Samsung monitor: will I need to find a driver to use it with MEPIS 3.4-2?

There is a setting in Mepis OS Center for The Samsung SycMaster 997DF monitor. If it's not automatically detected, you can select it there.

I know (because it happened to me) that on some monitor/video card combos Mepis doesn't set the refresh rate high enough to avoid flicker, and won't let you select a higher rate in the KDE Control Center.

The trick to get around that is to (as root) edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf and either remove or comment out ALL the modelines. When you reboot you'll be able to pick a higher refresh rate in Control Center.

BTW, your motherboard has a built-in VIA Unichrome Graphics chip.

Thanks, timkb4cq, this is very useful.

Just one question: I THINK I have some idea how high a refresh rate is too high for my monitor, but I just wanted to ask: if I enter something reasonable, there is little chance of actually damaging my monitor, right?

feheeszeno

When you save the selection for your monitor model, it puts the correct frequency ranges for your monitor in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.
The KDE Control Center will then only show you options for refresh rate that fall within those limitations. You can't set it too high as long as you've selected the correct monitor from the list.

Deleting modelines won't affect the safety of this either. Modelines are an additional restriction on settings dating back to the days when monitors had set horizontal & vertical frequencies which they couldn't vary by more than a few percent. Modern monitors like yours can accomodate a fairly wide range of frequencies, and so don't require modelines (although they can be used to tweak positioning in some cases).

OK, thanks, timkb4cq. The model I have (SyncMaster 997DF) didn't showed up when I did two previous installs (with Red Hat and Debian derived distros), so it might not be on the list, in which case I'll have to choose a model with the same maker, Samsung, ans a similar looking model number, and hope for the best. I do have a CD with specs and I have written down the manufacturers recommendations, though.

feheeszeno

Guess I'm not yet awake, timkb4cq-- I forgot you already told me that when I do the upgrade, I will find that the 997DF IS now listed. Hooray! Thanks again,

feheeszeno

Indeed, while testing system config I did find Samsung 997DF listed and if I am not imagining things, my video does indeed appear flicker-free, wow! Oddly, when I tried to save the settings, "997DF" was replaced by "unknown". Hopefully that is just something to do with live CD versus hard disk install and need not trouble me.

feheeszeno

Just a note:
Monitors, as such, rarely require drivers of any kind. Yes, there are exceptions, but those are few and far between, and run-of-the-mill Samsung LCDs don't qualify as such.

The only thing monitors really care about is the frequency range of your Horizintal Scan and Vertical Refresh settings.

Minimum and Maximum.

The Samsung handbook and documentation on the CD both supply this information; which goes directly into either the Xorg.conf or XF86Config-4 file.

Samsung...great display, BTW.

If LCD means "liquid crystal display", and if this means "flat screen", does it make a difference that this is in fact a conventional CRT (cathode ray tube) 15 inch video monitor?

The manufacturer's specs from their CD are (good thing I have two optical drives, since the live CD is in the other one!)

horizontal 30-96 kHz
vertical 50 ~ 160 Hz (sic, should that ~ be - ?)

Going into Control Center -> Display, I find refresh rate (horizontal) is allegedly set at 70 Hz. But going to into Mepis OS Center -> System Configuration -> Mouse and Display, I find

horizontal 30 kHz
vertical 50 Hz (not 70 Hz!)

brand unknown
model unknown

Choosing Samsung and 997DF, I get

horizontal 30-96 kHz
vertical 50-160 Hz

Good, that agrees with the manufacturer's specs.

When I do the hard disk upgrade from MEPIS 3.3-1 to 3.4-2, I will of course change the settings to Samsung 997DF.

BTW, the display itself currently reads 56.4 kHz and 70 Hz, which is probably why I don't see the annoying flicker. This is good, since it seems that Control Center is giving the correct vertical refresh rate.

feheeszeno

My friend has recently bought a Samsung Syncmaster LCD, 19 inches from eBay. It has a truly flat screen, images are very true to life! Plus, the dual analog and digital source inputs (not avalable with some models) provide access to multiple video sources. I am also thinking of buying one... just hope to find some good price. Any good deals?

It should not make a difference at all. Despite the differences in how the image is presented to your eyes, the signals input to CRT and LCD display devices are the same.

The timing values and sync polarity are what matters.

My occupation?
Well, computer geek-stuff, mostly. I could tell you all about it; but, then I would have to delete you.

I wonder why somebody would take the risk buying anything from eBay which is available from the manufacturer and many reputable distributors.

The price-point for supposedly new items on eBay isn't good enough to take the risk that your money won't be stolen in the transaction.

Buy one from NewEgg or another reputable online distributor.


My occupation?
Well, computer geek-stuff, mostly. I could tell you all about it; but, then I would have to delete you.

I have to agree. I can tell you some real personal horror stories when I did purchase some things through ebay. I have stayed away for over three years.

Rich