[SOLVED] Low resolution on Ubuntu 9.10 with NVIDIA 8400 GS

[c800957276]

Hello,
I am an absolute newbie here. I installed Ubuntu 9.10 on my laptop and worked wonderfully, basically plug and play, so I decided to install 9.10 on a PC that I have connected to a 32 inch 16:9 LCD TV that I use for movies.
This PC is an IBM Netvista 8303 KKU with a 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400.
The TV is a no-name brand (Astar) that I've had for 3 years so far.
Anyway, after I installed Ubuntu I downloaded the latest NVIDIA Linux Driver from nvidia.com and installed it. The screen resolution after the install is so low that I can't get it to work properly on my tv. When I plug a BenQ LCD monitor the NVIDIA X Server Settings utility recognizes that brand and model and I get a bunch of available resolutions. When I connect my TV, the utility detects a CRT monitor and I can't get more than 640x480 on a 4:3 format instead of the 16:9. How do I enable higher resolutions on a 16:9 format for my TV?
Please help!

[c800957276]

OK,
Although I'm a newbie at this, I played with the xorg.conf file and did some changes, after which I got a warning saying that ubuntu was running in low resolution mode. I was given the option to use the backed up xorg file, but that did nothing, so I reinstalled the nvidia driver in verbose without X running (God, it sounds like I know what I'm doing).

If anyone has any idea about how to manipulate xorg.conf, please take a look at what I did here, and please suggest changes. I hope to get it working.
If this helps anyone trying to help me, this is what my original xorg.conf looked like, followed by the one i tried to modify:

<code>Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection
EndSection

THE XORG.CONF I MODIFIED:
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "LVT-32ASB"
VendorName "ASTAR"
ModelName "LVT-32ASB"
HorizSync 28 - 101
VertRefresh 60 - 160
Modeline "1360x768@60" 84.5 1360 1392 1712 1744 768 783 791 807
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "LVT-32ASB"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1360x768@60" 84.50 1360 1392 1712 1744 768 783 791 807
EndSubSection
EndSection<code>

Thanks!

[reed9]

There is a handy GUI tool called nvidia-settings, which may help you correct the resolution.

To install

sudo apt-get install nvidia-settings

There is also a command line tool, nvidia-xconfig, to help create a working xorg.conf file.

The Arch Nvidia Wiki has some good info. It looks like everything from the Configuration section on should be applicable to any distro.

[devils casper]

HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0

These Refresh rates are too low. Check your Monitor's Manual for supported Refresh rates and set those in xorg.conf file.
Generic refresh rates are :

HorizSync 31 - 70
VertRefresh 50 - 160

These Refresh rates work fine in most machines.

[c800957276]

These Refresh rates are too low. Check your Monitor's Manual for supported Refresh rates and set those in xorg.conf file.
Generic refresh rates are :

HorizSync 31 - 70
VertRefresh 50 - 160

These Refresh rates work fine in most machines.

Thank you,
I had already tried modifying those with this:
HorizSync 28 - 101
VertRefresh 60 - 160
but it did not work. I am going to try opensuse, and it that doesn't work, back to XP.

[c800957276]

Opensuse worked right out of the box with the video card. I'll keep Ubuntu running on my laptop, Opensuse on the PC.