debian change display output interface from vga to dvi

Updating your X output interface

I have an nvidia video card, and I'm finally switching from VGA to DVI... I didn't even know I had that port till a few days ago.

I'm not adding a new display for dual/triple display, but just switching the cables for the same one and only display I have.

1. Plug in the DVI cable to your monitor and video card.

2. When you do the xrandr command, you should be seeing something like:

$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 1440 x 900, maximum 16384 x 16384
DVI-I-0 disconnected primary (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VGA-0 connected 1440x900+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 410mm x 260mm
   1440x900      59.89*+  74.98  
   1400x1050     74.87  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    66.00    60.00  
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    65.99    59.94  
DVI-I-1 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1440x900      59.89 +  74.98  
   1400x1050     74.87  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    66.00    60.00  
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    65.99    59.94  
HDMI-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)


3. Here you see the VGA-0 (your current display), and DVI-I-1 (your new one) are connected.
The only thing to do next is:

xrandr --output DVI-I-1 --auto


4. Your monitor should blink for a moment. Then you're probably ready to go! Disconnect your VGA cable, and if you still have something on your screen, it's working, yay.

5. Disconnect your old VGA cable, and give it a good burial.