Back to Windows -- Yikes!

**websquad** · June 29th, 2014

I've had it with Ubuntu 14.04 -- at least for a while. I've been spending too much time trying to find a 14.04 configuration that would work for me -- for my projects -- for my workflow.

I need three monitors. This was a no-brainier configuration under Windows XP and then Windows 7 (I've not ventured into the never-never land of Windows 8). No special drivers. No fuss. I just added a used graphics card snatched off of Craig's list, plugged it in, plugged in a couple of monitors, clicked a few mouse buttons, and I was off and running (well, I later added a 4th monitor, cause (1) I could and (2) I had one gathering dust). Stardock Fences mades icon management a breeze.

The way I do websites (I'm a hand-coder), my work-flow begs for three monitors -- so I need at least three.

I've spent (wasted?) hours looking through the forum for some happy camper that has 14.04 (the thought of stability is appealing) and three monitors in an extended desktop array. My conclusion is that 14.04 ain't ready for prime time in the configuration I want.

So, I'll pop-in a reminder on my calender a year from now and see what's happening. Meanwhile, I'll quit worrying about 14.04. Except I have it on an old laptop I saved from the recycle bin -- works fine!

Sigh.

My "Ubuntu" rig: a Dell Optiplex 745 Minitower with an Intel Q965 Express Chipset, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB RAM, and a 305W power supply, integrated graphics adapter. Since I'm not a game player, my graphics needs are simple.

So long for now.

**philinux** · June 29th, 2014

Moved to Ubuntu, Linux and OS chat

**mastablasta** · June 30th, 2014

first - Windows 8.1 is not THAT bad. i was a bit afraid of it but they ocnfigured it nicely on my working mashcine so appart from different launcher and few strange sjhortcuts nothing of notice...

second - Ubutnu was not really made with multiple monitors in mind. have you tried other desktops such as those in Kubuntu, Xubuntu or perhaps the one in Linux Mint Cinnamon?

not sure what the issues were you encountered and what you expect to have. i onyl tried Kubuntu a couple of times on 2 screens (mainly by "mistake" since GPU recognised TV as screen one

). anbyway different resolutions, different dispalys all worked well. monitor is 19" 4:3 ratio (8 or 9 years old), TV is a lot bigger (i think 42" or something like that with 16:9 ratio). no issues with this setup (except i didn't want the TV as first interface (easilly changed). oh and the GPU is old AMD Radeon that has only opensource drivers available.

what were your issues? what GPU you used? if you use two GPU you likely need proprietary drivers. and for that it's best to use nVidia. i am not sure if opensource would work. though they might. i never tried with more cards (i don't have enough GPU cards for that). i do know that people do use linux with multiple monitors. might be good to know what issues you had so others can avoid them.

yeah Windows still has better drivers support. in the end use what works best for you.

**websquad** · June 30th, 2014

mastablasta, thanks for your input. It just so happened that yesterday afternoon I found, in one of several stacks in my home office, a sealed and otherwise unused copy of Windows 7 32/64-bit. I loaded the 64-bit and the license number validated on-line with Microsoft.

My main objective for this system is to have a backup machine using open-source applications, including Gimp. I'll purchase a graphics card from amazon.com that supports three monitors and advertises itself to support Ubuntu/Linux, and if the market place (demand driven, I assume) catches up so that an idiot like me can install multiple displays, I'll switch over to some version of Linux/Ubuntu. Thanks for your comments.

For what it is worth, I tried one low-end card from the used computer store, and it would only support two monitors under Ubuntu and would not support desktop extension.

Bob
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**QIII** · June 30th, 2014

Hello!

Just for giggles and grins, I thought I'd let you know that I use three monitors with a single desktop spanning them.

If you are having difficulty doing that, then the culprit is more than likely OEM support, not Linux itself. Remember that OEMs write drivers, not Microsoft nor Canonical. That it works in Windows is due to the fact that the OEMs make sure it does so it can be blessed and included in the MS driverbase and thus be PnP. So let's not say Trusty is not ready for prime time.

Be that as it may, you have need that can be better fulfilled using Windows, so, by all means, use Windows!

http://i.imgur.com/MZ0yu0a.jpg

**websquad** · June 30th, 2014

QIII --

What video graphic adapter do you use (make & model number)?
What is the source (including version) of your device driver?
Can the device driver be installed without excessive command line activity?
Bottom line: can a Linux/Ubuntu install this?

Thanks!

**QIII** · July 1st, 2014

Definitely using Linux, as I have for years.

This is on a venerable old XFX ATI HD 5870 with two DVI outputs, a VGA output and a Display Port. It is Eyefinity enabled, which allows it to output on both DVI ports and the Display Port. Eyefinity is what makes this possible with this card, and Eyefinity works with Linux.

The GPU is driven by the ATI Driver available from the Trusty repo.

It can be installed quite easily without touching the terminal by using the additional drivers GUI.

If you want to use the terminal, as is my preference:

Code:

sudo apt-get install fglrx-updates fglrx-amdcccle-updates xvba-va-driver

followed by

Code:

sudo amdconfig --initial

Reboot.

For some hardware acceleration:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xvba-va-driver libva-glx1 libva-egl1 vainfo

**DuckHook** · July 3rd, 2014

Attachment 254409
Screenshot of my four-monitor system with all monitors (1200x1600) configured in portrait mode. Running on stock radeon driver ― lspci info below:

Code:

duckhook@19th_hole:~$ lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 vga
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Tahiti PRO [Radeon HD 7950] [1002:679a]
    Subsystem: Hightech Information System Ltd. Device [1787:201c]
    Kernel driver in use: radeon

One monitor attached to each of following outputs: DVI, HDMI, DP1, DP2.

Since 12.10, has worked out of the box with absolutely no muss, no fuss. Had to compile AMD proprietary driver in 12.04, but that worked flawlessly thereafter also.

Hope this helps.