External Monitor on Laptop with nVidia (SOLVED)

[nukedathlonman]

I'm having a problem using a external monitor with my trusty (old) Vostro. A long while ago I picked up a Samsung SyncMaster 2443 monitor with a native resolution that matches my laptop. I only just hooked it up to this laptop, and configured up TwinView in clone mode so that I can leave the laptop's screen shut. It uses the VGA output (as the Vostro doesn't have HDMI or DVI). The problem I'm running into is when I play a game that requires a different resolution from the desktop that has an alleged higher refresh rate rate (one example being Starcraft - the screen sets it self to 640x480@85hz), the monitor refuses to display it (I just get a message "Unoptimal display mode, please use 1920x1200 @ 60hz"). It will work if I manually set the display to 640x480@60hz.

I've tried a dozen options with my xorg.config file to try to force the nVidia display driver to just used a 60hz refresh rate, but it keeps ignoring me, and picking the highest refresh rate it thinks is possible (85hz for that game). Same thing happens with Doom III (native Linux app), The Sims 3 (wine), War Craft III (wine), and UT2004 (native Linux app), and a dozen other games - it's not a wine related problem.

Any idea's on how to force the nVidia driver to use one refresh rate (60hz) across the entire resolution range on the Samsung display? This doesn't happen with the internal screen (though it too had some interesting work around problems since the nVidia driver wouldn't let it operate at any resolution outside the native resolution).

My xorg.conf file:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
HorizSync 28.8 - 75.0
VertRefresh 50.0 - 60.0
# Option "UseEDID" "false
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1920x1200" "1900x1080" "1650x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x850" "1250x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1920x1200" "1900x1080" "1650x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x850" "1250x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1920x1200" "1900x1080" "1650x1050" "1600x1200" "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x850" "1250x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce 9600M GS"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False" # Needed for internal panel to display resolutions outside 1920x1200
Option "ModeValidation" "NoDFPNativeResolutionCheck,NoVirtualSizeCheck,NoM axPClkCheck,NoHorizSyncCheck,NoVertRefreshCheck,No WidthAlignmentCheck" # Needed for internal panel for resolutions outside 1920x1200
Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling=aspect-scaled"
Option "CoolBits" "1"
Option "RegistryDwords" "PowerMizerEnable=0x1; PerfLevelSrc=0x3333; PowerMizerDefault=0x3; PowerMizerDefaultAC=0x3"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
Option "TwinView"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "Clone"
# Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "60" ## 3rd attempt at locked 60hz refresh rate output, failed...
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "DontZap" "False"
EndSection

[nukedathlonman]

Re: External Monitor on Laptop with nVidia

I've been experimenting some more, it can do up to 75hz at the lower (non-native) resolutions. It still complains, but the picture is displayed (but the picture is not crystal clear). However, if the refresh rate is set to 60hz I don't get a complaint and it looks crystal clear.

[nukedathlonman]

Re: External Monitor on Laptop with nVidia

Figured it out - I added the following to the device section, and now all is well.

Option "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0, CRT-0"
Option "MetaModes" "DFP-0: 1920x1200,CRT-0: 1920x1200_60; DFP-0: 1900x1080,CRT-0: 1900x1080_60; DFP-0: 1650x1050,CRT-0: 1650x1080_60; DFP-0: 1600x1200,CRT-0: 1600x1200_60; DFP-0: 1440x900,CRT-0: 1440x900_60; DFP-0: 1280x1024,CRT-0: 1280x1024_60; DFP-0: 1280x850,CRT-0: 1280x850_60; DFP-0: 1250x800,CRT-0: 1250x800_60; DFP-0: 1024x768,CRT-0: 1024x768_60; DFP-0: 800x600,CRT-0: 800x600_60; DFP-0: 640x480,CRT-0: 640x480_60"
# O