Some observations regarding FC* on UP2000+

[Jay Estabrook]

Note that the Xserver REQUIRES an accurate Monitor section in xorg.conf
to tell it what resolutions it might be able to use, especially when
it can't use auto-detect to sniff the specs itself.

Do you have such? Specs can often be found in the display's docs, or
perhaps via Google...

You can use the "system-config-display" util to set it up - it gives
lots of options of manufacturers/models, as well as some "generic"
setups for CRT and LCD.

The older video cards and/or displays do NOT do as good a job of
auto-config as newer ones, so it doesn't attempt to guess better than
some minimal capability that allows 800x600 at some low refresh, which
is what you're getting.

Once you get an accurate Monitor section, you should be able to specify
the desired resolution(s) - the server will attempt to use 75Hz refresh
when possible at a resolution, backing off to 70 and 60 when either the
monitor or the card itself can't do it.

Also, sometimes VGAs can do better refresh/resolution at lower "depths";
most times X defaults to 24-bit (really 32-bit pixels); try backing off
to 16-bit to allow higher resolution - you won't really lose too much
WRT colors avail, at least for the desktop...

And yes, it sometimes is easier to do all this setup manually, by
editing the xorg.conf and not relying on the GUI setup proggies.

Good luck.

--Jay++

Dialup Jon Norstog wrote:
> To the list:
> 
> I have been messing 'round with fc8 on my spare machine for a week now - It is
> really an improved product over the last few months.  It will do a complete
> new install in graphic mode.  It seems to have everything you need to put
> together the stuff you need and want.
> 
> The biggest weakness I've seen so far is the X-server.  The good news is you
> get one with the install.  The bad news is it is kinda shaky.  I've tried
> rewriting xorg.conf to get a little more screen real estate.  It worked once,
> but when I swapped out a Permedia2 card for an old Voodoo 3 the Xserver
> wouldn't load and couldn't be backed out of either.  It would get to the stage
> where you get the houndstooth check screen with a cursor and hang.
> 
> Redoing Xorg.conf from rescue mode did not solve the problem.  In the end I
> did a reinstall - it was seemed like it would be quicker than what was looking
> like an extensive trouble shoot with all the repair work done in vi!  The
> reinstall, this time with a stronger, 8 meg Vram permedia card, went OK as
> usual but still could not get anything for video beyond800 x 640.  A rewrite
> of xorg.conf - just adding a few modes to the 16-bit color line - led to the
> same Xserver hangup.
> 
> I'm thinking that, on my machine at least, Anaconda is not doing its job, at
> least WRT video adapter and monitor.  The xorg.conf file you get out of an
> install is pretty spare compared to what I got on AC3 on my XP1000. More
> important the Xserver seems sensitive to any changes in that file.
> 
> This is perhaps a machine issue or one related to the SMP kernel? I haven't
> tried a single processor kernel install.  Anyway, it looks like I won't be
> able to sort the install out before the weather gets warm.  Winertime, the big
> UP is really nice in my study, keeps it warm even when the house heat is
> truned down.  Summer, it's gonna be too much ....
> 
> later!
> 
> jn
> 
> I couldn't afford a Maserati, so I got a DEC Alpha instead
> 
> www.thursdaybicycles.com  check it out!
> 
> --
> Allidaho LLC (http://www.allidaho.com)
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> axp-list mailing list
> axp-list at redhat.com
> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/axp-list
>