BFG 8800 GTS 320MB & Linux Help (Ubuntu/Sabayon)

bluetech

bluetech

bluetech

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OK, completely new to Linux, very savvy with Windows XP SP2 OS.

To really get my teeth stuck in I need to get it to the same res as my screen (Acer AL1619W 1440x900).

HELP! How?

Sabayon 3.3 bootable DVD supposedly supports 8800 out the box so to speak, I boot in, get the display manager up and low and behold, top refresh rate is 54 Hz (should be 60Hz on DVI) and top res I think is 1024x768 or 1280 x 1024, can't remember precisely.

Some help from Linux savvy guy’s / gal’s would be greatly appreciated! Please be gentle, I have absolutely no experience with Linux.

Thank you.
 
You might be better off on the specific website for that distro. If you were running Ubuntu Feisty I could probably help.
 
The best way would be to edit the /etc/xorg.conf file with the correct values and restart the X server.
However as im not sure how Sabayon works with the way of Sudo or the root account i cant really give you better instructions.
 
just a note, before editing the file, take a backup copy.

cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bak (assuming you're in the same directory as the file).

because there's more than a slim chance you'll get the settings wrong first time and when you restart the X server, it might not start. so you'll have to Ctrl Alt F6 (or F7 etc) to get to a terminal and log in at the command line, and copy the file back.
 
Cool, thanks for the help. What are the general commands for moving around in the console. For example if this was xp I would say cd/dir/ren/edit.

I assume "cp" is the same as windows "copy".

EDIT: I have just reviewed and it looks as though the starting and stopping of the "x" server I am not farmiliar with also. Any good sites known for Linux commands?
 
MrWhippy said:
just a note, before editing the file, take a backup copy.

cp xorg.conf xorg.conf.bak (assuming you're in the same directory as the file).

because there's more than a slim chance you'll get the settings wrong first time and when you restart the X server, it might not start. so you'll have to Ctrl Alt F6 (or F7 etc) to get to a terminal and log in at the command line, and copy the file back.
Click to expand...

I was going to suggest that but realised he's using a live cd :) but always good for future reference

To kill the X server (assuming its gnome :)) you type killall -9 gdm if that doesnt work try sudo killall -9 gdm in a console then to start x again its startx in the CLI (there usually a keyboard shortcut to restart x but it differs from distro to distro and i can never remember it)
Heres a few commands
cd - same as windows ie cd /etc (tip - the tab key will autofill the filename/directory, press twice to list possible entrys)
cp - is the same as copy
ls - will list the files/folders in the dir
mv - will move files rather than copy and can be used to rename the file
rm filename - will delete a file
nano filename - is a cli text editor or you can use vi if your feeling adventures

Use man infront of any command to see the manual for that particular command

Just found this you might find usefull (after i'd typed all that :rolleyes:)
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/fileman.html
 
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LizardKing said:
I was going to suggest that but realised he's using a live cd :) but always good for future reference

To kill the X server (assuming its gnome :)) you type killall -9 gdm if that doesnt work try sudo killall -9 gdm in a console then to start x again its startx in the CLI (there usually a keyboard shortcut to restart x but it differs from distro to distro and i can never remember it)
Heres a few commands
cd - same as windows ie cd /etc (tip - the tab key will autofill the filename/directory, press twice to list possible entrys)
Hz? Or along those line?cp - is the same as copy
ls - will list the files/folders in the dir
mv - will move files rather than copy and can be used to rename the file
rm filename - will delete a file
nano filename - is a cli text editor or you can use vi if your feeling adventures

Use man infront of any command to see the manual for that particular command

Just found this you might find usefull (after i'd typed all that :rolleyes:)
http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/fileman.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help. I notice the quote you have made. Perhaps another suggestion to get this resolution correct? Maybe a command to start server x @ 1440x900 60Hz? As I say, I am not familiar with linux and what I say may sound silly but you get the idea...


Thanks
 
quick point, when using cd to change directories, the directory seperator in linuxland is / not \ ala windowsland.

there is no command to start the X server at a given resolution. it's complex (as is everything in linux if you look too hard at it) but the basics is, when the X server is started/restarted it sets itself up based on the settings laid out in the file xorg.conf, that it has been suggested you modify.

now the rub is, the X server is a frightfull fusspot, and if the description in xorg.conf is not exactly right, or very close, it will sulk off into a corner and refuse to come up, dumping you unceremoneously back at the command prompt. from where, you'll have to re-edit xorg.conf and try again.
 
MrWhippy said:
quick point, when using cd to change directories, the directory seperator in linuxland is / not \ ala windowsland.

there is no command to start the X server at a given resolution. it's complex (as is everything in linux if you look too hard at it) but the basics is, when the X server is started/restarted it sets itself up based on the settings laid out in the file xorg.conf, that it has been suggested you modify.

now the rub is, the X server is a frightfull fusspot, and if the description in xorg.conf is not exactly right, or very close, it will sulk off into a corner and refuse to come up, dumping you unceremoneously back at the command prompt. from where, you'll have to re-edit xorg.conf and try again.
Click to expand...

Ah, thank you for that explination. That is sheding a little more light on the matter. What I am wondering is that when booting into the Live DVD, is it possible to edit the xorg.conf file or is this stored on the DVD as ROM or is it editable and in RAM? If it is rom, can I point it to an alternate xorg.conf file on an HDD?

And into the depths we do dive... lol

Thanks for the help so far guy's!

EDIT: Oh, one further thing... I am hunting for this file high and low. a file path would be really handy if you know it to hand (I am so new to linux, finding a search facility is a little tricky, found one but it passed 10 mins and I thught this is taking way too long). Thanks!
 
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not sure that it will be the same for your distro, but it is at /etx/X11/xorg.conf in many distros

if it is not there, try (in a terminal - ie. command prompt shell) : -
find / -name xorg.conf

and sit and wait while the find command scans everywhere under the root dir for it.
( the directory / is called the root directory in linux, everything else lives below that)

if you run that command as a non super user, you may get a long list of directories with permission denied, but look through the list and xorg.conf path should be among them. if not, try the same command as logged in as root (ie. the top super user).

also, if there's more than one xorg.conf in the list, well, i'm not sure the easiest way to tell which one is the one the X server is using.

you really need to also be asking questions on a forum dedicated to the distribution of linux you've chosen, you'll probably get more specific advice there.
this forum tends to be good for general linux questions, and pretty good for specifics on the more popular distros.
 
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oh, and if/when you work out what settings work for you, do let us know. the linux community thrives because we all share knowledge. someone else might search the forum next week with the exact same problem you have the answer to.
 
Forget what Gnome tells you is the display refresh rate - it's been a bug for a while and what Gnome reports is a total lie.

Gnome tells me I'm running at 50Hz, but nvidia-display-settings gives me the correct 85Hz.

So you may not actually have a problem at all.
 
in sabayon (which is based off gentoo) there is a nice easy way to restart X/Gnome from the commandline, just run /etc/init.d/xdm restart (or start/stop depending on what you want to do).
Using the latest sabayon livecd here it picks up my 8800 fine and automatically goes to me default res of 1920x1280 (or something like that anyway)
 
MrYiff said:
in sabayon (which is based off gentoo) there is a nice easy way to restart X/Gnome from the commandline, just run /etc/init.d/xdm restart (or start/stop depending on what you want to do).
Using the latest sabayon livecd here it picks up my 8800 fine and automatically goes to me default res of 1920x1280 (or something like that anyway)
Click to expand...

Actually - I find that Ctrl+Alt+Backspace works very well to restart X on the vast majority of linux systems... ;)
 
Thanks for the support guy's. I haven't managed to try what you have suggested yet but I will when I have the time. I will also share my findings and report back (I do this generally anyway) as I do appreciate, with Linux especially, that it is all built on this sharing of knowledge. Even if I start a thread and don't get a reply, if I solve the problem myself I post back with how I did it to help anyone else trying to find a solution to the same problem. Just a little example here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17772434
 
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