xorg.conf ModeLine for VGA connected ViewSonic monitors

Even with latest Linux distributions you can face the problem of Xorg not detecting your monitor.

My monitor is ViewSonic VG2030wm and it is capable of working at 1680x1050 resolution but Xorg can't detect that and highest resolution that I can use is 1024x768.

You need to add ModeLine so the Xorg can recognize it. Here is my Monitor section from xorg.conf:

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "ViewSonic"
        VendorName   "ViewSonic"
        ModelName    "VG2030wm"
        HorizSync    24.0 - 92.0
        VertRefresh  50.0 - 85.0
        Option       "DPMS"
        ModeLine "1680x1050" 170.00 1680 1784 1960 2240 1050 1053 1059 1089 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Probably you will need just the ModeLine row but I am publishing the whole Monitor section.

You can find more ModeLine for certain monitors here: https://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Modeline_Database

PowerMac G4/1Ghz with Nvidia GeForce 440mx notes

Just a few notes for OpenFirmware, Xorg configuration. Sources guide-open-firmware-apple-bios-0, xorgconf-powermac-g41ghz-geforce-4-mx-apple-studio-display-17, http://sowerbutts.com/linux-mac-mini/.

OpenFirmware:

• ls - displays contents of the current path in the device tree.
• devalias - provides a list of short alias names for key hardware devices.
• .properties - provides a list of properties for the selected device.
• pwd - displays the current path within the device tree.
• dev - selects a device (using either the alias or absolute/relative device tree path).
• words - provides a list of forth scripts associated with the selected device.
• source - executes a particular forth script.
• load - loads a image from disk, cd, network or another device.
• go - execites the currently loaded image.
• see - displays the source code for a particular forth script.

Booting installation of Debian GNU/Linux Squeeze 6.0 on PowerMac G4/1Ghz: 

0>boot cd:,\install\yaboot

 Partition disk:

1. Don't touch the small Partition #1 at the start of the disk, that contains the partition map itself.
2. Partition #2 (16MB) is for "yaboot", the bootstrap that allows you to boot
3. Linux or MacOS. You want to tell the partitioner to use that partition as a "NewWorld boot partition", and set the bootable flag.
4. Partition #3 (2.0GB) should be used as "swap area".
5. Partition #4 (48.0GB) is your root filesystem, you want to use that as a "ReiserFS journalling file system", format it, and mount it on "/"

 Booting after installation:

0>setenv boot-file hd:3,\yaboot

Xorg.conf PowerMac G4/1GHz GeForce 4 MX:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
BusID   "PCI:0:16:0"
Driver  "nv"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier    "StudioDisplay17"
    Option "DPMS"
    HorizSync   30-80
    VertRefresh   50-100
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier    "Default Screen"
    Monitor        "StudioDisplay17"
    Device        "Configured Video Device"
        DefaultDepth    24
           SubSection       "Display"
             Depth            24
             Modes             "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
           EndSubSection
           SubSection        "Display"
             Depth            16
             Modes             "1280x1024" "1024x768""800x600" "640x480"
           EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      15
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      8
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      4
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
      Depth      1
      Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier   "Default Layout"
   Screen      "Default Screen"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
   Mode   0666
EndSection