Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size

rep
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 6, 2024 8:16:17 GMT

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Post by rep on Mar 6, 2024 8:16:17 GMT

After researching what would be best for my very old (cira 2005) Acer Aspire 3500, I chose Bodhi Linux 32 bit version bodhi-5.1.0-legacy.

The live boot worked great (though very slow from a CD). The resolution was great.

But when I installed to the hard drive, the graphics resolution was really bad (640 x 480).

After a lot of research I found this which suggested a way forward

Set SIS graphics @1024x768 (l)ubuntu (MATE) 14.04 and 16.04/16.10

1.

Created file called "use-vesa.conf"

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "vesa"
EndSection

Saved into File System > usr > share > x11 > xorg.conf.d with sudo.

Result
* The resolution is now 1024 x 768 (4:3)

* and the top bar of any open window is cut off

* and the bottom panel is half covered by black - (it's like the top bar is wrapped around vertically). Mousing over the black makes it disappear.

2.

Set boot option "nomodeset" in grub

How do I set 'nomodeset' after I've already installed Ubuntu?

Result

This made no apparent difference that I could tell.

There are still a lot of artifacts on the screen that disappear when the mouse moves over them.

inxi -Fxpmrz

tix@Aspire:~$ inxi -Fxpmrz
System: Host: Aspire Kernel: 4.9.0-6-686 i686 bits: 32 gcc: 6.3.0
Desktop: Enlightenment 0.3.1.16386 Distro: Bodhi Linux 5.1.0
Machine: Device: other-vm? System: Acer product: Aspire 3500 serial: N/A
Mobo: Acer model: Lugano serial: N/A
BIOS: Acer v: 3A08 date: 04/19/05
Battery BAT1: charge: 0.0 Wh 0.0% condition: 0.6/29.6 Wh (2%)
model: SANYO 10ZL status: Charging
CPU: Single core Intel Celeron M (-UP-)
arch: Dothan rev.8 cache: 1024 KB
flags: (nx pae sse sse2) bmips: 2999 speed: 1499 MHz (max)
Memory: Using dmidecode: root required for dmidecode
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: fbdev (unloaded: modesetting,vesa)
Resolution: 640x480@73.00hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 9.0, 128 bits)
version: 3.3 Mesa 19.2.8 Direct Render: Yes
Audio: Card Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS7012 AC'97 Sound Controller
driver: snd_intel8x0 ports: 1c00 1800 bus-ID: 00:02.7
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.9.0-6-686
Network: Card-1: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet
driver: sis900 port: 2000 bus-ID: 00:04.0
IF: enp0s4 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR2413/AR2414 Wireless Network Adapter [AR5005G(S) 802.11bg]
driver: ath5k bus-ID: 00:0b.0
IF: wlp0s11 state: down mac: <filter>
Card-3: Ralink MT7601U Wireless Adapter usb-ID: 001-002
IF: N/A state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives: HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (9.2% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: IC25N080ATMR04 size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 55G used: 3.1G (6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 57.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Repos: Active apt sources in file: /etc/apt/sources.list
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic main restricted
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-updates main restricted
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic universe
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-updates universe
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic multiverse
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-updates multiverse
deb us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ bionic-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security main restricted
deb security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security universe
deb security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu bionic-security multiverse
deb [trusted=yes] packages.bodhilinux.com/bodhi bionic b5main
Info: Processes: 97 Uptime: 29 min Memory: 132.4/1193.2MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 7.5.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.4.201) inxi: 2.3.56

sudo inxi -m

tix@Aspire:~$ sudo inxi -m
[sudo] password for tix:
Memory: Used/Total: 139.2/1193.2MB
Array-1 capacity: 1 GB (check) devices: 2 EC: None
Device-1: DIMM1 size: 1 GB speed: N/A type: DRAM
Device-2: DIMM2 size: 256 MB speed: N/A type: DRAM
Device-3: DIMM3 size: No Module Installed type: DRAM
tix@Aspire:~$

Question

Is there a way to improve this?

Last Edit: Mar 6, 2024 10:31:25 GMT by rep

enigma9o7
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 6, 2024 19:10:40 GMT lynx likes this

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Post by enigma9o7 on Mar 6, 2024 19:10:40 GMT

Yes, it can be improved!

Unfortunately, I can't give you an exact answer because I don't have that exact hardware to trial & error on to figure it out, and I'm not already familiar with the solution.

But I will tell you the kinda things I'd do, and depending on how tech savy you already are, this may be enough to get you started, and you can share what you learn and we can go from there.

First thing I'd do is try running "sudo ubuntu-drivers install" which should install the drivers it thinks you need if you're lucky. If it works, reboot and then set your resolution from the start menu under preferences, and select the "Save to Moksha" option once set to your desired resolution.

One thing I'd do is boot the live iso again and check "inxi -G" to see what video driver it's using there, since you said it's worksing in live mode. Your inxi above shows its using fbdev at 640x480; probably in live its using vesa or perhaps an actual SiS driver during live, and not sure why it didn't install that automatically.

I personally would install 7.0 legacy beta instead of version 5.1, unless you have a good reason to use the older version. There's a chance this issue won't even happen, but even if its the exact same issue, once resolved it'll allow you to use newer more supported software.

After a new installation the first thing you should do is run all updates:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
reboot

This is all the easiest stuff to try; if it doesn't work, report back with "inxi -G" from live where it worked well, and "inxi -G" (or "inxi -F") after you tried the above and I'll suggest more complicated stuff to try!

Last Edit: Mar 6, 2024 19:16:14 GMT by enigma9o7

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rep
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 7, 2024 11:21:41 GMT

Quote

Post by rep on Mar 7, 2024 11:21:41 GMT

On my installed system after doing sudo ubuntu-drivers install

The issue remains.

tix@Aspire:/$ inxi -G
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
Display Server: N/A driver: vesa
tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A out of X

ix@Aspire:/$ inxi -F
System: Host: Aspire Kernel: 4.9.0-6-686 i686 bits: 32 Console: tty 2
Distro: Ubuntu 18.04.6 LTS
Machine: Device: other-vm? System: Acer product: Aspire 3500 serial: N/A
Mobo: Acer model: Lugano serial: N/A
BIOS: Acer v: 3A08 date: 04/19/05
Battery BAT1: charge: 0.0 Wh 0.0% condition: 0.6/29.6 Wh (2%)
CPU: Single core Intel Celeron M (-UP-) cache: 1024 KB
speed: 1500 MHz (max)
Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
Display Server: N/A driver: vesa
tty size: 80x24 Advanced Data: N/A out of X
Audio: Card Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS7012 AC'97 Sound Controller
driver: snd_intel8x0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.9.0-6-686
Network: Card-1: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] SiS900 PCI Fast Ethernet
driver: sis900
IF: enp0s4 state: down mac: 00:c0:9f:a1:0a:7e
Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR2413/AR2414 Wireless Network Adapter [AR5005G(S) 802.11bg]
driver: ath5k
IF: wlp0s11 state: down mac: 00:0e:9b:d7:08:bb
Card-3: Ralink MT7601U Wireless Adapter
IF: N/A state: N/A mac: N/A
Drives: HDD Total Size: 80.0GB (9.5% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: IC25N080ATMR04 size: 80.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 55G used: 3.4G (7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda5
ID-2: swap-1 size: 4.19GB used: 0.00GB (0%)
fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 60.0C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 118 Uptime: 9 min Memory: 161.0/1193.2MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.3.56

Live boot inxi -G

Graphics: Card: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx PCIE VGA Display Adapter
Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
drivers: vesa (unloaded: modesetting.fbdev)
Resolution: 1024x768@61.00hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 9.0. 128 bits)
version: 3.3 Mesa 19.2.8

That is quite different to what I have installed as you can see.

How do I go about changing my Graphics display server to be the same as the live boot one?

Last Edit: Mar 7, 2024 11:33:20 GMT by rep

escuelaslinux
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 7, 2024 20:03:42 GMT lynx likes this

Quote

Post by escuelaslinux on Mar 7, 2024 20:03:42 GMT

Hello!

Around 2019, we documented a solution to install Escuelas Linux (the Bodhi-based educational spin-off) on computers with some supported SiS graphics cards.
We haven't tested this solution for a while, but it may still work.

sourceforge.net/p/escuelaslinux/blog/2019/03/how-to-configure-escuelas-linux-in-computers-with-sis-661-741-760-662-or-761-video-cards/

You may want to download the file escuelaslinux-8.6-32.tar.gz, as it contains the kernel3.16 folder mentioned in the how-to and its dependencies:

sourceforge.net/projects/escuelaslinux/files/lowMem/

Note that your 4.9 kernel is different from the one on our custom ISO, so running the script in the kernel3.16 folder would not remove 4.9. You may want to remove it manually, or press Shift at boot time to select the 3.16 kernel.

Last Edit: Mar 7, 2024 20:14:02 GMT by escuelaslinux

enigma9o7
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 7, 2024 23:18:01 GMT

Quote

Post by enigma9o7 on Mar 7, 2024 23:18:01 GMT

rep, as a first step, before trying that old kernel, using the xorg.conf as described there should make it use the vesa driver and allow resolutions up to 1024x768 anyway on any kernel.

And I would be more likely to try a newer kernel before trying an ancient EOL one, but I guess if you do continue to have issues, it's worth a try. My research tells me it was supported in kernels 3.15-6.2; support was dropped in 6.3

Last Edit: Mar 7, 2024 23:30:16 GMT by enigma9o7

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enigma9o7
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 8, 2024 0:07:11 GMT lynx likes this

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Post by enigma9o7 on Mar 8, 2024 0:07:11 GMT

Seems this might be the solution for an actual SiS driver

sudo apt install build-essential autoconf automake xorg-dev xutils-dev mesa-common-dev libdrm-dev libtool wget
wget http://xorg.freedesktop.org/releases/individual/driver/xf86-video-sis-0.12.0.tar.bz2
tar xjf xf86-video-sis-0.12.0.tar.bz2
cd xf86-video-sis-0.12.0
./configure --prefix=/usr --disable-static
make
sudo make install
reboot

$ inxi -G
Graphics:
Device-1: Silicon Integrated Systems [SiS] 661/741/760 PCI/AGP or 662/761Gx
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.20.11 driver: X: loaded: sis
unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa gpu: N/A resolution: 1360×768~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: llvmpipe (LLVM 11.0.1 128 bits) v: 4.5 Mesa 20.3.5

Last Edit: Mar 8, 2024 1:21:29 GMT by enigma9o7

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rep
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 8, 2024 12:15:59 GMT

Quote

Post by rep on Mar 8, 2024 12:15:59 GMT

Thanks for your reply enigma9o7

I did

sudo apt install build-essential autoconf automake xorg-dev xutils-dev mesa-common-dev libdrm-dev libtool wget
wget xorg.freedesktop.org/releases/individual/driver/xf86-video-sis-0.12.0.tar.bz2
tar xjf xf86-video-sis-0.12.0.tar.bz2
cd xf86-video-sis-0.12.0
./configure --prefix=/usr --disable-static
make
sudo make install
reboot

And my computer now shows this for inxi -G

Result

The same issue is still there

I am considering going to antiX linux as that does not have this issue.

I really liked the live boot of psychOS - it is sooo much faster than Bodhi but I can't get the wifi to work - it tells me the wifi is hardware locked which is not true. The wifi works fine in Bodhi.

enigma9o7
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 8, 2024 18:20:48 GMT lynx likes this

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Post by enigma9o7 on Mar 8, 2024 18:20:48 GMT

If you have that /etc/X11/xorg.conf in that tells it to use vesa, then it wont use the sis driver. If you did that in order to get 1024x768 out of vesa, remove or move that out of the way to try the sis one.

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rep
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 9, 2024 0:32:18 GMT

Quote

Post by rep on Mar 9, 2024 0:32:18 GMT

Mar 8, 2024 18:20:48 GMT enigma9o7 said:

If you have that /etc/X11/xorg.conf in that tells it to use vesa, then it wont use the sis driver. If you did that in order to get 1024x768 out of vesa, remove or move that out of the way to try the sis one.

I deleted that and now I can't start the computer up. It appears to be stuck in an infinite loop

I have given Bodhi and real good go and it has failed.

I tried Bodhi hoping to get a better, faster laptop.

THANK you both for your help and suggestions, particularly you enigma9o7.

I will now remove Bodhi and go back to antiX which did work.

I do wish however that I could get the wifi to work under psychOS which runs 3 times faster than Bodhi from the live CD.

----------------------

Would you believe it? I booted into anitX and the live CD is now displaying the same issue as I had with Bodhi linux!

Maybe the old laptop is just too old!

Last Edit: Mar 9, 2024 0:47:25 GMT by rep: Would you believe it? I booted into anitX and the live CD is now displaying the same issue as I had with Bodhi linux!

escuelaslinux
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 9, 2024 9:18:12 GMT Hippytaff and lynx like this

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Post by escuelaslinux on Mar 9, 2024 9:18:12 GMT

In the meantime, we were able to get our hands on a computer with a SiS video card. Using only our suggested solution (kernel 3.16 + xorg.conf) still works just fine.

I seem to remember that when we were testing suitable kernels for SiS, kernel 3.16 was the last one to work properly. Anything higher would have had graphical glitches.

Yes, kernel 3.16 is EOL (as is 4.9), but as far as old hardware is concerned, there are less and less properly supported parts available in newer kernels, maybe because of regressions, maybe because of long neglected, unmaintained and forgotten pieces of code. 32-bit is currently like a flea market where you have to find a rotten pipe that still fits your old sink.

Last Edit: Mar 11, 2024 20:41:00 GMT by escuelaslinux

lynx
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Acer Aspire 3500 sis graphics resolution and screen size Mar 9, 2024 13:01:00 GMT via mobile Hippytaff and enigma9o7 like this

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Post by lynx on Mar 9, 2024 13:01:00 GMT

Hello!
I also have a computer with SiS Chipset model 661/741/760.

I found a solution for my model in this Forum thread.

Bodhi Linux with Chipset SiS 661/741/760
bodhilinux.boards.net/thread/658/bodhi-linux-chipset-sis-solved?page=1

Greetins!

Last Edit: Mar 9, 2024 14:17:05 GMT by lynx