Dual Monitor Problems 8.04 (ATI Mobility Radeon X300)

[bluelamp999]

Hello Friends,

As of 8.04 I've made the jump and moved from Windows (apart from some work-related XP VMs in VirtualBox).

My problem (as with 7.10 before) is getting my dual monitor setup working correctly.

My system is a Dell Latitude D810 (native resolution 1920 x1200) with an ATI Mobility Radeon X300 graphics adapter, my external monitor is a Dell 1906FP (native resolution 1280 x 1024).

What I want to do is have both displays running in 'big desktop' mode (i.e. able to drag stuff from one monitor to the other) with each display keeping its' native resolution.

The proprietary fglrx driver is installed and shows up as 'enabled' and 'In use' in the Hardware Drivers applet.

In the Visual Effects tab of the Appearance Preferences applet, the 'Extra' option is selected and I have all the effects (wobbly windows, transparency, etc.).

In the Monitor Resolution Settings applet the Clone Screens checkbox is ticked and the output is shown as 'Cloned Output', any attempt to apply different settings doesn't seem to stick.

I've downloaded the ATI Catalyst Control Centre and whilst it correctly identifies both monitor types, graphics adapter etc., any attempts to set up 'big desktop' either result in garbage on the attached monitor or crazy resolution changes. In short, it's not working for me...

I realise I'll probably have to manually edit my xorg.conf but I'm hoping that the community will have come across this issue before and be able to put me right.

I REALLY want to make the move to Linux (specifically Ubuntu) and any help would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks

Mike

Here's my existing xorg.conf...

# xorg.conf (X.Org 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 xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man 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 "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "ie"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

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

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "fglrx"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
Defaultdepth 24
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
screen "Default Screen"
Inputdevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection

[matty_b_1000]

This thread would be better in the "Multimedia and Video" forum.

[mairabc]

Hello!

I had a hard time configuring my dual monitor setup in my Dell 1501, graphics card ATI X1150. I don't know why, the graphical tool would not work, neither with the open source driver nor with the fglrx. I decided to keep using the open source driver, as I don't need the 3D acceleration, and after messing around with the xrandr command and managed to find a good setup. Then I applied the settings to my xorg.conf, which I am attaching here.

I suggest you start investigating by getting the output from the command "xrandr -q". Does it show you both monitors, with correct resolutions? When I was trying this out with the binary driver, it would output only one monitor, so I gave up without trying too much...

If you get the two monitors, you can try this command:
$ xrandr --output VGA-0 --off

It should turn your extra monitor off (replace the VGA-0 for whatever value the "xrandr -q" command gave you).

If you try:
$ xrandr --output VGA-0 --auto
it should clone the monitors.

$ xrandr --output VGA-0 --pos 1920x0
should give you the big desktop, with the second output 1920 pixels to the right.

The xrandr command is the thing you use to configure the monitors on the fly. To make the changes persist, you should make changes in your xorg.conf.

One important thing: in your xorg.conf, in the section screen, subsection display, you have to set the Virtual screen with enough pixels to fit both of your monitors, otherwise xrandr will complain. Check my xorg.conf to see exactly how you can do it.

But this is how I managed with the open source driver. I am not sure if the binary driver works the same way.

Good luck!

[bluelamp999]

Hi Mairabc,

Thanks so much for your reply...

I'll try your suggestions and post my results.

Kiitti!

[Person98]

You won't be able to have desktop effects enabled with both monitors are 3d acceleration even with the proprietary drivers is limited to 2048x2048 and most dual monitor setups are larger then this resoultion (width wise) my first step would be to turn off desktop effects as they will just cause you grief. Also as a side note, the gui tool for multimonitor setups doesn't work for me either. well good luck

[bluelamp999]

Not too worried about the wobbly windows etc.!

Have eventually managed to get a (vaguely) satisfactory dual monitor setup running.

However, both laptop LCD and external monitor are both at same resolution.

Setting up a dual monitor system (with different resolutions per monitor) was a piece of cake on XP. Why, oh why can't the obviously brilliant Ubuntu developers wrap xorg.conf editing into some kind of friendly UI?

I've spent the best part of a day trying to get to the (not entirely satisfactory) stage I'm now at. In fairness, it was rather interesting and I've learned a lot but it would immediately and totally alienate the casual user hoping to dump Windows.

Anyway, grateful thanks to all respondents...

Here's the current xorg.conf...

# xorg.conf (X.Org 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 xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man 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 "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
EndSection

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

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Laptop Screen"
Option "PreferredMode" "1920x1200"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Dell 1906FP"
Option "PreferredMode" "1280x1024"
Option "LeftOf" "Laptop Screen"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "ATI Technologies Inc M22 [Mobility Radeon X300]"
Driver "ati"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "monitor-VGA-0" "Dell 1906FP"
Option "monitor-LVDS" "Laptop Screen"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "ATI Technologies Inc M22 [Mobility Radeon X300]"
Monitor "Laptop Screen"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 3200 1200
Modes "1900x1200" "1280x1024"
EndSubSection
EndSection


Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Synaptics Touchpad"
EndSection

[mairabc]

Hei, no problem ;)

Can you use the xrandr command to change the resolution of the second screen?

xrandr --output VGA-0 --mode 1280x1024

If that works, that's already something...

Maybe you could try the metamodes option? In my xorg.conf, it looks like:


Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Configured Video Device"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "MetaModes" "1280x800-1680x1050 1280x800 1680x1050" #Display sizes
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Virtual 2960 1050
Modes "1280x800"
EndSubSection
EndSection



Good luck!

[bluelamp999]

Woohoo!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

The xrandr command worked...

xrandr --output LVDS --mode 1920x1200

This set my laptop screen to its' correct resolution.

How can I make this stick in xorg.conf?

Thanks again, Mairabc

I've been trying for ages to get this to work and, now, so close...

[TekNullOG]

As an alternative, I have a quick solution that works for me every time. I use the fglrx driver. I've been installing two screens on this card with the fglrx since Ubuntu 6.10.

Basically, this thread is my reference every time:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=301941

I don't follow the commands anymore because I often ran into problems.

Save a back of the xorg.conf file


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


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


Simply copy the following lines to your "Device" Section and edit the appropriate spots:


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.

[gladioolers]

hmm...this is what i need
thanks for the information.

[ganastasiou]

That was awesome.Thank you guys,it helped me too...(ati mobility x600)