ubuntu 11, maximum resolution is a low 1024 x 768

Question

I just installed ubuntu 11 and the maximum resolution that it will let me set it at is 1024 x 768. My graphics are onboard, its the intel 82845g. Trying to increase the resolution and support the video more smoothly.

UPDATE:

user1@pc1:~$ xrandr | grep maximum
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 2048 x 2048
user1@pc1:~$ gtf 1280 1024 59.9

  # 1280x1024 @ 59.90 Hz (GTF) hsync: 63.49 kHz; pclk: 108.70 MHz
  Modeline "1280x1024_59.90"  108.70  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1025 1028 1060  -HSync +Vsync

user1@pc1:~$ xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_59.90"  108.70  1280 1360 1496 1712  1024 1025 1028 1060  -HSync +Vsync
X Error of failed request:  BadName (named color or font does not exist)
  Major opcode of failed request:  149 (RANDR)
  Minor opcode of failed request:  16 (RRCreateMode)
  Serial number of failed request:  20
  Current serial number in output stream:  20
user1@pc1:~$ 

Solution

Use xrandr to make sure that the new mode can fit within the maximum framebuffer size

xrandr | grep maximum

Use gtf to create a mode line

gtf 1280 1024 59.9

(59.9 is the refresh rate) Add the new mode using xrandr

xrandr --newmode "1280x1024_59.90"  ............

replace the above dots (........) by what the gtf command gives you after the mode is created. It should be something like this: 106.29 1440 1520 1672 1904 900 901 904 932 -HSync +Vsync

Add this newly added mode to the desired output (VGA/LVDS etc - VGA in your case)

xrandr --addmode VGA 1280x1024_59.90

Choose the new mode

xrandr --output VGA --mode 1280x1024_59.90

---

See a similar question: Can't enable intel driver 82845g/gl (brookdaleg) chipset

Merely speaking, It also indicates that installing Lubuntu solves the issue.

For your Nvidia card: see solution : Display resolution with NVIDIA

Comments

[Hanynowsky]

No need to paypal. Please provide more details. Could you provide the output of this command line on a terminal: xrand -q and this one : lspci | grep VGA and this one: sudo lshw -C video What Laptop/computer model do you have? what Ubuntu version you installed: 11.04 or 11.10? Is it an external monitor or a the laptop screen? If an external monitor, how do you plug it? VGA, DVI, HDMI?

[djturbojp7]

this is ubuntu 11.10, it's a monitor that's about 5 years old, but it runs high resolutions fine in windows xp. I have it hooked up through VGA cable - It's a gateway PC, I got the machine for free when someone else upgraded - I don't know the model number - it's probably 5 years old easy. It has only PCI slots, and one AGP. I would really like to be able to run atleast 1280 x 1024 resolution. I don't mind buying a video card.

[djturbojp7]

Here is the output. user1@pc1:~$ xrandr -q Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 2048 x 2048 VGA1 connected 1024x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm 1024x768 60.0* 800x600 60.3 56.2 848x480 60.0 640x480 59.9 user1@pc1:~$

[djturbojp7]

user1@pc1:~$ lspci | grep VGA 00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 01) user1@pc1:~$

[djturbojp7]

user1@pc1:~$ sudo lshw -C video [sudo] password for user1: *-display description: VGA compatible controller product: 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device vendor: Intel Corporation physical id: 2 bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0 version: 01 width: 32 bits clock: 33MHz capabilities: pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom configuration: driver=i915 latency=0 resources: irq:16 memory:f0000000-f7ffffff memory:ffa80000-ffafffff user1@pc1:~$

[Hanynowsky]

Ok I see. That's likely a driver issue. Can you specify the highest resolution you can get in Windows XP?

[Hanynowsky]

The output of xrandr shows that the highest mode available for your screen is 1024X768 with the current Intel graphics driver. Normally you have to add another mode (e.g: 1280X1024) to Xorg. Meanwhile try forcing the desired resolution if you're sure your monitor handles it, with this command : xrandr -s 1280x1024

[djturbojp7]

i just installed a geforce nvida 6200 video card and it won't go any higher... still stumped on this. If I can't get it to work at a higher resolution I will ditch linux all together

[Hanynowsky]

Installed a Nvidia 6200? Did it prompt you to install proprietary software or not? Besides, do you login in Unity or Unity 2D?