[SOLVED] Slackware and ATI video support?

mfoley · 02-24-2017, 07:00 PM

ReaperX7: perfectly logical advice. I'm more than ready to try. Since my last post I decided to start completely fresh: new motherboard (ASRock 970M Pro3), new CPU (AMD FX-8320E), 8G memory, clean installation of Slackware64 14.2, updated to the latest -- just to make sure I didn't have any drivers etc. lurking in the test platform I've been using. I have one of the RADEON FirePro cards installed.

As to step 1, here are my results -- not looking good so far:

Code:

root@mark:~# Xorg -configure

X.Org X Server 1.18.3
Release Date: 2016-04-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Slackware 14.2 Slackware Linux Project
Current Operating System: Linux mark 4.4.38 #2 SMP Sun Dec 11 16:18:36 CST 2016 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=Linux ro root=802 vt.default_utf8=0
Build Date: 15 April 2016  11:05:21AM

Current version of pixman: 0.34.0
        Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
        to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
        (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Fri Feb 24 19:52:25 2017
List of video drivers:
        dummy
        rendition
        mach64
        siliconmotion
        ast
        tga
        voodoo
        tdfx
        i128
        ati
        openchrome
        cirrus
        sis
        glint
        v4l
        xgi
        neomagic
        ark
        savage
        s3
        vmware
        sisusb
        xgixp
        nv
        r128
        amdgpu
        chips
        tseng
        apm
        radeon
        mga
        nouveau
        s3virge
        i740
        intel
        trident
        vesa
        modesetting
(II) [KMS] Kernel modesetting enabled.
(II) [KMS] Kernel modesetting enabled.
No devices to configure.  Configuration failed.
(EE) Server terminated with error (2). Closing log file.

No xorg.conf.new created.

lspc:

Code:

03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV620 [FirePro 2450]
04:00.0 Display controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] RV620 [FirePro 2450]

Xorg.0.log is rather lengthy: http://www.novatec-inc.com/pub/Xorg.0.log.txt

What now?

RadicalDreamer · 02-24-2017, 09:46 PM

Wouldn't it be easier to get a newish computer with a 600+ power supply and a 1070 gtx?

mfoley · 02-24-2017, 11:11 PM

This is a new computer! Except for the FirePro card. I do have new NVIDIA card(s). ReaperX7 suggested trying the FirePro first, so that's where I'm at. I have a new 400W supply standing by if any of these trials indicate a power issue. As another test, I'll try running the Xorg -configure with the. NVIDIA, but I'm skeptical that will make a difference.

mfoley · 02-25-2017, 12:07 AM

OK, retried ReaperX7's suggestion using the NVIDIA card. This time I did get an xorg.conf.new file:

lspci:

Code:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GT218 [GeForce 210] (rev a2)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

Code:

root@mark:~# Xorg -configure

X.Org X Server 1.18.3
Release Date: 2016-04-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Slackware 14.2 Slackware Linux Project
Current Operating System: Linux mark 4.4.38 #2 SMP Sun Dec 11 16:18:36 CST 2016 x86_64
Kernel command line: auto BOOT_IMAGE=Linux ro root=802 vt.default_utf8=0
Build Date: 15 April 2016  11:05:21AM

Current version of pixman: 0.34.0
        Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
        to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
        (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
        (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sat Feb 25 01:02:13 2017
List of video drivers:
        dummy
        rendition
        mach64
        siliconmotion
        ast
        tga
        voodoo
        tdfx
        i128
        ati
        openchrome
        cirrus
        sis
        glint
        v4l
        xgi
        neomagic
        ark
        savage
        s3
        vmware
        sisusb
        xgixp
        nv
        r128
        amdgpu
        chips
        tseng
        apm
        radeon
        mga
        nouveau
        s3virge
        i740
        intel
        trident
        vesa
        modesetting
(++) Using config file: "/root/xorg.conf.new"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Number of created screens does not match number of detected devices.
  Configuration failed.
(EE) Server terminated with error (2). Closing log file.

xorg.conf.new

Code:

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier     "X.org Configured"
        Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
        InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
        InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "Files"
        ModulePath   "/usr/lib64/xorg/modules"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/local"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/OTF"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/CID"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi"
        FontPath     "/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic"
EndSection

Section "Module"
        Load  "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Keyboard0"
        Driver      "kbd"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
        Identifier  "Mouse0"
        Driver      "mouse"
        Option      "Protocol" "auto"
        Option      "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
        Option      "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
        Identifier   "Monitor0"
        VendorName   "Monitor Vendor"
        ModelName    "Monitor Model"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        ### Available Driver options are:-
        ### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
        ### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz",
        ### <percent>: "<f>%"
        ### [arg]: arg optional
        #Option     "SWcursor"                  # [<bool>]
        #Option     "HWcursor"                  # [<bool>]
        #Option     "NoAccel"                   # [<bool>]
        #Option     "ShadowFB"                  # [<bool>]
        #Option     "UseFBDev"                  # [<bool>]
        #Option     "Rotate"                    # [<str>]
        #Option     "VideoKey"                  # <i>
        #Option     "FlatPanel"                 # [<bool>]
        #Option     "FPDither"                  # [<bool>]
        #Option     "CrtcNumber"                # <i>
        #Option     "FPScale"                   # [<bool>]
        #Option     "FPTweak"                   # <i>
        #Option     "DualHead"                  # [<bool>]
        Identifier  "Card0"
        Driver      "nv"
        BusID       "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "Screen0"
        Device     "Card0"
        Monitor    "Monitor0"
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     1
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     4
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     8
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     15
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     16
        EndSubSection
        SubSection "Display"
                Viewport   0 0
                Depth     24
        EndSubSection
EndSection

Even so, I got an error when I ran it so I'm hesitant to copy it over to /etc/X11/xorg.conf (or should it be /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d?), but in any case, I'm out of time today.

With the NVIDIA card, the DVI connection is required. That's where the BIOS/Boot and Slackware boot screen show up. The VGA or HDMI are the alternate monitors.

What next? I'll try copying the xorg.conf.new file over, just to see what happens. Should I try RadicalDreamer's nvidia driver suggestion: http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html? Tweak the xorg.conf?

Have any of you actually gotten more than 2 monitors working with Slackware?

mfoley · 02-25-2017, 10:03 PM

More info ...

First of all, I misstated something in my previous post. For the EVGA GeForce 210 (NVIDIA) card, the HDMI port is required for more than one monitor. A second monitor can be plugged into the VGA or presumably the HDMI (haven't tried that). The VGA (or DVI) can be used alone if nothing is plugged into the HDMI port. So, that works so far. I have 2 monitors, per normal on all Slackware systems I've used.

I've now plugged in the 2nd GeForce card, lspci:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GT218 [GeForce 210] (rev a2)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GT218 [GeForce 210] (rev a2)
02:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

but, no monitors work on this 2nd card. KDE > System Settings > Displays show only the 2 monitors for the 1st card.

The 2nd card is recognized by the OS according to lspci. Now, can I enable this card to work?

RadicalDreamer · 02-26-2017, 10:46 PM

I don't know if that legacy nvidia driver comes with it but there is an application in the new ones at least called nvidia-settings which can be used to configure monitors with nvidia cards. It picked up my two monitors (one hooked up via DVI, the other HDMI). I don't have monitors to spare to try the other plugs to see if it does more than 2 but I suspect it does.
http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...ppendix-t.html
http://www.nvidia.in/object/sli-tech...onitor-in.html

You might want to ask nvidia forum:
https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/t...busid-change-/
https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/board/98/linux/

mfoley · 02-27-2017, 11:19 PM

RadicalDreamer: I do have 2 monitors working. In fact I've set up multiple dual-monitor Slackware systems in the past. This one was a bit tricky because the new EVGA GeForce 210 card would run any single monitor through any of the VGA, HDMI or DVI ports, but to run dual-monitors the HDMI port had to be one of them. Unfortunately, I finally determined, with the help of computer store technicians, that this card will simply not work with an HDMI to VGA adapter. After trying various cabling/adapter experiments, the solution was to get a different card. The EVGA GeForce 730 has no such problem, so I bought a 2nd such card and that's what I'm running with now. Dual-monitors both at the command line and with KDE work just fine, but nothing shows on any monitor connected to the 2nd card -- which is recognized. Here's my lspci:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 730] (rev a1)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 730] (rev a1)
02:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

I now have new everything: ASRock 970M Pro3 motherboard, AMD FX-8320E, 8G memory and the GeForce 730 video cards. Slackware is scratch installed and up-to-date, and it is a test system so I can screw-up and reinstall to my hearts content. At least Darth Vader can't complain I'm running on outdated gear. However, we've not demonstrated he is wrong in his assertion that Slackware can't do 4 monitors.

I've been searching the web for weeks on this -- months if I include my efforts with USB/VGA dongles -- and have turned up plenty of claims for 4 monitors for other distros, but in fact nothing so far for Slackware. This is an LQ post from 2014 for 3+ monitors for Slackware, with comments by ReaperX7:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...rs-4175526702/, but the thread trails off with the OP not saying how it worked out. Whenever I ask the question in this or any other site, "who has more than 2 monitors running with Slackware?", I get zero response. Could Darth Vader be right after all?

Yet, at the kernel/hardware level, I don't imagine there is much if any difference between Slackware and other distros, so if Ubuntu can do it I don't see why Slackware cannot. So, I will check out your suggested links and see if I can make any progress. If so, a howto needs to be created!

Thanks

MikelN · 02-27-2017, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenFireFly

It is possible the card may be bad.(When you boot up with the new card do you see the bios on the screen? If you can see the bios then the card should be working.) If your not sure you try the card on another system to make sure that the card works.

AMD cards , at least the ones I had, don't show a video BIOS at boot.

RadicalDreamer · 02-28-2017, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfoley

RadicalDreamer: I do have 2 monitors working. In fact I've set up multiple dual-monitor Slackware systems in the past. This one was a bit tricky because the new EVGA GeForce 210 card would run any single monitor through any of the VGA, HDMI or DVI ports, but to run dual-monitors the HDMI port had to be one of them. Unfortunately, I finally determined, with the help of computer store technicians, that this card will simply not work with an HDMI to VGA adapter. After trying various cabling/adapter experiments, the solution was to get a different card. The EVGA GeForce 730 has no such problem, so I bought a 2nd such card and that's what I'm running with now. Dual-monitors both at the command line and with KDE work just fine, but nothing shows on any monitor connected to the 2nd card -- which is recognized. Here's my lspci:

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 730] (rev a1)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 [GeForce GT 730] (rev a1)
02:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF108 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

I now have new everything: ASRock 970M Pro3 motherboard, AMD FX-8320E, 8G memory and the GeForce 730 video cards. Slackware is scratch installed and up-to-date, and it is a test system so I can screw-up and reinstall to my hearts content. At least Darth Vader can't complain I'm running on outdated gear. However, we've not demonstrated he is wrong in his assertion that Slackware can't do 4 monitors.

I've been searching the web for weeks on this -- months if I include my efforts with USB/VGA dongles -- and have turned up plenty of claims for 4 monitors for other distros, but in fact nothing so far for Slackware. This is an LQ post from 2014 for 3+ monitors for Slackware, with comments by ReaperX7:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...rs-4175526702/, but the thread trails off with the OP not saying how it worked out. Whenever I ask the question in this or any other site, "who has more than 2 monitors running with Slackware?", I get zero response. Could Darth Vader be right after all?

Yet, at the kernel/hardware level, I don't imagine there is much if any difference between Slackware and other distros, so if Ubuntu can do it I don't see why Slackware cannot. So, I will check out your suggested links and see if I can make any progress. If so, a howto needs to be created!

Thanks

Darth Vader is complaining about legacy amd cards not working on the new xorg (because amd was too lazy to rebuild them for the new xorg). Don't buy amd cards for linux. Are you using the latest nvidia drivers? Have you tried nvidia-settings program that comes with it (run as root to create a xorg config with it)? What GPUs does it pick up?
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications

If the nvidia driver doesn't work then I don't know what to say. You'll probably have to create two screens, one for each graphics card with nvidia-settings. The GT 730 has different max resolutions for vga and hdmi.

mfoley · 02-28-2017, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RadicalDreamer

Darth Vader is complaining about legacy amd cards not working on the new xorg (because amd was too lazy to rebuild them for the new xorg). Don't buy amd cards for linux.

I had bought 2 FirePro cards (AMD/ATI) which supported 4 monitors each, but they didn't work. As I mentioned, I've since bought 2 geForce 730, NVIDIA cards.

Quote:

Are you using the latest nvidia drivers? Have you tried nvidia-settings program that comes with it (run as root to create a xorg config with it)? What GPUs does it pick up?
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications

Iv'e installed the latest stable NVIDIA driver from here: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/drive...x/114708/en-us. It has the effect of showing nothing at all on the 2nd screen during the boot process (the Nouveau driver would begin showing things on the 2nd screen when the system shifted video modes and the font appearance "shrunk"). The NVIDIA driver did cause the 2nd screen to fire up when entering init 4 and showing the KDE desktop. However, nothing on the monitor connected to the 2nd video card, so basically nothing new. The NVIDIA installation program did create an xorg.conf, which I'll post below.

Quote:

If the nvidia driver doesn't work then I don't know what to say. You'll probably have to create two screens, one for each graphics card with nvidia-settings. The GT 730 has different max resolutions for vga and hdmi.

My next experiment will be to muck about with the NVIDIA generated xorg.conf -- of which I am perfectly ignorant as to anything in this file. I'll experiment and try things. If there are any suggestions, please let me know.

My xorg.conf - created by the NVIDIA installation program:

Code:

# generated by nvidia-installer
blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0
root@mark:~#
Broadcast message from root@mark (Tue Feb 28 11:14:53 2017):

The system is going down for reboot NOW!
login as: mfoley
mfoley@192.168.0.72's password:
Last login: Tue Feb 28 11:10:33 2017 from 192.168.0.66
Linux 4.4.38.
mfoley@mark:~$ su -
Password authentication bypassed.
root@mark:~# cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
# nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig
# nvidia-xconfig:  version 375.39  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-09)  Tue Jan 31 20:47:44 PST 2017

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/misc/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
    FontPath        "/usr/lib64/X11/fonts/TTF/"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Unknown"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

A point of puzzlement: this xorg.conf appears to only show one monitor and/or screen, yet I definiately have two? Hmmm ... I have a lot to figure out.

xrandr shows:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 2304 x 1024, maximum 16384 x 16384
DVI-I-0 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
VGA-0 connected primary 1280x1024+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 338mm x 270mm
   1280x1024     60.02*+  75.02
   1280x960      60.00
   1152x864      75.00
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25
   640x480       75.00    72.81    59.94
DVI-I-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-0 connected 1024x768+1280+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 304mm x 228mm
   1024x768      60.00*+  75.03    70.07
   1280x720      60.00    59.94    50.00
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25
   720x480       59.94
   640x480       75.00    72.81    59.94

So that's new. I can't really tell if this is showing both cards or not (why are there 2 DVIs listed). I do have the VGA connected and a VGA connected to the HDMI. Nothing is connected to the DVI. When I do have the DVI connected (i.e. a monitor on all three of the card's ports), I get:

Code:

Screen 0: minimum 8 x 8, current 2640 x 1024, maximum 16384 x 16384
DVI-I-0 connected primary 1360x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 410mm x 230mm
   1360x768      60.02*+
   1024x768      60.00
   800x600       60.32    56.25
   640x480       59.94
VGA-0 connected 1280x1024+1360+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 338mm x 270mm
   1280x1024     60.02*+  75.02
   1280x960      60.00
   1152x864      75.00
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25
   640x480       75.00    72.81    59.94
DVI-I-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-0 connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1024x768      60.00 +  75.03    70.07
   1280x720      60.00    59.94    50.00
   800x600       75.00    72.19    60.32    56.25
   720x480       59.94
   640x480       75.00    72.81    59.94

Is it possible to do anything with xrandr?

BTW - I've also read about something called Xinerama which supposedly is "an extension to the X Window System that enables X applications and window managers to use two or more physical displays as one large virtual display." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinerama. Perhaps that should be my next test, although I've found various websites that either tell you what it is, or assume you know all about it, but not much in the way of how to install/configure. But ... that's for next time. I'll play with xorg.conf first.

RadicalDreamer · 02-28-2017, 01:13 PM

I have never bothered with getting my second screen to work outside X.

Start kde.
Open a console:
Type nvidia-settings

Its a nice GUI program that takes care of things for you. If that doesn't work then I don't know. You can set it up like you like with it. You have to configure it through that program if it is configurable at all with nvidia drivers. Then once you get it like you like it you can save an xorg.conf.

What does it show for GPUs and Screens in nvidia-settings program? Also the specification lists VGA has having a lower max resolution limit than HDMI/DVI so not sure how that affects your setup.

See at near bottom of page the screen shots
http://www.yolinux.com/TUTORIALS/Lin...lMonitors.html

X Server Display Configuration is where you configure your displays, setting position like first display Position 0+0, second display position +1920+0. Resolution for each display can be setup. Configuration: X screen 0, and then you might need to create screen 1 for the other card using the drop down menu. You may have to lower the resolutions of the monitors to keep the total resolution in bounds.
"Multi Monitor 2 Displays 3 Displays 3 Displays
Maximum Digital Resolution 3840x2160* 3840x2160* 3840x2160*
Maximum VGA Resolution 2048x1536 2048x1536 2048x1536"
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desk...specifications

GPU 0 = Is the GPU and DFP-0 and DFP-1 under it are the displays connected to it. You are in business if nvidia-settings is picking up your hardware.

mfoley · 03-01-2017, 01:12 AM

RadicalDreamer: Progress! I have 2 monitors connected to one video card and 1 (so far) monitor connected to the other. I used The nvidia-settings program, "X Server Display Configuration", to enable the monitor on the 2nd video card as X Screen 1. I'll post a screen shot when I get some other things straightened out.

I have some issues:

1. I have a VIZIO TV screen (soon to be replaced by a real monitor) and an Acer monitor configured as displays on the first video card on X Screen 0; the Acer to the right of the VIZIO. I have DELL monitor connected on to the 2nd video card on X screen 1; this screen is physically to the left of the other two.

Problem: the VIZIO and Acer act as one big monitor. This means that the login prompt is split between the two windows; the bottom panel is also split, in fact any program I run that wants to center itself on the display ends up split between the 2 monitors. Is there a way to fix that? Essentially, I'd like it to work as with the dual-monitor system and these monitors are independent screens, not one big screen. (btw - I'm probably using the terms "monitor", "screen", "windows" and "display" incorrectly with respect to X usage - I'll sort that out eventually).

2. I can move my mouse to the DELL on video card 2, and run programs there, but I cannot drag an open window from one of the other monitors there. For example I cannot drag a FireFox browser window from the Acer to the Dell. Is there a way to fix that?

3. Possibly not a big deal, but the KDE > System Settings > Display Settings, only shows the 2 monitors connected to the 1st video card. The Dell is not there, even though I can use it (sort of, except for #2). Is this a KDE limitation?

Thanks for your help so far. 3 screens is serious progress, even if a bit short-sheeted at the moment.

ReaperX7 · 03-01-2017, 02:10 PM

Glad to hear it works.

Technically the nv driver should work with any Nvidia card on its support list, but most newer Nvidia cards will work with the nouveau and modesetting drivers just fine without the nvidia OEM driver.

For the monitors I would use the supplied nvidia-settings to set up everything.

mfoley · 03-01-2017, 02:34 PM

Thanks. Did use the nvidia-settings, but as I said, problem #1 is that both monitors on screen 0 act as one big monitor and therefore all KDE windows open spread across both monitors. I need to make them into separate screen. Perhaps there is a nvidia setting to do this, but I've not been able to find it. Do you have an idea?

RadicalDreamer · 03-01-2017, 03:09 PM

Did you run nvidia-settings as root and save to X configuration file, writing over the xorg.confg in X11 folder? Maybe if you post that xorg.conf file someone can help you here, or the nvidia forum.