X on Dell Inspiron 8500 is scaled to middle of screen

[r***@reedmedia.net]

Using XFree86 4.3.0 from packages under 5.2 (i386).
XFree86 -configure created a config that worked
but the viewed display is only a small rectangle
in the middle of larger screen.

This is a Dell Inspiron 8500.
XFree86 detected it as a "nv".
The card is a Nvidia GeForce 4 4200.

Also tried the ports/x11/nvidia-driver
(built with -DWITHOUT_LINUX).
But that said something about couldn't load
kernel driver. Although the kldload nvidia
worked fine.

I found examples of XF86Config files for this
in this list, but didn't help.

The BIOS setting is set for LCD "expansion"
when changed then it shows the same small
display.

Any ideas on how to get XFree86 with "nv"
(or other) to use the full screen?

Thanks,

Jeremy C. Reed
(please Cc me)

[d***@gumbysoft.com]

Post by r***@reedmedia.net
Using XFree86 4.3.0 from packages under 5.2 (i386).
XFree86 -configure created a config that worked
but the viewed display is only a small rectangle
in the middle of larger screen.

This just means that the configured resolution isn't the same as the LCD
resolution. You'll need to modify the generated XFree86 config to use the
same resolution.Easy way is to modify the Screen section and add 2 lines.

The first line you should add is 'DefaultDepth n' at the 'Screen' level. n
being the bitdepth you want, usually 24.

The second line should go under 'Depth n', where n is what you picked
above, and looks like:

Modes "1400x1050"

where 1440x1050 is your LCD's resolution.

This depends on the video driver detecting and forging modelines for your
lcd's resolutions. You may need to increase the HorizSync and VertRefresh
ranges so they encompass the sizes you want. You can generally fake these
since refresh rates don't apply to LCDs the same way they do to CRTs,
although usually the video driver munges the modes to work with your LCD
anyway.

The X startup output is useful to look at; it usually in
/var/log/XFree86.0.log. This might point out why you aren't getting the
best modes.

Hope this helps.

[b***@cran.org.uk]

Post by r***@reedmedia.net
Using XFree86 4.3.0 from packages under 5.2 (i386).
XFree86 -configure created a config that worked
but the viewed display is only a small rectangle
in the middle of larger screen.
This is a Dell Inspiron 8500.
XFree86 detected it as a "nv".
The card is a Nvidia GeForce 4 4200.
Also tried the ports/x11/nvidia-driver
(built with -DWITHOUT_LINUX).
But that said something about couldn't load
kernel driver. Although the kldload nvidia
worked fine.
I found examples of XF86Config files for this
in this list, but didn't help.
The BIOS setting is set for LCD "expansion"
when changed then it shows the same small
display.
Any ideas on how to get XFree86 with "nv"
(or other) to use the full screen?

If you use the nvidia driver from x11/nvidia-driver, there are parameters
you can set in the video driver section of XF86Config. Read
/usr/X11R6/share/doc/NVIDIA/README.Linux for all the parameters, but
the one you want to set is 'Scaling'.

--
Bruce Cran