915resolution: Intel Video BIOS Hack

915Resolution: Intel Video BIOS Hack

Steve Tomljenovic [resolution915 at yahoo dot com]

Last modified April 26, 2007

915resolution is a tool to modify the video BIOS of the 800 and 900 series Intel graphics chipsets. This includes the 830, 845G, 855G, and 865G chipsets, as well as 915G, 915GM, 945G, 946GZ, G965, and Q965 chipsets. This modification is neccessary to allow the display of certain graphics resolutions for an Xorg or XFree86 graphics server.

915resolution's modifications of the BIOS are transient. There is no risk of permanent modification of the BIOS. This also means that 915resolution must be run every time the computer boots inorder for it's changes to take effect.

915resolution is derived from the tool 855resolution. However, the code differs substantially. 915resolution's code base is much simpler. 915resolution also allows the modification of bits per pixel.

915resolution has been reported to work with the following systems. It should, however, work with any system with an Intel 800 or 900 series graphics chipset.

Make Series Model
Sony VAIO VGN-FS550

Sony VAIO VGN-FS570

Sony VAIO VGN-FS115B

Sony VAIO VGN-FS115E

IBM ThinkPad R52

Dell Latitude X1

Dell Latitude D610

Samsung X20 XVM 1600 III

Asus - Z71A

Asus - W5

Acer Aspire 1691WLMi

Toshiba Satellite M65

Make	Series	Model
Sony	VAIO	VGN-FS550
Sony	VAIO	VGN-FS570
Sony	VAIO	VGN-FS115B
Sony	VAIO	VGN-FS115E
IBM	ThinkPad	R52
Dell	Latitude	X1
Dell	Latitude	D610
Samsung	X20	XVM 1600 III
Asus	-	Z71A
Asus	-	W5
Acer	Aspire	1691WLMi
Toshiba	Satellite	M65

Downloading 915resolution

You can download the current version of 915resolution, 0.5.3 here. This includes the source as well as a binary.

Debian packages can be found here.

You can find 915resolution scripts for Gentoo here . There is also an associated tarball for the Gentoo scripts.

FreeBSD users can look here for a port of 915resolution.

Using 915resolution

A README file with basic instructions on how to use 915resolution is included with the archive. You can also read it here

Note that you need to set the video BIOS with 915resolution before you start up the X server. You don't need to set them all. Just pick an unused mode with the right number of bits per pixel. Also, the setting is not permanent. You need to set the VBIOS every time you start the machine.

Be sure to the latest drivers from Intel. Youc an also find an updated driver here

You also need at least X server version 6.8.2

You'll need to fiddle with your X configuration to get things to work. You will probably need to create a modeline, and change horizontal/vertical scan frequencies. My X configuration file: xorg.conf. If my modeline doesn't work for you, generate your own with gtf

Using 915resolution from within an Xserver

915resolution is going to be incorporated into the i810 driver from X.org. It should be in an upcoming release. This will void the need to run 915resolution manually. When I find out the appropriate X server has been released I'll put a notice on the website.

In the meantime, there is a test driver that has 915resolution built in here

The syntax to override a BIOS resolution is below. You place the option in the driver section.

Option "ForceBIOS" "1024x768=1400x1050"

This will re-program the old 1024x768 to become a new 1400x1050 one.

Helpful links

There is a google groups forum 915resolution. If your having problems or have any questions, please post there. You can also email me at [resolution915 at yahoo dot com].

You can find discussion about this problem within x.org's bug tracking system. It is bug 643

X.org wiki

An interesting set of links on using centrino notebooks can be found here

Below are numerous links of people reporting thier experiences with 915resolution. This is a good place to look if your having problems..

English:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/i915Driver

http://en.opensuse.org/Patch_the_Video_BIOS

http://roland-lopez.blogspot.com/2007/03/auto915resolution-ubuntu-resolution-fix.html

http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/answers/Hardware/Using_915resolution_to_Support_Wide_Aspect_Displays_with_Intel_Extreme_Graphics_Cards

http://absolutebeginner.wordpress.com/2006/08/20/absolute-beginner-guide-915resolution/

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/atrivedi/entry/sony_vaio_vgn/

http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/atrivedi/entry/using_915resolution_reply/