FAQ: Why is my monitor refresh / resolution too low? I know it can do better.

[Rancoras]

Make sure your monitor's settings for HorizSync and VertRefresh in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 match the settings in your owner's manual. If you don't have your manual, you can usually get the information from the manufacturer web site.

[onestep]

My monitor is a CTX5655. The manufacturer spec's are HorizSync 30-55, VertRefresh 50-110, & DPMS = Y. When using the LiveCD my screen resoulution is 1024x768 @ 60hz. On my hardrive installation my only options are 640x480 or 800x600. I've checked the XF86Config-4 on both the LiveCD and hardrive installations and they both agree with the mfg specs... now what? I would really like to run 1024x768.

[Rancoras]

You may be missing a mode for 1024x768. Here's that section from my config file:

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
	HorizSync	30-95
	VertRefresh	50-180
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"NVIDIA Corporation NV34 [GeForce FX 5200]"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

[onestep]

this is what mine looks like:

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Generic Monitor"
	HorizSync	30-55
	VertRefresh	50-110
	Option		"DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) 530/620 PCI/AGP VGA Display Adapter"
	Monitor		"Generic Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1024x768" "800x600"

[Rancoras]

I see only a subsection for color depth "1". What do you have in the subsection for color depth "24"?

[onestep]

Color depth 24 is the same as 1... I didn't post it all to save space.
This really has me puzzled... as it does for others too.

[onestep]

When I go to "Computer, System Configuration, Screen Resolution" I'm given a choice of 2 screen resolutions, 800x600 and 640x480.
When I look at the XF86Config-4 it shows 1024x768 and 800x600.

Why doesn't the "Screen Resolution" box display the same values of "XF86Config-4"?

Is there another file somewhere that needs updating to allow me to use 1024x768 like I'm able to do with the LiveCD -or- is there something I could copy from the LiveCD settings and paste into the Hard Drive install that would allow 1024x768?

Aside from this,I really like Ubuntu...

[Rancoras]

I think the screen resolution applet works independently of X. Try pressing CNTRL+ALT++ or - and see if that has any effect. If the 1024 resolution is listed first, X should use it by default. Other than that, I'm out of ideas.

[IchaBOB]

When I go to "Computer, System Configuration, Screen Resolution" I'm given a choice of 2 screen resolutions, 800x600 and 640x480.
When I look at the XF86Config-4 it shows 1024x768 and 800x600.

Why doesn't the "Screen Resolution" box display the same values of "XF86Config-4"?

Is there another file somewhere that needs updating to allow me to use 1024x768 like I'm able to do with the LiveCD -or- is there something I could copy from the LiveCD settings and paste into the Hard Drive install that would allow 1024x768?

Aside from this,I really like Ubuntu...

I have the same problem!

[daniels]

Make sure your monitor's settings for HorizSync and VertRefresh in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 match the settings in your owner's manual. If you don't have your manual, you can usually get the information from the manufacturer web site.

Even better, just delete the things and let X work it out for itself, which it can do unless your monitor was made in 1993 by people who have absolutely no clue about how to make monitors. It's going away in the next X release, which I hope to upload today or tomorrow or so.