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<A HREF="VideoModes.html"><EM>XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO</EM></A>
 <b>:</b> <EM>Introduction</EM><BR>
<b>Previous:</b> <A HREF="VideoModes1.html"><EM>Disclaimer</EM></A><BR>
<b>Next:</b> <A HREF="VideoModes3.html"><EM>How Video Displays Work</EM></A>


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  <H2><A NAME="2"></A>2. Introduction<A NAME="intro"></A></H2>

<p>The XFree86 server allows users to configure their video subsystem and thus
encourages best use of existing hardware.  This tutorial is intended to help
you learn how to generate your own timing numbers to make optimum use of your
video card and monitor. </p>
<p>We'll present a method for getting something that works, and then show you how
you can experiment starting from that base to develop settings that optimize
for your taste. </p>
<p>Starting with XFree86 3.2, XFree86 provides an <b>XF86Setup</b>(1)
program that makes it easy to generate a working monitor mode
interactively, without messing with video timing number directly.  So
you shouldn't actually need to calculate a base monitor mode in most
cases.  Unfortunately, <b>XF86Setup</b>(1) has some limitations; it
only knows about standard video modes up to 1280x1024.  If you have a
very high-performance monitor capable of 1600x1200 or more you will
still have to compute your base monitor mode yourself.</p>
<p>Recent versions of XFree86 provide a tool called <b>xvidtune</b>(1)
which you will probably find quite useful for testing and tuning
monitor modes.  It begins with a gruesome warning about the possible
consequences of mistakes with it.  If you pay careful attention to
this document and learn what is behind the pretty numbers in
xvidtune's boxes, you will become able to use xvidtune effectively and
with confidence. </p>
<p>If you already have a mode that almost works (in particular, if one of
predefined VESA modes gives you a stable display but one that's
displaced right or left, or too small, or too large) you can go
straight to the section on 
<A HREF="VideoModes14.html#fixes">Fixing Problems with the Image</A>.  This will enlighten you on ways to tweak the timing
numbers to achieve particular effects. </p>
<p>If you have <b>xvidtune</b>(1), you'll be able to test new modes on the fly,
without modifying your X configuration files or even rebooting your X server.
Otherwise, XFree86 allows you to hot-key between different modes defined in
Xconfig (see XFree86.man for details).  Use this capability to save
yourself hassles!  When you want to test a new mode, give it a unique
mode label and add it to the <em>end</em> of your hot-key list.  Leave a
known-good mode as the default to fall back on if the test mode
doesn't work.  </p>

 <HR NOSHADE>
<A HREF="VideoModes.html"><EM>XFree86 Video Timings HOWTO</EM></A>
 <b>:</b> <EM>Introduction</EM><BR>
<b>Previous:</b> <A HREF="VideoModes1.html"><EM>Disclaimer</EM></A><BR>
<b>Next:</b> <A HREF="VideoModes3.html"><EM>How Video Displays Work</EM></A>



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