(Answer) (Category) Linux on PowerPC FAQ-O-Matic : (Category) X Windows :
How can I change my screen resolution in X?
If you are using MkLinux, you can't. MkLinux uses the settings from the MacOS, which are stored in PRAM (so if you last ran the MacOS in 640x480, that's what you'll get in X).

An Answer in the LinuxPPC toplevel category says that you can switch resolutions from the console *before* you start X by using a program called vmode, availible from ftp://ftp.linuxppc.org/RedHat/RPMS/. Note that that info's a year old, but I would imagine it's still valid if vmode is a standard RedHat rpm.

hollis@andrew.cmu.edu

Alternatively, you can just start the server with the -mode option and the apropriate decimal video mode number - eg
startx -- -mode 13
(and of course, you can edit startx to put it in the serverargs affectation).
Now if you don't know what those video mode numbers are, here is what man vmode has to say:
***
VMODE(8) UNIX System Manager's Manual VMODE(8)
NAME 
     vmode - change/show video-resolution and video-depth of console.
SYNOPSIS 
     vmode [video-resolution] [video-depth]
DESCRIPTION 
     vmode displays or changes the resolution and depth of your console.
OPTIONS 
     video-resolution
                 Possible console video resolutions are (if supported by your
                 monitor):
                     1)  512x384  60Hz (Interlaced-NTSC),
                     2)  512x384  60Hz,
                     3)  640x480  50Hz (Interlaced-PAL),
                     4)  640x480  60Hz (Interlaced-NTSC),
                     5)  640x480  60Hz,
                     6)  640x480  67Hz,
                     7)  640x870  75Hz (Portrait),
                     8)  768x576  50Hz (Interlaced-PAL),
                     9)  800x600  56Hz,
                    10)  800x600  60Hz,
                    11)  800x600  72Hz,
                    12)  800x600  75Hz,
                    13)  832x624  75Hz,
                    14) 1024x768  60Hz,
                    15) 1024x768  72Hz,
                    17) 1024x768  75Hz,
                    18) 1152x870  75Hz,
                    19) 1280x960  75Hz,
                    20) 1280x1024 75Hz.

                 Not all these video modes are supported by the PowerMac dis-
                 play adapters: The "platinum" adaptor seems to supports all
                 listed modes except 9.  The "control" display adaptor does
                 not support mode: 1 - 4, 8 and 9.  The ATI/mach64 display
                 adaptor is not fully implemented and supports only a limited
                 number of modes: 6, 13 - 17 and 20 (at 60Hz).  The "valkyrie"
                 display adaptor supports video modes: 5, 6, 10 - 15.

     video-depth
                 Possible color depths are: 8, 15, 16, 24 and 32 bit (24 and
                 32 are really the same).
SEE ALSO 
     nvvideo(8)
AUTHORS 
     Paul Mackerras <paulus@cs.anu.edu.au>
BUGS 
     Does not work while running X.

 Powermac/Linux                 April 28, 1997                               2
***
vmode is very useful to try out what modes your adaptor/monitor combination supports. And if you're going to use more than 8 bit planes, remember to change the colorclass (there is a question in the same category).




Yann.Kieffer@imag.fr

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