HOWTO: NVIDIA TV-OUT for Newbies

[avidesh]

I don't see the entire desktop on TV only the top & bottom menu and the background.
Don't see any application windows on the TV screen, while on the CRT I see everything.
I have Geforce2 MX/MX 400, Ubuntu edgy, nvidia 71X legacy driver

How to fix this?

[jetpeach]

I am also look for a way to optimize the position of the screen on the TV - it does not fill it all and is screwed a little funny.
I have a geforce3 ti 200 so run the newer legacy driver, but i heard the newest uptodate driver allows screen positioning in it's gui config? could somebody who has adjusted their screen position post what happens in the xorg.conf files to move the screen?
thanks,
jet

[FurryNemesis]

Has anyone managed to get this working with an NVidia Geforce4 Go? I was very close yesterday but unfortunately my laptop screen greyed out with a timer and the TV that I was trying to hook it up to wouldn't play ball. I'm using Dapper and the Legacy driver from the repos as the one from the nvidia site won't compile at the moment. Will try again in the meantime and post relevant Xorg.conf+log if I fail.

[FurryNemesis]

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg 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 /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/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 "Files"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
# path to defoma fonts
FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "bitmap"
Load "ddc"
Load "dri"
Load "extmod"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "int10"
Load "record"
Load "type1"
Load "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "gb"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"
Option "Buttons" "9"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "ButtonMapping" "1 2 3 6 7 8 9"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"
EndSection

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

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/wacom" # Change to
# /dev/input/event
# for USB
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "NVIDIA Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 460 Go]"
Driver "nvidia"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Option "UseFBDev" "true"
Screen 0
EndSection

Section "Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Identifier "Device[1]"
Screen 1
Option "TVOutFormat" "Composite" #or SVIDEO etc
Option "TVStandard" "PAL-I" #or NTSC etc
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "Monitor[1]"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0" #adjust using 'lspci' or cat /proc/pci
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor" #Laptop Screen
Option "DPMS"
HorizSync 28-51
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor[1]" #TV
HorizSync 30-50
VertRefresh 60
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "NVIDIA Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 460 Go]"
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

Section "Screen"
Device "NVIDIA Corporation NV17 [GeForce4 460 Go]"
Identifier "Screen[1]"
Monitor "Monitor[1]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1024x768_60"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Simple Layout"
Screen 0 "Default Screen"
Screen 1 "Screen[1]" RightOf "DefaultScreen"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
Mode 0666
EndSection

[Sawert]

Have anyone that uses the "Workspace on a cube"-effect got this to work? If so, does the whole feature "on a cube" stops working? It should, because if you use this feature, like I do, I have four different workspaces on this cube and it would be a shame to loose this feature. If this means that I have to change xorg.conf every time I want to connect my computer to the TV, it's so not worth it, then the best way should be to clone the picture, like several people though about. I found another guide about that and if what I stated is facts, I'll try to clone it instead.

The problem I have had so far while cloning the screen is that the TV can't manage rezolutions higher than 1024 and that means that my desktop runs the same resolution. Why isn't there a simple feature to clone the screen in nvidia-settions, just like in Windows so the screen refrehses if you clone the screen.

[Sirhanz]

Hi I have a Matrox G450 I would like to configure for tv out. here is my xorg.conf, if someone would be so kind to just edit what i posted so that i may cut and paste for my eyes are very bad. Thanks in advance.

# /etc/X11/xorg.conf (xorg 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 /etc/X11/xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man /etc/X11/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 "Files"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
    FontPath    "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"
    # path to defoma fonts
    FontPath    "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load    "bitmap"
    Load    "dbe"
    Load    "ddc"
    Load    "dri"
    Load    "extmod"
    Load    "freetype"
    Load    "glx"
    Load    "int10"
    Load    "record"
    Load    "type1"
    Load    "v4l"
    Load    "vbe"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier    "Generic Keyboard"
    Driver        "kbd"
    Option        "CoreKeyboard"
    Option        "XkbRules"    "xorg"
    Option        "XkbModel"    "pc104"
    Option        "XkbLayout"    "usdvorak"
    Option        "XkbVariant"    "dvorak"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier    "Configured Mouse"
    Driver        "mouse"
    Option        "CorePointer"
    Option        "Device"        "/dev/input/mice"
    Option        "Protocol"        "ExplorerPS/2"
    Option        "ZAxisMapping"        "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "stylus"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "stylus"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "eraser"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "eraser"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
  Driver        "wacom"
  Identifier    "cursor"
  Option        "Device"        "/dev/wacom"          # Change to 
                                                      # /dev/input/event
                                                      # for USB
  Option        "Type"          "cursor"
  Option        "ForceDevice"   "ISDV4"               # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier    "MatroxG450"
    Driver        "mga"
    BusID        "PCI:6:0:0"
    Option        "OldDmaInit"        "True"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier    "PHILIPS 109B"
    Option        "DPMS"
    HorizSync    30-100
    VertRefresh    50-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier    "Default Screen"
    Device        "MatroxG450"
    Monitor        "PHILIPS 109B"
    DefaultDepth    16
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        1
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        4
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        8
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        15
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        16
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth        24
        Modes        "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "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

[dimmanramone]

Hi!

Even if I followed your guide...i still cannot make the TV-out to work...i think that i have done everything right, or at least i made some things right because i can see the arrow of the mouse on the TV, but i don't get any background and i cannot move any application there :S

here is my xorg.conf:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder3) Thu Nov 9 17:56:12 PST 2006

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Layout0"
Screen 0 "Screen[0]" 0 0
Screen 1 "Screen[1]" RightOf "Screen[0]"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
# generated from default
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
# HorizSync source: builtin, VertRefresh source: builtin
Identifier "Monitor[1]" #TV
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "TV-0"
HorizSync 28.0 - 33.0
VertRefresh 43.0 - 72.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
# HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
Identifier "Monitor[0]" #CRT
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "DELL P992"
HorizSync 30.0 - 107.0
VertRefresh 48.0 - 170.0
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device[0]"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce FX 5200"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 0
Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Device[1]"
Driver "nvidia"
VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
BoardName "GeForce FX 5200"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
Screen 1
Option "TVOutFormat" "SVIDEO" #or SVIDEO etc
Option "TVStandard" "PAL-G" #or NTSC etc
Option "ConnectedMonitor" "Monitor[1]"
Option "AddARGBVisuals" "True"
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen[1]"
Device "Device[1]"
Monitor "Monitor[1]"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "metamodes" "TV: 800x600 +0+0; TV: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen[0]"
Device "Device[0]"
Monitor "Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "metamodes" "CRT: 1600x1200_75 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection


What can be wrong?

[dimmanramone]

Just realize that my xorg.conf was absolutely fine, the problem was from there, but that i have active the desktop effects...

Thx for the very good guide...

[zion_da]

hey guys ,
great How-to guide, my tvout function is working great in 2x x-screens on my FX5200 card.
(ubuntu feisty fawn, and newest nvidia drivers)

but only one problem, when beryl is activated i'm getting a menu delay of 2 seconds on each click
only after editing the xorg.conf file,

here's my xorg.conf file

http://www.speedyshare.com/615908818.html

what should i do ?

thanks in advanced!

Zion

[ac82]

Hi! I've been using various Ubuntu distros along XP, never used any of them more than a week or two, but with Feisty, I've finally decided to start using only Ubuntu.
I've got a problem with tv-out on my Asus 6800gt 128mb agp (v9999gt). I've installed drivers through synaptic and everything works perfectly until I tried to enable tv-out. I have my tv connected to s-video port on my card, and I used nvidia-settings to enable tv as second screen(option: separate x-screen). I applied and saved changes to xorg.conf which then looked like this:

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 1.0  (buildmeister@builder3)  Thu Nov  9 17:56:12 PST 2006

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
EndSection

Section "Files"
    RgbPath         "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "IQT L70S"
    HorizSync       31.0 - 79.0
    VertRefresh     60.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    # HorizSync source: builtin, VertRefresh source: builtin
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "TV-0"
    HorizSync       28.0 - 33.0
    VertRefresh     43.0 - 72.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 6800 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Videocard1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce 6800 GT"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Videocard0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT: 1280x1024 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT: 832x624 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 720x400 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Videocard1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "metamodes" "TV: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes      "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

When I restarted, x wouldn't start, giving this announcement:

(EE)NVIDIA(1): Unable to initialize the X Int10 module; the console may not be restored on your TV.
(EE)The requested configuration of display devices is not supported in the hardware.

Fatal server error: Add screen/ScreenInit failed for driver0

Please, could someone help me, 'cause this one really bugs me, and Ubuntu is loosing points when it comes to usability (using tv as second screen on XP worked just fine).