Linux dual desktop

Running Linux on my main workstation : check

Using dual desktop on Linux : check

Having a good experience : fail

I’m not sure what graphics card I have in my main workstation (I believe NVIDIA), I know it has 512 mb memory. That should be enough to power 2 24″ screens. (Or so I think). If I drag windows around it feels slow. (BTW I can’t use compiz).

Does anybody have a dual desktop setup in Linux that works really well? Preferably with compiz enabled on both screens ? Please let me know, I’m sure Linux can also kick MS ass in this field I just need the correct setup or correct video card.

6 Replies to “Linux dual desktop”

  1. I think what you are referring to is a dual-head setup (two screens, one PC, one big desktop spanned across both).
    I have been using a dual-head setup under Linux for many years now, with an nVidia card seemingly much less powerful than yours. I am even using a dual-head setup on my laptop when it’s docked. Also under Linux, of course.

    Are you sure you are using the nVidia binary drivers? The nv drivers do their job quite well as long as the resolution isn’t too high, and you are not using 3D. Since you refer to being unable to run Compiz, I suspect you are not.
    Check your xorg.conf file. If the ‘Driver’ option in the ‘Device’ section says ‘nv’, change it to ‘nvidia’.

    My xorg.conf’s can be found here:
    http://gerry.safehex.be/tmp/xorg.conf.exteral_dual (dual-head when docked)
    http://gerry.safehex.be/tmp/xorg.conf.laptop (single-head for normal use)

  2. I have no idea what “compiz” is, but I run Linux on a dual-head setup and it works perfectly. My window manager is “awesome”. My xorg.conf is on http://www.paeps.cx/~philip/xorg.conf.

    My .awesomerc is pretty much default except for some keybindings. Other than that, I don’t think I’m doing anything special. It “just works”.

    Of course, I am allergic to fancy graphics and stuff that moves, so your mileage may vary. One of the reasons I use sensible operating systems is that I don’t have to put up with “fancy” and I can just get my work done.

  3. I’ll compare my xorg.conf file with all the ones provided here. Thnx for the feedback!

    @Philip I don’t want to use the fancy grahpics stuff but if you have that up and running. Your grahpics card is probably configured correctly. I have dual-head up and running but I have a feeling it’s not done correctly.

  4. my dualscreen xorg.conf on my desktop:
    http://ghosty.be/ubuntu/

    plain and simple: philips is my primary display, other one is secondary, both 17″ 1280×1024 secondary is right of my primary

    the most important lines are these:
    Option “AddARGBVisuals” “True”
    Option “NoLogo” “True”
    Option “renderaccel” “true”
    Option “Twinview”
    Option “Metamodes” “1280×1024 1280×1024”
    Option “TwinviewOrientation” “Rightof”

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