xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.12-1build2 does not know how to read video modes of a HDMI connected display

[juj]

STR:

1. On a system with GTX 980 Ti graphics card, perform a clean install of Linux Mint 18. Connect a 1920x1080 pixels resolution display via HDMI to PC throughout the installation.

Observed:

After booting to desktop, the system boots up in 1024x768 pixels resolution, and not in 1920x1080 which is the native resolution of the display. Looking in Driver Manager, the active display driver is

xserver-xorg-video-nouveau (open-source)
Version: 1:1.0.12-1build2
X.Org X server -- Nouveau display driver

Going to the 'Display' tool and attempting to change resolution gives only two non-native options 1024x768 and 800x600, but not the 1920x1080 that is the native resolution of the display.

Expected:

My understanding is that display devices connected via HDMI are able to post the display resolutions that they support back to the PC. Even if a "stock" non-3D-accelerated generic vga driver is used and not the nvidia blob ones, it should still be possible to choose a 1920x1080 pixels display resolution to use.

[juj (jujjyl)]

The display that was connected in this test was a Asus VG278H, which is a native 120hz 1920x1080 display. (capable of 60hz 1920x1080 as well)

[juj (jujjyl)]

Also occurs when attempting to install Ubuntu 16.04 RTM.