ATI Big-Desktop

[Ziox]

Dual Monitor Support With Binary, ATI-Only Big-Desktop

The following HowTo attempts to enable Dual Monitor support by enabling the Big-Desktop function of the Ati-only binary graphics driver.

System Requirements:

ONE Dual-Output ATI graphics card
Functional Fglrx Driver.

The following guide explains how to install and enable the fglrx driver: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI

Let's get started!!!

Update: Instead of Manually editing the Xorg file, I've decided to attempt to write a HowTo based on the "aticonfig" tool. So, for about a week or so, I need individuals to try out this method and report the outcome. You can continue to post in this thread, or you can send me a private message to report the result. So, here goes nothing!

1. I know you have already saved a back of the xorg.conf file (you did, didn't you? ).:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.backup

2. Next, we want X to be using the fglrx driver, so:

sudo aticonfig --initial --overlay-type=Xv

3. Now that the xorg.conf is fit to be edited, enter the following commands:

sudo aticonfig --desktop-setup=horizontal --sync-vsync=on --add-pairmode=Width0xHeight0+Width1xHeight1

Here's what each command means:

--desktop-setup=horizontal

this command enables Big-Desktop, and places the two monitors next to each other (left-right orientation). Other arguments that could replace it are:

--desktop-setup=horizontal,reverse <= flips your screens.
--desktop-setup=vertical <=places your monitors in a up-down orientation.
--desktop-setup=vertical,reverse <=flips your screens.
--desktop-setup=clone
--desktop-setup=single

--sync-vsync=on

this command prevents tearing during 3D rendering.

--add-pairmode=Width0xHeight0+Width1xHeight1

this command tells X what are the resolutions for Monitor1+Monitor2.

4. Now, you can experiment with your monitors without restarting X. First, you need to see how X identifies your monitors:

sudo aticonfig --query-monitor

Then based on the information provided by the query monitor command, replace STRING in the following command:

sudo aticonfig --enable-monitor=STRING,STRING

The values of STRING should be one of these:

 none
crt1
crt2
lvds
tv
tmds1
tmds2

5. If the enable-monitor command works for you, then you need to add it to the config file:

sudo aticonfig --force-monitor=STRING,STRING

Again replace STRING with the values given by query-monitor.

5. Now restart X (ctrl+alt+backspace) or reboot your computer.

Note: the --enable-monitor command DOES NOT change your configuration file (xorg.conf). Therefore when you restart X or your computer, it may or may not work.

The following is how to manually configure Xorg.conf file. It will soon become obsolete (I just need more input from those who have test the previous method).

1. Open up Xorg.conf using ONE of the following commands:

Gnome (Ubuntu):

gksudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

KDE (Kubuntu):

kdesu kate /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Xfce4 (Xubuntu):

gksudo mousepad /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Command-Line Based:

sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf

2. This is about the simplest HowTo, simply copy the following lines to your "Device" Section:

Option "DesktopSetup"  "horizontal" #Enable Big Desktop
Option "Mode2"         "1280x1024" #Resolution for second monitor
Option "DesktopSetup" "LVDS,AUTO" #the types of monitors that is connected LVDS = LCD, CRT, AUTO
Option "EnablePrivateBackZ" "yes" #Enable 3d support <= May Not Work
Option "HSync2" "65" #This sets the horizontal sync for the secondary display. 
Option "VRefresh2" "60" #This sets the refresh rate of the secondary display.

3. Save the file, and kill X (ctrl+alt+backspace), or reboot.

Now dual monitor support should be enabled. If not, then please post your problems.

[Hasen_A]

Great guide, it works for me.

How do I configure which monitor is to the left and which is to the right? As of now, my DVI is standing to the right of my analog, yet the right TFT is configured to be the left one. I have to move my mouse cursor over the right edge of the desktop in order to get to the desktop of the left TFT.

Thanks in advance.
Andy

[footnote]

Change the appropriate line to:

Option "DesktopSetup" "horizontal,reverse"

I am using Gnome:

Can anyone tell me how to duplicate the gnome panel on the second monitor? ie. I want to be able to access menus etc from both screens.

Thanks

[vegardh]

Edit: erm, resolved, you just need to change the resolution to 2560x1024 under System->Preferences.

I have one problem with this and Gnome: After I log in, I can just see the pointer in the edge of the secondary screen, not move into it, so apparently the setup works, but something constraints the movement.

Has Gnome or Metacity some setting that affects this? On the login-screen, I can move the pointer on both screens, i.e. all OK there.

I'm on Dapper. The card is a 9600 Mobility.

My Device section, even though I doubt it has anything to do with it:

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "DesktopSetup" "horizontal"
Option "OverlayOnCRTC2" "1"
EndSection

[nedko]

Worked great for me. Is there a way to have maximize expand the window only on one of the screens - just like MergedFB does it? This is the only thing that i still have not figured out. Thanks

[msivanich]

Followed guide appeared to be working at the log in screen. It wasnt mirrioring the display but when I logged in it mirriored it. I got this to work on dapper. Im running 6.10

[ElSimo]

hi msivanich, I'm having the same problem in dapper as well. did you find anything to solve it?

[jenesuispasbavard]

My problem is that by default, when I open a new window in an already full desktop (for example one with a maximised browser window), it automatically opens it in the second monitor.
Is there any way I can force all windows to open in the first screen, even it's full?

Also, when I want to click a link, switch to another a window, or anything that has to do with a mouse pointer, I have to click slightly above where the button or link is. Any idea what the problem is? This happens only on the first screen (it's a laptop screen). On the second I can click where the buttons are.

Thanks,
Chirag

Dell Inspiron 600m
ATi Mobility Radeon 9000
First screen: laptop screen - XGA (max res. 1024x76
Second screen: NEC MultiSync E1100

[jdelo24]

Hi. I have a Dell Latitude D610 with Mobility Radeon M300. I also have an external monitor connected through DVI-D, a Dell 2007WFP; its native resolution is 1680x1050. I was able to have the Big-Desktop enabled. However, my 2007WFP only shows up to the resolution of the laptop screen which is 1400x1050. In other words, I have two 1"-wide black bars on each side of my 2007WFP. How can I expand this to fill the whole screen? Thanks. Great tutorial btw.

[talz13]

I was trying this out, got the second screen showing up, and saw the post about changing your resolution. However, both of my screens have different max vertical resolutions. My laptop has 1600x1200 and my LCD has 1680x1050. Is it possible to make these coexist?

Right now, the LCD only shows a square picture (4:3), and it doesn't fill the screen (like desktop panning, but it no longer pans)

I'm going to try switching my LCD section to 1280x1024 and see if that helps anything...