My xorg.conf

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "v4l"
EndSection
...
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse[3]"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "AccelFactor" "0.1"
Option "BottomEdge" "650"
Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "CircScrollDelta" "0.1"
Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
Option "CircularScrolling" "1"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "15"
Option "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "15"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "on"
Option "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75"
Option "FingerHigh" "15"
Option "FingerLow" "14"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "20"
Option "InputFashion" "Mouse"
Option "LeftEdge" "120"
Option "MaxSpeed" "1"
Option "MaxTapMove" "110"
Option "MaxTapTime" "180"
Option "MinSpeed" "0.2"
Option "Name" "ALPS;Touchpad"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "RightEdge" "830"
Option "SHMConfig" "on"
Option "TopEdge" "120"
Option "UpDownScrolling" "1"
Option "Vendor" "Sysp"
Option "VertScrollDelta" "20"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection
...
Section "Modes"
Identifier "Modes[0]"
ModeLine "1280x800" 75.2 1280 1476 1524 1536 800 805 808 812 -hsync -vsync
EndSection
...
Section "Monitor"
#Option "CalcAlgorithm" "XServerPool"
#DisplaySize 286 179
Identifier "Monitor[0]"
ModelName "1280X800@60HZ"
UseModes "Modes[0]"
HorizSync 28.0 - 110.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 90.0
Option "DPMS"
#VendorName "--> LCD"
EndSection
...
Section "Device"
Identifier "Device[0]"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVidia"
BoardName "GeForce Go 7400"
Option "IgnoreEDID"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "false"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
Option "RenderAccel" "true"
EndSection
....
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Device "Device[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x800"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Important are the following flags from the device section:

Option "IgnoreEDID"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "false"
Option "NoLogo" "true"
Option "RenderAccel" "true"

Otherwise, you'll get the 1024x768 resolution.

-- This is a really old post published originally on my blogspot blog