[SOLVED] Dell Optilex SX280 Graphics

[bobw]

I've now installed LL2.2, 32 bit, on an elderly Dell Optilex SX280, using a Samsung monitor with 1280x1024 resolution, but I can't set the display resolution to anything higher than 1024x768.

I know that the PC is capable of supporting higher resolution, and it appeared to deliver 1280x1024 satisfactorily in Windows XP.

The BIOS is the latest one available for the machine (I don't know whether this could be relevant). The machine has an Intel 82915G/GV/910GL Integrated Graphics Controller.  I have downloaded the "Graphics Installer 1.0.7 for Ubuntu 14.04, 32 bit" from:  https://01.org/linuxgraphics/downloads
and followed the process outlined in the Release Notes at:  https://01.org/linuxgraphics/downloads/2...inux-1.0.7 .

When I ran the installer, it took several minutes, reporting progress as it went, so it seemed to install new drivers successfully.  I was very hopeful at this stage, but it didn't make any difference.  Following a suggestion picked up from another forum, I have also done "[size=1em]sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg".[/size]

[size=1em]The Additional Drivers tab in Install Drivers still shows "No additional drivers available".

I don't know how, or whether it is possible, to take it any further. Any suggestions, please?

System report attached.[/size]

[attachment deleted by admin, more than 25 days old]

[sysdrum]

Was it able to run in anything higher than 1024 x 768 when run from a liveUSB/livecd-dvd?



I found when dealing with 910GL thru 945GM I have to make sure the the xserver-xorg-video-intel installed correctly. (Noted that you do in fact have it installed) Using the intel binaries is a 50/50.


Command to install for future reference:

Code:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intel

Note: But after reviewing your report - I found that you in fact have both the binaries and video-intel drivers installed.
I am inclined to think that the displays (monitor) not being detected to support that resolution. Some 15 inch, 17 inch, and 19 inch and 20+ inch Samsung displays have the same sync ID (UPP) but do not support the same display resolution. So LL could be seeing the monitor as either a un support device or a device that only supports a lower resolution. ( Have a P2770 on some distro's it comes up as a P2370 but both support 1080p so it not an issue.)

The only time a have had to deal with the binaries is when dealing with  my Intel Nuc but after kernel 3.11 that was no longer needed.

[Wirezfree]

Hi bobw & sysdrum,

Early this year when I started with Linux, I also installed the Intel Linux Driver 1.0.3 (I think).
But when I first tried, I encountered an issue when I ran the installer "Distribution Not Supported"
I discovered at that time it was expecting vanilla Ubuntu. So unless they have changed it, I'm surprised it worked.?

The only way I could install at that time, from my notes:

Code:

gksu leafpad /etc/lsb-release

File looks like:
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=14.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=trusty
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Linux Lite 2.0"

Change it to:
DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=14.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=trusty
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 14.04 LTS"

Then:
wget --no-check-certificate https://download.01.org/gfx/RPM-GPG-KEY-ilg -O - | sudo apt-key add -
wget --no-check-certificate https://download.01.org/gfx/RPM-GPG-KEY-ilg-2 -O - | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://download.01.org/gfx/ubuntu/14.04/main trusty main #Intel Graphics drivers" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/intellinuxgraphics.list

Then:
Goto Synaptic Package Manager
find/add Intel Graphics Installer
Install it

Then Run the "Intel Graphics Installer"

Then undo the changes to the lsb-release file.

Even then, I wasn't sure how to confirm the actual Intel Drivers where in use.??

bobw, I never found the information you posted on doing the:

Code:

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Also,, sysdrum
The command you posted:

Code:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intel

Are you saying that you do not need to use the Intel Graphics installer, you just that.??

Thanks... Dave

[sysdrum]

Yes
But linux lite comes with xserver-xorg-video-*(which covers many drivers)
for the i8xx, i9xx the best driver is the [color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]xserver-[/color][color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]xorg-video-intel. [/color]

Please refer to this:

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xse...ideo-intel


LL 2.0 and 2.2 are based on (X)Ubuntu 14.04. So any relevant data regarding open source (non binary) AMD/Nvidia/Intel drivers are recursive from the upstream branch.


In simple terms when Ubuntu updates a driver support package tailered to kernel 3.13 we see the effects in LL 2.0 and 2.2

[Wirezfree]

Hi sysdrum,

O.K, so if I understand, there is no need to use the Intel Driver install package
because eventually they will be incorporated into LL via Ubuntu package updates.

I did a sys-info and have:

Code:

ii  xserver-xorg-video-intel                    2:2.99.910-0ubuntu1.3                 amd64        X.Org X server -- Intel i8xx, i9xx display driver

If I look in Launchpad Link there is Trusty Tahr = 14.04.?:

Code:

2:2.99.910-0ubuntu1.3

Which appears to match

There's a .914 Utopic Unicorn I guess Ubuntu 14:10.?
Which I guess will come through at some stage.

Thanks - Dave

[bobw]

Hi sysdrum & Wirezfree.  Thanks for your replies - sorry I couldn't respond earlier.

Was it able to run in anything higher than 1024 x 768 when run from a liveUSB/livecd-dvd?

No, it's exactly the same.


As I think you expected, sysdrum, your command:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intel

returned a message that the newest version is already installed.

I couldn't get your process to work, Wirezfree - it seemed to hang, but if I understand the above posts correctly it shouldn't be necessary anyway.

By the way, I've tried a couple of other Ubuntu-based distros and they have the same problem.

On the Dell machine, if I go to Menu/Settings/Display/Identify Displays it returns "Monitor - Resolution 1024x768".  When I do the same thing on another (more modern) machine using the same monitor, I get "Samsung Electric Co 17 inch - 1280x1024" - I have no display problems on that machine using any of the distros.  This seems to suggest that the monitor isn't being recognised by the Dell, but that the problem isn't caused by LL or the monitor.

Any more suggestion would be welcome.

[bobw]

Is there any way of setting the computer's graphics output to 1280x1024, even though the system doesn't recognise that the monitor is capable of handling it?

[sysdrum]

I am not quite sure if this is what you are asking for?
But you can manually select a resolution beyond what is detected.



https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution


The dell could have UPP issues with 915L. I have seen a GMA 950 (Dell Inspiron 1504) as it happen there was a bug in dell's hardware specs that required a driver to detect the external displays (on top of that you had to install Dell's drivers you could not use Intel's).


Have you tried using a different Monitor on the Dell to see if the VGA/DVI port detects the monitor?
As you said you did use the Samsung on a different box. With good results.

[bobw]

Thanks sysdrum - I think the ubuntu wiki page you pointed me to may be exactly what I'm looking for.

My initial attempt:

[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)]xrandr --output VGA1 --mode 1280x1024[/color]

returns the error:

xrandr: cannot find mode 1280x1024

However, there's lots of stuff further down the page that looks like it may provide a solution.  I haven't time to look at it and try the options properly at the moment, but I will do later and post back, probably tomorrow.

[Valtam]

xrandr -q should give you a list of capable resolutions. Start with that.