Detailed newbie question - install/Xwindow/video

[Cinetica <Cinetica aol com>]

Hello:

Here's a detailed newbie question about the installation of Linux 4.2.
Specifically, I am looking for guidance in the stage of giving video card and
moniter settings for the X-windows setup. (I probably didn't say that right,
but bear with me.) The following background information is certainly long,
probably tedious, and possibly redundant to more experienced users. If you
have the time to read through, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have done well in the first half of Linux installation. I have a Gateway
Pentium with an added hard drive, which has been partitioned to allow a whole
lot of space for each operating system. The partitioning went fine, and I have
mounted a root, swap, /usr, and /home. For package installation I defaulted to
everything. It's probably totally overblown, but I have the space, and am
interested in learning whatever comes my way. I can always strip it down or
re-install it in a leaner mode. There is no network.

When it gets to Xwindow configuration, I am presented with options that don't
intuitively match with the hardware specs in the manuals I have. So my single
question is really a bunch of little questions for each installation option.
Based in the hardware specs, what should I tell Linux Install when it asks me
for various settings?

Video Card Specs: Gateway Matrox 2MB SGRAM PCI video card
Memory: 2MB SGRAM
BUS: 32-bit PCI local bus, 64-bit acceleration
Accelerator: Matrox (64-bit) with 64-bit VGA-compatible driving engine
Resolution, Color Depth, vertical refresh for 2MB, Max horizontal refresh:
   - 1280x1024, up to 256 colors, up to 85Hz, up to 91kHz
   - 1024x768, up to 65K colors, up to 120Hz, up to 100kHz
   - 800x600, up to 16M colors, up to 170Hz, up to 105kHz
   - 640x480, up to 16M colors, up to 200Hz, up to 105kHz
Software Platform Support: DOS, Windows, OS/2
Moniter Support: Standard VGA 640x480 analog moniters or better

Moniter Specs: Gateway 2000 CrystalScan 700
CRT: 17-inch, 90-degree deflection, 0.28mm dot pitch
Resolution: 1280x1024
Colors: unlimited
Scanning Frequency:
   - Horizontal: 30-64kHz
   - Vertical: 50-120Hz
Display area: 300x225 mm
Power input: 90-264 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1.5 A


When Linux Install asks me what kind of video card I have, should I choose the
only Matrox card that is there, or should I choose to configure an unlisted
card? Here are the only options that come close or match my equipment:
- Generic VGA compatible
- Matrox Millenium (MGA)  mga2064w
- Unsupported VGA compatible
- Unlisted Card

If I choose and unlisted card, Install asks me which server we need. Which of
the many options should I choose?
- Mono, VGA16, SVGA, S3, MACH32, MACH8, 8514, P9000, AGX, W32, MACH64, I128,
S3V, TGA

It installs an Xfree86 package for a moment, then asks me about my moniter.
Should I choose from listed-but-not-exact-match or configure my own? Options
include:
- CrystalScan 1572FS
- Gateway 2000 CrystalScan 1776LE
- Generic Moniter
- Generic Multisync (and what's multisync?)
- or Custom

If I choose a custom configuration, Install warns me about choosing proper
settings for horizontal and vertical refresh rates. Since the hardware specs
show a fairly wide range of acceptable values, I'm not sure which ones to
pick. Should I make a selection based on desired resolution? (800x600 or
1024x768) Or is there a good and proper choice?
For Horizontal sync range:
- Standard VGA, 640x480 @ 60Hz
- Super VGA, 800x600 @ 56Hz
- 8514 Compatible, 1024x768 @ 87Hz interlaced (no 800x600)
- Super VGA, 1024x768 @ 87Hz interlaced, 800x600 @ 56Hz
- Extended Super VGA, 800x600 @ 60Hz, 640x480 @ 72Hz
- Non-interlaced SVGA, 1024x768 @ 60Hz, 800x600 @ 72Hz
- High-frequency SVGA, 1024x768 @ 70Hz
- Moniter that can do 1024x768 @ 60Hz
- Moniter that can do 1024x768 @ 74Hz
- Moniter that can do 1024x768 @ 76Hz

For Vertical sync range:
- 50-70
- 50-90
- 50-100
- 40-150
Since the manual refers to a range of 50-120Hz, what is acceptable and what is
the best choice?

Install asks me about video memory. Since the manual refers to 2 meg, I feel
safe choosing the 2048 option instead of the 512, 1024, or 4096. Is this
correct?

Install asks if I want to name a clockchip, but recommends No clockchip
setting. Is there a clockchip I should choose?

When Install asks me if I want to run X -probeonly now. With the settings I
have chosen, if I say yes it gives me an "error was trying to exec X - start
over" message. Should I say no? Should I say yes and ignore the error message?
Is the error message insignificant?

Well, that's pretty much it. It's a lot to wade through, but I am more
comfortable presenting a complete picutre. Thanks if you read this far. Let me
know what you think, and be kind. I'm loading Linux to learn Linux, and so far
it's been kind of fun. Reply to list or to email.

Judson
Cinetica aol com