Using the Acer AL2223W Monitor with Linux

This tutorial shows how to install the Acer AL2223W LCD monitor with Linux.

Author: M. Feier, February 22, 2007

Hard/Software used: Acer AL2223W, ATI Radeon 9600, Xorg 7.1 (Radeon open source driver)

Problem Description

The tested X server environment does not recognize the monitor automatically. This means that only smaller resolutions can be used. Of course we want the X server to use the full resolution of the monitor (1680x1050).

Solution

The problem can be solved by extending the "Monitor" Section of the X server configuration (usually /etc/X11/xorg.conf). The following lines must be added to it:

Section "Monitor"

	Identifier  "al2223w"

	HorizSync   31.0 - 81.0
	VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
    
	Option      "DPMS"
    
	Modeline    "1680x1050" 146.2 1680 1784 1960 2240 1050 1053 1059 1089

EndSection

The modelines were found using the guide in the FreeBSD handbook. The "Screen" section also needs to be updated accordingly to use the new mode:

Section "Screen"
	
	Identifier  "Screen 1"
	Device      "radeon"
	Monitor     "al2223w"
	DefaultDepth 24

	Subsection "Display"
       		Depth       8
        	Modes       "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        	ViewPort    0 0
    	EndSubsection
    
	Subsection "Display"
        	Depth       16
        	Modes       "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        	ViewPort    0 0
    	EndSubsection
    
	Subsection "Display"
        	Depth       24
        	Modes       "1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
        	ViewPort    0 0
    	EndSubsection
EndSection

This should do to it. Attached is the authors xorg configuration file. Rename it to "xorg.conf" if you would like to use it. Feel free to modify or adapt it to your system.

Attachments: