3 ms·

Will never forget fumbling around with my NVIDIA TNT2 graphics card in X config files only to end up in a console with X failing to start Waste of my goddamn t

• smackeyacky 5y ago
  The most fun part of the PC ports of the X server (probably XFree86, memory is getting a little spongey) was that getting the modeline wrong when you were using a CRT could cause physical damage to the monitor. Back then, I always used to buy fancy, expensive monitors (Sony trinitron based things) and there was always that moment of doubt, chewing your fingernails before you made changes to the modeline and kicked off the X server. It's all automatic now of course, but it was a genuine halt and catch fire scenario.
  • bitwize 5y ago
    Selecting the option "Monitor that can do <highest resolution of your monitor> at <vertical scan frequency listed on the back>" from Xconfigurator has never steered me wrong -- and I have used some grotty monitors. This kind of malarkey was only necessary because, at the time, unlike sensible systems like the Macintosh, PC monitors did not report their identification and capabilities to the host system. Eventually the EDID system would be implemented, allowing automatic configuration -- but it would be a few years before X got decent support for it.
  • ncmncm 5y ago
    I never heard of a monitor damaged by a bad modeline. Doubting now it happened.