I'm trying to setup a dual monitor display. It is a newer ATI card (ATI X550) but I don't want to install the ati drivers unless it is a last resort.

Can I use xinerama with the driver set as "vesa" (I want vesa because currently that is what xorg is using by default) to set this up, or do I need better drivers?

I ask because I attempted this today and it didn't work, and I'm wondering if I should keep poking around with it before I try something else?

Can I setup a dual monitor display (multihead) using vesa drivers?
(And I do realize I won't have 3d acceleration with vesa)

Thanks.

I don't think you can on the newest versions of xorg-x11 but older ones you should be fine. when i recently upgraded to X11R7 i found that the X server would no longer see my dual headed card as two devices. I used to prefer to configure each device as if they were seperate cards with their own screen and device sections and then join them at a ServerLayout level. but now that's not possible it seems, and i had to use the fglrx drivers with their internal dual headed configs. IF you can see them as seperate devices then you should be able to use whatever compatible drivers you want.