Framebuffer

From MEPIS Documentation Wiki

FRAMEBUFFER

Contents 1 Definition 1.1 Literal Definition 1.2 Practical Application 2 Finding Supported Resolutions 3 Applying The New Resolution

Definition

Literal Definition

The portion of memory reserved for holding the complete bit-mapped image that is sent to the monitor. Typically the frame buffer is stored in the memory chips on the video adapter. In some instances, however, the video chipset is integrated into the motherboard design, and the frame buffer is stored in general main memory.

Practical Application

By assigning a usable vesa framebuffer at the grub screen, you can then set the desired resolution of following screens until the X window and resultant video drivers load.

Finding Supported Resolutions

Open a konsole, su to root, and:

hwinfo --framebuffer

This will give all the vesa framebuffer resolutions your card supports. EG - A GTX260 lists:

[root@mepis1 User]# hwinfo --framebuffer
02: None 00.0: 11001 VESA Framebuffer 
[Created at bios.464] 
Unique ID: rdCR.VsfXBTyKB3F 

Hardware Class: framebuffer 
Model: "NVIDIA GT200 Board - 08970053" 
Vendor: "NVIDIA Corporation" 
Device: "GT200 Board - 08970053" 
SubVendor: "NVIDIA" 
SubDevice: 
Revision: "Chip Rev" 
Memory Size: 14 MB 
Memory Range: 0xfb000000-0xfbdfffff (rw) 

Mode 0x0300: 640x400 (+640), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0301: 640x480 (+640), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0303: 800x600 (+800), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0305: 1024x768 (+1024), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0307: 1280x1024 (+1280), 8 bits 
Mode 0x030e: 320x200 (+640), 16 bits 
Mode 0x030f: 320x200 (+1280), 24 bits 
Mode 0x0311: 640x480 (+1280), 16 bits 
Mode 0x0312: 640x480 (+2560), 24 bits 
Mode 0x0314: 800x600 (+1600), 16 bits 
Mode 0x0315: 800x600 (+3200), 24 bits 
Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048 ), 16 bits 
Mode 0x0318: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits 
Mode 0x031a: 1280x1024 (+2560), 16 bits 
Mode 0x031b: 1280x1024 (+5120), 24 bits 
Mode 0x0330: 320x200 (+320), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0331: 320x400 (+320), 8 bits 
Mode 0x0332: 320x400 (+640), 16 bits 
Mode 0x0333: 320x400 (+1280), 24 bits
Mode 0x0334: 320x240 (+320), 8 bits
Mode 0x0335: 320x240 (+640), 16 bits
Mode 0x0336: 320x240 (+1280), 24 bits
Mode 0x033d: 640x400 (+1280), 16 bits
Mode 0x033e: 640x400 (+2560), 24 bits
Mode 0x0345: 1600x1200 (+1600), 8 bits
Mode 0x0346: 1600x1200 (+3200), 16 bits
Mode 0x0347: 1400x1050 (+1400), 8 bits
Mode 0x0348: 1400x1050 (+2800), 16 bits
Mode 0x0349: 1400x1050 (+5600), 24 bits
Mode 0x034a: 1600x1200 (+6400), 24 bits
Mode 0x0352: 2048x1536 (+8192), 24 bits
Mode 0x0360: 1280x800 (+1280), 8 bits
Mode 0x0361: 1280x800 (+5120), 24 bits
Mode 0x0362: 768x480 (+768 ), 8 bits
Mode 0x0364: 1440x900 (+1440), 8 bits
Mode 0x0365: 1440x900 (+5760), 24 bits
Mode 0x0368: 1680x1050 (+1680), 8 bits
Mode 0x0369: 1680x1050 (+6720), 24 bits
Mode 0x037b: 1280x720 (+5120), 24 bits
Mode 0x037c: 1920x1200 (+1920), 8 bits
Mode 0x037d: 1920x1200 (+7680), 24 bits 

Applying The New Resolution

With a screen default res of 1680x1050 (22 in monitor), to get that resolution @ 24 bits, add to the grub command

vga=0x0369

To permanently have this, in /boot/grub/menu.lst, add/change from current (just showing an actual boot stanza)

Quote:title MEPIS at sda5, newest kernel
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5 nomce quiet vga=769 
initrd /boot/initrd.img
boot 

To:

Quote:title MEPIS at sda5, newest kernel
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5 nomce quiet vga=0x0369 
initrd /boot/initrd.img
boot