undecim
May 20th, 2010, 06:34 AM
I'm planning my next desktop build (currently only have a laptop that is falling apart), and one of the features I'm really looking forward to is multiple monitors. I'm thinking a 1920x1200 center monitor and two 1600x1200 on either side, but I'm not decided just yet. I don't know if I really need that resolution.
I have a few specific questions though. The only time I've ever messed with multiple monitors is way back when I had Windows, so I'm not sure what to expect on Ubuntu.
1: What is the best Graphics card brand/series to use? I've seen that ATI has more powerful hardware than nVidia for the same price range, but nVidia seems to support Linux better. I'm using an ATI card in my laptop now and have never had any problems with it (with either open source or proprietary drives, other than open source drivers didn't do well with 3d). I would also like these GPUs to be running F@H while I'm away, so GFLOPS is just important as gaming performance.
2: Since I want to use 3 monitors, I assume I should get 3 of the same graphics card or a card with 3 identical outputs (do those exist?).
Or can this be done some other way. For example, a more powerful card for the center monitor, and less powerful cards for the other two. Do those need to be the same brand, or could I use, for example, ATI and nVidia cards on the same desktop simultaneously?
3: Is it possible to have a virtual console on one monitor with a desktop on the other two, or do I need to set up a terminal on the desktop to use that monitor?
4: How can I run fullscreen SDL games with multiple monitors? Will it only show on one screen or stretch across them all? Is it possible to have a fullscreen game running on one monitor with the desktop visible on the others? How would the mouse focus work with that? Or does it just all depend on how I setup the monitors?
Any other advice you have is appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance!
I have a few specific questions though. The only time I've ever messed with multiple monitors is way back when I had Windows, so I'm not sure what to expect on Ubuntu.
1: What is the best Graphics card brand/series to use? I've seen that ATI has more powerful hardware than nVidia for the same price range, but nVidia seems to support Linux better. I'm using an ATI card in my laptop now and have never had any problems with it (with either open source or proprietary drives, other than open source drivers didn't do well with 3d). I would also like these GPUs to be running F@H while I'm away, so GFLOPS is just important as gaming performance.
2: Since I want to use 3 monitors, I assume I should get 3 of the same graphics card or a card with 3 identical outputs (do those exist?).
Or can this be done some other way. For example, a more powerful card for the center monitor, and less powerful cards for the other two. Do those need to be the same brand, or could I use, for example, ATI and nVidia cards on the same desktop simultaneously?
3: Is it possible to have a virtual console on one monitor with a desktop on the other two, or do I need to set up a terminal on the desktop to use that monitor?
4: How can I run fullscreen SDL games with multiple monitors? Will it only show on one screen or stretch across them all? Is it possible to have a fullscreen game running on one monitor with the desktop visible on the others? How would the mouse focus work with that? Or does it just all depend on how I setup the monitors?
Any other advice you have is appreciated as well.
Thanks in advance!