Setting up the GNU+Linux system to use an external HDMI monitor which is connected to the system via a VGA-to-HDMI Signal Converter (VGA on the system's board and HDMI on the receiving end, that is, the FHD SAMSUNG display).
Platform: Debian XFCE with XORG.
Ref:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1075157/unable-to-set-my-screen-resolution-higher
[so as codlord suggested, just using
cvt -r 2560 1440instead ofcvt 2560 1440fixed the issue.]
xrandr -qThe output was something like this:Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384 VGA-1 connected 1............................
cvt 1920 1080Result:
# 1920x1080 59.96 Hz (CVT 2.07M9) hsync: 67.16 kHz; pclk: 173.00 MHz
Modeline "1920x1080_60.00" 173.00 1920 2048 2248 2576 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsync
The failed steps:
sudo xrandr --newmode "1920x1080_60.00" 173.00 1920 2048 2248 2576 1080 1083 1088 1120 -hsync +vsyncsudo xrandr --addmode VGA-1 "1920x1080_60.00"xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1920x1080_60.00Output: xrandr: Configure crtc 0 failed
The plan-B:
cvt -r 1920 1080Result:
# 1920x1080 59.93 Hz (CVT 2.07M9-R) hsync: 66.59 kHz; pclk: 138.50 MHz
Modeline "1920x1080R" 138.50 1920 1968 2000 2080 1080 1083 1088 1111 +hsync -vsync
Take note of everything after the word "Modeline".
Give your new resolution mode a name, e.g., 1920x1080R. That was the name shown by the cvt command; so, use it.
sudo xrandr --newmode "1920x1080R" 138.50 1920 1968 2000 2080 1080 1083 1088 1111 +hsync -vsyncsudo xrandr --addmode VGA-1 "1920x1080R"xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1920x1080REverything is okay now, except for the fact that you will lose the configuration after a reboot. The configuration has to be made persistent.
Double-check the result:
xrandr -qOutput:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
VGA-1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 0mm x 0mm
1024x768 60.00
800x600 60.32 56.25
848x480 60.00
640x480 59.94
1920x1080_60.00 59.96
1920x1080R 59.93*
Persistent settings (for the next boot):
Create a bash shell file that does the work of changing the resolution for you:
touch ~/shell/fhd_res_desktop.shchmod +x ~/shell/fhd_res_desktop.shgeany ~/shell/fhd_res_desktop.shContent:
#!/bin/bash
sudo xrandr --newmode "1920x1080R" 138.50 1920 1968 2000 2080 1080 1083 1088 1111 +hsync -vsync
sudo xrandr --addmode VGA-1 "1920x1080R"
xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1920x1080Rdisplay - How do I save my new resolution setting with xrandr? - Ask Ubuntu
sudo geany /etc/X11/xorg.confPaste the following block of code, save & close:
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "VGA-1"
Modeline "1920x1080R" 138.50 1920 1968 2000 2080 1080 1083 1088 1111 +hsync -vsync
EndSection
Create a desktop entry:
geany ~/.config/autostart/xrandr-settings.desktopchmod +x ~/.config/autostart/xrandr-settings.desktopContent:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Version=1.0
Name=custom xrandr settings
# Replace with your own xrandr command:
Exec=xrandr --output VGA-1 --mode 1920x1080RAt the moment, your system will retain the set resolution after a reboot. However, the XFCE DE and XORG somehow spoiled the look of the shadow of the top panel of the desktop. Maybe it was due to the theme I use, maybe something else. Regardless, I had to fix the issue.
xfwm4 --replacetouch /home/YOURUSERNAME/shell/restart_XFCE_DESKTOP_GUI.shchmod +x /home/YOURUSERNAME/shell/restart_XFCE_DESKTOP_GUI.shgeany /home/YOURUSERNAME/shell/restart_XFCE_DESKTOP_GUI.sh#!/bin/bash
# https://askubuntu.com/questions/215632/restart-xfce-from-tty1
xfwm4 --replace && \
pkill conkyXFCE Whisker Menu -> Settings -> Session and Startup:
Delete all previous Conky settings that you had created before from startup.
Add the following entry:
Name: restart-XFCE-DESKTOP-GUI
Description: Restart the XFCE desktop GUI
Command: sh /home/YOURUSERNAME/shell/restart_XFCE_DESKTOP_GUI.sh
Trigger: on login
After booting up, run Conky manually.
Create a desktop entry:
touch ~/.local/share/applications/conky.desktopchmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/conky.desktopgeany ~/.local/share/applications/conky.desktopContent:
[Desktop Entry]
# Copyright Reserved by ArchWiki
# https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Desktop_entries
# Source: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Desktop_entries
# An example of a desktop entry published by ArchWiki has been used here as
# a template. Copyright goes to the respective publisher which was originally
# published under GNU Free Documentation License 1.3.
# For more information, see https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html.
# GNU Free Documentation License mandates the inclusion of the terms of the
# license to be visible to the end-user.
Type=Application
Name=conky
Comment=Desktop Gadget
# The executable of the application, possibly with arguments.
Exec=conky & -b ~/.conkyrc
# The name of the icon that will be used to display this entry
Icon=desktop-effects
# Describes whether this application needs to be run in a terminal or not
Terminal=false
# Describes the categories in which this entry should be shown
Categories=;
GenericName=Desktop Gadget that reads from sensorsYou will find my Conky config file in this repository if you want to use that.
Extras:
display - How do I save my new resolution setting with xrandr? - Ask Ubuntu
Install two small utility packages:
yes | sudo apt install autorandrAnd
yes | sudo apt install arandrStore your configuration with autorandr --save "SAVED_CONFIG_NAME_OF_YOUR_CHOICE".
For example:
autorandr --save FHD_SAMSUNGOutput: Saved current configuration as profile 'FHD_SAMSUNG'
Resume the config with autorandr --change FHD_SAMSUNG to choose config,
or just autorandr --change to have it infer your config from
your connected monitors.
Reboot the system to check whether everything is working as expected:
sudo reboot nowYou may have to make minor adjustments depending on the output of cvt (specifically, cvt -r 1920 1080) on your system. Mine was: "1920x1080R" 138.50 1920 1968 2000 2080 1080 1083 1088 1111.
