Linux – Override monitor settings

Abstract: Sometimes Linux doesn’t find the correct monitor settings. This is how to override them.

Find out what Linux thinks your monitor is called:
eg under KDE, run Size & Orientation – the monitors available will be shown with their names. VGA1, HDMI1 etc..

Get the monitor settings you want using the cvt tool:
cvt 1280 1024
The output will be something like:
Modeline "1280x1024_60.00" 109.00 1280 1368 1496 1712 1024 1027 1034 1063 -hsync +vsync

Create or modify the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/50-monitor.conf using the line just output:
Section “Monitor”
Identifier “VGA1” # use whatever name you discovered above
Modeline … # as from the cvt output
Option “PreferredMode” “1280x1024_60.00” # as on the Modeline
EndSection