14.4. Change the Resolution of your Display

14.4.1. X Configuration Simple Mode

This little tool allows you to change the video resolution of your screen, if the one you configured at install time does not fit your needs. You get two choices on the window (figure 14-5): resolution (in pixels) and depth (number of colors) of your system. Simply choose the one you wish to use and click the OK button.

Figure 14-5. Choosing a new video resolution

Then a new dialog will ask you whether you wish to test the new choices or not(figure 14-6). It is highly recommended that you do test, because if it doesn't work it will be harder later to recover a working graphical environment.

Figure 14-6. Test the new video mode?

The changes will be activated after you quit and restart KDE.

14.4.2. X Configuration Expert Mode

You can access a more advanced tool to even modify the screen or video card in use. Simply click the Expert Mode button while in simple mode. You will be presented various screens, each one corresponding to an aspect of the graphical configuration:

Change server

Depending on your video card,you may first be asked which graphical server you wish to use. You may have the choice between various versions or 3D/2D accelerations depending on your graphical card. You may have to try various servers to find the one that best matches your hardware and needs. If your video card supports various displays (multi-head), you will also have that option available.

Change resolution

This is similar to the options given in Simple mode, apart from a Show all button, which gives you access to more resolutions and color depths.

Test the configuration

It is highly recommended that you do test, because if it doesn't work it will be harder later to recover a working graphical environment.

X at startup

Answer No if you prefer to have a text login at boot time. Selecting Yes will launch the graphical login manager.

Should the graphical test not work, you are presented a menu allowing you to change more parameters, in order to find those which will work:

Change monitor

This option displays a tree with all major monitor brands and models. First expand the branch corresponding to your monitor brand, then choose the model that you are using.

Change video card

Same principle as for monitors, choose your video card brand and model.

Change resolution

This choice simply presents resolution and color depth combo boxes.

Show information

This is a simple window summing up the current hardware choices,

Figure 14-7. The X information window

Test again

It is recommended that you make a final test of your configuration before closing xfdrake; this will ensure that you'll have no problems when rebooting the graphical server.


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