dual screen problems w/ Linux mint 19.3

clydep · 08-05-2020, 05:33 PM

Hello,

relatively new to working with hardware and Linux, I have a rather frustrating dilemma. I've been trying to get a dual monitor system working with my mint 19.3 system. I have one monitor hooked to the VGA port (working) and the other is going through the DP-1 port, but when I activate my system only one monitor activates and the other will go straight to a sleep mode as if it's receiving no input from the machine at all. When I use the "xrandr" command in the terminal it shows the specs of the VGA connected monitor, then: "DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)" then repeats this message for HDMI-1 & 2, and DP-2. How do I connect these?

mrmazda · 08-06-2020, 10:33 AM

IME this is not an unusual frustration with older GPUs. It may help to force enabling of your DisplayPort via kernel command line (append to linux line in grub, e at the menu as a test, permanently via /etc/default/grub) either video=DP-1:D or video=DP-1:e.

While in a normal session, try in an X terminal:

Code:

xrandr --output DP-1 --primary

Please paste here input/output wrapped in code tags ( # icon above input window) from:

Code:

xrandr
inxi -Gxx

clydep · 08-11-2020, 11:47 AM

@mrmazda,
Thank you for responding! My schedule is rather busy sorry for the delayed reply. I tried the changes recommended to no effect, I also ran the other commands with the following output:

Code:

peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ xrandr --output DP-1 --primary
peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ xrandr 
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1366 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-1 connected primary 1366x768+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 410mm x 230mm
   1366x768      59.79*+
   1024x768      75.03    60.00  
   800x600       75.00    60.32  
   640x480       75.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08  
DP-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ inxi -Gxx
Graphics:  Card: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
           bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0412
           Display Server: x11 (X.Org 1.19.6 )
           drivers: modesetting (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1366x768@59.79hz
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2)
           version: 4.5 Mesa 20.0.8 (compat-v: 3.0) Direct Render: Yes
peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ ^C
peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $

Also I've attached a screen shot of the grub file in the event that I edited the wrong file. If I did please let me know.

mrmazda · 08-11-2020, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clydep

Code:

peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ xrandr --output DP-1 --primary
peter@peter-OptiPlex-7020 ~ $ xrandr 
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1366 x 768, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-1 connected primary

This shows the first xrandr command had no effect.

If you turn on the PC with only a DisplayPort connection to one monitor, does it work?
If yes, what happens if you then connect the other monitor using the VGA connection?
Is your PC a Dell 7020? If yes, does it have more than one DisplayPort output, or any other output besides DisplayPort and VGA? If yes, can you try it?
Is your DisplayPort cable connected to a Dell display? If yes, what model? Does it have a firmware update available?
Does your PC have a firmware update available?
Are there PC BIOS setup video options you can try changing?
Can you try with a different distro's live media, such as openSUSE or Fedora or Mageia or Debian? Does any other distro work correctly?
Does your LG have a firmware update available? (edit/new)

clydep · 08-14-2020, 11:49 AM

@mrmazda
answers:
Q1- No doesn't work at all.
Q3- It is a Dell 7020 and it has a DP-2 I have tried both neither work. Only DP and VGA available. VGA is connected to the dell display the other display is an LG.

monitor info:

dell:
Model #: E1910Hc
S/N: CN-0D176P-64180-9BA-0SLS
Rev: A00
Power: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz 1.6A

LG:
Flatron L196WTQ -BF
Model #: L196WTQ
Power: 100-240V ~ 50/60Hz .8A

Q4- No the dell monitor is connected to the VGA, have tried connecting it to the DP ports, neither DP-1 or 2 respond.
Q5- To my knowledge it should be up to date, I usually run the command:
[CODE]
sudo apt full-upgrade
[CODE]
Q6- I tried searching for these not sure where to find them.
Q7- I'd need to make a whole partition and install those distros to test that. Starting to be not worth my trouble.

mrmazda · 08-14-2020, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clydep

Q7- I'd need to make a whole partition and install those distros to test that. Starting to be not worth my trouble.

Why do you think so? It needs to be determined whether this is a hardware problem, an X problem, or a Mint problem. Live media should suffice well enough to find out if the LG on DisplayPort can operate as expected. Based on the information you have presented so far, it or its firmware may be defective.

clydep · 08-14-2020, 07:43 PM

I don't think it's a hardware issue. Both monitors worked when I tested them with a laptop running linux 19.3, they would act as a 2nd monitor to the laptop monitor. As for Distro stuff I have a rather tight schedule that doesn't give me time to mess around. I simply need this working. Now. As for mint I think it's a matter of having the right things activated, it may be a driver problem as I was looking around in the linux mint forums and saw some related other posts showing driver issues.

mrmazda · 08-14-2020, 10:07 PM

I'm unable to produce similar failure with Mint 19.3 XFCE on similar Intel hardware (Haswell), though not a Dell PC:

Code:

# hwinfo --monitor
16: None 00.0: 10000 Monitor
...
  Model: "Lenovo L2251x Wide"
...
  Resolution: 1680x1050@60Hz
  Size: 474x296 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2011
...
17: None 01.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
...
  Model: "NEC EA243WM"
...
  Resolution: 1920x1200@60Hz
  Size: 519x324 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2011
...
18: None 02.0: 10002 LCD Monitor
...
  Model: "K272HUL"
...
  Resolution: 2560x1440@60Hz
  Size: 598x336 mm
  Year of Manufacture: 2018
...
# inxi -SGIxx
System:    Host: ab250 Kernel: 5.0.0-32-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.4.0 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.1 tk: Gtk 3.22.30
           info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 dm: startx Distro: Linux Mint 19.3 Tricia base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915 v: kernel
           bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0402
           Display: server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1: 1680x1050~60Hz
           2: 2560x1440~60Hz 3: 1920x1200~60Hz s-dpi: 96
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics (HSW GT1) v: 4.5 Mesa 20.0.8 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes
Info:      ...Bash v: 4.4.20 running in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.1.05
# xrandr --dpi 120 --output DP-1 --mode 2560x1440 --primary --output HDMI-3 --mode 1920x1200 --above DP-1 --output VGA-1 --mode 1680x1050 --above HDMI-3
# xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2560 x 3690, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-1 connected 1680x1050+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
   1680x1050     59.97*+
   1600x1000     60.01
   1280x1024     75.02    72.05    60.02
   1440x900      74.98    59.89
   1152x864      75.00
...
DP-1 connected 2560x1440+0+2250 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 598mm x 336mm
   2560x1440     59.95*+  74.92
   1920x1440     75.00
   1856x1392     75.00
   1920x1080     74.91    60.00    50.00    59.94
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    59.94
   1680x1050     59.95
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02
   1440x900      59.89
   1280x960      60.00
   1280x800      59.81
   1152x864      75.00
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94
...
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-3 connected 1920x1200+0+1050 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 519mm x 324mm
   1920x1200     59.95*+
   1920x1080     60.00    59.94
   1680x1050     59.88
   1400x1050     59.95
   1280x1024     60.02
   1440x900      59.90
   1280x960      60.00
   1280x800      59.91
   1280x720      60.00    59.94...

# inxi -Gxx
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: ASUSTeK driver: i915
           v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:0402
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1: 1680x1050~60Hz
           2: 2560x1440~60Hz s-dpi: 97
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics (HSW GT1) v: 4.5 Mesa 20.0.8 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes
# xrandr --output DP-1 --mode 2560x1440 --primary --output VGA-1 --mode 1680x1050 --right-of DP-1
# xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 4240 x 1440, maximum 8192 x 8192
VGA-1 connected 1680x1050+2560+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 474mm x 296mm
   1680x1050     59.97*+
   1600x1000     60.01
   1280x1024     75.02    72.05    60.02
   1440x900      74.98    59.89
   1152x864      75.00
...
DP-1 connected primary 2560x1440+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 598mm x 336mm
   2560x1440     59.95*+  74.92
   1920x1440     75.00
   1856x1392     75.00
   1920x1080     74.91    60.00    50.00    59.94
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    59.94
   1680x1050     59.95
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02
   1440x900      59.89
   1280x960      60.00
   1280x800      59.81
   1152x864      75.00
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94
...
HDMI-1 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
HDMI-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

Once upon a time I did have trouble with a Dell Optiplex 780 putting a Dell 2560x1080 into sleep mode via DisplayPort connection, but I don't remember the details, and cannot now reproduce by simply connecting those two. I do remember getting Dell to replace the display, but the replacement changed nothing. This in part is why I believe your problem might be firmware of either monitor (more likely) or motherboard (UEFI BIOS often have inexplicable quirks), not driver related.

That said, you could try switching from the modesetting DDX (not a separate package, included in the server) to the intel DDX (xserver-xorg-video-intel). If the latter isn't installed, switching to it should be a simple matter of installing the package and restarting X. All my Intel GPU's that the modesetting DDX supports are configured to use it, as it's technically the upstream default, and newer technology than the Intel-specific DDX.