[GRLUG] Linux and multiple monitors

[John-Thomas Richards]

On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 05:56:43AM -0400, Adam Tauno Williams wrote:
> On Tue, 2012-06-19 at 03:29 -0400, Robar Philip wrote:
> > On Jun 18, 2012, at 4:48 PM, "Mike" <ironmike52 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Given that UNIX workstations with the X Window System have supported
> > multiple monitors for decades (albeit not as well as Apple and Mac
> > OS), it amazes me that this is still an issue on Linux today.
> 
> It works *very* well on current versions given the correct hardware [as
> in all things PC-land].  
> 
> Several previous generation GPUs [most notably Intel] have hardware
> limits on the size of the virtual display they can accelerate.  Once you
> plugin the second display many of the features of the GPU disappeared.

For a long time Intel could only accelerate up to 2048x2048.  That
sounds like a lot until you realize a typical laptop is 1366x768.  Just
add a 1024x768 to that and you lose acceleration (unless you put it on
"top").

> Driver selection also matters as proprietary drivers often lag in their
> xrandr support.  With nouveau [for nVidia adapters] my multiple displays
> work perfectly, and can hot-plug displays, etc...  with the proprietary
> drivers multiple display are very glitchy.
> 
> So it is important to specify what hardware you are using before anyone
> can offer any substantive advice.

Hot-plug?  As in remembering the last settings for that particular
monitor/projector?  I haven't seen that yet (I'm running nVidia's
proprietary stuff) but that's a very intriguing idea.  In fact, that
could get me to embrace nouveau.
-- 
john-thomas
------
The man's desire is for the woman but the woman's desire is rarely other
than for the desire of the man.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poet (1772-1834)