Screen Resolution Buffer Issue with Wine Games on Linux Kernel 5.15 in Old Laptop

Background

Wine is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on various operating systems, including Linux. With the release of Linux kernel 5.15, some users reported an issue where Wine games would change the screen resolution without their consent. This behavior can be frustrating, especially when using an old laptop with limited hardware resources.

Symptoms

The following are the symptoms of the screen resolution buffer issue with Wine games on Linux kernel 5.15 old laptops:

• Automatically changing screen resolution when running Wine games
• Inability to set the desired screen resolution manually
• Poor game performance due to resolution changes

Cause

The exact cause of this issue is not clear, but it is believed to be related to the interaction between the Linux kernel, Wine, and the specific graphics driver being used.

Solution

To accept the default screen resolution when running Wine games on Linux kernel 5.15 old laptops, follow these steps:

1. Open the terminal application.
2. Type the following command and press Enter:
echo 'option "dwm_driver" "vesa"' | sudo tee /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/20-intel.conf

This command sets the graphics driver to VESA, which is known to work well with Wine and does not change the screen resolution.

3. Restart the computer.
4. Install Wine, if not already installed. Run the following command and press Enter:
sudo apt install wine
5. Run the Wine game, and the default screen resolution should be accepted.

Alternative

An alternative solution is to use a different graphics driver that does not change the screen resolution when running Wine games. Some users have reported success with the Gallium3D driver.

To install the Gallium3D driver, follow these steps:

1. Add the PPA repository:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/ppa
2. Update the package index:
sudo apt update
3. Install the Gallium3D driver:
sudo apt install gallium0.4-mesa-dri gallium0.4-mesa-dri-lts gallium0.4-mesa-dri-vdpau
4. Run the Wine game, and the default screen resolution should be accepted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the screen resolution buffer issue with Wine games on Linux kernel 5.15 old laptops can be resolved by setting the graphics driver to VESA or installing the Gallium3D driver. By following the steps outlined in this article, users should be able to accept the default screen resolution when running Wine games, ensuring better performance and a more enjoyable gaming experience.