Single graphics card, dual monitors with separate screens

mattca · 08-31-2009, 12:04 PM

Hi all, I've acquired another monitor to use with my work laptop, and I'd like some advice on setting it up. Right now it works with one large desktop spread out over both monitors.. but I'd like each to have their own separate screens and desktops. I'm just not sure if this is possible with my hardware configuration. Here is what lshw has to say about my graphics configuration:

Code:

        *-display:0 UNCLAIMED
             description: VGA compatible controller
             product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: memory:fc000000-fc0fffff memory:d0000000-dfffffff(prefetchable) ioport:1800(size=8)
        *-display:1 UNCLAIMED
             description: Display controller
             product: Mobile GM965/GL960 Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.1
             version: 03
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
             resources: memory:fc100000-fc1fffff

Any advice?

orb · 09-01-2009, 12:13 PM

I don't have an answer right off hand, but perhaps these links may help you:

http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/HOWTO_Dual_Monitors

http://www.debianhelp.org/node/3824

http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.p...er=asc&start=0

Quakeboy02 · 09-01-2009, 12:43 PM

I have two monitors and have it configured as two separate screens, though there's only one logon. If it's any help, here's a copy of my xorg.conf. I have an Nvidia card and used the nvidia-settings program to configure it.

Code:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder63)  Thu Apr 16 19:37:21 PDT 2009


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
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      "PTW PL916s"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 80.0
    VertRefresh     60.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Envision H1981"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 76.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9400 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:2:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 9400 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:2:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "TwinViewXineramaInfoOrder" "CRT-0"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT-0: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT-0: 1024x768_70 +0+0; CRT-0: 800x600 +0+0; CRT-0: 640x480 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "TwinView" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT-1: 1024x768 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

mattca · 09-02-2009, 06:00 PM

Thanks for the hints.. I got it more or less working via xrandr. When I startx it spreads my desktop over both monitors. Then I turn one off, and back on with the --right-of option, and it's laid out the way I want (two separate screens). The only thing is that the larger monitor has a blank strip on the one side, and I think the refresh rate is off too.. when I type in an xterm it leaves a trail behind the cursor (I use transparency). I can live with that, but it would be nice if it worked properly.

Also, I have to issue the xrandr commands each time I startx.. I can do pretty much the same thing with my xorg.conf, right?