Why can't I see 16:9 aspect ratios?

Question

So for a while I have had an old EMA 15" monitor hooked up to my Ubuntu machine running Ubuntu 15.04. The Monitor runs 1024x768 (4:3). At this point all is fine. But I hooked my computer to my Sansui HDTV and it will not let me have a 16:9 ratio so it is in letter box. How do I fix this?

NOTE: I am using a VGA cable between the TV and COMPUTER. Also I am used to Ubuntu and the terminal so please HELP!!!

$ sudo xrandr -q
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1024 x 768, maximum 32767 x 32767
VGA1 connected primary 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  
VIRTUAL1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Solution 1

Type this into your terminal: sudo cvt 1366 768. It will output something similar to:

# 1366x768 59.88 Hz (CVT) hsync: 47.79 kHz; pclk: 85.25 MHz
Modeline "1366x768_60.00"   85.25  1368 1440 1576 1784  768 771 781 798 -hsync +vsync

Yours may be different than what I have, so copy everything after "Modeline" from your terminal.

Now paste in what you copied into this command, e.g. sudo xrandr --newmode "1366x768_60.00" 74.50 1280 1344 1472 1664 720 723 728 748 -hsync +vsync

The final step is to add the new resolution to the VGA1: sudo xrandr --addmode VGA1 1366x768_60.00

That should give you the resolution you want for the TV.

To keep the settings after restart use the answer here with your settings and you won't have to redo it.

Solution 2

I added a 1504x846 res (16:9) for my Dell XPS since the highest it had was "1366x768".

cvt 1504 846 60
xrandr --newmode "1504x846" 104.50  1504 1592 1744 1984  846 849 854 878 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode LVDS-1 "1504x846"

I then went to the "Menu -> Display" panel and picked it. profit!

note, run xrandr| grep primary to get your correct display name. Mine was "LVDS-1".

Solution 3

It sounds like you need to manually set your display resolution:

The settings are under Settings --> Displays. You need to set your resolution for that monitor to 1920x1080. See this YouTube tutorial.

Comments

[chj1axr0]

Can you edit your post and past the results of sudo xrandr -q

[dubCraft Nation]

With the TV or MOnitor connected?

[chj1axr0]

Yes with the T.V/Monitor connected

[dubCraft Nation]

Im sorry I meant wihich one tv OR monitor.

[chj1axr0]

With the TV hooked up the one you are trying to get 16:9

[dubCraft Nation]

OK i added the code into the post

[dubCraft Nation]

It does not show that resolution I aded a link with picture.

[Daniel]

Hmmm, what's the output of ls /etc/X11?

[Daniel]

There should be a config file in there that has a list of monitor modes.

[dubCraft Nation]

'code'$ ls /etc/X ls: cannot access /etc/X: No such file or directory

[Daniel]

See edit to comment

[Daniel]

It should be /etc/X11 sorry for typo

[dubCraft Nation]

ls /etc/X11 app-defaults fonts xkb Xresources Xsession.options cursors rgb.txt Xreset Xsession xsm default-display-manager xinit Xreset.d Xsession.d Xwrapper.config

[Daniel]

Now do this: cd /etc/X11/ ; grep -R 1024x768 *

[dubCraft Nation]

this worked BUT my tv is weird it only accepts 1080 from some sources so could you change the code for 720

[chj1axr0]

@dubCraftNation I have updated the answer for you to 720p 16:9

[dubCraft Nation]

for some reson 720p is too small to fill whole screen but 1080 is not supported any suggestions?

[chj1axr0]

What is your model of Sansui HDTV?

[dubCraft Nation]

Monitor Display modes Mode Resolution Refresh rate VGA 640x480 60/ 72/ 75 Hz VGA 720x400 70Hz SVGA 800x600 56/ 60/ 72/ 75 Hz XGA 1024x768 60/ 70/ 75 Hz WXGA 1280x768 60Hz WXGA 1280x720 60Hz WXGA 1360x768 60Hz

[dubCraft Nation]

Which do you think will work for me?

[chj1axr0]

Go with 1360x768

[chj1axr0]

I have updated the answer to the resolution of 1360x768

[dubCraft Nation]

btw every time i restart my pc the added resolution option goes away in settings

[chj1axr0]

@dubCraftNation I added a answer to a similar question for the answer to the restart problem

[dubCraft Nation]

768 is still small, i can use the FULL format tv setting and it streches up to my screen size but the picture quality suffers greatly by doing this... any suggestion?

[dubCraft Nation]

768 is still small, i can use the FULL format tv setting and it streches up to my screen size but the picture quality suffers greatly by doing this... any suggestion?

[chj1axr0]

The specs of the tv are Analog Tuner NTSC Video Signal Standard HDTV Maximum Resolution 1366 x 768 Dynamic Contrast Ratio 1,000,000:1 Comb Filter 3D Y/C Scan Format 720p So you should be able to use 1366x768 Did you ajust for somthing else befor using it as a monitor

[dubCraft Nation]

so 1366x768? If that is the max then it should fill the screen right?

[chj1axr0]

It should yes

[dubCraft Nation]

what do you mean did i ajust for something else

[chj1axr0]

I meant adjust Say for a dvd player or blue ray player did you use the fill full screen setting or zoom with the aspect ratio button most LCD TV's have now a days

[dubCraft Nation]

can you please change you answer to 1366

[chj1axr0]

I have updated the answer

[miyalys]

Neither cvt nor xrandr require root (sudo).

[AbhayBohra]

I am getting this error - Error of failed request: BadMatch (invalid parameter attributes) Major opcode of failed request: 140 (RANDR) Minor opcode of failed request: 18 (RRAddOutputMode) Serial number of failed request: 33 Current serial number in output stream: 34