Cannot figure out how to set my DPI!!!

rngetter · 2008-03-09 04:59:57

Okay, so after a long (and I mean long) struggle, I have finally gotten my NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440-SE to work with my Xubuntu install, I now am having a huge DPI issue. Which you can clearly see here:

http://www.geocities.com/lookin4busstop/ihatethis.jpg

I found a guide for fixing fonts at this link:

http://xubuntu.wordpress.com/2006/08/09 … fce-fonts/

the following went fine, untill the third step where it directed me to follow directions at the following link:

http://xubuntulinux.blogspot.com/2006/0 … erver.html

The directions at the second link aren't as simple as its predecessor.

I'm supposed to enter:

xdpyinfo | grep resolution

and

xrdb -query

to find out my current DPI value.

When I enter:

xdpyinfo | grep resolution

I get:

resolution: 50x50 dots per inch

When I enter:

xrdb -query

I get:

*customization: -color

Now, according to the directions I'm supposd to edit directly /etc/X11/xorg.conf and under "Monitor" section add a line:

DisplaySize XXX XXX (in my case it's 270 203) (that's what the guide says, not me whoscheesemine)

Then it says:

XXX is calculated by using formula 25.4 * pixels (height or width) / DPI.

So, I guess I take 25.4 and multiply it by 50, okay well that gives me: 1270

Then I guess I'm supposed to devide that by my DPI... isn't that what I'm trying to figure out? I DON'T KNOW MY DPI OR I'D ALREADY HAVE IT SET!!!!! What am I supposed to do here?

I decided to add my /etc/X11/xorg.conf in case anyone was interested:

# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder3)  Tue Jan 22 19:53:46 PST 2008

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen      0  "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
EndSection

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "glx"
    Load           "v4l"
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 "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Failsafe Monitor"
    VendorName     "Plug 'n' Play"
    ModelName      "Plug 'n' Play"
    Gamma           1
    ModeLine       "640x480@60" 25.2 640 656 752 800 480 490 492 525 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "640x480@72" 31.5 640 664 704 832 480 489 491 520 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "640x480@75" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "640x480@85" 36.0 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "800x600@56" 36.0 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "800x600@72" 50.0 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "800x600@75" 49.5 800 816 896 1056 600 601 604 625 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "800x600@85" 56.3 800 832 896 1048 600 601 604 631 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "800x600@60" 40.0 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "832x624@75" 57.3 832 864 928 1152 624 625 628 667 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "1024x768@85" 94.5 1024 1072 1168 1376 768 769 772 808 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1024x768@75" 78.8 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1024x768@70" 75.0 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "1024x768@60" 65.0 1024 1048 1184 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
    ModeLine       "1024x768@43" 44.9 1024 1032 1208 1264 768 768 776 817 +hsync +vsync interlace
    ModeLine       "1152x864@75" 108.0 1152 1216 1344 1600 864 865 868 900 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x1024@75" 135.0 1280 1296 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x960@60" 102.1 1280 1360 1496 1712 960 961 964 994 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x960@85" 148.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 960 961 964 1011 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x1024@85" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x1024@60" 108.0 1280 1328 1440 1688 1024 1025 1028 1066 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1280x960@75" 129.9 1280 1368 1504 1728 960 961 964 1002 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1400x1050@60" 122.6 1400 1488 1640 1880 1050 1051 1054 1087 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1400x1050@75" 155.8 1400 1496 1648 1896 1050 1051 1054 1096 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1200@65" 175.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1200@60" 162.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1200@75" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1600x1200@70" 189.0 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1792x1344@60" 204.8 1792 1920 2120 2448 1344 1345 1348 1394 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1856x1392@60" 218.3 1856 1952 2176 2528 1392 1393 1396 1439 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "1920x1440@60" 234.0 1920 2048 2256 2600 1440 1441 1444 1500 -hsync +vsync
    ModeLine       "2048x1536@60" 266.9 2048 2200 2424 2800 1536 1537 1540 1589 -hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Failsafe Device"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "Intel"
    BoardName      "Intel 945"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "Failsafe Device"
    Monitor        "Failsafe Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
    Option         "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
    Option         "NoLogo" "True"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Virtual     2048 1536
        Depth       24
        Modes      "800x600@85" "800x600@60" "800x600@75" "832x624@75" "800x600@72" "1024x768@85" "800x600@56" "1024x768@75" "640x480@85" "1024x768@70" "640x480@75" "1024x768@60" "640x480@72" "1024x768@43" "640x480@60" "1152x864@75" "1280x1024@75" "1280x960@60" "1280x960@85" "1280x1024@85" "1280x1024@60" "1280x960@75" "1400x1050@60" "1400x1050@75" "1600x1200@65" "1600x1200@60" "1600x1200@75" "1600x1200@70" "1792x1344@60" "1856x1392@60" "1920x1440@60" "2048x1536@60"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

herd · 2008-03-09 11:13:28

You can acquire knowledge about your DPI by actually measuring it.

DPI means Dot Per Inch. You can translate it as Pixel Per Inch for simplification.

Either your monitors papers say it or you measure the visible width and height with a ruler and apply a division (by 1024) to get the value.

Example:

My 19" diagonal monitor has a horizontal width of 38cm=15", 1280 pixels horizontal = about 85 1/3 DPI.
Its actually readable on the weeny side with 75x75 set in the Xorg.conf.

Now 50 is far too low - suits a 22" CRT with 1024x768 resolution.
Windows for example defaults to 96 DPI regardless.

I encourage you to play with Xubuntus "Screens and Graphics" setting and pick some laptop LCD there.

hth,

herd

rngetter · 2008-03-10 00:05:31

Welp, after playing around with different monitor drivers it worked, so I suppose as the saying goes:

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Although, I still wish I could have fixed it manually..

I wound up just going to Applications -> Settings -> Screens and Graphics Then I set

Model: Monitor 1024 X 768

Resolution: 1024 X 768

at: 53hz

I still would like to set write my own monitor "driver" if anyone has tips on how to do so feel free to post it here, or pm me. Here are my monitor's stats:

http://support.mpccorp.com/apps/specs.asp?ID=7654

Automatic Recovery Time -- Off/Sleep Mode: < 10 Seconds
CRT Dot Pitch: (Diagonal) 0.25 mm
CRT Size: 17in (16.0in Viewable)
CRT Technology: Invar Shadow Mask Flat Color CRT
Maximum Resolution: 1600 x 1200
Number of Display Colors: True Color - 16.7 million colors
Physical Dimensions (H x W x D): 402 x 410 x 420mm
Power Consumption -- Normal Operation: < 120 Watts typical (Green LED)
Power Consumption -- Off/Sleep Mode: < 5 Watts (Orange LED)
Scanning Frequency -- Horizontal: 30 - 98 kHz
Scanning Frequency -- Vertical: 50 - 160 Hz
Scanning Frequency: Maximum Pixel Clock: 202.5 MHz
Signal Connector Cable: Black Captive cable with DB-15 Type video connector (Blue - Pantone #661C)
Signal interface: Analog
Weight (Kg): 21.0 Kgs

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#1 2008-03-09 04:59:57

Cannot figure out how to set my DPI!!!

#2 2008-03-09 11:13:28

Re: Cannot figure out how to set my DPI!!!

#3 2008-03-10 00:05:31

Re: Cannot figure out how to set my DPI!!!

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