HOWTO: Solution for EDID Resolution Problems

[tUrtleAE86]

This HOWTO is for problems related to incorrect resolutions resulting from EDID problems. In other words, your video card is unable to detect the correct EDID settings from your monitor, at the fault of your video card driver. I tested this with my Nvidia GeForce MX440 Go.

As I cannot take credit for the solution, here is a link to the original post at nVnews forums:
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=1068062&postcount=26

Please note that unless you know what you are doing, your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file should be the standard one generated by the driver installation.

Procedure:


Download Phoenix EDID Designer (http://www.tucows.com/preview/329441).
If you're able to run Windows, use windows to run this program, otherwise use Wine. I'm not sure if it works 100% using Wine, so refer to the original post.
In Phoenix EDID Designer, click "Tools > Extract Registry EDID".
Click on the listing that appears, then click "Extract EDID"
Click "File > Export" and save your file as a ".raw" file.
Copy your file to the /etc/X11/ directory:

sudo cp EDID_FILE.raw /etc/X11/
Edit your xorg.conf:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
And, add the following option lines to the "device" section


#Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true" #NVidia specific, uncomment if needed
#Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP-0" #Uncomment and modify if needed
Option "CustomEDID" "DFP-0:/etc/X11/nvnew.raw"
Save the file, close gedit and press "CTRL ALT BACKSPACE" to restart X.

[catanzag]

There is a couple of other threads on http://www.nvnews.net dealing geforce4 fix with custom EDID. You could check also http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=81635 which has a detail explanation of the steps and a couple of ready custom_edid.bin files.

Hope this can help you

catanzag

[HyperFlexed]

you are my hero.

++1

[multimolti]

Anyone still active around here? I really need this to work, but I don't find my xorg.conf running Ubuntu 10.04.

Please help!

[JKyleOKC]

I'm running 10.04 also and no xorg.conf file was created by default. However, you can create one in the /etc/X11 directory and it will be used. Tell us more about your specific video card and monitor, and we can tell you what to put into such a file.

[multimolti]

Hi!

I managed to create the file now, and put the line concerning the EDID in it, but nothing changes. The file is in the correct place, but I'm not sure if I inserted the CustomEDID stuff correctly.

The computer has a S3 video card and the screen is an acer V223HQ with max. resolution of 1920x1080.

More about the whole problem here: http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/ubuntu-linux/184681-ubuntu-10-04-force-screen-resolution-xrandr-not-working.html#post870153

[JKyleOKC]

I also have an Acer monitor, although it's a different model (X173w), and its internal EDID wasn't acceptable either. I finally twiddled the monitor's on-screed-display controls and got it to work, but had to add "modeline" entries to my xorg.conf file. I have no idea whether my entries for a 17-inch display would be correct for yours, or whether they might make matters worse, but here's my xorg.conf file. Note that my video card is from nvidia, not S3, so those parts would definitely NOT work for you.
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildd@palmer) Tue Jan 22 12:05:14 UTC 2008

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen 0 "Default Screen" 0 0
Inputdevice "Configured Mouse" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
Vendorname "Acer"
Modelname "Acer X173Wv"
Horizsync 30.0 - 83.0
Vertrefresh 55.0 - 75.0
Gamma 1
modeline "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
modeline "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1152x768@54" 65.0 1152 1178 1314 1472 768 771 777 806 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x854" 80.0 1280 1309 1460 1636 854 857 864 896 +hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x768@60" 80.1 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x720@60" 74.5 1280 1336 1472 1664 720 721 724 746 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x800@75" 107.2 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 835 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x768@75" 103.0 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 802 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1280x800@60" 83.5 1280 1344 1480 1680 800 801 804 828 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1440x900@75" 136.5 1440 1536 1688 1936 900 901 904 940 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1440x900@60" 106.5 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1600x1024@60" 136.4 1600 1704 1872 2144 1024 1025 1028 1060 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1680x1050@60" 147.1 1680 1784 1968 2256 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1680x1050@75" 188.1 1680 1800 1984 2288 1050 1051 1054 1096 -hsync +vsync
modeline "1920x1200@60" 193.2 1920 2048 2256 2592 1200 1201 1204 1242 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
Boardname "GeForce 6150SE nForce 430"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Defaultdepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Virtual 1440 900
Depth 24
Modes "1440x900@75" "1440x900@60" "1280x800@60" "1280x768@75" "1280x800@75" "1280x720@60" "1280x768@60" "1280x854" "1152x768@54" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "800x600@72" "800x600@56"
EndSubSection
EndSection

[multimolti]

Thanks, but I solved the problem... really easy solution:

- replace the VGA cable without pin 12 with a normal one
- connect the KVM VGA cable on Computer 1 (the one with 2 screens) with a DVI/VGA converter and plug it into the DVI slot. The converter doesn't seem to transport some of the EDID information, but passes the resolutions through. Thus no need to hack the nvidia driver, and since the on/off state is NOT passed through, no flickering or changing of my extended screen layout.
- Computer 2, Windows and Linux, are now connected directly and all the EDID can pass through. Thus all resolutions work perfectly.

PERFECT AND EASY!!!

[doobydave]

Without wanting to sound like a troll, I cannot believe Windows has not suffered from being unable to read the EDID yet Linux has suffered this for 5+ years.

I have had this issue ever since my foray into linux, but was too noobish at the time to realise where the problem lied. It also never used to be a showstopper, and there were workarounds.

Now, it would appear that me (and several others) cannnot easily boot any modern linux variants.
:mad:

/rant over - if anybody fancys helping, It'd be much appreciated.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1981935

[ChuckFromEugene]

You're correct--it's lunacy. I have a very nice NEC LCD monitor that's fed with 5 BNC inputs, so there's no EDID at all. The native resolution is 1280x1024, but the generic VGA entry doesn't include this resolution.

I can add it with xrandr, but that has some odd side-effects--and it works only if I don't use the Nvidia-supplied driver for my card.

Yet the same monitor works fine on XP and Win7. No fancy diddling required.

[Gerry Gleason]

I still don't quite get the solution. I have a Toshiba laptop, and an external TV (Sony Bravia) on the PC connector (vga), and I can't get it to use the full screen on the TV.

Same problem with my older iMac, but I could get to right in Windows when I booted the original disk from the laptop and loaded the Phoenix EDID designer tool there. I think I still had to trick it, or use the Phoenix designer.

It tells me my EDID is invalid if I try to load it on the EDID tool. There seems to be a function to connect to the TV for the data, but that doesn't seem to do anything.

It seems to be reading EDID data on initialization, so how do I change it to what it needs to be:

[ 20.943] (II) Loading sub module "exa"
[ 20.943] (II) LoadModule: "exa"
[ 20.944] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libexa.so
[ 20.945] (II) Module exa: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 20.945] compiled for 1.11.3, module version = 2.5.0
[ 20.945] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 11.0
[ 20.945] (II) RADEON(0): KMS Color Tiling: enabled
[ 20.945] (II) RADEON(0): KMS Pageflipping: enabled
[ 20.945] (II) RADEON(0): SwapBuffers wait for vsync: enabled
[ 20.958] (II) RADEON(0): Output VGA-0 has no monitor section
[ 20.958] (II) RADEON(0): Output LVDS has no monitor section
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): EDID for output VGA-0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Printing probed modes for output VGA-0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "1024x768"x60.0 65.00 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync (48.4 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "800x600"x60.3 40.00 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync (37.9 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "800x600"x56.2 36.00 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync (35.2 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "848x480"x60.0 33.75 848 864 976 1088 480 486 494 517 +hsync +vsync (31.0 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "640x480"x59.9 25.18 640 656 752 800 480 489 492 525 -hsync -vsync (31.5 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): EDID for output LVDS
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Manufacturer: SEC Model: 3041 Serial#: 0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Year: 2008 Week: 0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): EDID Version: 1.3
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Digital Display Input
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Max Image Size [cm]: horiz.: 35 vert.: 20
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Gamma: 2.20
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): No DPMS capabilities specified
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Supported color encodings: RGB 4:4:4 YCrCb 4:4:4
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): First detailed timing is preferred mode
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): redX: 0.580 redY: 0.340 greenX: 0.310 greenY: 0.550
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): blueX: 0.155 blueY: 0.155 whiteX: 0.313 whiteY: 0.329
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Manufacturer's mask: 0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Supported detailed timing:
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): clock: 69.9 MHz Image Size: 353 x 198 mm
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): h_active: 1366 h_sync: 1414 h_sync_end 1446 h_blank_end 1474 h_border: 0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): v_active: 768 v_sync: 770 v_sync_end 775 v_blanking: 790 v_border: 0
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Unknown vendor-specific block f
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): SAMSUNG
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 160AT01-T02
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): EDID (in hex):
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 00ffffffffffff004ca3413000000000
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 00120103802314780a87f594574f8c27
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 27505400000001010101010101010101
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 0101010101014a1b566c500016303020
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 250061c6100000190000000f00000000
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 00000000001eb4027400000000fe0053
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 414d53554e470a2020202020000000fe
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): 00313630415430312d5430320a2000dc
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Printing probed modes for output LVDS
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "1366x768"x60.0 69.86 1366 1414 1446 1474 768 770 775 790 -hsync -vsync (47.4 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "1280x720"x59.9 74.50 1280 1344 1472 1664 720 723 728 748 -hsync +vsync (44.8 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "1152x768"x59.8 71.75 1152 1216 1328 1504 768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync (47.7 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "1024x768"x59.9 63.50 1024 1072 1176 1328 768 771 775 798 -hsync +vsync (47.8 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "800x600"x59.9 38.25 800 832 912 1024 600 603 607 624 -hsync +vsync (37.4 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "848x480"x59.7 31.50 848 872 952 1056 480 483 493 500 -hsync +vsync (29.8 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "720x480"x59.7 26.75 720 744 808 896 480 483 493 500 -hsync +vsync (29.9 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Modeline "640x480"x59.4 23.75 640 664 720 800 480 483 487 500 -hsync +vsync (29.7 kHz)
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Output VGA-0 connected
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Output LVDS connected
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Using fuzzy aspect match for initial modes
[ 20.974] (II) RADEON(0): Output VGA-0 using initial mode 1024x768
[ 20.975] (II) RADEON(0): Output LVDS using initial mode 1024x768
[ 20.975] (II) RADEON(0): Using default gamma of (1.0, 1.0, 1.0) unless otherwise stated.
[ 20.975] (II) RADEON(0): mem size init: gart size :1fdff000 vram size: s:10000000 visible:fba0000
[ 20.975] (II) RADEON(0): EXA: Driver will allow EXA pixmaps in VRAM
[ 20.975] (==) RADEON(0): DPI set to (96, 96)

[Gerry Gleason]

Great resource for help with this: Myth TV Database (http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Modeline_Database)

I was able to find my TV in their list, and just added the Modeline to my xorg.conf file and it all works right now.

[novarcr]

Hi, I'm hoping I can bump this and get some help.

The Phoenix EDID tool didn't work on my system. Error during install on win 7. I found a cmd line program Dump EDID and was able to extract some info. It looks like both Win 7 and Nvidia X server are pulling the same EDID info.

I'm using a Panasonic TC-L32X5 TV. I found a modeline for a TX-32LXD52 on Myth TV. The reason I chose that one is to get the screen to fit in X Server I have to do viewport out at 1216x684. I can't find much literature on the TC-L32X5 TV, but what I can find says its native resolution is 1366x768 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the modeline I'm using from MythTV - Modeline "1216x684p60" 74.160 1216 1356 1396 1648 684 707 712 750 +hsync +vsync


I get this in my xorg.0.log:

Panasonic-TV (DFP-1)'s EDID does not contain a maximum image size; cannot compute DPI from Panasonic-TV (DFP-1)'s EDID. DPI set to (75, 75); computed from built-in default


Dump EDID output this:

EDID Version : 1.3
Display Gamma : 2.20
Vertical Frequency : 23 - 61 Hz
Horizontal Frequency : 15 - 68 KHz
Image Size : 69.8 X 39.2 cm (31.5 Inch)
Maximum Resolution : 0 X 0
Support Standby Mode : No
Support Suspend Mode : No
Support Low-Power Mode : No
Support Default GTF : No
Digital : Yes

Maximum Resolution says 0x0?

Vetrical and horizontal freq. do match whats in my xorg.conf

[novarcr]

Okay, just in case anyone has a similar problem as myself.


in my xorg.conf adding these lines to Section "Device" :

Option "ModeValidation" "NoVesaModes, NoXServerModes"
Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP-1"
Option "ModeDebug" "true"

This will force all the modes from the EDID and then validate them to find ones that are valid for your system. My display device is on DFP-1





There are a couple choices you can choose a resolution from the validated modes for your display. One of mine is "1280x720_60_0" , or use "nvidia-auto-select". After you add the options from above, check the log file xorg.0.log it will tell you the accepted modes.


Adding this option to the Section "Screen":

Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select" OR "your resolution" I've tried using both and they work.





If you have a underscan or overscan problem then changing the "viewportout=" will fix the problem. I checked the nvidia control panel in Win 7 and I have to have the same info in Win7 for the desktop to fit in screen. It resizes my desktop to 1216x684.

My line from Section "Screen" is:

Option "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0 {viewportin=1280x720, viewportout=1216x684+32+18}"

My desktop fits in the screen at 1216x684. My native resolution is 1280x720. The viewportout resolution needs to maintain the correct aspect ratio or XServer will throw it out.
(1280-1216=64/2=32)
(720-684=36/2=18)
The +32+18 is telling XServer to shift the display right by 32 pixels and up by 18 pixels so that the desktop is centered within the screen.




For the DPI I forced it under Section "Monitor"
Option "UseEdidDpi" "FALSE"
Option "DPI" "96 x 96"

My fonts are too small at 75x75.