LinuxQuestions.org - need help with dual monitor setup

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need help with dual monitor setup

mandriva le 2005
geforce fx 5200 card
samsung syncmaster 955df (main)
hp a4033a (second)

samsung looks fine, hp is nothing but colored frazz. have tried various refresh
rates/resolutions in hopes of finding something comfortable for both monitors but
nothing worked. also tried setting each as default. no luck. config file seems to
only reference one monitor. i've googled and seen reference to a 'twinview'
setting for nv cards but this is not in my config and i'm not sure if it's supported
here.

this setup is intended to be for a video editing station on which i'd like to play with
cinelerra. i use removable hard drives so this mandriva install is temporary, housed
on a spare drive until i get it all configured. until then i use wxp. when i have time for
playing with mandriva, i take out the wxp drive, put in the mandriva drive, and go.
i'm basically trying to replicate my wxp setup using mandriva. first step is getting the
monitors to look like the desktop i'm used to, editing app spread across both monitors.

i understand that xinerama may be something i may need. not sure if i should sort
out this frazzed second monitor first or set up xinerama first. xinerama does not
appear on any of my software sources in mcc. how do i proceed with this issue?
where is a good place to obtain an rpm for le 2005?

thanks,
BabaG

How are you setting up the dual monitors? xorgconfig? Through Mandriva Control Center? Ultimately, it matters on what is in your /etc/xorg.conf file. Maybe you can post just the monitor sections.

would configure through mcc if i knew how. here's the text of my xorg.conf file (edited down
to relevent parts i hope). thanks for taking an interest.

BabaG

Code:

# File generated by XFdrake.



Section "Monitor"

    Identifier "monitor1"

    VendorName "Samsung"

    ModelName "Samsung SyncMaster 955DF"

    HorizSync 30-85

    VertRefresh 50-160

    

    # TV fullscreen mode or DVD fullscreen output.

    # 768x576 @ 79 Hz, 50 kHz hsync

    ModeLine "768x576"    50.00  768  832  846 1000  576  590  595  630

    

    # 768x576 @ 100 Hz, 61.6 kHz hsync

    ModeLine "768x576"    63.07  768  800  960 1024  576  578  590  616

EndSection



Section "Device"

    Identifier "device1"

    VendorName "nVidia"

    BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce FX (generic)"

    Driver "nv"

    Option "DPMS"

EndSection



Section "Screen"

    Identifier "screen1"

    Device "device1"

    Monitor "monitor1"

    DefaultColorDepth 24

    

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 8

        Virtual 1280 1024

    EndSubsection

    

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 15

        Virtual 1280 1024

    EndSubsection

    

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 16

        Virtual 1280 1024

    EndSubsection

    

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 24

        Virtual 1280 1024

    EndSubsection

EndSection



Section "ServerLayout"

    Identifier "layout1"

    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"

    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"

    Screen "screen1"

EndSection

Re: need help with dual monitor setup

Quote:

Originally posted by babag
mandriva le 2005
geforce fx 5200 card
samsung syncmaster 955df (main)
hp a4033a (second)

samsung looks fine, hp is nothing but colored frazz. have tried various refresh
rates/resolutions in hopes of finding something comfortable for both monitors but
nothing worked. also tried setting each as default. no luck. config file seems to
only reference one monitor. i've googled and seen reference to a 'twinview'
setting for nv cards but this is not in my config and i'm not sure if it's supported
here.

this setup is intended to be for a video editing station on which i'd like to play with
cinelerra. i use removable hard drives so this mandriva install is temporary, housed
on a spare drive until i get it all configured. until then i use wxp. when i have time for
playing with mandriva, i take out the wxp drive, put in the mandriva drive, and go.
i'm basically trying to replicate my wxp setup using mandriva. first step is getting the
monitors to look like the desktop i'm used to, editing app spread across both monitors.

i understand that xinerama may be something i may need. not sure if i should sort
out this frazzed second monitor first or set up xinerama first. xinerama does not
appear on any of my software sources in mcc. how do i proceed with this issue?
where is a good place to obtain an rpm for le 2005?

thanks,
BabaG

Xinerama is installed by default. But you're going to have to figure out how to setup your xorg.conf file for dual monitors. It can sometimes be a real bear to get going. You'll need to have additional sections in your xorg.conf file to cover: monitor2, screen2, device2. I suggest that you start googling for info on setting up dual monitors with the type of graphics card you have. Don't know how well that card supports Linux. Some manufacturers provide Linux utilities to make configuring dual monitors alot easier than having to hand code the settings.

I've got dual monitors working under a number of different distros, but not with the graphics card you're using, so I can't be much help with specifics. Sorry.

The TwinView option belongs to the drivers provided by Nvidia, not to the "nv" drivers.

Hi, I'm trying to figure this out myself. I'm one step further, here it is... you have to install the nvidia drivers first (check out nvidia.com, download the thing and figure it out - killing the x server while installing as root etc - because there's a lot to write).
Then, edit the x.org file.
The line
Driver "nv"
from the Device section has to become
Driver "nvidia"
Then you'll see the logo when you boot, briefly. Follow the instructions from the nvidia readme and the 3d acceleration will work.
Still looking for the correct syntax for tv out. Nvidia's examples are incomplete.

Heres the part of my dual monitor configuraiton that matters:

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "VL1719"
DisplaySize 340 270
HorizSync 24.0 - 82.0
VertRefresh 55.0 - 77.0
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Videocard0"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "Videocard vendor"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500"
Option "TwinView"
Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"
Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "24.0 - 82.0"
Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "55.0 - 77.0"
Option "dpms"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Videocard0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
Modes "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection

This may help you, but sorry...I don't have a TV out card to help you with that problem.

uhm, but I think the TV works just like another monitor, or am I wrong?