nVidia TwinView

[Ziox]

Dual Monitor With nVidia TwinView HowTo

The following HowTo attempts to enable Dual Monitor support by using the TwinView function of the nVidia binary graphics driver.

System Requirements:

A nVidia card with Dual output, whether it is VGA-DVI, VGA-VGA, or DVI-DVI.

Two Monitors (best if they are the same resolution, but different resolutions will work)

Installed and Working nVidia Binary graphics driver:

Use the following link to install and enable the binary driver:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Bi...erHowto/Nvidia

MAJOR (and Delayed) UPDATE:
NEW GRAPHICAL METHOD:
With the recent and awesome release of Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn, (almost) every nVidia card user's dream of dual monitors is just a few clicks away. LITERALLY!
Here's the basic breakdown:

For users of nVidia cards with driver 9.xxx, there is a GUI application installed to configure X.

To access the application, enter:

gksudo nvidia-settings

And configure to your heart's desire!

After all the configuration is done, make sure to save the configuration file.

And that's it! Enjoy!

OLD METHOD (AND ALMOST OBSOLETE):

1. Open Xorg.conf file by activating ONE of the following command (based on your distribution):

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. Next navigate to your "Device" Section, which should appear similar to the example shown below, the identifier and BusID WILL be different:

Section "Device"
    Identifier    "nVidia 7900"
    Driver        "nvidia"
    BusID        "PCI:1:5:0" 
EndSection

3. Add the following lines to that section:

Option "TwinView" "True"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"   
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "True"
Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"
Option "UseDisplayDevice" "string" #replace 'string' with either 'DFP' (Digital flat panel connected via DVI port), 'CRT' (any monitor that is connected via VGA ports), or 'TV'

These codes are the bare minimum for enabling TwinView. This should work most people, however, every system is configured differently, so use the following guide to add more options:

http://download.nvidia.com/solaris/1...ppendix-d.html

4. Save the file, and restarted X (ctrl+alt+backspace), or reboot.

You should now have TwinView . If not, then just post the problem's symptoms, along with your xorg.conf file.

Good Luck!

[bobo1on1]

Ok I'll go first, I have a geforce fx5500 with a widescreen tft connected to dvi and a television connected to the vga port with a homemade vga to scart converter (check here: http://www.nexusuk.org/projects/vga2scart/, lots of modelines at the bottom I need to use).
Both the tft and the television work in X.

Here's my device section:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "NVIDIA Corporation NV25 [GeForce4 Ti 4200]"
        Driver          "nvidia"
        BusID           "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "TwinView" "True"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False"
Option "MetaModes" "1440x900,720x480"
Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP" #replace 'string' with either 'DFP' (Digital fla$
EndSection

This doesn't work, I tried various configurations.
With the default xorg.conf only with added television resolutions I get a picture on the tft when the television is not connected, when I connect the tv and restart X I get a picture on the tv and no picture on the tft.

This is from my Xorg.log:

(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "TwinView" "True"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "MetaModes" "1440x900,720x480"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP"
(**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration
(**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID has been
(**) NVIDIA(0):     disabled on all display devices.
(**) NVIDIA(0): TwinView enabled
(II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is
(II) NVIDIA(0):     enabled.
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-1
(II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce FX 5500 at PCI:1:0:0
(--) NVIDIA(0): VideoRAM: 131072 kBytes
(--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 04.34.20.69.00
(II) NVIDIA(0): Detected AGP rate: 8X
(--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU
(--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce FX 5500 at PCI:1:0:0:
(--) NVIDIA(0):     CRT-1
(--) NVIDIA(0):     Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0)
(--) NVIDIA(0): CRT-1: 350.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(--) NVIDIA(0): Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0): 135.0 MHz maximum pixel clock
(--) NVIDIA(0): Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0): Internal Single Link TMDS
(II) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP" converted to "DFP-0".
(WW) NVIDIA(0): TwinView requested, but only 1 display devices found.
(II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Invalid display device in Mode Description "720x480"
(WW) NVIDIA(0): Not using mode description "720x480"; unable to map to display
(WW) NVIDIA(0):     device
(II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes:
(II) NVIDIA(0):     "1440x900,720x480"
(II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1440 x 900
(--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (89, 87); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config option
(--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp

[Ziox]

Originally Posted by bobo1on1 Ok I'll go first, I have a geforce fx5500 with a widescreen tft connected to dvi and a television connected to the vga port with a homemade vga to scart converter (check here: http://www.nexusuk.org/projects/vga2scart/, lots of modelines at the bottom I need to use). Both the tft and the television work in X. Here's my device section: Section "Device" Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV25 [GeForce4 Ti 4200]" Driver "nvidia" BusID "PCI:1:0:0" Option "TwinView" "True" Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf" Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False" Option "MetaModes" "1440x900,720x480" Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP" #replace 'string' with either 'DFP' (Digital fla$ EndSection This doesn't work, I tried various configurations. With the default xorg.conf only with added television resolutions I get a picture on the tft when the television is not connected, when I connect the tv and restart X I get a picture on the tv and no picture on the tft. This is from my Xorg.log: (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False" (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "TwinView" "True" (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf" (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "MetaModes" "1440x900,720x480" (**) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP" (**) NVIDIA(0): Enabling RENDER acceleration (**) NVIDIA(0): Using HorizSync/VertRefresh ranges from the EDID has been (**) NVIDIA(0): disabled on all display devices. (**) NVIDIA(0): TwinView enabled (II) NVIDIA(0): Support for GLX with the Damage and Composite X extensions is (II) NVIDIA(0): enabled. (WW) NVIDIA(0): Unable to read EDID for display device CRT-1 (II) NVIDIA(0): NVIDIA GPU GeForce FX 5500 at PCI:1:0:0 (--) NVIDIA(0): VideoRAM: 131072 kBytes (--) NVIDIA(0): VideoBIOS: 04.34.20.69.00 (II) NVIDIA(0): Detected AGP rate: 8X (--) NVIDIA(0): Interlaced video modes are supported on this GPU (--) NVIDIA(0): Connected display device(s) on GeForce FX 5500 at PCI:1:0:0: (--) NVIDIA(0): CRT-1 (--) NVIDIA(0): Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0) (--) NVIDIA(0): CRT-1: 350.0 MHz maximum pixel clock (--) NVIDIA(0): Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0): 135.0 MHz maximum pixel clock (--) NVIDIA(0): Nexgen MIRAI DML-519 (DFP-0): Internal Single Link TMDS (II) NVIDIA(0): Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP" converted to "DFP-0". (WW) NVIDIA(0): TwinView requested, but only 1 display devices found. (II) NVIDIA(0): Assigned Display Device: DFP-0 (WW) NVIDIA(0): Invalid display device in Mode Description "720x480" (WW) NVIDIA(0): Not using mode description "720x480"; unable to map to display (WW) NVIDIA(0): device (II) NVIDIA(0): Validated modes: (II) NVIDIA(0): "1440x900,720x480" (II) NVIDIA(0): Virtual screen size determined to be 1440 x 900 (--) NVIDIA(0): DPI set to (89, 87); computed from "UseEdidDpi" X config option (--) Depth 24 pixmap format is 32 bpp

Try adding this line to your device section:

Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP, CRT"

[bobo1on1]

Ok got it working now, here is the config in my xorg.conf:

Section "Device"
        Identifier      "NVIDIA Corporation NV25 [GeForce4 Ti 4200]"
        Driver          "nvidia"
        BusID           "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "TwinView" "True"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "LeftOf"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "False"
Option "MetaModes" "720x480,1440x900"
Option "UseDisplayDevice" "CRT,DFP"
EndSection

I had to switch the resolutions because twinview sees the vga as the primary monitor, I also had to change RightOf to LeftOf, otherwise the login screen showed up on the television.
Just one little bug, the Bookmarks menu from firefox doesn't show it's full height anymore, it seems it's size is adjusted to the 720x480 resolution.

[Webziz]

Looking for pointers here.

I'm trying to get my Samsung R32R72 32" HDTV to work alongside my Samsung LCD monitor. With my Radeon I managed to get some kind of signal to HDTV (@1024x76 at the same time as 1280x768 on my LCD.

Now, when the machine boots up, everything seems just nice on both the screens, but as soon as X starts up, tv goes blank, and lcd starts up just nicely.

I'm completely at loss. Tried some different MetaModes, but Ubuntu doesn't seem to care.

Random facts: Using edgy, AGP Nvidia Geforce 7600GS, HDTV is connected on VGA and LCD on DVI.

Thank you, beforehand.


Important parts of xorg.conf:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "nvidia"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "TwinView" "True"
Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
Option "UseEdidFreqs" "True"
Option "MetaModes" "1360x768, 1280x1024; 1280x1024, 1360x768;1280x1024, 1024x768; 1024x768, 1280x1024; 1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"
Option "UseDisplayDevice" "DFP"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic 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 "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 4
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 15
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

[mojoman]

Hi,

I followed the howto but don't seem to get it right. I'm running dapper on my desktop which have BFG GeForce 7600GS 256MB. I'm using a lame-*** old NEC LCD monitor which is configured as your ordinary run-of-the-mill generic monitor (which has always worked fine) but I'm trying to configure my lovely, brand new, oh so shiny, Hitachi PJ-TX200 HD projector.

Oddly enough, even before I tried with twinview I could see the boot sequence but as the login screen appears the signal to the projector disappears. (I've connected it via the DVI-out to the HDMI-in.)

I thing these are the relevant parts of the xorg.conf:

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Default Layout"
    Screen         "Default Screen" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Generic Keyboard"
    InputDevice    "Configured Mouse"
    InputDevice    "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
    InputDevice    "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
    InputDevice    "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Generic Monitor"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 51.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 60.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA Default Card"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    Option "TwinView" "True"
    Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"
    Option "UseEdidFreqs" "True"
    Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"
    Option "UseDisplayDevice" "CRT"
EndSection

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

Now, I'll attach my xorg.0.log as a rarfile (it was slightly to large) as well (and my complete xorg.conf just in case it's needed). Reading the logfile I gathered that for some reason only one monitor is detected. However, in the logfile the projector is correctly identified as a Hitachi, and I've never entered this information anywhere so it is detected somehow.

If anyone can help me out with this I'd sure appreciate it.

Best regards
/Mojoman

[Figgy]

Okay, my system has 2 nvidia geforce 6600gt's. I am running my main monitor on one, while I am trying to get the second card to run my second monitor. But as of now my 2nd monitor does nothing.
Here is my xorg.conf file ( excerpt )

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "NVIDIA Corporation NV43 [GeForce 6600 GT]"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    Option "TwinView" "True"
	Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"   
	Option "UseEdidFreqs" "True"
	Option "MetaModes" "1280x1024,1280x1024; 1024x768,1024x768"
	Option "UseDisplayDevice" "CRT" #replace 'string' with either 'DFP' (Digital flat panel connected via DVI port), 'CRT' (any monitor that is connected via VGA ports), or 'TV'
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Default Screen"
    Device         "NVIDIA Corporation NV43 [GeForce 6600 GT]"
    Monitor        "Generic Monitor"
    DefaultDepth    24
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       1
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       4
        Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       15
        Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes      "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

[Ziox]

To: mojoman, Webziz
Try adding the following line to your "Device" Section:

Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP, CRT"

You can try switching the DFP and CRT.

To Figgy:
nVidia Twinview only works on a SINGLE graphics card that supports dual-output. If you wish to utilize both graphics card, visit my Xinerama guide in a week or so. I'm adding support for two graphics card to that guide soon.

EDIT: No need to wait that long! Xinerama Guide has been updated!

[mojoman]

Thanks for the help Ziox.

I tried your advice and even though it didn't do the trick it did make me somewhat wiser.

Adding the line

Option "ConnectedMonitor" "CRT, DFP"

was bad. When I restarted X (CTRL+ALT+BACKSPACE) it didn't restart. It was just black and I ended up logging in via my laptop in order to restore xorg.conf.

However, the tip about changing CRT to DFP made me look at this line

Option "UseDisplayDevice" "CRT"

and when I changed it to DFP the computor used the projector instead of the monitor. So, the monitor is CRT and the projector is DFP. Now that's one step in the right direction and I know for sure that the projector can be used in Ubuntu. All that remains is to make the computer use both at the same time. If you, or any one else reading, have any more ideas I'm all ears.

All the best
/Mojoman

Edit: I tried auto-generating a new xorg.conf with the projector connected. I got a working projector (though the fonts were screwed up on the login screen and the edges of the screen wasn't visible) but my regular monitor didn't work (but I think it was detected because it looked very weird). I'm attaching my autogenerated xorg.

[detarmstrong]

I found this How To to be better:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=85769

It helped me get TwinView working on my Dell Inspiron 9300 w/ Nvidia 6800 GO and DEll 2407 FWP monitor. DAPPER.

It also explains what some of those lines in the conf file mean. Very nice.