iB::Topic::how can I change the refresh rate?

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Topic: how can I change the refresh rate?, X config issue with dsl

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vees

Group: Members
Posts: 81
Joined: Nov. 2005

Posted: Nov. 30 2005,21:36

Hi,

I just got my copy of DSL 2.0 and I love it. There is one problem however: the best refresh rate I get it in the 60-65 range max. I would like at least 75. Can I change that?

Thanks,

VS

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RoGuE_StreaK Offline

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Joined: Jan. 2004

Posted: Dec. 01 2005,01:29

Not with the base iso. The xserver in DSL is very cut down, and will only run 60Hz. To get better frequencies you need to install the xfree86 dsl extension and set it up for your machine.
There's only so much you can squeeze into 50MB.

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vees

Group: Members
Posts: 81
Joined: Nov. 2005

Posted: Dec. 01 2005,18:03

Quote (RoGuE_StreaK @ Nov. 30 2005,20:29)

Not with the base iso. The xserver in DSL is very cut down, and will only run 60Hz.

That's a crying shame :-( DSL is such well-polished disto that having a 60Hz refresh rate is really a party-pooper. I wonder why this rate was chosen, as most machines today could easily handle 75, no? Or would that somehow increase the size of the distro to replace the 60 by a 70-75?

I guess one can alwyas use the CLI (which I generally prefer anyway), but then we are back in the same type of environment as, say, LNX-BBC.

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cbagger01

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Joined: Oct. 2003

Posted: Dec. 01 2005,18:30

The problem is that the VESA 2.0 specification (as close to a "universal" video driver support) does not allow for anything other than a 60Hz refresh rate.

So in order to have support for 75Hz, you need an individual video card driver for each kind of video card like the XFree86 system.

Eventually, the VESA folks came out with a VESA 3.0 specification that included the ability to set refresh rates but this standard never caught on with the hardware manufacturers.

I think that NVIDIA supports it, but not ATI. I forget.

vees

Group: Members
Posts: 81
Joined: Nov. 2005

Posted: Dec. 01 2005,19:04

Thanks for the explanation, this now all makes sense to me and the choice of one 60Hz rate is the only possible one on a 50meg distro I suppose.

Do you think that there is any way to tweak anything to make the low refresh rate look even marginally better?

Cheers!

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Motto: chown -R linux:GNU world

4 replies since Nov. 30 2005,21:36

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