MacBook dual-screen setup w/ Dell 2407WFP - configuration problems

[~joe~]

Hello, I need some expert's assistance here.

First of all, don't ban me! I'm using Gentoo at the moment, but I came here because the Mac support seems much better, and anyway, this problem has almost nothing to do with the distro itself.

My MacBook has an Intel 810 card (not ATI), and I have gotten that part of it working, ie. the screen is in 1280x800 mode, and KDE runs well. My problem is that I'm trying to set up a dual-screen setup with my Dell 2407WFP screen. It's a DVI monitor, and it works great under OS X. I have very little experience with editing xorg.conf files, and the one that follows is one that I found somewhere that someone claimed worked for them on their MacBook (I can't confirm whether this was written for an ATI or an Intel GPU MacBook).


# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/X11/75dpi"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "i2c"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

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

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

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Synaptics Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
Option "SendCoreEvents" "true"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "i810"
Screen 0
Option "MonitorLayout" "CRT,LFP"
BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device1"
Driver "i810"
Screen 1
Option "MonitorLayout" "CRT,LFP"
BusID "PCI:0:2:0"
EndSection


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


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

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x800" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Secondary Screen"
Device "Device1"
Monitor "External Monitor"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768" "800x600"
EndSubSection
EndSection

#Section "ServerLayout"
# Identifier "Default Layout"
# Screen "Default Screen"
# InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
# InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
# InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
#EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Dual-monitor Layout"
Screen 0 "Default Screen"
Screen 1 "Secondary Screen" LeftOf "Default Screen"
# Option "Clone" "On"
#Option "Xinerama" "On"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection


When I try to use this file, the MacBook's screen works fine, but there is no signal sent to the Dell. One interesting thing to note, however, is that my mouse moves off the MacBook screen as if the screen actually did work, but just not accepting the signal.

If there's any more information that can be provided, I'd be glad to do so.

Thanks in advance,

Joe

[benanzo]

you might try displayconfig-gtk

Ubuntu users:
sudo apt-get install displayconfig-gtk

It has worked for others trying to get the external monitor working with the Intel GMA950 chips.

[~joe~]

Thanks so much for your reply, I'm now trying to get displayconfig to work (displayconfig-gtk is only available on Ubuntu for some strange reason). Anyway, now I have a different problem, the python script trys to load the xorgconfig module, which isn't on my system, and I can't find the bindings anywhere.

[Torajima]

I was having a similar problem (x-server would crash whenever I connected my macbook to second monitor).

What seemed to fix my problem was this:

I went to Synaptic Package Manager, and downloaded xserver-xorg-video-intel. This replaced the i810 driver that was already installed.

I restarted the x-server (control alt delete), and it found the monitor no problem! It's cloned, rather than an extended desktop, but at this point I'll take what I can get!

[~joe~]

>I went to Synaptic Package Manager, and downloaded xserver-xorg-video-intel. This replaced the i810 driver that was already installed.
Yes, I currently have the i810 driver installed. I just downloaded/compiled/installed it now, but nothing has changed. Would you mind posting your xorg.conf file for me? I'd be so grateful. :-)

>It's cloned, rather than an extended desktop, but at this point I'll take what I can get!
Yep, that's pretty well my feeling towards this situation at the moment. Anything to be able to take advantage of my huge 24" monitor!

[~joe~]

Ugh, I'm just about ready to give up. I've tried every possible setting in displayconfig, but the X server always crashes whenever I enable the secondary monitor (my external one). If anyone has a working xorg.conf on a MacBook with an Intel video card, please post it before I go insane!

[ivesjd]

Mine sorta works, it doesn't crash, but it is sorta garbled. If you still want it let me know.

[~joe~]

It would be much-appreciated; I'm willing to try just about anything at this point.

[ivesjd]

I haven't started to mess with my ext. monitor yet. I plan on doing it in a week or so. It doesn't crash when I plug it in but it is hard to read, scrolls sorta. Have also tried it on a projector to the same effect. I'm using a 19" Dell trinitron CRT.

***xorg.conf attached***

[~joe~]

Ooooh... you're using VGA, then? I've read that getting VGA out working on Mactels is considerably easier than getting DVI out to work. Anyway, I tried it, it didn't crash, but no signal was sent to the monitor when I plugged it in, even after an X server restart. :-( Thanks anyway.

[ivesjd]

I decided to try and tackle my ext. monitor tonight. Its a no go. When I pluged it in, it was all garbled. So I tried displayconfig-gtk to no avail. Then I tried the other drivers post a ways up on this thread. After a few confusing minutes, I was running again. But when I pluged my ext. monitor in, there was nothing. So I decided to restart X. That resulted in my macbook reboot, went through rEFIt but then was just a black screen, so I restarted, and my ext monitor worked. But my macbook was at 1600x1200, which makes it scroll, which is not alot of fun. So for me to enable my ext. monitor, I have to plug it in and reboot. And then when I dont want to use it I have to reboot again to get back to 1280x800.

[~joe~]

Well, you're even lucky in the sense that you get a signal to your monitor. With all my various attempts, I haven't been able to get so much as a single pixel to light up on my widescreen when in Linux. I've pretty much given up on it, and instead I've hauled out my old Linux server and have hooked it up via another input on my monitor. Maybe not the most elegant way of getting Linux, but if it's the only way to get it on my widescreen, I'll do it!

[ivesjd]

The main reason I'm trying to get it working is because from time to time I do use projectors here on campus, and I dont want to try and use it and not know how to get it to work, although, if worse comes to worse, I can just run OS X that day. :)
And I also have a pc that is running Ubuntu, though its hooked up to my TV right now. But that at least lets me know that nothing it wrong with the monitor. I am kinda thinking that the problems it with the sync rates as the picture just looks like its not syncing right.

[benanzo]

I noticed in the repos there's a package called i810switch that claims to automatically switch video output to external LCD/CRT.


Enables/disables video output to CRT/LCD on i810 video hardware
i810switch enables/disables the output to the CRT display and LCD,
depending on the i810 graphics controller hardware. Such hardware is found
on some laptops (eg, Sony Vaios, some Dell models, etc). Chipsets also
supported include i855, i830, i845.

This package includes the i810rotate script, which toggles the output
between three states: LCD only, LCD + CRT, and CRT only.


Someone here might find it useful if you've got a MacBook (not Pro).

[~joe~]

I noticed in the repos there's a package called i810switch that claims to automatically switch video output to external LCD/CRT.

Someone here might find it useful if you've got a MacBook (not Pro).
Doesn't work, unfortunately. When it is run, it gives out the following error message:
PCI id of i810 is not recognized

This is probably due to the fact that the MacBooks don't actually have the i810 card, they in fact have the i950 card, but everyone uses the i810 drivers. (Perhaps because there isn't a 950 driver?)

[edit] There isn't, but I discovered that an i945 driver exists for Linux. It probably can't be any worse than the i810, so I'm going to attempt installing this driver now.

[edit2] Drat, just found this:
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Graphics_Media_Accelerator_950
There is a Graphics driver for the Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family at Intels Support Site. This driver is just a snapshot of the Xorg/XFree86 driver.

[ivesjd]

Where are the i945 drivers? In the repos? I also tried i810 switcher but its not working for me yet either. Have some bigger issues with compiz fusion atm, like I can no longer boot :/

[~joe~]

I found the driver here (http://downloadcenter.intel.com/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=2301&OSFullName=Linux*&lang=eng&strOSs=39&submit=Go%21), but see my previous edit, it appears that this is just a snapshot of the i810 driver.

>Have some bigger issues with compiz fusion atm, like I can no longer boot
Well, everywhere I've read 3D acceleration is not supported when in dual-screen mode. Not that that makes much of a different in this case. :P

[ivesjd]

Ya, I dont want compiz for dual screen, just in general, it was kinda OT, but I am quite frusterated with it atm.