cant do over 1024x768 in recent distros

FatRakoon · 4 Sep 2016 at 17:50

This has got to me big time.

I am a lover of Sabayon then Mint and then I suppose ubuntu.

KDE preferred.

Now, in previous distros, this was never a real issue, but all the latest ones just dont like me or my hardware.

I am stuck on, at best, 1024x768 resolutions?

Previously, I was able to install the ATI Drivers and then the new resolutions were visible and I could select them as I saw fit, but now, the drivers themselves seem to be invisible, and almost everything I do, just wont play ball.

Now, in my hunt for a solution, I found this little gem :-

xrandr --newmode $(cvt 1280 1024 60 | grep Mode | sed -e 's/.*"/1280x1024/')

xrandr --addmode DVI-1 1280x1024

These lines would add a screen mode to the options, and it works great.

I have managed to do all sorts of silly screen modes and yes, I have been able to change the resolution, but as soon as I log off / restart etc, the screen modes go back to 1024x768 so they are not saved?

Gutted.

I have tried a number of various cards and they all do the same.

I have the ATI 4590, 6850, 7770 and as of this moment, I have NOT tried any nVidia cards, but I would very much prefer to stick on ATI, mainly because I have loads of those spare.

Anyone able to help me and get my computer to once again boot up in 1920x1080 or anything bigger than 1024x768 will do really!

Thanks.

FatRakoon · 4 Sep 2016 at 20:02

---> Addition

I think that for now, I will just go back to MINT 17.3 KDE.

I want to go to Sabayon but that updates and then ruins my screen mode but at least MINT seemed to stay at a more useable screen rez right from the off, and even once fully updated.

And I have done just that, and the Rez I have chosen, is 1400x1050 which is a stupid rez to be honest, but it only allowed 1680x1200 and not 1680x1050 or 1920x1080 which are visually better... 1400x1050 on this monitor looks just fine for me.

Tom B · 11 Sep 2016 at 14:47

This is a workaround but if you're using KDE you can add a startup script.

On Plasma 5 (this might be different on KDE4):

create `/home/[name]/resolution.sh`:

Code:

#!/bin/bash

xrandr --newmode $(cvt 1280 1024 60 | grep Mode | sed -e 's/.*"/1280x1024/')

xrandr --addmode DVI-1 1280x1024

and make it executable (chmod +x resolution.sh)

Then in KDE's System Settings -> Startup and Shutdown -> Autostart click "Add script" and browse to resolution.sh, it'll now run as soon as you log in.

Possibly not ideal but it will work if you can't find a proper solution.

thelonecrouton · 12 Sep 2016 at 21:07

Mint 17.3 was great but 18 has given me more grief than anything in years. Last time I hit the update button I was then also locked to 1024x768, checked BIOS to make sure it hadn't reverted to onboard or something, no, rebooted and everything worked again. Now I have to enter the BIOS each time I boot (and do nothing there, just exit again) to get 1080p back. :confused:

Currently experimenting with Puppy 6.0.5, it's a bit weird and unpolished (looks better when you've installed KDE!) but very fast and everything works.

stopper · 12 Sep 2016 at 22:42

Try Rosa
Actively updated (more than any Ubuntu distro), graphics drivers are more up to date by a long shot, and its a much more complete and OOTB than any thing I have ever tried.
It's the only one I use now.

FatRakoon · 12 Sep 2016 at 23:12

Thanks Tom B
Yes, thats the raw weird solution I had done, but in a script that runs, so it was a semi solution. Thanks.

Stopper.
The number of updates dotn necessarily mean that its any better... I would prefer ZERO updates, knowing that its flawless every time, but lifeaint like that as we know.

17.3 just works as it should and I have gone back to it and as of right now, I am happy to say, that I am using Linux in 1400x1050, and I got around it simply by realising how much of an idiot I am being, and I am using a HDMI to VGA adapter... Well, a different one... I got a new one that works with this Linux PC... The other one didnt?

That said, I am a massive Sabayon lover and they update every 5 seconds, so hey-ho to the contradiction clown that I am ,and so I will have a look at ROSA just for kicks.

FatRakoon · 12 Sep 2016 at 23:26

Aha! - the ROSA torrents are not exactly filled with seeders.

Im downloading the ISO instead... I also realised its RPM based... I stopped using RPM distros way back when Mandrake changed to mandriva... I think thats the moment Linux Failed me because I was stead-fast RPM/KDE user and nothing else... It was Sabayon that brought me back with that god damned awful gnome, and now I love gnome but then gnome failed me with that unity dirt, and I managed to go with Mate for a bit before coming back to KDE but with Mint... now I am about to try an RPM distro once again?

Sacrilidge! - and whats een more mental is that I am happy to argue about RPM v DEB and yet I love Gentto & Sabayon? I really am a top class tool.

Oh the Plasma ISO is here.. Time to fire up the VMs... LOL

--

I am downloading the ISOs but also the torrent files and I will seed mine. Might as well, to try to get the numbers up. The ISOs have both come already.