATI xpert 98 PCI slot, and monitor, a CTX PL5. When I chose to configure the display it would not let me pick any resolution higher than 640x480, and it returned my video card as a generic MachV.

I would like to change the settings to reflect the correct vid card, and up my resolution to 800x600.

Since I am totally new to any *nix OS, I have not been able to find any explaination on how to do this. There is so much info out there that I have not been able to locate what I want. Any links or directions would be much appreicated!!!

Thanks!!!
OOPS!

[Cymbeline]

Were you using Kudzu? If you were, then do this instead.

Configuring video cards usually is in relation to X Windows. Instead, run xf86config. I know that the ATI Xpert 98 is supported in X Windows because I have one myself.

You will probably use the Mach64 X server.

Cymbeline

[Xayd]

Another thing you might run as well, depending on which version of the X server you have, is XF86Setup. Don't run it from inside X, or it'll crash.

It allows you to select and test card, monitor, and resolution settings while at the same time creating the config file that XF86config creates for you.

The nice thing is the xvidtune utility that you can use inside the Setup utility. You can basically position the horizontal and vertical axis graphically, to be sure it works before starting X again. Much nicer than having to rebuild the config file from scratch if the selected settings from XF86Config don't work.

After you've got everything set up, ctrl-alt-+ switches between resolutions.

Xayd

[Cymbeline]

Xayd is correct, but I would like to add a few comments:

1. For the ATI Xpert 98, XF86Setup will work nicely. The reason I suggest using the text-mode xf86config is because you will occasionally encounter the oddball chipset that will not work with XF86Setup (the SiS 620, which is the one I have on the computer I'm using right now, is one of them).

2. Using XF86Setup is good all the way to XFree86 3.3.6 (which is what Red Hat 6.2 uses). Once you upgrade to XFree86 4.0 (which supports the ATI chipsets quite nicely), the program XF86Setup is replaced by xf86cfg (I think....I forgot the exact name of the program).

Cymbeline

[OOPS!]

Hi!

Thanks for the replys. I did try xf86config from X, I'm using gnome. I made a mistake somewhere, and lost my mousepointer. Was unable to fix it so I reloaded RH. No Biggy, nothing critical on it yet.

I'm glad to see that I'm a least thinking in the right area anyway. I will try and update to xfree86 4.0 first, Cymbeline, and then try another run at it.

Xayed, after re-reading your post, I think I will try that first. At this point in the learning curve, I don't mind crashing and burning. http://www.pcmech.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.pcmech.com/ubb/smile.gif!! So far it's been fun learning, crashes and successes!!!

I'll let you know what happens when I try again. Hopfully tomorrow.

Thanks Guys!!
OOPS!

[Xayd]

That's the nice thing about Setup and Xvidtune. You can test configurations *before* it writes the config file, so you'll be able to verify that everything works before you go and try to run a server with the configuration that you botched http://www.pcmech.com/ubb/wink.gif.

One word of advice with xvidtune, it warns you to be cautious when it starts, because it is possible to damage your video card and/or monitor with it. Now, you won't likely fry the card or monitor by tinkering with this utility, but you can cause other weird bugginess with the video card. I'd use it to find a resolution that works, and then stick with it. You can cycle through resolutions with the "next" and prev" buttons in the utility.

I'd go with this stuff if config doesn't work, since as Cymbeline has stated, ATI cards are pretty well supported. If config works, that's all you'll need. If config messes something up, you can use Setup to rescue it.

Xayd