Hello all, can someone please help me out, my configuration:

slackware 9.0 rc1
kernel 2.4.20
Xfree86 4.3
NVidia Geforce 4 Ti 4200 128mb
23" lcd via DVI
Latest NVidia closed source drivers 1.0-4191
gnome 2.2
Abit AT7-MAX2 KT400

My original install of slackware 9.0 rc1 left me with an XF86Config
file that
used the VESA framebuffer driver which was giving me 1024x768
resolution.  I wanted to make use of my lcd and get optimal resolution
at 1920x1200 which is supported by both LCD and video card.  So I
downloaded the latest drivers from
nvidia, made installed both sets (glx_kernel and glx packages from
source), and
swapped "vesa" with "nvidia" like they suggested in the README and
suddenly when I
typed startx, I got blocks of interlaced meaningless {*filter*}on the
monitor, reminds me of the wingding fonts.  ctrl-alt-bs doesn't work
ctrl-alt-f1 doesn't work, I practically have to reboot to
get my machine back (unless you can do a kill command which I'm
oblivious to).

I tried tweaking the AGP option so that it uses the nvidia agp driver
instead of agpart, to no avail.  I even turned on some option "EDID"
something that supposedly bypasses your h and v-sync's but the h and
v's don't even matter when using LCD's, right?

The /var/log/XFree86.0.log says that it started up successfully, the only
WW i got was that apm_bios wasn't found, but I'm not worried about advanced
power management at this time.

Thanks for any help.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have supplied my X config
file.

Thanks in advance.

# **********************************************************************
# Module section -- this  section  is used to specify
# which dynamically loadable modules to load.
# **********************************************************************
#
Section "Module"

# This loads the DBE extension module.

    Load        "dbe"   # Double buffer extension

# This loads the miscellaneous extensions module, and disables
# initialisation of the XFree86-DGA extension within that module.
    SubSection  "extmod"
      Option    "omit xfree86-dga"   # don't initialise the DGA
extension
    EndSubSection

# This loads the font modules
    Load        "type1"
    Load        "freetype"
    Load        "speedo"

# This loads the GLX module
    Load       "glx"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Files section.  This allows default font and rgb paths to be set
# **********************************************************************

Section "Files"

# The location of the RGB database.  Note, this is the name of the
# file minus the extension (like ".txt" or ".db").  There is normally
# no need to change the default.

    RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"

# Multiple FontPath entries are allowed (which are concatenated
together),
# as well as specifying multiple comma-separated entries in one
FontPath
# command (or a combination of both methods)
#
# If you don't have a floating point coprocessor and emacs, Mosaic or
other
# programs take long to start up, try moving the Type1 and Speedo
directory
# to the end of this list (or comment them out).
#

    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"

# The module search path.  The default path is shown here.

#    ModulePath "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Server flags section.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"

# Uncomment this to cause a core dump at the spot where a signal is
# received.  This may leave the console in an unusable state, but may
# provide a better stack trace in the core dump to aid in debugging

#    Option "NoTrapSignals"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><BS> server abort sequence
# This allows clients to receive this key event.

#    Option "DontZap"

# Uncomment this to disable the <Crtl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> mode
switching
# sequences.  This allows clients to receive these key events.

#    Option "Dont Zoom"

# Uncomment this to disable tuning with the xvidtune client. With
# it the client can still run and fetch card and monitor attributes,
# but it will not be allowed to change them. If it tries it will
# receive a protocol error.

#    Option "DisableVidModeExtension"

# Uncomment this to enable the use of a non-local xvidtune client.

#    Option "AllowNonLocalXvidtune"

# Uncomment this to disable dynamically modifying the input device
# (mouse and keyboard) settings.

#    Option "DisableModInDev"

# Uncomment this to enable the use of a non-local client to
# change the keyboard or mouse settings (currently only xset).

#    Option "AllowNonLocalModInDev"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Input devices
# **********************************************************************

# **********************************************************************
# Core keyboard's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

    Identifier "Keyboard1"
    Driver "Keyboard"
# For most OSs the protocol can be omitted (it defaults to
"Standard").
# When using XQUEUE (only for SVR3 and SVR4, but not Solaris),
# uncomment the following line.

    Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
    Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
    Option "XkbModel" "pc101"
    Option "XkbLayout" "us"

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Core Pointer's InputDevice section
# **********************************************************************

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier "Mouse1"
    Driver "mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "IMPS/2"
    Option "Device"      "/dev/psaux"
    Option "Emulate3Buttons"
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Monitor section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of monitor sections may be present

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier  "Apple Cinema 23"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    HorizSync   30.0 - 120.0

#    HorizSync 30-64         # multisync
#    HorizSync 31.5, 35.2    # multiple fixed sync frequencies
#    HorizSync 15-25, 30-50  # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    VertRefresh 48.0-160.0

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Graphics device section
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of graphics device sections may be present

Section "Device"
    Identifier  "geforce4"
    Driver      "nvidia"
    #VideoRam    4096
    # Insert Clocks lines here if appropriate
EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# Screen sections
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of screen sections may be present.  Each describes
# the configuration of a single screen.  A single specific screen
section
# may be specified from the X server command line with the "-screen"
# option.
Section "Screen"
    Identifier  "Screen 1"
    Device      "geforce4"
    Monitor     "Apple Cinema 23"

# If your card can handle it, a higher default color depth (like 24 or
32)
# is highly recommended.

#   DefaultDepth 8
#   DefaultDepth 16
   DefaultDepth 24
#   DefaultDepth 32

# "1024x768" is also a conservative usable default resolution.  If you
# have a better monitor, feel free to try resolutions such as
# "1152x864", "1280x1024", "1600x1200", and "1800x1400" (or whatever
your
# card/monitor can produce)

    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes "1920x1200" "1600x1200" "1280x1024"
    EndSubsection

EndSection

# **********************************************************************
# ServerLayout sections.
# **********************************************************************

# Any number of ServerLayout sections may be present.  Each describes
# the way multiple screens are organised.  A specific ServerLayout
# section may be specified from the X server command line with the
# "-layout" option.  In the absence of this, the first section is
used.
# When now ServerLayout section is present, the first Screen section
# is used alone.

Section "ServerLayout"

# The Identifier line must be present
    Identifier  "Simple Layout"

# Each Screen line specifies a Screen section name, and optionally
# the relative position of other screens.  The four names after
# primary screen name are the screens to the top, bottom, left and
right
# of the primary screen.  In this example, screen 2 is located to the
# right of screen 1.

    Screen "Screen 1"

# Each InputDevice line specifies an InputDevice section name and
# optionally some options to specify the way the device is to be
# used.  Those options include "CorePointer", "CoreKeyboard" and
# "SendCoreEvents".

    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

EndSection

[follow-ups set to c.o.l.hardware]

What refresh rate are you trying to use?  AFAIK, the DVI
spec maxes out at 1600x1200 at 60Hz (about 115 million
pixels per second).  To get 1920x1200 out of a DVI
connector, you'll have to step down the refresh to 50Hz (to
stay under 115 million pixels per second).

That's not a standard resolution/refresh rate combination,
so you'll have to set custom modes in XF86Config.

http://digitalfreaks.org/~lavalamp/apple_cinema_23inch/

I have practically stolen his setup and readjusted it for a single
output, however, I get the same results, wing-dings.

I hate to say the phrase, but "under windows" I can get 60Hz 32 bit
truecolor @ 1920x1200 using the dvi connector.

If you look in his Xfree86 log file, you'll see the line:

(**) NVIDIA(0):      Mode "1920x1200": 155.0 MHz, 72.3 kHz, 59.6 Hz

We seem to have the same video card + apple monitor, but the software
varies
because he uses redhat 8.0 and xfree86 4.2.

Thanks for the reply.

I'll update everyone when I find a fix or if anyone else has anything
to add, i'd be grateful.

Your settings (from the first post) for HorizSync and
VertRefresh aren't even close to his.  You've given _much_
wider ranges.  That's quite a significant change!  

Narrow your VertRefresh to the suggested 50-70 Hz range
(instead of the 48-160 you showed in the earlier post---160
is waaaay too high for a DVI flatpanel to handle).  It'd
certainly be a good idea to use his HorizSync ranges too.

Also note that the cited website specifies a custom
modeline, to ensure proper timings.  I don't see that in
your earlier post, either.  Use it.

thanks in advance.

The XFree86.0.log file doesn't say anything is in error, it says
something to the degree of "loaded AGP 8x Nvidia graphics card" or
something to that degree.

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "XFree86 Configured"
    Screen         "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    RgbPath      "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
    ModulePath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath     "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load  "dbe"
    #Load  "dri"
    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "glx"
    Load  "record"
    Load  "xtrap"
    Load  "speedo"
    Load  "type1"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Keyboard0"
    Driver      "keyboard"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier  "Mouse0"
    Driver      "mouse"
        Option      "Protocol" "IMPS/2"
        Option      "Device" "/dev/psaux"
        Option      "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
        Option      "Emulate3Buttons" "yes"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier   "Monitor0"
    VendorName   "Apple"
    ModelName    "HDCD23"
    DisplaySize  495 310
    VertRefresh  50-70
    HorizSync    30-90
    UseModes "AHDCD32"
EndSection

Section "Modes"
    Identifier "AHDCD32"
        Modeline "1920x1200" 155.0 1920 1984 2016 2144 1200 1203 1206
1212
EndSection

Section "Device"
      Option "NvAGP" "1"
      Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
      Option "UseEdidFreqs"
      Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = scaled, Dithering =
default"
      Option "DigitalVibrance" "200"
      Identifier  "Card0"
      Driver      "nvidia"
      VendorName  "NVidia"
      BoardName   "AGP Asus TI4200"
      BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Screen0"
    Device     "Card0"
    Monitor    "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth     24
        Modes   "1920x1200"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Uhhmm, this might sound kind of stupid but why don't you just use Red Hat 8
and be done with it? I use RH8 and have no problems, but then again, I
don't have a "Cinema" display. RH8 is really a good OS. For such a
considerably expensive piece of hardware, maybe the OS swap is not such a
bad idea to get compatability with your nice hardware and to be able to
actually use it.

--
~Ohmster

Anyway, bottom line, this configuration should work with slackware
which includes the actual unmodified kernel sources for 2.4.20.

I went one extra step of backtracking my problems, I downgraded to
xfree86 4.2, just to see if the newly output 4.3 was of any concern,
same problem, wingdings mates.

I think I'm going to go with a slackware 8.1 install, which goes with
2.95 gcc and xfree86 4.2.  If that doesn't work, I'll go with red{*filter*}
once again by plugging in one of my crt's <<cringe>>, just to get the
install piece up and move my lcd after successful install and see if
redhat gives me anything extra that I could use.

Anyway, thanks for all your suggestions, I'd be interested in anything
more, so please help.

NvAGP "0"

Inside of the Devices Section.

Thanks everyone for your help!