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Date: Wed, 20 May 2015 17:31:40 -0400
From: sl@9front.org
To: 9front@9front.org
Subject: Re: [9front] new bounties: replace p9sk1; improve the tls(3) device
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>> > Note: The VESA driver only works with whatever modes the VESA BIOS
>> > reports; unfortunately, we've found (for example) some laptops whose
>> > VESA BIOS does not contain a mode for its LCD screen's native
>> > resolution.
>> >
>> > sl
>>
>> I think this includes my w510.
> 
> It includes my laptop.  If I disable the internal display it lets me
> set the native resolution of that display fine.  I would like to see a
> tool that sets resolutions via vesa that aren't in the bios.  I know
> this is possible because the hackintosh fags do it, but I have no clue
> how it's done.  They don't document anything.

There are several problems:

	- every VESA BIOS is unique
	- even cards with the same model number often contain
		different chips and/or firmware
	- some of them can be altered via software but there is no
		documentation at all
	- fucking up could explode your things

Based on prior experience with hackintosh, I also suspected that
tampering with VESA BIOS would be an option. A few years ago cinap
hacked a program, based on reports by hackintosh nerds:

	https://plan9.stanleylieber.com/hardware/thinkcentre/m55/8810-d3u/vbt.c

that I used to try to manipulate the VESA BIOS in two of my cards:

	nVidia GeForce 8400 GS
	ATI X1300

I never managed to induce a fully working mode at 1920x1080x32,
but I did succeed in altering some of the modes reported. In one
case I was able to induce  working 1920x1080 resolution, but the
colors were all garbled. After a while I gave up.

Again, though, every VESA BIOS is unique. The best hope is to
locate a card that someone already succeeded in altering and
hope that the card you actually receive happens to match the
card the person reported.

sl