Multiple monitors with DVI/HDMI/VGA

English Hardware
1

I have two monitors connected, one with DVI (24" LED) and the other with VGA (19" LCD). My graphic card have connections for 2x DVI, 1x HDMI and 1x VGA.

Every time I reboot my computer I have to disconnect the VGA monitor because it supersedes the other one.
In KDE settings I have to align my Primary monitor (DVI) against my secondary monitor (VGA), even though I have selected under this settings that the DVI monitor is primary.
It should be the other way around. Jumping to console with CTRL+ALT+F# shuts down my primary monitor and I have to use the other one.

So, is it a linux thing, hardware thing or BIOS thing? While booting up sometimes it takes forever for my “primary” monitor to come alive, while my “secondary, lesser VGA” monitor takes control.
Searching for this problem only gives me useless DVI vs. VGA results…

How can I configure my monitors the way I want them? Hate to think what it will be like when I connect a second DVI 24" monitor.

2

What operating system?
What hardware?
What drivers?

3

OS: 12.2, KDE 4.10.1
Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro
Monitor 1: BenQ 24" LED
Monitor 2: LG 19" LCD
Graphic card: ASUS GeForce GTX 650Ti 1GB PhysX CUDA
NVidia driver: 310.32

4

Some BIOS (and I use that as a cover all term for efi etc) for mobos have a settting to select the preferred graphics output … though now that I think about that, it likely only relates to an integrated graphics adapter … though you can check and test to see on your own if there is any effect upon a discrete card.

In KDE settings I have to align my Primary monitor (DVI) against my secondary monitor (VGA), even though I have selected under this settings that the DVI monitor is primary.
It should be the other way around.
you shouldn’t be using the KDE settings for the prop. drivers. Use the appropriate nvidia gui or commandline util to set your monitors the way you want them.

Jumping to console with CTRL+ALT+F# shuts down my primary monitor and I have to use the other one.
when you get your system set right, the console should be cloned on all your monitors

So, is it a linux thing, hardware thing or BIOS thing?
more of a user error with a linux thing, possibly a hardware thing and maybe even a bios thing too

While booting up sometimes it takes forever for my “primary” monitor to come alive, while my “secondary, lesser VGA” monitor takes control.
likely during post etc … sounds normal if one of the outputs is operating as the boot output device … the others typically will not be utilized until the OS software starts up and starts initializing available hardware … IIRC, two of the outputs on my eyefinity card are active all the time and the other doesn’t come alive until later once GRUB starts … or until the OS initiates the framebuffer (I don’t recall offhand the precise point the other output fires up/lights up/comes alive)

5
  1. While on the desktop hit alt + F2 on your keyboard.
  2. type kdesu nvidia-settings in the box in the middle top of your screen.
  3. enter your password
    this will bring up the nvidia proprietary driver configuration utility.
  4. Under “X Server Display Configuration” you will be able to properly set up your monitors including their position relative to one another.
  5. After configuring your monitor setup, including dragging the monitors in the utility to their correct position, then hit apply.
    If your monitor setup is now correct then you must do the following.
  6. Click “Save to X configuration File”
    enter “/etc/X11/xorg.conf” without the quotes. Click “save” and now your settings should be consistent across reboots.
6

Will try that approach, however my /etc/X11/xorg.conf is empty. Then what is driving the configuration?

7

Well I tried to configure my screens with nvidia-settings. Saved the configuration to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.
It had no effect. Still booting up, both BIOS and linux used my “secondary” monitor to show output. My primary monitor came to life when KDM came up.

I configured my BenQ 24" monitor to be the primary and the LG 19" monitor to be placed at the right side of the primary one.


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 310.32  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-01)  Mon Jan 14 15:51:37 PST 2013

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
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      "LG Electronics L1915S"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 650 Ti"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-2"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0, DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection
8

Also, shifting between consoles CTRL+ALT+F# works only for the VGA monitor. The other monitor goes black with a message on it “No signal”.

I find it strange that it does not work. I have a laptop at work also running same OpenSuse. The laptop has attached a second monitor, which acts as my primary monitor. Hopping between consoles gives output on both monitors.

9

Auto configuration by xorg

booting up, both BIOS and linux used my “secondary” monitor to show output. My primary monitor came to life when KDM came up
Yes, that is consistent behaviour as to what I observe; recall I wrote:
two of the outputs on my eyefinity card are active all the time and the other doesn’t come alive until later once GRUB starts … or until the OS initiates the framebuffer (I don’t recall offhand the precise point the other output fires up/lights up/comes alive)
I checked last night, and it is indeed not until the Linux framebuffer starts up that the output comes alive (i.e. the BIOS POST and GRUB are just VESA VBE driven).

Suggestions for you:

  • check your cabling and connectors on both the adapter and monitor
  • try the other DVI output
  • post your xorg log to suse paste and provide a link so we can take a look at what is going on
  • did you look in your BIOS for a preferred video adatper as I mentioned prior?

I configured my BenQ 24" monitor to be the primary and the LG 19" monitor to be placed at the right side of the primary one.
From your nvidia-settings generated xorg.conf file, it is evident that the LG monitor has been set as primary (Monitor0).

Also, shifting between consoles CTRL+ALT+F# works only for the VGA monitor. The other monitor goes black with a message on it “No signal”.

I find it strange that it does not work. I have a laptop at work also running same OpenSuse. The laptop has attached a second monitor, which acts as my primary monitor. Hopping between consoles gives output on both monitors.
Yes, that definitely should not happen. As you observe, and as I mentioned in my prior post, the console should be cloned on both outputs.

I’m wondering if the DVI output is getting setup as a second Screen (as Screen 1) wtih nvida’s version of xinerama … not showing console would be consistent if its being setup as a second Screen … I haven’t used nvidia hardware and prop driver for a while, but the option “nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder” “DFP-2” gives me pause … (look it up to see what it does). Also, the output of the xorg log file will give a clearer picture of what is going on.

10

Just done a system upgrade. Now running Opensuse 12.3

Not possible to change anything about screen in BIOS. Not any option for it. Moronic that it should default to VGA.

Changing which monitor is the primary one will only change one line in the xorg.conf file

Option “nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder” “DFP-1”
Option “nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder” “CRT-1”

I have configured TwinMode. Tried also to configure “Seperate X Screens”, but that didn’t help either.

/etc/X11/xorg.conf for Seperate X Screens"


# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 310.32  (buildmeister@swio-display-x86-rhel47-01)  Mon Jan 14 15:51:37 PST 2013


Section "ServerLayout"

# Removed Option "Xinerama" "0"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" RightOf "Screen1"
    Screen      1  "Screen1" 0 0
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "1"
EndSection

Section "Files"
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      "LG Electronics L1915S"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     56.0 - 75.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "BenQ G2410HD"
    HorizSync       24.0 - 83.0
    VertRefresh     50.0 - 76.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 650 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 650 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:1:0:0"
    Screen          1
EndSection

Section "Screen"

# Removed Option "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +1920+0, DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0; CRT: 1280x1024_75 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768_60 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 800x600_60 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_60 +0+0; CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0 {viewportout=1280x720+0+152}; CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0; CRT: 1280x1024_75 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768 +0+0; CRT: 1024x768_60 +0+0; CRT: 800x600 +0+0; CRT: 800x600_60 +0+0; CRT: 640x480 +0+0; CRT: 640x480_60 +0+0; CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0 {viewportout=1280x720+0+152}; CRT: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "DFP: nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
    Option         "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

Unable to add log files because of text limit.
/var/log/Xorg.log.0
/var/log/Xorg.log.1

11

Might be obvious, but did you try plugging in your dvi connector, from your monitor, into the other dvi port in your graphics card? Maybe one port is disabled when vga is enabled?

12

also have you considered a dvi to d-sub converter?

13

I have one new 24" monitor on the way, so both my DVI will be occupied. The 19" monitor only has VGA (it is that old).
VGA is facing out, so why did the graphic card manufacturer or the bios or what ever is the culprit make the VGA the number 1 default monitor to superseed all others.

Edit: How can I add my /var/log/Xorg.conf files here, when I neither can add that much text or attach the files?

14

I think you mean /var/log/Xorg.0.log

Upload it to SUSE Paste (or similar), and post only the generated URL here.

15

Excellent. Here are my logs. Hope anyone can sort out why I am having trouble.

/var/log/Xorg.0.log
SUSE Paste

/var/log/Xorg.1.log
SUSE Paste

16

This is a long shot but, and KMS should not be enabled, but try passing nomodeset parameter to the kernel at boot time.

17

nomodeset

Note that this option is sometimes needed for nVidia cards when using the default “nouveau” drivers. Installing proprietary nvidia drivers usually makes this option no longer necessary, so it may not be needed to make this option permanent, just for one boot until you installed the nvidia drivers.

I am using the nvidia proprietary driver. So no need for nomodeset.

I have not seen anything that nvidia supports KMS.

Though from archlinux wiki:

The proprietary nvidia and catalyst drivers also implement kernel mode-setting, but as they do not use the built-in kernel implementation, they lack an fbdev driver for the high-resolution console.

In my /etc/sysconfig/kernel


# This variable disables the initialization of KMS in the initrd
# by not including the modules required for KMS even though KMS is
# supported on the underlying hardware.
# After changing run mkinitrd again.
#
NO_KMS_IN_INITRD="yes"
18

I have tried configuring every possible way with nvidia-settings.

This xorg.conf is for seperate X-Screens in xorg.confs
SUSE Paste
Though the second screen was unusable since I could not move anything over to it(only my mouse).

This is the configuration I have now settled with. It uses the TwinView mode.
SUSE Paste

No matter how I configure it my secondary monitor takes precedence over booting and console(tty).
Also switching between tty is not instantaneous as it turns black for 1-2 seconds when switching between X and console.
Was wondering. The nouveau supports KMS, but are they any good when it comes to performance and HW-acceleration?

So when my new 24" monitor arrives I will not use the VGA output any more. Death to VGA!!

19

Hi,

Try this, I have not done this in a while and not sure if it will work.

 
Section "Device"
        Identifier     "Device0"
        Driver         "nvidia"
        VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
        BoardName      "GeForce GTX 650 Ti"
        Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"

      EndSection

The additional to your section device is in red

20

I tried adding that to the device section. It did not go so well.
My primary monitor went totally dead and would not come back until I removed that line and took a reboot.