ugly virtual desktops when switching resolutions

Message

hooligan · Post by **hooligan** » Sun Mar 23, 2003 5:34 am

I am having a tough time getting my monitor to "sync" when I switch resolutions from 1024x768 to 800x600 or 640x480. In other words, I do not have a "virtual desktop larger than screen resolution" in 1024x768, but when I try to run at 800x600 or lower... anyreason why I am keeping the 1024x768 desktop when I run 800x600/640x480? It has been very confusing...
here are the important parts of my XF86Config:

Code: Select all

    Section "Monitor"
      Identifier  "Proview 768M Piece of Trash"
      HorizSync    31.5-48.5
      VertRefresh  50.0-70.0
    EndSection
   Section "Screen"
      Identifier  "Screen"
      Device      "nVidia GeForce 3 400MX"
      Monitor     "Proview 768M Piece of Trash"

      DefaultDepth 24
      DefaultFbBpp 32 

      Subsection "Display"
        Depth  16
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        ViewPorts 0 0
      EndSubsection

      Subsection "Display"
        Depth  24
        Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        ViewPorts 0 0
      EndSubsection
    EndSection

ebrostig · Post by **ebrostig** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 7:15 pm

This is the expected behaviour.

If you read the man pages for XF86Config, you will see the following:

Code: Select all

       Virtual  xdim ydim
              This  optional  entry specifies the virtual screen resolution to
              be used.  xdim must be a multiple of either 8  or  16  for  most
              drivers,  and  a multiple of 32 when running in monochrome mode.
              The given value will be rounded down if this is  not  the  case.
              Video  modes  which are too large for the specified virtual size
              will be rejected.  If this entry is  not  present,  the  virtual
              screen resolution will be set to accommodate all the valid video
              modes given in the Modes entry.  Some drivers/hardware  combina-
              tions  do not support virtual screens.  Refer to the appropriate
              driver-specific documentation for details.

So based on this, by default the virtual screen will take the same size as the largest screen area defined, i.e 1024x768 in you case and swicthing to a lower resolution will leave you with a larger virtual screen.

Erik