Color-depth in X-windows, want >8-bit

[Jesse Rehr]

Trying again to install a Linux OS (RedHat 7 this time) and still
running into an unnecessary(?) limitation in my graphics card memory.  I
have a laptop with a Chips and Technologies (Intel) 65555 VGA card with
4.096Mb memory and 1024x768 TFT screen.  I can run 1024x768x24-bit in
Windows no problem.  X-server won't cooperate, though.  With both #
Xconfigurator and # xf86cfg I can get, at best, 1024x768x8-bit
*dithered*
color :(.  It looks bad and it limits the applications I can run.

I suspect that X is trying to load all 4 virtual terminals (or
workspaces, whatever) into the graphics card memory at once.  This is
strongly implied since I can also get 800x600x16bit to work (which
multiplies to just under 1 Mb or 1/4 of graphics card memory).  I was
unable to work this out lat time I tried linux (on a PC with Matrox
Millenium 4Mb card).  Can I do any of the following and, if so, how?

(A) Configure X so that it can run 1024x768x24bit and other screens are
kept in extended memory or just somewhere else while not being used.
(B) Configure the virtual desktops to 512x384x24bit and view all four at
once.
(C) Run just one virtual terminal.
(D) Something else smarter that gets me full 1024x768x24 resolution.

Thanks for your help.

JSR
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Jesse Rehr                      University of Washington
jr at u.washington.edu             MBA/MSE Class of 2000
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