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config.txt

The parameters available for the config.txt file will be listed in this wiki. Please note that you edit
this file at your own risk, and some settings may harm your device if used incorrectly. Warnings will
be listed where appropriate in the following text.
The config.txt file is a collection of property:value pairs. Unless otherwise stated, the first
parameter in each section is the default property. Its placed in /boot/config.txt
Details in this wiki have been adapted for easier reading from the works here:

http://elinux.org

/RPi_config.txt

Video Mode
sdtv_mode
Used to set the standard for composite output.
sdtv_mode=0
sdtv_mode=1
sdtv_mode=2
sdtv_mode=3

Normal NTSC
Japanese version of NTSC no pedestal
Normal PAL
Brazilian version of PAL

sdtv_aspect
The aspect ratio for composite output.
sdtv_aspect=1
sdtv_aspect=2
sdtv_aspect=3

4:3
14:9
16:9

sdtv_disable_colourburst
Disables colour burst on composite output. Although the picture will be monochrome, it may be
sharper.
sdtv_disable_colourburst=1

hdmi_safe
Use "safe mode" settings to try to boot with maximum hdmi compatibility.
hdmi_safe=1

This is the same as adding the following lines together:

hdmi_force_hotplug=1
config_hdmi_boost=4

hdmi_group=1
hdmi_mode=1
disable_overscan=0

hdmi_ignore_edid
Enables the ignoring of EDID/display data
hdmi_ignore_edid=0xa5000080

hdmi_force_edid_audio
Pretends all audio formats are supported by display, allowing passthrough of DTS/AC3 even when
not reported as supported.
hdmi_force_edid_audio=1

hdmi_ignore_cec
Pretends CEC is not supported by TV. Avoids bringing (CEC enabled) TV out of standby and
channel switch when rebooting.
hdmi_ignore_cec=1

hdmi_force_hotplug
Pretends HDMI hotplug signal is asserted so it appears a HDMI display is attached
hdmi_force_hotplug=1 Use HDMI mode even if no HDMI monitor is detected

hdmi_ignore_hotplug
Pretends HDMI hotplug signal is not asserted so it appears a HDMI display is not attached
hdmi_ignore_hotplug=1 Use composite mode even if HDMI monitor is detected

hdmi_drive
Chooses between HDMI and DVI modes. DVI mode will mean that sound is not transmitted though
HDMI. Normal mode will transmit sound if supported.
hdmi_drive= 1 Normal DVI mode
hdmi_drive= 2 Normal HDMI mode

hdmi_group
Defines the HDMI type. This is used by hdmi_mode . Not specifying the group, or setting to 0 will
use the preferred group reported by the edid.
hdmi_group=1
hdmi_group=2

CEA:

CEA
DMT

Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA-861B) refers to a CEA/EIA standard which consists of

display timing and formats supported by Digital Televisions
DMT:
Display Monitor Timings (DMT) are a list of VESA standard pre-defined timings which are
commonly used within the Computer industry.

hdmi_mode
Defines screen resolution in CEA or DMT format. The following options are supported:
hdmi_group=1

(CEA):

hdmi_mode=1
hdmi_mode=2
hdmi_mode=3
hdmi_mode=4
hdmi_mode=5
hdmi_mode=6
hdmi_mode=7
hdmi_mode=8
hdmi_mode=9
hdmi_mode=10
hdmi_mode=11
hdmi_mode=12
hdmi_mode=13
hdmi_mode=14
hdmi_mode=15
hdmi_mode=16
hdmi_mode=17
hdmi_mode=18
hdmi_mode=19
hdmi_mode=20
hdmi_mode=21
hdmi_mode=22
hdmi_mode=23
hdmi_mode=24
hdmi_mode=25
hdmi_mode=26
hdmi_mode=27
hdmi_mode=28
hdmi_mode=29
hdmi_mode=30
hdmi_mode=31
hdmi_mode=32
hdmi_mode=33
hdmi_mode=34
hdmi_mode=35
hdmi_mode=36
hdmi_mode=37
hdmi_mode=38
hdmi_mode=39
hdmi_mode=40
hdmi_mode=41
hdmi_mode=42
hdmi_mode=43
hdmi_mode=44
hdmi_mode=45
hdmi_mode=46
hdmi_mode=47

VGA
480p
480p
720p
1080i
480i
480i
240p
240p
480i
480i
240p
240p
480p
480p
1080p
576p
576p
720p
1080i
576i
576i
288p
288p
576i
576i
288p
288p
576p
576p
1080p
1080p
1080p
1080p
480p
480p
576p
576p
1080i
1080i
720p
576p
576p
576i
576i
1080i
720p

60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
60Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
24Hz
25Hz
30Hz
60Hz
60Hz
50Hz
50Hz
50Hz
100Hz
100Hz
100Hz
100Hz
100Hz
100Hz
120Hz
120Hz

H
H
4x
4x H
4x
4x H
2x
2x H

H
H
4x
4x H
4x
4x H
2x
2x H

4x
4xH
4x
4x H
reduced blanking

H
H

hdmi_mode=48
hdmi_mode=49
hdmi_mode=50
hdmi_mode=51
hdmi_mode=52
hdmi_mode=53
hdmi_mode=54
hdmi_mode=55
hdmi_mode=56
hdmi_mode=57
hdmi_mode=58
hdmi_mode=59

480p
480p
480i
480i
576p
576p
576i
576i
480p
480p
480i
480i

120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
120Hz
200Hz
200Hz
200Hz
200Hz
240Hz
240Hz
240Hz
240Hz

H
H
H
H
H
H

Note:
H means 16:9 variant (of a normally 4:3 mode).
2x means pixel doubled (i.e. higher clock rate, with each pixel repeated twice)
4x means pixel quadrupled (i.e. higher clock rate, with each pixel repeated four times)

hdmi_group=2
hdmi_mode=1
hdmi_mode=2
hdmi_mode=3
hdmi_mode=4
hdmi_mode=5
hdmi_mode=6
hdmi_mode=7
hdmi_mode=8
hdmi_mode=9
hdmi_mode=10
hdmi_mode=11
hdmi_mode=12
hdmi_mode=13
hdmi_mode=14
hdmi_mode=15
hdmi_mode=16
hdmi_mode=17
hdmi_mode=18
hdmi_mode=19
hdmi_mode=20
hdmi_mode=21
hdmi_mode=22
hdmi_mode=23
hdmi_mode=24
hdmi_mode=25
hdmi_mode=26
hdmi_mode=27
hdmi_mode=28
hdmi_mode=29
hdmi_mode=30
hdmi_mode=31
hdmi_mode=32
hdmi_mode=33
hdmi_mode=34
hdmi_mode=35
hdmi_mode=36
hdmi_mode=37
hdmi_mode=38

(DMT):
640x350
640x400
720x400
640x480
640x480
640x480
640x480
800x600
800x600
800x600
800x600
800x600
800x600
848x480
1024x768
1024x768
1024x768
1024x768
1024x768
1024x768
1152x864
1280x768
1280x768
1280x768
1280x768
1280x768
1280x800
1280x800
1280x800
1280x800
1280x800
1280x960
1280x960
1280x960
1280x1024
1280x1024
1280x1024
1280x1024

85Hz
85Hz
85Hz
60Hz
72Hz
75Hz
85Hz
56Hz
60Hz
72Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz
60Hz
43Hz DO NOT USE
60Hz
70Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz
75Hz
reduced blanking
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced blanking
reduced blanking
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced blanking
60Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced blanking
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced blanking

hdmi_mode=39
hdmi_mode=40
hdmi_mode=41
hdmi_mode=42
hdmi_mode=43
hdmi_mode=44
hdmi_mode=45
hdmi_mode=46
hdmi_mode=47
hdmi_mode=48
hdmi_mode=49
hdmi_mode=50
hdmi_mode=51
hdmi_mode=52
hdmi_mode=53
hdmi_mode=54
hdmi_mode=55
hdmi_mode=56
hdmi_mode=57
hdmi_mode=58
hdmi_mode=59
hdmi_mode=60
hdmi_mode=61
hdmi_mode=62
hdmi_mode=63
hdmi_mode=64
hdmi_mode=65
hdmi_mode=66
hdmi_mode=67
hdmi_mode=68
hdmi_mode=69
hdmi_mode=70
hdmi_mode=71
hdmi_mode=72
hdmi_mode=73
hdmi_mode=74
hdmi_mode=75
hdmi_mode=76
hdmi_mode=77
hdmi_mode=78
hdmi_mode=79
hdmi_mode=80
hdmi_mode=81
hdmi_mode=82
hdmi_mode=83
hdmi_mode=84
hdmi_mode=85
hdmi_mode=86

1360x768
1360x768
1400x1050
1400x1050
1400x1050
1400x1050
1400x1050
1440x900
1440x900
1440x900
1440x900
1440x900
1600x1200
1600x1200
1600x1200
1600x1200
1600x1200
1600x1200
1680x1050
1680x1050
1680x1050
1680x1050
1680x1050
1792x1344
1792x1344
1792x1344
1856x1392
1856x1392
1856x1392
1920x1200
1920x1200
1920x1200
1920x1200
1920x1200
1920x1440
1920x1440
1920x1440
2560x1600
2560x1600
2560x1600
2560x1600
2560x1600
1366x768
1080p
1600x900
2048x1152
720p
1366x768

60Hz
120Hz reduced
reduced
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
reduced
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
60Hz
65Hz
70Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
reduced
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
60Hz
75Hz
120Hz reduced
60Hz
75Hz
120Hz reduced
reduced
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
60Hz
75Hz
120Hz reduced
reduced
60Hz
75Hz
85Hz
120Hz reduced
60Hz
60Hz
reduced
reduced
60Hz
reduced

overscan_left
Number of pixels to skip on left.

overscan_right
Number of pixels to skip on right

overscan_top
Number of pixels to skip on top

blanking
blanking

blanking
blanking

blanking

blanking
blanking

blanking

blanking

blanking
blanking

blanking

blanking
blanking

blanking

blanking
blanking
blanking

overscan_bottom
Number of pixels to skip on bottom

framebuffer_width
Console framebuffer width in pixels. Default is display width minus overscan.

framebuffer_height
Console framebuffer height in pixels. Default is display height minus overscan.

framebuffer_depth
Console framebuffer depth in bits per pixel. Default is 16. 8bit is valid, but default RGB palette
makes an unreadable screen. 24bit looks better but has corruption issues as of 20120615. 32bit
has no corruption issues but needs framebuffer_ignore_alpha=1 and shows the wrong colors as of
20120615.

framebuffer_ignore_alpha
Set to 1 to disable alpha channel. Helps with 32bit.

test_mode
Enable test sound/image during boot for manufacturing test.

disable_l2cache
Disable arm access to GPU's L2 cache. Needs corresponding L2 disabled kernel. Default is 0.

disable_overscan
Set to 1 to disable overscan.

config_hdmi_boost
Configure the signal strength of the HDMI interface. Default is 0. Try 4 if you have interference
issues with hdmi. 7 is the maximum.
TODO: Overclocking options