[opensuse] Dual-head X config on a laptop?
What is the trick to getting a dual-head config on a laptop (with sax2) when the monitor screen resolution is one size on the laptop's built-in display, and the external monitor is a different size? I'm trying to use Xinerama to get the KDE desktop to go across two screens. In this case, the laptop has an Intel GPU chip, though I've had this same problem with other brands. This is a huge problem on today's modern "HD aspect" (16:9 or anything other than oldfashioned 4:3) laptops. Or am I going about this the wrong way? Is there some X utility that I'm supposed to use while X is running to extend onto the extneral display? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks, JW -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wed, 2009-09-09 at 17:43 -0500, JW wrote:
What is the trick to getting a dual-head config on a laptop (with sax2) when the monitor screen resolution is one size on the laptop's built-in display, and the external monitor is a different size?
No trick, you should be able to set this up with Sax. Your GPU matters a lot however.
I'm trying to use Xinerama to get the KDE desktop to go across two screens. In this case, the laptop has an Intel GPU chip, though I've had this same problem with other brands.
Which Intel GPU. With my i945, for example, it is pretty pointless as the maximum resolution the GPU can handle (displays combined) is too low to be very useful.
This is a huge problem on today's modern "HD aspect" (16:9 or anything other than oldfashioned 4:3) laptops.
I don't understand why that is relevant?
Or am I going about this the wrong way? Is there some X utility that I'm supposed to use while X is running to extend onto the extneral display?
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On Wednesday 09 September 2009 17:52:44 Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
On Wed, 2009-09-09 at 17:43 -0500, JW wrote:
What is the trick to getting a dual-head config on a laptop (with sax2) when the monitor screen resolution is one size on the laptop's built-in display, and the external monitor is a different size?
No trick, you should be able to set this up with Sax.
Precicely what I wish to do.
Your GPU matters a lot however.
I'm trying to use Xinerama to get the KDE desktop to go across two screens. In this case, the laptop has an Intel GPU chip, though I've had this same problem with other brands.
Which Intel GPU. With my i945, for example, it is pretty pointless as the maximum resolution the GPU can handle (displays combined) is too low to be very useful.
lspci says the VGA controller is an Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller.. All the chips listed are the ICH9 / 82801I family.
This is a huge problem on today's modern "HD aspect" (16:9 or anything other than oldfashioned 4:3) laptops.
I don't understand why that is relevant?
In the old days when the laptops were 4:3, you could pick some std 4:3 ratio, like 1024x768, or even 800 x 600 if you had to, and even if all was not "perfect" at least it would approxmately fill up both screen correctly. However if you try to apply such a scheme to an 16:9 laptop and a 4:3 monitor (note that many/most external monitors are still 4:3) you end up with one of the other screens being stretched beyond usability. What's worse, the manufacturer's seem to be obtaining the 16:9 aspect ratio by trimming pixels off the bottom of the screen, NOT by adding to the width. So I end up with laptop screens only 900 or 800 pixels high, while most external monitors are at least 1024 pixels high. Please note that I am not trying to derail the thread my focusing on this aspect, I'm merely answering your question as to why it's a problem. JW -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
ecOn Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 6:43 PM, JW
What is the trick to getting a dual-head config on a laptop (with sax2) when the monitor screen resolution is one size on the laptop's built-in display, and the external monitor is a different size?
I'm trying to use Xinerama to get the KDE desktop to go across two screens.
In this case, the laptop has an Intel GPU chip, though I've had this same problem with other brands.
This is a huge problem on today's modern "HD aspect" (16:9 or anything other than oldfashioned 4:3) laptops.
Or am I going about this the wrong way? Is there some X utility that I'm supposed to use while X is running to extend onto the extneral display?
Any advise would be helpful.
Thanks,
JW
It should auto detect the second screen on X startup or reset if it is powered on. My 11.1 based laptop does. (In theory it should autodetect always with KDE, but not when I tested it.) If you are already at the login screen or logged into KDE, it is too late for immediate auto-detect. I've found that at kde logout, it will autodetect my second screen. It's been a while, but I believe I got a replicated second screen with no effort other than the logout trick. I had to configure Xinerama to get dual screen where the mouse would move between the screens. Greg -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Am Donnerstag, 10. September 2009 00:43:55 schrieb JW:
What is the trick to getting a dual-head config on a laptop (with sax2) when the monitor screen resolution is one size on the laptop's built-in display, and the external monitor is a different size?
I'm trying to use Xinerama to get the KDE desktop to go across two screens.
I did not use Xinerama but KDE's kephal to set-up the second monitor. You can find it in the display section of systemsettings. Make sure that the Virtual resolution is big enough to fit both monitors, you can pick whaterver resolution for the external monitor you like. You can also do all this from the commandline using xrandr.
In this case, the laptop has an Intel GPU chip, though I've had this same problem with other brands.
For me it worked with nvidia and intel, never tried ati. Sven -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (4)
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Adam Tauno Williams
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Greg Freemyer
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JW
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Sven Burmeister