matrox dualhead

gd2shoe · 06-28-2007, 12:56 AM

I'm trying get dualhead out of the matrox card that I have. So far, I can only access the primary display. What am I doing wrong?

I am not yet interested in xinerama (the two monitors I've got are different sizes). I don't think I will need acceleration. That would be secondary to getting both monitors. etc.

lspci line:

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Graphics, Inc. MGA G400/G450 (rev 04)

My current xorg.conf file:

Code:

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Generic Keyboard"
	Driver		"kbd"
	Option		"CoreKeyboard"
	Option		"XkbRules"	"xorg"
	Option		"XkbModel"	"pc104"
	Option		"XkbLayout"	"us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
	Identifier	"Configured Mouse"
	Driver		"mouse"
	Option		"CorePointer"
	Option		"Device"		"/dev/input/mice"
	Option		"Protocol"		"ImPS/2"
	Option		"Emulate3Buttons"	"true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Matrox 0"
	Driver		"mga"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
	Screen		0
EndSection

Section "Device"
	Identifier	"Matrox 1"
	Driver		"mga"
	BusID		"PCI:1:0:0"
	Screen		1
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Left Monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	28-64
	VertRefresh	43-60
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
	Identifier	"Right Monitor"
	Option		"DPMS"
	HorizSync	28-64
	VertRefresh	43-60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Left Screen"
	Device		"Matrox 0"
	Monitor		"Left Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
	Identifier	"Right Screen"
	Device		"Matrox 1"
	Monitor		"Right Monitor"
	DefaultDepth	24
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		8
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		15
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		16
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
	SubSection "Display"
		Depth		24
		Modes		"1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
	EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
	Identifier		"Default Layout"
	Screen 0		"Left Screen" 0 0
	Screen 1		"Right Screen" RightOf "Left Screen"
	InputDevice		"Generic Keyboard"
	InputDevice		"Configured Mouse"
EndSection

LightningCrash · 06-28-2007, 09:06 AM

Post up your Xorg log, let's see if it's throwing up any errors.

Are you using the driver from Matrox? (http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/co...atest/home.php)

IsaacKuo · 06-28-2007, 12:05 PM

That looks almost like my xorg.conf, except I use Xinerama. I have a very old Matrox dual head card, and I've found that it's fussy about what resolutions I use. I've tried it with 1024x768, 1600x1200, and 1400x1050 resolutions. It works with the standard 1024x768 and 1600x1200 resolutions. However, with 1400x1050 resolution only the "primary" screen worked properly--the "secondary" screen was a weird jumble of pixels.

I haven't tried 1280x960 resolution yet; it's also a "non-standard" resolution (grrr....it SHOULD be the standard, rather than that awful bastard 1280x1024 resolution). Try using 1024x768 resolution, and see if that helps any. Also, try reducing the color depth to 16bit to see if that helps. With my ancient card, I had to reduce the color depth to 16bit in order to get 1600x1200 resolution.

gd2shoe · 06-28-2007, 05:47 PM

Right now it looks like LightningCrash is right. The log file contains an error saying that I need mga_hal for multihead, available from www.matrox.com . I've now tried installing their driver, but it complains about my version of xorg. It seems they do not support xorg beyond version 7.0 . I am currently working with a fresh install of debian lenny running xorg version 7.2 . (I added the etch repository, and found that it contains 7.1) Their installer refuses to install, and their source (designed for 7.0) is giving me dependancy issues.

I think I may have to shelve this card until matrox updates their driver. I may have other cards available to me later today. I will probably need to do multi head through using multiple cards.

Thanks for the help, both of you.
If I don't post in this thread again, then I'll see you around on the forum!

IsaacKuo · 06-29-2007, 05:16 PM

For what it's worth, I tested my old Matrox dual head card at 1280x960. It worked just fine.