xrandr(1) scaling problems with external monitor

[gustaf]

After a hiatus of several years, I recently returned to OpenBSD with a clean install onto my Lenovo Thinkpad X220t laptop, upgraded to a -current snapshot, then carefully restored all my files from backup (including customized configuration files in /etc). Along the way, something happened to X. When I attach an external monitor to the laptop, the fonts in the window title bars, jwm task bar and menu, xterm windows, and some other applications are HUGE. It doesn't matter if the laptop monitor is on (splitting the screen between the LVDS laptop and external VGA monitors) or off (giving me a single external monitor screen).

I tried switching to a different window manager; the problem persisted. I installed an identical system onto an old Compaq Presario. Same X display issues, so it's probably not the hardware. I checked for missing files and didn't find anything obvious.

Tweaking /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0 didn't help and I couldn't find anything in xrandr(1) that looked useful. Searching these forums and the OpenBSD misc mailing list didn't shed any more light on the problem.

A second upgrade to the most recent snapshot didn't make any difference.

I last used this same configuration (Lenovo Thinkpad, LG flatscreen monitor, and /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0 script) with OpenBSD 6.8 -current. Before I acquired a flatscreen, I was using a Viewsonic CRT. The monitor output was always properly scaled. As far as I can tell, the only difference is the upgrade from 6.8 -current to 7.4/7.5 -current.

I have attached some screenshots, and posted my /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0 script, the relevant lines of dmesg(8), and the entire /var/log/xenodm.log below. The external monitor (VGA) screenshots should look like the laptop-only (LVDS) screenshots scaled to fit properly on the larger screen. The text output is from the external VGA monitor with the laptop screen turned off.

The output of /var/log/Xorg.0.log and $ xrandr -q --verbose is massive. I can post this info, if it's helpful.

Any advice, suggestions, or ideas would be gratefully accepted.

=============================================

/etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0:

#!/bin/sh
# $OpenBSD: Xsetup_0,v 1.6 2019/06/29 13:33:06 espie Exp
# Modified by gustaf, 2023/10/03 

xprefix=/usr/X11R6/bin

## "${xprefix}/xconsole" -geometry 480x130-0-0 -daemon -notify -verbose -fn fixed -exitOnFail

# Set root window color for login screen
"${xprefix}/xsetroot" -solid sienna

if [ "$DISPLAY" = ":0" -o "$DISPLAY" = ":0.0" ]
then

  # If external monitor is attached to laptop
  if xrandr | grep 'VGA-1' > /dev/null
  then

    # fix output to VGA CRT external monitor (leftover code from old CRT)
    ## xrandr --output VGA-1 --same-as LVDS-1

    # turn off laptop monitor
    xrandr --output LVDS-1 --off
  fi
fi

$ dmesg

OpenBSD 7.5 (GENERIC.MP) #78: Sun Mar 17 21:55:24 MDT 2024
    deraadt@amd64.openbsd.org:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC.MP
real mem = 12746092544 (12155MB)
avail mem = 12338692096 (11767MB)
random: good seed from bootblocks
...
mainbus0 at root
bios0 at mainbus0: SMBIOS rev. 2.6 @ 0xdae9c000 (67 entries)
bios0: vendor LENOVO version "8DET58WW (1.28 )" date 02/14/2012
bios0: LENOVO 4299HB4
acpi0 at bios0: ACPI 4.0
acpi0: sleep states S0 S3 S4 S5
acpi0: tables DSDT FACP SLIC SSDT SSDT SSDT HPET APIC MCFG ECDT ASF! TCPA SSDT S
SDT UEFI UEFI UEFI
acpi0: wakeup devices LID_(S3) SLPB(S3) IGBE(S4) EXP4(S4) EXP7(S4) EHC1(S3) EHC2
(S3) HDEF(S4)
...
"PNP0C14" at acpi0 not configured
"PNP0C14" at acpi0 not configured
...
acpivideo0 at acpi0: VID_
acpivout0 at acpivideo0: LCD0
acpivideo1 at acpi0: VID_
pci0 at mainbus0 bus 0
...
inteldrm0 at pci0 dev 2 function 0 "Intel HD Graphics 3000" rev 0x09
drm0 at inteldrm0
inteldrm0: msi, SANDYBRIDGE, gen 6
"Intel 6 Series MEI" rev 0x04 at pci0 dev 22 function 0 not configured
...
inteldrm0: 1366x768, 32bpp
wsdisplay0 at inteldrm0 mux 1: console (std, vt100 emulation), using wskbd0
wskbd1: connecting to wsdisplay0
wsdisplay0: screen 1-5 added (std, vt100 emulation)

/var/log/xenodm.log:

xenodm info (pid 51523): Starting
xenodm info (pid 51523): Starting X server on :0

X.Org X Server 1.21.1.11
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Current Operating System: OpenBSD thinkpadX220t..home.arpa 7.5 GENERIC.MP#78 amd64
 
Current version of pixman: 0.42.2
        Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
        to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
        (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Wed Mar 20 17:17:52 2024
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/X11R6/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Failed to create /var/empty/.cache for shader cache (Permission denied)---disabling.
WARNING: Kernel has no file descriptor comparison support: No such file or directory
Failed to create /var/empty/.cache for shader cache (Permission denied)---disabling.
xenodm info (pid 27911): consolePath: ttyC4
xenodm info (pid 27911): sourcing /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0
xenodm info (pid 27911): sourcing /etc/X11/xenodm/GiveConsole
xenodm info (pid 94312): executing session /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsession
(II) AIGLX: Suspending AIGLX clients for VT switch
[dix] couldn't enable device 8
[dix] couldn't enable device 9
[dix] couldn't enable device 10
[dix] couldn't enable device 11
(II) AIGLX: Suspending AIGLX clients for VT switch

[jggimi]

Before getting too deep in the weeds, I recommend trying with a clean installation, that doesn't have all of your historical adaptations applied. As one example, your Xsetup_0 and one from a recent snapshot have vast differences. If that doesn't work, then posting your xorg.0.log would be helpful.

--- Xsetup_0_snapshot    Wed Mar 20 18:13:03 2024
+++ Xsetup_0_gustaf    Sat Mar 23 08:59:59 2024
@@ -1,19 +1,25 @@
 #!/bin/sh
-# $OpenBSD: Xsetup_0.in,v 1.1 2021/08/30 15:38:27 matthieu Exp $
+# $OpenBSD: Xsetup_0,v 1.6 2019/06/29 13:33:06 espie Exp
+# Modified by gustaf, 2023/10/03 
 
-prefix="/usr/X11R6"
-exec_prefix="${prefix}"
+xprefix=/usr/X11R6/bin
 
-${exec_prefix}/bin/xsetroot -fg \#6f6f6f -bg \#bfbfbf -bitmap ${prefix}/include/X11/bitmaps/root_weave
+## "${xprefix}/xconsole" -geometry 480x130-0-0 -daemon -notify -verbose -fn fixed -exitOnFail
 
-${exec_prefix}/bin/xconsole -geometry 480x130-0-0 -daemon -notify -verbose -fn fixed -exitOnFail
+# Set root window color for login screen
+"${xprefix}/xsetroot" -solid sienna
 
-#  install package openbsd-backgrounds
-#  then uncomment:
-#
-# if test -x /usr/local/bin/openbsd-wallpaper
-# then
-#     /usr/local/bin/openbsd-wallpaper
-# fi
+if [ "$DISPLAY" = ":0" -o "$DISPLAY" = ":0.0" ]
+then
 
-# sxpm OpenBSD.xpm &
+  # If external monitor is attached to laptop
+  if xrandr | grep 'VGA-1' > /dev/null
+  then
+
+    # fix output to VGA CRT external monitor (leftover code from old CRT)
+    ## xrandr --output VGA-1 --same-as LVDS-1
+
+    # turn off laptop monitor
+    xrandr --output LVDS-1 --off
+  fi
+fi

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Also check the DPI on each screen: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Xor...y_size_and_DPI

[thinman]

I had a problem with QT apps displaying at the wrong resolution and found this. It might apply to your monitor issue, as well: https://marc.info/?l=openbsd-tech&m=163674121630769&w=2

[Head_on_a_Stick]

That change was reverted after it broke everybody's setups.

[thinman]

I see. I still require the fix described there on 7.4 to make my QT apps (Nextcloud and Keepassxc) display at the right resolution so I thought I'd chuck it out there. I'm new to OpenBSD so I'm definitely no expert. :^)

[gustaf]

Adding the following lines to /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0 solved the problem:

# Workaround to correct display resolution
## xrandr --dpi 96  # Recommended setting
xrandr --dpi 115  # Usable setting

96 dpi was too small. For some unknown reason, I had to bump the setting to 115 dpi to get everything to look right.

Thanks to everyone who provided suggestions. They were all helpful in working toward a solution.