I have a question for the Xperts (sorry, bad joke) on switching monitors
under X. I keep reading about the important of properly configuring X for
your monitor because setting up the wrong refresh rates, etc, in the x
configuration files can "fry" your monitor.
I don't know how seriously to take this warning. I currently am using an old
HP UltraVGA 1280, which I selected on installing X in the MDK install
procedure. I am likely to buy a new monitor in the new future, either a 19"
or 21" CRT or a 17" TFT, and wiht that sort of expense I don't relish
trashing the monitor on the first boot-up!
I notice, for instance, that if you change the monitor on a Win system, you
don't seem to need to worry - is that because Windows is better at PNP
detecting the monitor and properly setting it up or because by default it
uses such conservative settings that it is unlikely to exceed the monitor's
specs?
I am guess that the best way to handle this is to connect up the new
monitor, boot to runlevel 3 (I use runlevel 5 and KDM by default), edit the
X configuration, and then startx or reboot at runlevel 5. I suppose I could
edit the X config files by hand if I can ensure that I can find all the
necessary ones and properly change them. Is there an XConfigurator type of
program that can be run without X being started (eg from a tty) to automate
the process more?
Any help appreciated so I don't trash a new monitor!
Neal
