No 1440x900 resolution wwith Radeon 9600 & inux

[Bourne]

I am using an ATI Radeon 9600 with a Samsung wide screen monitor
whose optimal display is 1440x900. It seems that my ATI 9600 cannot
display the (wide screen) resolutions. Is that a video card BIOS
problem and, if it is, can it be upgraded?

I have no problems displaying the above resolution with an Nvidia 7300.

 

[First of One]

I am using an ATI Radeon 9600 with a Samsung wide screen monitor
whose optimal display is 1440x900. It seems that my ATI 9600 cannot
display the (wide screen) resolutions. Is that a video card BIOS
problem

Nope, not a BIOS problem. In Windows it's a simple matter of installing the
monitor driver to make the resolution available. In Linux you will need to
enter the resolution and timings in some config file... one of the reasons
Linux hasn't caught on to the mainstream.

and, if it is, can it be upgraded?

Unlike the mobo BIOS, there is almost never a reason to upgrade the video
card BIOS.

I have no problems displaying the above resolution with an Nvidia 7300.

So why did you switch to a much older Radeon 9600?

 

[Bjorg]

Nope, not a BIOS problem. In Windows it's a simple matter of installing the
monitor driver to make the resolution available. In Linux you will need to
enter the resolution and timings in some config file... one of the reasons
Linux hasn't caught on to the mainstream.

The resolution and timing were entered into the config file and while
the config file works fine with Nvidia, the resolutions are ignored with
Ati even thought they are present. So, even if the Ati card was
manufactured before the widescreen monitors were available, shouldn't a
BIOS upgrade take care of this problem?

 

[First of One]

The resolution and timing were entered into the config file and while the
config file works fine with Nvidia, the resolutions are ignored with Ati
even thought they are present. So, even if the Ati card was manufactured
before the widescreen monitors were available,

Widescreen monitors (LCDs and to a lesser extent, CRTs) had been available
for a long time when the card was manufactured.

shouldn't a BIOS upgrade take care of this problem?

Nope. And keep in mind ATi doesn't make BIOS files available for download.
The files you see on the web are dumped from other people's cards, then left
as-is or edited for low-level tweaks like "permanent" overclocks, increased
voltages, or altered memory CAS, RAS timings.

Something like available resolutions and refresh rates are functions of the
driver. In Windows it is in fact possible with utilities like Powerstrip to
run at any custom resolution you want. Not sure if Linux has similar tools.