multi-screen recommendations for Linux

I've been asked what specs of video card are needed for
multi-head (3
monitors side-by-side) X on Linux. I've googled of course,
but I'd
rather get hints/pointers from folk here who have actually
done this
with locally available iron. Howtos don't tell me what's
available
here.

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I've used a 2nd monitor with my Intel 945 notebook. It works
fine, I
don't see what the fuss is all about...



On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM, Johann Tagle
<johanntaglegmail.com> wrote:
> Interested on this too, but more for having a 2nd
monitor for a laptop using
> Intel X3100 adapter.
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Sabi ni Orly noong Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM:
> I've used a 2nd monitor with my Intel 945 notebook. It
works fine, I
>  don't see what the fuss is all about...

If I'm not mistaken, Eric's asking about multiple monitors
for a
single box, not necessarily a laptop. And even if I *am*
mistaken, I'd
be interested in what's needed for multiple monitors anyway
. The
idea is that you've got two or more monitors, each
displaying
something different, and giving you the ability to drag
windows from
one monitor to another.

-- 
Daniel O. Escasa
independent IT consultant and writer
contributor, Free Software Magazine (http://www.freeso
ftwaremagazine.com)
personal blog at http://descasa.i.ph
If we choose being kind over being right, we will be right
every time.
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On 3/13/08, eric pareja <eric.parejagmail.com> wrote:
> I've been asked what specs of video card are needed for
multi-head (3
>  monitors side-by-side) X on Linux. I've googled of
course, but I'd
>  rather get hints/pointers from folk here who have
actually done this
>  with locally available iron. Howtos don't tell me
what's available
>  here.

The best supported multi-head card available in the local
market are
the nVidia cards. The only problem I see is that most of
multi-head
cards available are dual-head only. You might need a second
video card
for the third monitor. The only card that I know that
supports triple
head on a single card is a card from Matrox. I can't
remember if it
was the G550 or the Parhelia.

For those dual-head cards, if what you need is two VGA
ports, look for
cards that have both VGA and DVI ports. Those cards usually
comes with
a DVI-to-VGA converter so that yoou can get a 2nd VGA port.
If what
you need are two DVI ports, those cards are harder to find,
but yeah,
they're available. Usually, dual-DVI ports are on the
high-end video
cards.

-- 
Gideon N. Guillen
gideonggmail.com
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For a dual-monitor setup, besides a dual head video card you
don't
need anything else. I'm using a Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT card
and two
19" monitors. I can drag windows across the monitors
even without
Xinerama because I'm using TwinView.

On my Intel 945GM enabled notebook I can only do mirrored
mode.

--   Ed     <Good for viewing NSFW^H^H^H^Hcode>     http://blog.eonsec.com/

On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:01 PM, Daniel Escasa
<descasagmail.com> wrote:
> Sabi ni Orly noong Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM:
>
> > I've used a 2nd monitor with my Intel 945
notebook. It works fine, I
>  >  don't see what the fuss is all about...
>
>  If I'm not mistaken, Eric's asking about multiple
monitors for a
>  single box, not necessarily a laptop. And even if I
*am* mistaken, I'd
>  be interested in what's needed for multiple monitors
anyway . The
>  idea is that you've got two or more monitors, each
displaying
>  something different, and giving you the ability to
drag windows from
>  one monitor to another.
>
>  --
>  Daniel O. Escasa
>  independent IT consultant and writer
>  contributor, Free Software Magazine (http://www.freeso
ftwaremagazine.com)
>  personal blog at http://descasa.i.ph
>  If we choose being kind over being right, we will be
right every time.
>
>
> _________________________________________________
>  Philippine Linux Users' Group (PLUG) Mailing List
>  pluglists.linux.org.ph (#PLUG  irc.free.net.ph)
>  Read the Guidelines: http://linux.org.ph/lists
>  Searchable Archives: http://archives.free.net.
ph
>
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On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:10 PM, Gideon Guillen
<gideonggmail.com> wrote:
> Usually, dual-DVI ports are on the high-end video
cards.

Not anymore. I just bought a Palit GF 8600 GT Sonic (PhP
3,950) and
it's dual DVI, with one DVI-to-VGA dongle in the box. Only
using one
DVI out at the moment.
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Just remembered that there are these USB-connected multiple
monitors,
such as Samsung's (http
://www.dcviews.com/press/Samsung-UbiSync.htm).
I came across a site which sold three-monitor (LCD) setups
for the
price of about two. Can't find it anymore, rats.

-- 
Daniel O. Escasa
independent IT consultant and writer
contributor, Free Software Magazine (http://www.freeso
ftwaremagazine.com)
personal blog at http://descasa.i.ph
If we choose being kind over being right, we will be right
every time.
_________________________________________________
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Yes. I'm not interested in laptop setups. Though notebooks
generally
sport an external video port and these can usually be
configured to
mirror and are easily usable for presentations, this is not
what we
need.

We need to display a lot of information simultaneously on
all three
monitors. Virtual desktops don't help. I suppose a dual-head
setup (as
detailed in other posts) might be acceptable.

What I really need info about is what hardware is available
and works,
rather than whether it is possible in Linux (which I know
already).

On Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 12:01 PM, Daniel Escasa
<descasagmail.com> wrote:
> Sabi ni Orly noong Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 11:50 AM:
>
> > I've used a 2nd monitor with my Intel 945
notebook. It works fine, I
>  >  don't see what the fuss is all about...
>
>  If I'm not mistaken, Eric's asking about multiple
monitors for a
>  single box, not necessarily a laptop. And even if I
*am* mistaken, I'd
>  be interested in what's needed for multiple monitors
anyway . The
>  idea is that you've got two or more monitors, each
displaying
>  something different, and giving you the ability to
drag windows from
>  one monitor to another.


-- 
`..^..' eric pareja (eric.parejagmail.com) lpic-2 |
software freedom for all
|<(e)>| gnu linux python debian edu iosn localization
tagalog filipino
`..v..' foss internationalization usability pusakat
philippines free
"Ang mundo ay aklat, at iisang pahina lamang ang
nababasa ng hindi naglalakbay."
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