you can't even get X on them properly as the panel's native resolution isn't one of the ones the BIOS knows about.

What? That sentence sounds like one of those random strings of computer terms you hear in TV shows.

XFree86 can display basically any timing you want it to. This is potentially constrained by the graphics chip, but you know the graphics chip can put out the right timing, as it works under Windows. Of course, maybe you mean that there's no XFree86 driver for that graphics chip and you're forced to use VESA mode and none of those modes fit right, but I doubt that's the case. There are very few graphics chips on new computers and I doubt that any are unsupported that badly.

I know I'm coming off like a jerk here, but I can't figure out how to put it differently. Maybe I'm just totally misunderstanding what you're saying.