The XFree86 server allows users to configure their video subsystem and thus encourages best use of existing hardware. This tutorial is intended to help you learn how to generate your own timing numbers to make optimum use of your video card and monitor.
We'll present a method for getting something that works, and then show you how you can experiment starting from that base to develop settings that optimize for your taste.
If you already have a mode that almost works (in particular, if one of predefined VESA modes gives you a stable display but one that's displaced right or left, or too small, or too large) you can go straight to the section on Fixing Problems with the Image. This will enlighten you on ways to tweak the timing numbers to achieve particular effects.