Radeon Mobility 7500 and external moniter with 1680x1050 resolution problem

[kewlemer]

Hi all,

I'm trying to connect my laptop with Radeon Mobility 7500 to an external monitor (Samsung SyncMaster 225BW with 1680x1050 resolution). The problem is that it doesn't display beyond 1280x800 (the laptop screen resolution) on the external monitor and even for this I have to keep the laptop display open. If I close the laptop, I lose this smaller display too. The problem started when I wiped out Fedora 7 and moved to Fedora 8 - in Fedora 7, I *was* able to get 1680x1050. In fact I had backed my xorg.conf before the upgrade, but the same xorg.conf doesn't work now.

system-config-display doesnt show 1680x1050 at all and so I tried to force this resolution but got the following error -

[root@x1002us ~]# xrandr -s 1680x1050
Size 1680x1050 not found in available modes
[root@x1002us ~]#

[root@x1002us ~]# xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1680 x 1050, maximum 1680 x 1050
VGA-0 connected 1680x1050+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
   1680x1050      60.0*+
   1280x1024      59.9  
   1280x960       59.9  
   1152x864       75.0     74.8  
   1024x768       70.1     60.0  
   832x624        74.6  
   800x600        72.2     75.0     60.3     56.2  
   640x480        75.0     72.8     66.7     60.0  
   720x400        70.1  
LVDS connected 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
   1280x800       59.9*+   60.0  
   1280x768       60.0  
   1280x720       60.0  
   1024x768       60.0  
   800x600        60.3  
   640x480        59.9  
S-video disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
[root@x1002us ~]#

I googled around and found that people have had similar problems on this card before, but their solutions like this didn't work -

http://wiki.x.org/wiki/radeon

As trial and error I tried tweaking xorg.conf in multiple ways but I'm still not able to get it running.

Here is my xorg.conf

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjtzn4_4cc4hh3

and the output of /var/log/Xorg.0.log -

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddjtzn4_5dq2n9w

Can anyone please tell me what I'm missing here? Any pointers are greatly welcome.

Thanks in advance,
KM

[agd5f]

Hi all,

I'm trying to connect my laptop with Radeon Mobility 7500 to an external monitor (Samsung SyncMaster 225BW with 1680x1050 resolution). The problem is that it doesn't display beyond 1280x800 (the laptop screen resolution) on the external monitor and even for this I have to keep the laptop display open. If I close the laptop, I lose this smaller display too. The problem started when I wiped out Fedora 7 and moved to Fedora 8 - in Fedora 7, I *was* able to get 1680x1050. In fact I had backed my xorg.conf before the upgrade, but the same xorg.conf doesn't work now.

I'm not quite sure I follow what problem you are havin. what are you looking for exactly? dualhead? clone mode? from the xrandr output and your log it looks like the vga port is using 1680x1050. For best results, you should use xrandr 1.2 commands for adjusting modes/outputs:

xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1680x1050

[Danyul]

Hi, I think I may have had a problem similar to what you described in that my lappy has a 1680x1050 res and the monitor I'm plugging into it (a samsung 245BW) does a 1920x1200 res. but when i went to dual screen mode the fglrx drivers just made the external 1680x1050.

I "fixed" it by editing my xorg.conf to this

Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
	# path to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
	Load		"i2c"
	Load		"bitmap"
	Load		"ddc"
	Load		"dri"
#	Load		"extmod"
	SubSection  "extmod"
	  Option	"omit xfree86-dga"
	EndSubSection
	Load		"freetype"
	Load		"glx"
	Load		"int10"
	Load		"vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Synaptics Touchpad"
	Driver		"synaptics"
	Option		"SendCoreEvents"	"true"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/psaux"
	Option		"Protocol"		"auto-dev"
	Option		"HorizScrollDelta"	"0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Video Card"
	Driver		"fglrx"
	Option		"UseInternalAGPGART"	"yes"
	Option		"XAANoOffscreenPixmaps"	"true"
	Option		"VideoOverlay"		"on"
	Option		"OpenGLOverlay"		"on"
	Option		"MonitorLayout"		"LVDS, AUTO"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"PANEL"
	Option		"DPMS"			"on"
	Option		"LeftOf"		"Samsung Monitor"
	Option		"Preferred Mode"	"1680x1050"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"VGA_1"
	Option		"DPMS"			"on"
	Option		"Preferred Mode"	"1920x1200"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"Video Card"
	Monitor		"PANEL"
	DefaultDepth 24
	SubSection "Display"
		Viewport	0 0
		Virtual		1920 1200
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
	InputDevice	"Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
	Option	"Composite"	"1"
	Option	"RENDER"	"1"
EndSection

Some of this may be wrong but the important parts that worked for me are the 2 monitor configs and the screen config. note that i have set the virtual size in display to the size of my biggest res.

For some reason when I do this and go into the screen res prog in gnome It gives me the option to choose 3840x1200 (which is wrong but it works) it display my lappy monitor at 1680x1050 and my samsung at 1920x1200 .

The desktop selector shows a bit of extra space beside my samsung but I really dont care....it works.

Hope this helps

[kewlemer]

I'm not quite sure I follow what problem you are havin. what are you looking for exactly? dualhead? clone mode?

xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1680x1050

Thank you for the reply. Sorry that I was not clear in my previous message. I'm simply trying to connect my laptop to my external monitor (through a docking station). I want to close the laptop and work only on the monitor screen(no dual head). All I want is my laptop to give me the resolution my Samsung monitor supports (1680x1050).

from the xrandr output and your log it looks like the vga port is using 1680x1050. For best results, you should use xrandr 1.2 commands for adjusting modes/outputs:

I tried this and I still can't get the display to 1680x1050.

My knowledge of xorg is limited. Any pointers/feedback greatly appreciated.

My xorg and the log is same as I have put up above.

I've attached 2 images to better explain the problem.

In the 2nd image you'll notice that system-config-display is not allowing me to set 1680x1050.





Danyul, tried your suggestion but still same problem. I'm not trying a dual monitor like in your case.


Many thanks,
KM

[agd5f]

Thank you for the reply. Sorry that I was not clear in my previous message. I'm simply trying to connect my laptop to my external monitor (through a docking station). I want to close the laptop and work only on the monitor screen(no dual head). All I want is my laptop to give me the resolution my Samsung monitor supports (1680x1050).


I tried this and I still can't get the display to 1680x1050.

You are getting 1680x1050 from the looks of it. The reason the panel is fit to the smaller screen is that randr is exposing xinerama info for a cloned display and gnome is choosing to use the smaller output.

In the 2nd image you'll notice that system-config-display is not allowing me to set 1680x1050.

I suspect whatever display tool you are using is not xrandr 1.2 aware so it only shows the modes available on the LVDS port. You'll have to use xrandr for full control.

xrandr --output LVDS --off
will turn off the laptop panel and then gnome should resize the panel and such to the mode on the VGA port.

[Danyul]

And are you using the fglrx drivers or the radeon drivers?

Can you post your xorg.conf so that we can see it.

[agd5f]

7500 is r100 and only supported by the radeon driver.

[kewlemer]

And are you using the fglrx drivers or the radeon drivers?

Can you post your xorg.conf so that we can see it.

Thanks for the reply.

It's radeon. I've posted my xorg.conf in the thread (above).

agd5f I will try your suggestion tonight and update the thread.

[kewlemer]

You are getting 1680x1050 from the looks of it. The reason the panel is fit to the smaller screen is that randr is exposing xinerama info for a cloned display and gnome is choosing to use the smaller output.




I suspect whatever display tool you are using is not xrandr 1.2 aware so it only shows the modes available on the LVDS port. You'll have to use xrandr for full control.

xrandr --output LVDS --off

will turn off the laptop panel and then gnome should resize the panel and such to the mode on the VGA port.

That worked like a charm ! Thanks ! The issues I've had with FireGL/fglrx has made my new Thinkpad unusable with Linux and with old Radeon 7500(which always worked) also acting up with radeon, I was really frustrated. I really appreciate your help.

Last 2 questions -
1. If I close my laptop screen I lose the screen. How I can avoid this ? I prefer to close the laptop and work using the external keyboard-monitor.

2. If I restart X, the fix goes away. How can I make it permanent? Configure my xorg.conf with a new line ? I have posted my xorg.conf above.

Again, thanks for the help.

BTW my display tool is simply system-config-display.
Regards,
KM

[agd5f]

That worked like a charm ! Thanks ! The issues I've had with FireGL/fglrx has made my new Thinkpad unusable with Linux and with old Radeon 7500(which always worked) also acting up with radeon, I was really frustrated. I really appreciate your help.

Your newer radeon should work with the atombios-support branch of the radeon driver or the radeonhd driver.

Last 2 questions -
1. If I close my laptop screen I lose the screen. How I can avoid this ? I prefer to close the laptop and work using the external keyboard-monitor.

2. If I restart X, the fix goes away. How can I make it permanent? Configure my xorg.conf with a new line ? I have posted my xorg.conf above.

The bios touches the HW behind the drivers back in some cases. I fixed those issues in newer versions of the driver. 6.7.196 should have the fixes, but you might want to try git master for the latest and greatest.