How to configure a desired screen resolution

[Jin Guojun]

The latest xorg 1.7.7 seems too smart to configure. It always uses what it thinks and ignores what xorg.conf file tells to do.


I am using Vesa driver on 8.4-R / 10.1-RC amd kernel on the same hardware (ASUS A88XM-A motherboard) and experienced this difficulty.

Two monitors: one has 1600x900 resolution and the other has 1920x1080 res.
When attaching 1600x900 monitor to the system, xorg-1.7.7 X server configures the screen as 1600x900, which is nice and it is what I wanted.
When connecting 1920x1080 monitor to the system, X server configures screen as 1920x1080, which is correct, but is will not give 1600x900 resolution regardless if the Modes "1600x900" is in Screen section in xorg.conf file.

If attaching both monitors to the system, then both monitors will be configured as 1600x900, thus both monitors are capable to work in 1600x900 resolution.

Now, how to tell (force) X server to use 1600x900 resolution for the 1920x1080 monitor?

-Jin