Configuring X to Run on VAIO Desktop LCD Screens?

I_redwolf asks: "I recently acquired a brand new PCV-L640 (Sony Vaio Slim Line Desktop) computer in my office; which comes with a 15.1 TFT LCD screen which I don't care for too much but what the hell you know? One of the first things I did was pop my favorite distribution of Linux into my CDROM and was on my way. I'm trying Red Hat 7 so I give Xconfigurator a spin to cut down or some time. Everything is detected fine except when I try to run X it says it can't find any screens. No biggie, probably my modelines or something. I then spend the rest of the day trying to get my LCD monitor to work with XFree86 v4.0.1a. I've tried every configuration possible but the closest I have gotten is a 320x200 screen with the VGA server and that only shows on half the screen. Where can I find information on setting up an LCD screen. Are there any tutorials/mini-howto's, inside tips, voodoo magic or sacrifices that I must make before getting this LCD to work?"

"My system is comprised of the following:

• Ati Rage Fury PR [8192 vram] (oddly it detects this exactly but there is a `|` between the Fury and the PR eg: Ati Rage Fury|PR)
• 15.5 TFT LCD Screen by Sony the exact model # I don't have right now.
• Coppermine 700
• 128 meg ram etc etc

All help is greatly appreciated."

LCD

[realkiwi]

Strange. I have used an Apple 15" LCD on various machines/cards with no problems. I am running XFree 3.xx and various RedHats from 5.1 -> 6.2

I have a Vaio C1XD Picturebook with NeoMagic. If any one could tell me how to run 1024x768 on external monitor _or_ 1024x480 on internal I would be much obliged.

I would like to be able to switch from one to the other not run bothe displays at the same time.

VAIO != NeoMagic

[ASCIIMan]

He's talking about one of those nifty VAIO Slimtop desktop computers. AFAIK only the VAIO notbooks use the NeoMagic chipsets.

I have a VAIO notebook, and yes, I'm pissed that it doesn't support 3D or have upgradeable drivers.

Re:Not the LCD problem

[I_redwolf]

That's not it. It detects the vid card and monitor correctly. The odd thing is the virtual frame buffer support works lovely. So far I think i'll take the advice of what someone said earlier and try an older distribution with Xfree 3.3.6 Mandrake/SuSe are the only distibutions that showed me it can work under virtual framebuffer support which I didn't know earlier. 7.1/7.2 for Mandrake and 6.3 eval for SuSe. In any event the only way it looks like I'm going to get it working is by that. Notice however that redhat 7.0 did detect my card/monitor but it couldn't set it up in Graphical login. The model for my monitor is a PCVA-15XTAP2. If you can help it I recommend you don't even buy this computer line. AT ALL. It's a pain all over for anything except windows. However once I get xwindows working I'll be happy and at peace with the world.

Re:Sony Vaio PCV-L640

[I_redwolf]

Thanks for the help. I'll send my first born if my wife at the time doesn't object.

Not the LCD problem

[cvincent]

Its probably your X config. XF86Setup is still for X version 3.x.x. Use 'xf86config' to make the config file...find the lines that define the modes for your card. It says 'Section "Screen"'. If X complains that it cant find screens its not that it cant physically detect a connected monitor, its that it cant find any of those modes listed that will approprately work with your vid card/monitor combo. It may bee that it cant detect the RAM on your card so it wont support the mode you want, prolly why you only got 320x200. I have an LCD monitor and it works fine, I had to edit my XF86Config myself to get the settting just right tho. Might look something like this:

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "Geforce"
Monitor "SyncMaster"
DefaultDepth 24
Subsection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

Had the same problem w/ Dell Inspirion 7500

[up2ng]

I use RH6.2 (RH7 w/Xfree4 was kinda buggy)

Use the Red Hat Setup and choose xconfigure (IIRC) Let the system find the vid card (ATI Rage) and select the screen manually. Choose LCD screen 1028x786 (or whatever native resolution is) and finish up.

Type startx, and you should have X running. If not try startx -Xbpp , where x= 8,16,24,32 for different bit depths.

It can be a real pain in the ass but keep trying.

Read the Laptop How-To's and Don't give up. If all else fails, get a copy of RH6.2 or SUSE 6.x which are more stable and has xfree 3.3.6 (I had problems w/xfree4.01 on the Dell (ATI Mobility/P)


- Save The Whales ,Collect the whole set !

Re:NeoMagic chipset is proprietary, unsupported?

[hayfever]

First of all, the Neomagic chipsets are on Vaio laptops, his question was about the desktops, but never mind.
As for the Neomagic chipset, all but one of the chipsets used are supported under XFree86 3.3.6, and all of them are supported with all features under XFree86 4.0. The Direct3D question I can't answer though.
Check Linux on Laptops for more info (I don't have a link, but there is one on my page for the Vaio F540 - http://icdweb.cc.purdue.edu/~ ole nik/vaioF-540.html [purdue.edu]

X server error messages?

[jo42]

Try startx &> x.log

And then vi x.log to see what error messages the X server might be spitting out. I used this trick to configure my SGI 1600SW [sgi.com] and Number Nine Revolution IV. Turns out that I had to put in the exact frequency settings for the monitor definition (couldn't leave them out or use a range).

Other choice is, oh horrors!, to visit Xi Graphics [xi-graphics.com] and pay money for working, well developed drivers...

Slimtop VAIO

[Anonu]

I have the same VAIO desktop computer and experienced the same problems while trying to install Linux. The problem is not with the flat panel screen since I tried configuring X with a standard CRT screen. The same results appeared. I dont believe that this computer uses a NeoMajic chipset either. I think thats only for VAIO laptops. LATER

Eliminate the LCD first

[billybob2001]

Plug it in to a standard monitor and see if your problems go away.

If they do, it's the LCD.

If not, get the altar ready.

Sony Vaio PCV-L640

[hcgtv]

I have one of these machines, many weeks of trying to get things working. This is what to do: /etc/lilo.conf: Under the image=/boot section: I put it under the read-only line, type in vga=792. This places you into framebuffer mode. /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 Under the Device section: ChipId 0x5246 Use 1024x768 x 24 bit color and you'll be fine. Nice machine, lousy Sony support.

NeoMagic chipset is proprietary, unsupported?

[BitMan]

I was under the impression that the NeoMagic chipset that Vaio's use was proprietary and supported. In the past, there were binary-only X-Servers. I'm unsure of what your current options are, but can only offer my experience.

Of the newer Vaio's I've seen with the NeoMagic chipset, you had to use the kernel framebuffer support and the FBDev X-Server to get working. I assume the same is true for XFree86 v4.0, you use the FBDev driver.

[ P.S. I also understand many NeoMagic chipsets, including those used in the Vaio, do not support Direct3D as well. ]

-- Bryan "TheBS" Smith