Ubuntu
xorg package

Refresh rate problem on a 15" Sceptre X5 LCD

Asked by sheree

I am an ubuntu newbie, and need some help troubleshooting a display issue. I did a fresh install of feisty fawn onto a recently acquired system. This system has an onboard graphics card, using shared ram. The monitor is a 15" Sceptre X5 LCD. On installation, Ubuntu installed the graphics driver (I did not do any of that myself).

Here is the problem:

1. The screen is okay some of the time, but at least half of the time it is not refreshing properly. If I try playing the examples included Mandela video, it only shows black unless I try to resize the window, then it show a frame, then black, etc.
The panel at the top of the screen does not always properly refresh (example, even though a wifi connection has been made, the wifi applet in the upper right still did not update to show the connection). Also, if I open an application, sometimes the window appears correctly, and sometimes it is missing parts of the window (the buttons, text within the window, etc).

2. The monitor should be able to display 1024 x 768. However, when I set Ubuntu to this resolution, I get a monitor error stating "Out of range 1024x768, H: 70.2KHz V: 87.1Hz" This goes away if I switch the screen resolution to 800x600, but I don't understand why the higher resolution isn't working (since it should).

I have no idea how to determine the name of the onboard graphics card to list it here -- could someone tell me where to find this information?

Also, this system has only 256MB of RAM at the moment.

I want to know if there is anything I can do to fix this video problem. I'd like also to know how to figure out the cause of the problem -- is it the monitor itself, the onboard video card, the graphics drive (most likely, i hope), or the small amount of RAM?

And since I am new to using Ubuntu, that makes this that much more difficult for me to sort out!!

Can someone help?!

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Ubuntu xorg Edit question
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Solved by:
Cesare Tirabassi
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This question was reopened

Revision history for this message
Massimo Forti (slackwarelife) said : 		#1

Thanks for your question, in order to resolve your problem i can ak you to post the type of you video card. To know the exatly model you can do this command on a shell:

$: lspci

and post the result.

Thanks

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#2

Thank you for helping!

Here is the result:

s@s-desktop:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE/PE DRAM Controller/Host-Hub Interface (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 82)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL (ICH4/ICH4-L) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801DB (ICH4) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
01:0d.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
01:0e.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Agere Systems FW323 (rev 61)

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#3

Concerning your problem #2, this is unfortunately a design problem of your monitor.
The X-Server (which very simply speaking is the piece of software in your system responsible for setting up the graphics) try to get information from your monitor about its capabilities, and this fails, most probably because your monitor doesn't report or report incorrect information.
You have to give this information yourself, manually.
Now, if you go to the Spectre site (http://www.sceptre.com/Products/LCD/Specifications/spec_x5svGeckoII.htm), you will see that this information also there is not available. There is only an obscure reference to a native resolution of 1024x768 with a vertical refresh rate of 60 or 75 Hz.
If you look at the error message you will see that the X-server is trying with a rate of 87.1 Hz, hence is failing.

So, the first question is, do you have any information about horizontal/vertical refresh rates in the documentation provided with your monitor?
If you do we can instruct the X-server to use the correct numbers, otherwise we can try a workaround solution.

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#4

I found the user's manual for the monitor. The full name of the monitor is: Sceptre X5G-Komodo VII. There are 2 places where they mention frequency information (is this the same as refresh rate?). Here is what the first page says:

"Compatibility:
Horizontal operation frequency from 31.5KHz to 60KHz (Automatic)
Vertical scan frequency from 56Hz to 75Hz (Automatic)
Analog video signal input
The monitor can memorize horizontal and vertical picture adjustment information through a microprocessor. When the system is powered on again, you get the screen for whatever you have set, for example, IBM PS/2, 8514/A, 1024x768 non-interlace board."

and then, there is also a full chart on another page in the manual:

Timing Charts

Resolution H Freq (KHz) V Freq (Hz) Pixel Freq (MHz)
1024x768 48.4 60 65.000
1024x768 56.6 70 75.000
1024x768 60.0 75 78.750
1024x768 60.2 75 80.000
(I've omitted all other lower resolutions)

Let me know if there is something else that I've not provided.
I don't see anything specifically labeled refresh rate.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#5

Capital!
This is exactly the information we needed.
Now we need to input these.
First of all we need to open a terminal. Go to Menu->Accessories->Terminal
Now write this command in the terminal and press the ENTER key at the end:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup

You will be asked for your password (this will make a backup of the X server configuration file).

Then we fire up a text editor, say gedit. Again, in the terminal this command:

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Once the document is loaded, go to the section labeled:

Section "Monitor"

And insert there these two lines (delete any previous line with the same name):

HorizSync 31.5-60
VertRefresh 56-75

Now save the file, close your terminal and restart your X server (pressing ALT, CTRL and BACKSPACE at the same time).

Now you should be able to set your 1024x768.

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#6

Okay, I've followed your instructions and restarted the x-server. Upon restart, I selected system \ preferences \ screen resolution, and chose 1024x768, but I'm still getting the Out of Range error when I do that. The refresh rate drop down on the screen resolution preferences window only shows 85 Hz as a choice. In case I did something wrong in my editing, I'm going to post both the original and the modified xorg.conf files:

Original (xorg.conf_backup):
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
 # path to defoma fonts
 FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "i2c"
 Load "bitmap"
 Load "ddc"
 Load "dri"
 Load "extmod"
 Load "freetype"
 Load "glx"
 Load "int10"
 Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
 Driver "i810"
 BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "X-5G"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
 Monitor "X-5G"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
 InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

Modified (xorg.conf):
# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
 # path to defoma fonts
 FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "i2c"
 Load "bitmap"
 Load "ddc"
 Load "dri"
 Load "extmod"
 Load "freetype"
 Load "glx"
 Load "int10"
 Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
 Driver "i810"
 BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "X-5G"
 Option "DPMS"
 HorizSync 31.5-60
 VertRefresh 56-75
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device"
 Monitor "X-5G"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x540" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
 InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

Revision history for this message
Best Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#7

Looks good.
No, I think it is still trying with autodetection. Lets switch it off adding the following line to your monitor section:

Option "DDC" "False"

And possibly you also have to comment out the line

Load "ddc"

in the Module section (just add a # before it).

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#8

Thanks Cesare Tirabassi, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#9

You are absolutely amazing! This solved my resolution problem!!

I'm hoping that the redraw problem will also be corrected by this, but I will have to try it a bit before I will know for certain. Thank you!

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#10

I just tried playing the example Ubuntu (Mandela) movie again, to check regarding the redraw issue. Unfortunately, that is still a problem. The movie looks black while it's playing -- the only way I can actually see any of the frames is to constantly resize the movie window, then I can see some still frames. If I stop resizing the window, it looks black again.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#11

OK, perhaps it is better to open a new question then. Lets try to keep them separate so that other users can find better help if they have the same issue.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#12

I can't open a question for you Sheree :-)
Please close this one and open a new one.

Revision history for this message
sheree (sah18) said : 		#13

Thanks Cesare Tirabassi, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
D0PA (pankaj-k-chauhan) said : 		#14

hi ,
i also have same motherboard and i am getting only option 60 refresh rate with higher resolution and 85 is the only option with 1024x768

, still this 85 seems very slow refresh rate , i don't know why , i want to increase the rate so everything move not crawl
i have tried above thing but didn't worked ,, one more problem is that my xorg.conf is not showing my card

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
 FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
 # path to defoma fonts
 FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
 Load "i2c"
 Load "bitmap"
 Load "ddc"
 Load "dri"
 Load "extmod"
 Load "freetype"
 Load "glx"
 Load "int10"
 Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
 Driver "kbd"
 Option "CoreKeyboard"
 Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
 Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
 Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Identifier "Configured Mouse"
 Driver "mouse"
 Option "CorePointer"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
 Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
 Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
 Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "stylus"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "stylus"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "eraser"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "eraser"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
 Driver "wacom"
 Identifier "cursor"
 Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
 Option "Type" "cursor"
 Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
 Identifier "Generic Video Card"
 Driver "vesa"
 BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
 Identifier "SyncMaster"
 Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
 Identifier "Default Screen"
 Device "Generic Video Card"
 Monitor "SyncMaster"
 DefaultDepth 24
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 1
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 4
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 8
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 15
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 16
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
 SubSection "Display"
  Depth 24
  Modes "1280x1024" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
 EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
 Identifier "Default Layout"
 Screen "Default Screen"
 InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
 InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
 InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
 InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
 Mode 0666
EndSection

dopa@Extreme-Machine:~$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE/PE DRAM Controller/Host-Hub Interface (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82845G/GL[Brookdale-G]/GE Chipset Integrated Graphics Device (rev 03)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-M) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 82)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL (ICH4/ICH4-L) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801DB (ICH4) IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
03:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)