How to deal with the Compaq 171FS monitor in X Windows

This will only work with the exact model Compaq 171FS computer monitor from 1994.

X.org configuration

You have to edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file as root. You must add the following at the right place in the file :

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier      "171FS"
        HorizSync       30-64
        VertRefresh     50-100
        Modeline "1024x768@87i" 44.07 1024 1056 1216 1248 768 784 790 807 interlace  #here is the interlaced frequency
        Modeline "1024x768@70" 78.26 1024 1056 1352 1384 768 783 792 807
        Modeline "1024x768@60" 64.56 1024 1056 1296 1328 768 783 791 807
        Modeline "1280x960@60i" 45.97 1280 1312 1480 1512 960 982 987 1009 interlace
        Modeline "800x600@72" 47.44 800 832 1008 1040 600 612 619 631
        Modeline "1024x768@64" 69.91 1024 1056 1320 1352 768 783 791 807
        Modeline "1280x800@50" 67.26 1280 1312 1560 1592 800 817 824 841
        Modeline "1280x600@68" 68.90 1280 1312 1568 1600 600 612 619 631
        Modeline "1280x624@66" 69.65 1280 1312 1576 1608 624 636 643 656
        Modeline "800x600@98" 69.84 800 832 1096 1128 600 610 620 631
        Modeline "1024x700@70" 69.70 1024 1056 1320 1352 700 714 722 736
        Modeline "1280x640@64" 69.22 1280 1312 1568 1600 640 653 660 673
        Modeline "1152x600@74" 69.03 1152 1184 1440 1472 600 611 619 631
        Modeline "1152x640@70" 69.78 1152 1184 1448 1480 640 652 660 673
        Modeline "1024x640@76" 69.07 1024 1056 1312 1344 640 652 660 673
        Modeline "800x600@90" 62.57 800 832 1064 1096 600 611 620 631
        Modeline "1152x640@74" 74.70 1152 1184 1464 1496 640 652 660 673 
        Modeline "1152x648@72" 73.28 1152 1184 1456 1488 648 660 668 681
        Modeline "1016x730@72" 75.48 1016 1048 1328 1360 730 744 753 767
        Option          "DPMS" #if you want to be able to turn off your monitor after some time of incactivity
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier      "Default Screen"
        Device          "xxxxxxxxx - you know what to put here"
        Monitor         "171FS"
        DefaultDepth    24
        SubSection "Display"
                Depth           24
                Modes           "1024x768@64"
#"1280x1024" 
#"1280x960@60i" 
#"1280x800@50" "1280x800@70" 
#"1280x640@64" RECOMANDED
#"1280x624@66"
#"1280x600@68"
#"1152x648@72" FORCE!
#"1152x640@70" RECOMANDED   "1152x640@74" FORCE!
#"1152x600@74"
#"1024x768@60" "1024x768@64" RECOMANDED        "1024x768@70" "1024x768@87i" "1024x768" 
#"1024x700@70"
#"1024x640@76" RECOMANDED
#"1016x730@72" FORCE!
#"832x624"
#"800x600@72" "800x600@90" RECOMANDED      "800x600@98" "800x600" 
#"640x480" 
        EndSubSection
EndSection

• You will obtain the best refresh rate at "800x600@90". This is 90Hz vertically, but you can try "800x600@98" also (at your own risk). If you want to follow the recommendations for your monitor, you should stick with "800x600@72".
• If you want the best resolution with bad refresh rate, you should try "1280x960@60i" or "1280x800@50".
• If you want the best resolution and refresh rate but you don't care about keeping squares right, try "1152x600@74" or "1280x640@64". They are all resolutions that will not keep the square of your monitor right!
• If you want to force your monitor just a little bit, you can choose the "1016x730@72" / "1152x640@74" / "1152x648@72" mode. You will not force the H or V frequency, but the dot frequency from 70Mhz to 75.48Mhz / 74.69Mhz / 73.27Mhz. If you want to choose this at your own risk, "1016x730@72" is my choice and it looks nice.
• If you don't know what to choose and you want a good refresh rate and resolution, choose one of the following without perfect squares: "1152x640@70" or "1024x640@76". You can choose "1024x768@64" if you want perfect squares also.
  
  
  From HowTo Wiki, a Wikia wiki.