Original X Windows Workarounds Page
Free X Server
Currently, the free Xserver developed by the XFree86 Project appears to only
partially support the ATI Rage LT Pro found in the I7k.
However, there are a couple of workarounds which will allow
you to get 1024x768 without having to pay $$ to purchase a
commercial X server. These tips should work with XFree86
regardless of which OS you are using.
Before we continue, first please understand that I will
NOT be held responsible for any damage that you do to your
own system in case something goes wrong! It is possible
to damage your display by using a bad mode, so keep that in
mind when you use other people's values, even if it works for
them. The same goes true for any hardware modifications that
you make.
As far as I know, the following is the best you can do using
XF86 3.3.2.3. For all options below, make sure you are using
the XF86_Mach64 server version 3.3.2.3 or newer (you
can obtain the latest binaries from the XFree86 Project web page).
Debian users should just install the
xserver-mach64 package from the regular
stable tree and make it the default X server when asked.
I'm sure a RedHat package exists somewhere too, but I don't
know where (to any RedHat users: tell me!).
-
With only the LCD (i.e. no external monitor), one can only
acheive a very strange resolution of 640x600 in 8bit color.
The XF86Config file for this can be found here.
-
With only the LCD (i.e. no external monitor), you can get
800x600 by using XF86_Mach64 3.3.2 (yes, this only works on
3.3.2). Use the XF86Config file stored here. This solution was
contributed by Rainer Lucas, <rainerlucas@csi.com>.
-
With only the LCD, it is possible to get 1024x768 in 32bit
color if you
are willing to go to an electronics store such as Radio
Shack to buy some parts and build a "monitor dongle". The
idea here is to create a VGA connector which tricks the
Inspiron into thinking an external monitor is connected
when in fact there isn't. I figured out how build one of
these and it works great -- now I can travel with my laptop
and get a clear, stable 1024x768 mode using XFree86. While
it is relatively easy to build, it does take some effort
and time unless you know how to solder or have crimping
tools. By the way, I also hear that using one of those VGA to
Macintosh video converter plugs also does the job.
Parts required:
-
HD15 (high density 15-pin) male connector (the
connector at the end of a monitor cable).
-
(optional) A HD15 shell in which the HD15 connector is
mounted
-
3 short thin wires and solder
-
1 75-ohm resistor (1/8 watt is ideal; 1/4 watt is
overkill but will work as well). I have been told that
Radio Shack doesn't sell 75-ohm resistors. In that
case, use 82-ohms instead.
-
Some electrical tape or heat shrink tubing to cover the
exposed portions of the resistor.
If you think you are going to make mistakes, you may want
to buy a few extra parts. All of this stuff should be
relatively inexpensive.
Instructions:
-
Solder/connect one end of the 75-ohm resistor to pin 2,
and the other end to pin 7. Use electrical tape or heat
shrink tubing to cover the exposed portions of the
resister to prevent a short circuit.
-
Solder/connect pins 4, 5, and 11 together. Make sure
these connections do not come into contact with any
other pins or the resistor.
Now, use the same XFConfig file as the one for the
external monitor, located
here. When you start up X, the screen will be all
messed up. Press Ctrl-Alt-F1 to put the screen
in text mode. Plug in the monitor dongle that you built
above into the external VGA port. Press Fn-F8
until the LCD screen turns off -- you are now in CRT
mode. (Note: if you are unable to turn off the LCD screen,
either you have wired the pins of your dongle incorrectly, or
you need to first disable the LCD from Windows [see last
paragraph of this section]). Now press Alt-F7 to
switch to X (you
won't see anything yet since you are still in CRT mode).
Finally, press Fn-F8 twice to go from
CRT mode to simultaneous mode to LCD-only mode. At this
point, you can remove the dongle from the external VGA
port.
-
If you have an external monitor connected to the VGA port,
then you can get the full 1024x768 in 32bit color on both
the monitor and LCD. It doesn't matter what "Video display
device" is set to inside your CMOS. However, before you
switch into 1024x768, you must be in external monitor (CRT)
mode and not LCD or shared mode. Use Fn-F8 to
switch modes. If you are in the wrong mode when X starts
and the screen is messed up, don't worry. First press
Ctrl-Alt-F1 to go to text mode. Then press
Fn-F8 until you are in CRT mode (i.e. no LCD
display). Next, press Alt-F7 to switch back to X
windows. I find it easier myself just to go to CMOS setup
and change the Video display device to "CRT". That way,
when the external monitor is plugged in, the LCD will turn
off by default and you don't have to press any function
keys (if the LCD doesn't turn off even if the CMOS display
setting is set to "CRT", see the last paragraph of this
section). As for the XF86Config file, use the one located here. Using these settings, I can
get a very nice stable 1024x768 display on either my LCD
screen or my external monitor. However, the text mode gets
screwed up, so if you quit X you will have to reboot to get
a working text display. If you happen to enable both LCD
and external output at the same time, the screen will
switch to a vertical refresh of 60Hz. To get back to the
85Hz refresh rate, first switch back to external CRT only
mode. Then press Ctrl-Alt-F1 followed by
Alt-F7.
Steve Hsieh <steveh@eecs.umich.edu>
Last modified: Wed Nov 4 22:57:59 1998