640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

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jim1001

640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by jim1001 »

I can only get 640x480 display resolution in Mint 18.3 MATE.

Here are details:

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~ $ inxi -G
Graphics:  Card: VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC]
       	Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: fbdev (unloaded: vesa)
       	Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
       	GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 4.0, 128 bits)
       	GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7
I tried to install openchrome drivers following other posts but inxi -G still showed the same afterwards.

So I rebooted the system, chose the OS to boot, the Mint logos came up but then left me with a black screen with the notebook not responding to key presses.

Any help appreciated. Thanks.

ps: there were a lot of openchrome drivers in the list many with the same name & version - not sure why. I just chose the top one
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
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jim1001

Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by jim1001 »

I'm going to try this to fix the black screen:
https://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/842

The help I'm seeking is how to get a better display resolution.

Thanks.
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Spearmint2
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Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by Spearmint2 »

I'm surprised, but it actually does have better resolutions possible. I thought this chip died with XP, but seems it continued for Vista also, and gone after that.

https://www.viatech.com/en/silicon/lega ... ets/vn896/

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Via_Technologies
All things go better with Mint. Mint julep, mint jelly, mint gum, candy mints, pillow mints, peppermint, chocolate mints, spearmint,....
jim1001

Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by jim1001 »

Spearmint2: I only just saw your post. Thanks for taking the time to reply and providing good information. Since I'm a Linux rookie and have limited time I may be a coward and instead try turning the notebook into a Chromebook with CloudReady. However if that doesn't work out I may come back to this & work through the links you've given in detail...
jim1001

Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by jim1001 »

I noticed the default live boot gives many more choices for display resolution.

inxi -G on live boot gives

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Graphics:  Card: VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC]
       	Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev)
       	Resolution: 1280x768@0.00hz
       	GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 4.0, 128 bits)
       	GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7
How do I change the graphics on the installed OS to be same as the live boot?

Any help appreciated - thanks
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Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by Spearmint2 »

How do I change the graphics on the installed OS to be same as the live boot?
Boot to the live version, do the same command and give what it shows. You may have to install inxi to the RAMDRIVE while booted to the LIVE version. Of course that will be gone when you reboot, but at least it's not a large download. You can check the download size with;

Code: Select all

aptitude show inxi
looks to be half a MB. It seems since the same kernel is installed on a LIVE version as the installed one, it may already have the driver (mod) in your installed kernel version, unless you upgraded it.

UPDATE;

I see you already did that. The one you have on installed is;

Code: Select all

Card: VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC]
          Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: fbdev (unloaded: vesa)
The one on LIVE version is;

Code: Select all

Card: VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC]
          Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: vesa (unloaded: fbdev)
So, need to get the vesa running and unload the fbdev? Is that what you want?

Try this in grub.cfg which is in the boot folder under grub. Add video=vesa to the kernerl boot command line. If that works, it's the easiest method.
All things go better with Mint. Mint julep, mint jelly, mint gum, candy mints, pillow mints, peppermint, chocolate mints, spearmint,....
jim1001

Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by jim1001 »

@Spearmint2

I tried adding video=vesa but made no difference.

Then I saw this answer to add vga=791:

This gave me a resolution of 1024x768@76Hz plus some 3D effects - marvellous!

[ps: inxi -G still says drivers : fbdev (unloaded: vesa)]

I’ve never added kernel boot parameters before so followed this article for Debian / Ubuntu:

Many thanks for steering me in the right direction & taking the time to help!
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Re: 640x480 resolution for card VIA CN896/VN896/P4M900 in 18.3 MATE

Post by Spearmint2 »

Then I saw this answer to add vga=791:
I thought that had been deprecated a few versions ago. Surprised it still works.
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