AL2216W is a cheap, big flatpanel monitor with digital DVI connector.

If you have a DVI connector, setup is easy – see 10 line explanation below. Most of this page handles the non-recommended case of using the monitor with old analog VGA connector. If you use DVI (you should), you can ignore the hard stuff.

Price: 250 EUR
Size: 22" widescreen
Mode: 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz

Price of 250 EUR was in autumn 2007 in Helsinki. Visible area, 22” widescreen or 56 cm diagonally, was big at that time. Optimal resolution and refresh rate is of course the only resolution which should be used.

Connected using the digital DVI, configuration was not difficult. Just ran ‘sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg’, answerred the obvious. For refresh rate, chose medium, 1680×1050 @ 75 Hz (because there was no 60 Hz which would be optimal). After restarting X (alt-ctrl-backspace) and setting System: Preferences: Screen resolution, it worked. I checked the resolution and refresh rate from monitor OSD, and it was optimal 1680×1050 @ 60 Hz (yes, even refresh rate was optimal).

Tested with Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Dapper 32bit. Here’s the automatically created xorg.conf.

Rest of this page is mostly about old, non-recommended analog VGA connection. If can use DVI, you can enjoy your monitor and ignore the rest of the page.

AL2216W comes with analog VGA connector. It is not recommended to use VGA, with DVI (above) you get easy installation and better picture quality.

With VGA connection, monitor is not autodetected. You must manually install new xorg.conf.

Gentoo Wiki recommends this “Monitor” section to xorg.conf (direct quote):

Section "Monitor"
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fd
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fc
       Identifier "Acer AL2216W"
       VendorName "ACR"
       ModelName "Acer AL2216W"
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fd
       HorizSync 30-82
       VertRefresh 56-76
       # Max dot clock (video bandwidth) 210 MHz
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fc
       # Block type: 2:0 3:ff
       # DPMS capabilities: Active off:yes  Suspend:no  Standby:no
       Mode    "1680x1050"     # vfreq 59.954Hz, hfreq 65.290kHz
               DotClock        146.250000
               HTimings        1680 1784 1960 2240
               VTimings        1050 1053 1059 1089
               Flags   "+HSync" "-VSync"
       EndMode
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fd
       # Block type: 2:0 3:fc
       # Block type: 2:0 3:ff
EndSection

http://gentoo-wiki.com/HARDWARE_AL2216W

Looking at my xorg.log, I see slightly different horisontal and vertical refresh rates. There might be a couple of versions of AL2216W.

Clear and verbose presentation of Modeline is a good example of Gentoo tradition. Many other xorg.confs list Modelines as a single line without any explanation of the meaning of numbers.

Mark Tetrode (2006) recommends this setup in his blog. He says the modeline is calculated with Andreas Bohne-L’s Modeline Tool.

Here are some direct quotes from his xorg.conf. Pay attention to the Modeline:

Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Acer AL2216W"
   ModelName "Acer AL2216W"
   HorizSync 31.5 - 67.0
   VertRefresh 50.0 - 75.0
   Modeline "1680x1050" 149.00 1680 1760 1944 2280 1050 1050 1052 1089 -hsync +vsync
   Option "DPMS"
EndSection

In Section “Screen”

   SubSection "Display"
      Depth 24
      Modes "1680x1050" "1440x1440" "1360x850" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
   EndSubSection

http://iloblog.tetrode.org/mark?Home&post=4

According to monitor packaging, optimal resolution for AL2216W is 1680×1050. Optimal refresh rate is probably 60 Hz.

I calculated modelines with Andreas Bohne-L’s Modeline Tool. Modeline Tool 1, 1680×1050 @ 60 Hz gives

Horizontal Resolution:   1680
Vertical Resolution:     1050
Vertical Refresh Rate:   60.00 Hz
Horizontal Refresh Rate: 65.35 KHz
Dot Clock Frequence:     149.00 MHz
# V-freq: 60.00 Hz  // h-freq: 65.35 KHz
Modeline "1680x1050" 149.00  1680 1760 1944 2280  1050 1050 1052 1089

Modeline Tool 2 does not offer 1680×1050 resolution as a choice.

I tried to write Modeline Tool’s modeline more verbosely, just like in Gentoo Wiki. I noticed that the values differ between Modeline Tool and Gentoo Wiki. Of course, these are the same values as in Marks Musigs as they are both created with Modeline Tool.

Mode    "1680x1050"     # Vfreq: 60.00 Hz,  Hfreq: 65.35 KHz
   DotClock        149.00
   HTimings        1680 1760 1944 2280
   VTimings        1050 1050 1052 1089
   # Flags   "+HSync" "-VSync"
EndMode

There is “[Gutsy] displayconfig-gtk configures my 22″ 1680×1050 LCD panel wrong.” Ubuntu Bug #137517, first reported on 2007 by nyékhelyi gábor.

• Gutsy’s new displayconfig-gtk fails to set up AL2216W with DVI
• With DVI and old system, it works automatically without any modelines

FixVideoResolutionHowto

FixVideoResolutionHowto has two alternative solutions if Intel Graphics driver (i810) won’t use high screen resolutions:

• Use 915resolution with the default “i810” driver (Dapper or older)
• Install new modesetting “intel” driver (Newer than Dapper, including Edgy and Feisty)

To install “intel”:

$ sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel 

Change driver in xorg.conf from “i810” to “intel”

Driver "intel"

Remove possible “i810” specific settings from xorg.conf.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FixVideoResolutionHowto

(II) I810(0): Modeline "1680x1050"  146.25  1680 1784 1960 2240  1050 1053 1059 1089 -hsync -vsync
(II) I810(0): Will use BIOS call 0x5f05 to set refresh rates for CRTs.
(--) I810(0): Maximum space available for video modes: 12288 kByte
(II) I810(0): Using detected DDC timings
(II) I810(0): 	HorizSync 31-84
(II) I810(0): 	VertRefresh 56-77
[..]
(II) I810(0): myAL2216w: Using hsync range of 31.00-84.00 kHz
(II) I810(0): myAL2216w: Using vrefresh range of 56.00-77.00 Hz
(II) I810(0): Not using mode "1680x1050" (no mode of this name)
[..]
(**) I810(0): Display dimensions: (470, 300) mm
(**) I810(0): DPI set to (55, 65)
[..]
Mode: 30 (640x480)
Mode: 32 (800x600)
[..]
Mode: 5c (1920x1440)
Mode: 60 (0x0)
[..]
Mode: 61 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 62 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 63 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 64 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 65 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 66 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 67 (0x0) [..]
Mode: 68 (0x0) [..]

There seems to be some probed monitor info. As we can see from the “Mode: ” lines, there is no mode for the correct 1680×1050 resolution. X also says that it is not using mode 1680×1050, because there is no mode of this name.

I am using i810 driver. There is also a newer driver for Intel display adapters, but I am not familiar with it.

Maybe this calls for 915resolution, which is hackish. If 915resolution must be used, modes 61-68 are free.

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
	# path to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection
Section "Module"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	Load	"type1"
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc105"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"fi"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ExplorerPS/2"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "stylus"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "stylus"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "eraser"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "eraser"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "cursor"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "cursor"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection
Section "Device"
	Identifier	"ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon RV250 If [Radeon 9000 Pro]"
	Driver		"ati"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"AL2216W"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	31-84
	VertRefresh	56-77
EndSection
Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"ATI Technologies, Inc. Radeon RV250 If [Radeon 9000 Pro]"
	Monitor		"AL2216W"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		1
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		4
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
	InputDevice     "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
	InputDevice     "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
	InputDevice     "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection

I fixed the resolution by installing intel driver

$ sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-video-intel 

Changed driver in xorg.conf from “i810” to “intel”

Driver "intel"

Removed “i810” specific settings from xorg.conf. I had just written them myself, I think there are none by default.

Then I logged out and restarted X with alt-ctrl-backspace.

It worked: Greeter came up with the correct resolution. I logged into desktop, still in correct resolution. Even desktop effects worked. I used OSD and buttons on the monitor itself to verify the resolution and yes, it was 1680×1050@60Hz, the optimal resolution.

Tested config was Acer AL2216W (of course), Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn 64bit, Intel i965 chipset motherboard and analog VGA connector.

Here’s the xorg.conf.

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf(5) manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
#   sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg
Section "Files"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
	FontPath	"/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
	# path to defoma fonts
	FontPath	"/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection
Section "Module"
	Load	"bitmap"
	Load	"ddc"
	Load	"dri"
	Load	"extmod"
	Load	"freetype"
	Load	"glx"
	Load	"int10"
	# what about "type1"?
	Load	"vbe"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc105"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"fi"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"ZAxisMapping"		"4 5"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection
Section "Device"
	Identifier	"i965"
	#Driver		"i810"
	Driver		"intel"
	BusID		"PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"myAL2216w"
	Option		"DPMS"
	# Sync ranges from Xorg log - same as with autoconfigured DVI
	HorizSync	31-84
	VertRefresh	56-77
	# Modeline created with http://www.bohne-lang.de/spec/linux/modeline/
	#Mode    "1680x1050"     # Vfreq: 60.00 Hz,  Hfreq: 65.35 KHz
 	#	DotClock        149.00
	#	HTimings        1680 1760 1944 2280
	#	VTimings        1050 1050 1052 1089
	#	# Flags   "+HSync" "-VSync"
	#EndMode
EndSection
Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Default Screen"
	Device		"i965"
	Monitor		"myAL2216w"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1680x1050" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier	"Default Layout"
	Screen		"Default Screen"
	InputDevice	"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice	"Configured Mouse"
EndSection
Section "DRI"
	Mode	0666
EndSection