Bug#372079: xserver-xorg-video-mga: strange frequency behavior with dvi

[gambarimasu+reportbug@gmail.com]

Package: xserver-xorg-video-mga
Version: 1:1.2.1.3.dfsg.1-2
Severity: grave
Justification: renders package unusable


i just upgraded from xfree86 4.2 to xorg 7.0.  this driver seems to
output frequencies that are out of range for the monitor when the
monitor's documented ranges are entered in the horizsync line.

the documented ranges worked perfectly with 4.2, although that was
probably using matrox's proprietary driver.

when the horizsync line is reduced to a narrow range of frequencies,
there are strange -dpi and font behaviors.  everything is ugly and
many things are not resizable by -dpi and far too large.  for example,
gkrellm is too large and unaffected by the -dpi option to the x
server.  small fonts are impossible to read in most cases, even when
the font path is identical to 4.2.  strangely, i don't think i changed
xfs at all.  xorg.conf is the same as xf86config-4 was otherwise.
configuring via debconf and via mgapdesk result in the same behaviors.

it's possible that some of these are software changes in the way x
works since 4.2 and have nothing to do with the frequency issue or
even the driver.  i have no idea whether frequency changes or the
driver are the cause or not.

i arrived at the narrow range by trial and error.

card=g550
output=dvi
monitor=sony lcd

        HorizSync    35.0 - 38.0 #far narrower than the monitor supports
        VertRefresh  52.0 - 60.0

i will provide xorg.conf, x server logs, monitor specs, or any other
data -- just ask.  i don't know which would be helpful and don't want
to clutter the bug report with non-useful data.

thanks.

p.s.  severity set to grave because i'm not sure which of the
following i should do.  i cannot use the driver as it is now.  if this
is incorrect, please reassign.

o downgrade to xfree86
o try to fix bugs
o reinstall etch
o try to install proprietary drivers
o replace card

all are undesirable, but if i can help fix the bug by working around it
and providing data to the people working on the driver, i will.

-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing/unstable
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Shell:  /bin/sh linked to /bin/bash
Kernel: Linux 2.6.16myver
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C (charmap=ANSI_X3.4-1968)

Versions of packages xserver-xorg-video-mga depends on:
ii  libc6                         2.3.6-13   GNU C Library: Shared libraries
ii  xserver-xorg-core             1:1.0.2-8  X.Org X server -- core server

xserver-xorg-video-mga recommends no packages.

-- no debconf information