[echo]

yes i know about downscaled modes, though i've never used them, and we know the old systems can't do 1080p without higher end gpus.
*but* remember that you told me you can't see anything at all in the bios/prom screen on a screen that is not running 1280x1024?
and also you said if you switch to invalid mode in sgi, the screen will go blank requiring use of serial terminal. you said using a vfo will cause it to happen.
i assumed that meant if you run in high-res, when you load the bios/prom it won't downscale, it will just show nothing until irix loads up.
unless i didn't fully understand you?

the vfo does optimizations to allow high res widescreen modes, i'm guessing that's how his indigo2 is set up there.
thats why i was asking you about how feasible it is to use that trick on my v6 card. its a hack to get the modes like 1080p on the weak gpus.

i just found for sale a 1280x1024 screen that is known to be compatible with sgi. i can get that one...
but, if i can get a 1920x1200 screen, it would be better as I have limited desk space, and i can share that one with my other PC too.
i mean, i think i can get it working without it having black bars or being stretched, by using vfo file, right?
but then theres the issue of it not working in bios/prom or other issues.

i really don't understand what all these issues are. all i know is that while you yourself are warning me away from it, when i go look at what everyone else is doing i see almost everyone who owns an sgi machine on the forums are running the 1920x1200 screens, even on the indigo2's, probably by using the vfo file hack.

btw, i've taken a linux systems administrations course a while back, so you can tell me the proper way of doing something and i should be able to understand what you're talking about. like if you don't really need to do a full format on the disk under certain circumstances. it's better if i learn the proper way of doing it and the reasons for doing certain things.