Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

rolfi · 2015-03-17 20:37:30

Hi community,

I got a new notebook (HP 820) with a cool Full HD display. There is just one problem:
I cant turn the resolution down (from 1920x1080 to 1680x1050)- as soon as I do that, I have two black borders (left and right) on my screen -> not 16:9 anymore.

I tried to adjust the screen by using the Display tool of xfce and arandr but without success. A colleague uses the gnome display tool, which works perfectly fine.

So is there a way to adjust the screen resolution with the xfce tools?

Graphic card info:

  *-display               
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Broadwell-U Integrated Graphics
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       version: 09
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom
       configuration: driver=i915 latency=0
       resources: irq:63 memory:c0000000-c0ffffff memory:b0000000-bfffffff ioport:5000(size=64)

Xorg.log while changing resolution:

[    17.174] (**) Option "xkb_variant" "nodeadkeys"
[    17.378] (II) config/udev: Adding input device ST LIS3LV02DL Accelerometer (/dev/input/js0)
[    17.378] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[    17.378] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[    18.136] (II) config/udev: Adding input device ST LIS3LV02DL Accelerometer (/dev/input/event15)
[    18.136] (II) No input driver specified, ignoring this device.
[    18.136] (II) This device may have been added with another device file.
[    20.557] (II) intel(0): EDID vendor "LGD", prod id 1162
[    20.557] (II) intel(0): Printing DDC gathered Modelines:
[    20.557] (II) intel(0): Modeline "1920x1080"x0.0  141.00  1920 1980 2026 2114  1080 1083 1088 1111 +hsync -vsync (66.7 kHz eP)
[   117.764] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 1680x1050
[   117.765] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1680x1050@60.0 on eDP1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[   125.713] (II) intel(0): resizing framebuffer to 1920x1080
[   125.714] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1680x1050@60.0 on eDP1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none
[   125.732] (II) intel(0): switch to mode 1920x1080@60.0 on eDP1 using pipe 0, position (0, 0), rotation normal, reflection none

Thanks!

rolfi

sixsixfive · 2015-03-17 21:32:19

ok i915, then you need to use xrandr to scale the resolution

eg something:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --set PANEL_FITTING full

or

xrandr --output LVDS --set "scaling mode" "Full"

its a bit tricky;) google for more examples https://www.google.com/search?q=xrandr+set+scaling+i915

Last edited by sixsixfive (2015-03-17 21:32:43)

MountainDewManiac · 2015-03-18 08:17:37

rolfi wrote:

notebook (HP 820) with a cool Full HD display. There is just one problem:
I cant turn the resolution down (from 1920x1080 to 1680x1050)- as soon as I do that, I have two black borders (left and right) on my screen -> not 16:9 anymore.

That makes perfect sense, because - unless I forgot how to divide - a resolution of 1680x1050 isn't 16:9 aspect ratio. Your graphics system is giving you the best option (well... considering that you chose not only a different resolution than is native to your fixed-resolution display, lol, but also picked one with a different AR). Your second-best option (but a far distant second) would, presumably, be to expand the "picture" so that you no longer have the bars on the sides of your screen - and to crop the top and bottom so that you preserve the display as much as possible (IOW, it doesn't looked stretched side-to-side and smashed top-to-bottom). The worst option you could choose would be to set things up so that your entire display contains the entire picture (no black bars and no cropping) because, at that point, you've got physical pixels that must represent a different amount of information horizontally than they do vertically.

Your best option, IMHO, would be to set your graphics resolution to 1920x1080, since that's what the physical resolution of your display panel is.

Regards,
MDM

sixsixfive · 2015-03-18 11:45:13

>Your best option, IMHO, would be to set your graphics resolution to 1920x1080, since that's what the physical resolution of your display panel is.

depends on your screen size-->on the most notebooks 1920 is damn tiny to work with

at the same time 1366 is often a bit too big so i usually scale them up eg for 1920:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1366x768 --panning 1920x1080 --scale 1.4055x1.40625

Last edited by sixsixfive (2015-03-18 11:47:02)

MountainDewManiac · 2015-03-18 13:46:55

Ah. So it's a way to increase the size of things on the display, by decreasing the resolution. I suppose that might be easier than changing the font size and/or DPI setting in /Settings/Appearance/Settings and changing whatever other things the user needs to increase the size of (or... will changing the custom DPI setting cover everything?). It just seems (to me) to be more of a "quick and dirty" solution than a proper one, especially if it requires changing not only the resolution of the display but also its aspect ratio. Still, if it is the best way to do what the user needs, that's a good enough reason for doing so, I suppose.

I noticed when checking to see if the font size was adjustable just now that I've got a custom DPI setting of 96. That works for me (but my eyesight is poor) for most things, other than Firefox. And, since the majority of websites still appear to be configured for 4:3 screens, I can hit CTRL + a couple of times to make things larger without having to scroll horizontally.

 xrandr | grep -w connected
LVDS1 connected 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm

I'll admit that I used to change resolutions occasionally when I still used a CRT monitor on a desktop.

Regards,
MDM

Jerry3904 · 2015-03-18 14:33:14

Is there any of this that can't be done now graphically with the 4.12 Display (xfce4-display-settings), which is vastly improved from 4.10?

sixsixfive · 2015-03-18 15:10:46

>I suppose that might be easier than changing the font size and/or DPI setting in /Settings/Appearance/Settings and changing whatever other things the user needs to >increase the size of (or... will changing the custom DPI setting cover everything?).

the dpi setting will only affect your font settings! the borders, inner borders, and the size of the widgets of your gtktheme will still be the same --> looks weird

>And, since the majority of websites still appear to be configured for 4:3 screens

really? 4:3 so you live in 1992?

also firefox has like chrome, gtk3, qt5 .... native scaling support:

about:config>layout.css.devPixelsPerPx set it to bigger than 1

>Is there any of this that can't be done now graphically with the 4.12 Display

yepp you can't scale big resolutions to tinier screens, xfce settings supports only full scale and the basic randr settings but, there are many more options...

Last edited by sixsixfive (2015-03-18 15:11:19)

Jerry3904 · 2015-03-18 15:44:24

you can't scale big resolutions to tinier screens, xfce settings supports only full scale

Hmmm. My 4.12 Display screen shows my desktop monitor with its native resolution is 2048x1152, but the Resolution pull-down menu scale goes down to 640x480. I'm not gonna try it on my production machine, but it looks like there is an option to do precisely that.

sixsixfive · 2015-03-18 16:34:23

Jerry3904 wrote:

monitor with its native resolution is 2048x1152, but the Resolution pull-down menu scale goes down to 640x480.

nah, the other way eg: 4096x2304 on your 2048x1152 display

Jerry3904 · 2015-03-18 18:20:18

ahhhh

rolfi · 2015-03-18 22:18:48

Wow, I am not here for 24h and the thread got a life of its own big_smile

First of all: Thanks for your help everybody!

sixsixfive wrote:

depends on your screen size-->on the most notebooks 1920 is damn tiny to work with

And thats _exactly_ the "problem" wink

sixsixfive wrote:

 xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1366x768 --panning 1920x1080 --scale 1.4055x1.40625

I tried that, but it blurs the fonts unfortunately.

Jerry3904 wrote:

Is there any of this that can't be done now graphically with the 4.12 Display (xfce4-display-settings), which is vastly improved from 4.10?

I tried to install 4.12 like it is suggested in this SO post:
http://askubuntu.com/a/454604/206030

But I have the same options in xfce4-display-manager as I had before (with 4.10)...(I tested the version with xfce4-about).
I wonder if I should just wait until 15.04 of Xubuntu is released, that probably includes 4.12 natively...

Thanks for your help so far guys!

sixsixfive · 2015-03-18 23:36:21

rolfi wrote:

I tried that, but it blurs the fonts unfortunately.

blur will always happen if you lower the resolution also did you change the command? eg:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1920x1080 --panning 1680x1050 --scale 0,875x97.22222

also changing to 1600 looks probably better:

xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1920x1080 --panning 1600x900 --scale 0.8333333x0.8333333

rolfi · 2015-03-22 22:42:13

sixsixfive wrote:

rolfi wrote:
I tried that, but it blurs the fonts unfortunately.
blur will always happen if you lower the resolution also did you change the command? eg:
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1920x1080 --panning 1680x1050 --scale 0,875x97.22222
also changing to 1600 looks probably better:
xrandr --output LVDS1 --mode 1920x1080 --panning 1600x900 --scale 0.8333333x0.8333333

Sorry for the delay. Until 2h ago I was not able to connect to xfce forum, since the cert was invalidated and the HSTS header prevented me from connecting...

Okay, nevertheless: Yeah, I tried the commands, but the outcome was a black screen with my mouse in the upper-left corner and a mandatory reboot afterwards^^

rolfi · 2015-03-25 14:21:51

Is it actually possible to use the gnome-display-settings tool (Pic) for xfce?
I had Ubuntu and Gnome installed for one day as a test and the resolution change there worked flawless.

sixsixfive · 2015-03-26 08:09:22

sure, but i dont think the gnome randr frontend has more features than the xfce one

also did you try the different scaling modes?

xrandr -s 1600x900
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Full"
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Full aspect"
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Center"

also for the case something goes wrong (blackscreen) use

xrandr -s 0

to reset your screen

rolfi · 2015-03-26 19:59:39

sixsixfive wrote:

sure, but i dont think the gnome randr frontend has more features than the xfce one
also did you try the different scaling modes?
xrandr -s 1600x900
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Full"
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Full aspect"
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Center"
also for the case something goes wrong (blackscreen) use
xrandr -s 0
to reset your screen

Sixsixfive I really appreciate your help. Seems like you really wanna help me out here wink
Before I give my screen another try: Is it true, that the monitor could be irrecoverably be broken if some of the settings I set with randr are not suitable for my screen?

sixsixfive · 2015-03-27 13:45:40

rolfi wrote:

Is it true, that the monitor could be irrecoverably be broken if some of the settings I set with randr are not suitable for my screen?

yupp thats theoretically possible, but all never Monitors/Screens have security ciruits which shut them down if you enter a wrong resulution/refresh rate

MountainDewManiac · 2015-03-27 16:45:27

It was probably more possible on older CRT monitors that the user could select a resolution for and the ("dumb") monitor would attempt to switch to, regardless of its actual capabilities. Modern LCD display panels are, OtOH:
-Basically computers, themselves
-Fixed-resolution devices (which will often scale whatever resolution they are fed to their actual physical resolution)
-Fixed-frequency devices ("I think"

Seems like there was a certain command I could have entered on an old Commodore PET 2001 computer (circa-1979) that would have pooched its built-in CRT, but I never actually tried it to find out (it was the property of my junior high school and I was already known as somewhat of a difficult student roll - no need to add wanton destruction, lol).

Regards,
MDM

rolfi · 2015-03-29 19:42:24

sixsixfive wrote:

xrandr -s 1440x900
xrandr --output LVDS1 --set "scaling mode" "Full"

This worked out pretty good- the screen now has lower resolution but fills out the whole screen. THANKS!
One last question: 1080p is the "normal" resolution that has clear fonts. With the new, scaled resolution the fonts are blurred of course, since they are scaled. Is there anything I can do against, or do I have to accept the tradeoff?

sixsixfive · 2015-03-31 08:06:50

you can try to play a bit with dpi, hinting

rolfi · 2015-04-03 19:15:33

sixsixfive wrote:

you can try to play a bit with dpi, hinting

xrandr -s 1440x900
xrandr --output eDP1 --set "scaling mode" "Full"
xrandr --dpi 135

I would give you a "thanks" if it would be supported by the forum or a "like" or whatever.
Oldschool: Thanks smile

Last edited by rolfi (2015-04-03 19:16:43)

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#1 2015-03-17 20:37:30

Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#2 2015-03-17 21:32:19

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#3 2015-03-18 08:17:37

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#4 2015-03-18 11:45:13

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#5 2015-03-18 13:46:55

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#6 2015-03-18 14:33:14

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#7 2015-03-18 15:10:46

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#8 2015-03-18 15:44:24

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#9 2015-03-18 16:34:23

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#10 2015-03-18 18:20:18

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#11 2015-03-18 22:18:48

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#12 2015-03-18 23:36:21

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#13 2015-03-22 22:42:13

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#14 2015-03-25 14:21:51

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#15 2015-03-26 08:09:22

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#16 2015-03-26 19:59:39

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#17 2015-03-27 13:45:40

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#18 2015-03-27 16:45:27

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#19 2015-03-29 19:42:24

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#20 2015-03-31 08:06:50

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

#21 2015-04-03 19:15:33

Re: Xubuntu 14.10 (XFCE4) Display Resolution

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