Add new screen resolution in Linux Mint

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Add new screen resolution in Linux Mint

Linux does not have many options for display resolutions as in windows. Especially while working with dual monitors, we may find that the two monitors have different screen resolutions. For some purposes, it may be required that both have the same screen resolution. A 22" Monitor in Linux will have 1920x1080, 1440x900, 1280x960, 1024x768 resolutions. Some users may need resolutions like 1600x900, 1366x768 for some purposes.

These resolutions can be added manually in Linux. Basic steps for adding 1366x768 resolution is explained here which can be modified for any other screen resolution by changing values 1366x768 with your required one.

 1. First step is to create modeline. This is done to get appropriate values of hsync, vsync and other parameters which are required to display a resolution properly in the backend. To add resolution of 1600x900, open terminal and type:

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cvt 1600 900
This will create modeline for resolution of 1600x900 which will look something like this:

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1600x900 59.95 Hz (CVT 1.44M9) hsync: 55.99 kHz; pclk: 118.25 MHz

Modeline "1600x900_60.00" 118.25 1600 1696 1856 2112 900 903 908 934 -hsync +vsync
These numbers may vary according to your monitor.

 2. To add this resolution to monitor settings, type the following highlighted commands one by one:

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xrandr --newmode "1600x900_60.00" 118.25 1600 1696 1856 2112 900 903 908 934 -hsync +vsync
(values after xrandr --newmode to be pasted from second line of generated values with cvt command from your own computer, don't copy from here. In other words, after writing xrandr --newmode in terminal, copy the output of cvt command from its second line excluding word Modeline upto its end and paste it after xrandr --addmode.  )

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xrandr --addmode VGA1 "1600x900_60.00"
After these steps, resolution of 1600x900 will appear under the list of various resolutions available in display settings. This will remain listed for one session only. When computer is restarted, this will disappear. To make it appear permanently, we need to configure xorg.conf file and make this entry manually.

 3. In Mint, xorg.conf is not present by default and has to be created. This can be created only when x server is not working ie.  in console mode otherwise system will give error. Type these highlighted commands one by one in console mode:

Alt+Ctrl+F1 (switch to console mode)

Login by typing user name and password

For Mint 12 Lisa users:

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sudo service lightdm stop
For Mint 13 Maya users:

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sudo service mdm stop

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sudo X -configure
This generates a new xorg.conf file in th Home folder. Although some error message will appear but file will be created. Just ignore that message.

Note: 1.Use only one of the commands (from sudo service lightdm stop or sudo service mdm stop) according to your distro edition.

         2. In Mint 13 maya,  after sudo service mdm stop, Alt + Ctrl + F1 has to be pressed again.

 4. To switch back to graphical mode, type:

Mint 12 Lisa users:

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sudo start lightdm
Mint 13 Maya users:

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sudo service mdm start
If the above commands fail to bring back graphical mode, just restart your computer.

  5. Open Home folder. Rename this file from xorg.conf.new to xorg.conf Open xorg.conf with text editor and make the following changes. Underline shows newly added lines

    Add Modeline in Monitor Section under each Identifier option. Example:

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Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        Modeline     "1600x900_60.00"  118.25  1600 1696 1856 2112  900 903 908 934 -hsync +vsync
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor1"
        Modeline     "1600x900_60.00"  118.25  1600 1696 1856 2112  900 903 908 934 -hsync +vsync
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

    Add modes in screen section in similar way as described above in each subsection (screen1, screen2) under the element Depth (Also for each depth). Example:

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Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    SubSection "Display"
               Viewport   0 0
               Depth     1
               Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     4
                Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
                 Viewport   0 0
                 Depth     8
                 Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection

(Upto Depth 24)

EndSection

Section "Screen"

 Identifier "Screen1"
    Device     "Card1"
    Monitor    "Monitor1"
    SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     1
                Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     4
                Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
                 Viewport   0 0
                 Depth     8
                 Modes   "1600x900"
    EndSubSection

    (Upto Depth 24)

EndSection
6. Save this file and copy this file to /etc/X11/ by typing following command:

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sudo cp xorg.conf /etc/X11
Note: New resolution must be less than Maximum resolution that monitor can support.