Sometimes Google is just not enough. Especially when you’ve clicked hundreds of results, hoping you will find the right answer to your problem. My problem was the Matrox G550 video card and its missing drivers for the modern, nowadays versions of Linux. In my case, the distro is Ubuntu.
I have tried to do everything I found on Google about how to set up X in order to display on dual monitor configuration. After hours of trying almost everything, I have combined all information I found and managed to find the workaround for Matrox G550 dual monitor configuration.
This config is maybe not the perfect one, but it is tested and it works! I can move windows from one screen to the other and I can also configure panels and desktop background independently.
Enough talking! Here is xorg.conf for Matrox G550 dual monitor on Ubuntu Linux:
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Simple Layout"
Screen 0 "Screen 0"
Screen 1 "Screen 1" RightOf "Screen 0"
InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
Option "Xinerama" "on"
Option "Clone" "off"
EndSection
Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
Option "RANDR" "Enable"
EndSection
Section "Files"
RgbPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
FontPath "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "dbe"
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx"
Load "dri"
Load "GLcore"
Load "xtrap"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard1"
Driver "Keyboard"
Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
Option "XkbModel" "pc101"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
Option "XkbCompat" ""
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse1"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "PS/2"
Option "Device" "/dev/mouse"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Screen 0"
Option "LeftOf" "Screen 1"
Option "Primary" "true"
HorizSync 30.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Option "RightOf" "Screen 0"
HorizSync 30.0 - 83.0
VertRefresh 56.0 - 75.0
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "MGA CARD 1"
VendorName "Matrox Graphics, Inc."
Driver "mga"
BusID "pci:0000:02:00.0"
Option "DigitalScreen1" "on"
Screen 0
Option "Monitor-DVI-I" "Screen 0"
Option "Monitor-DVI-II" "Screen 1"
Option "MonitorLayout" "CRT, CRT+LFP"
Option "HWCursor" "on"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "MGA CARD 2"
VendorName "Matrox Graphics, Inc."
Driver "mga"
BusID "pci:0000:02:00.0"
Option "DigitalScreen2" "on"
Screen 1
Option "Monitor-DVI-I" "Screen 0"
Option "Monitor-DVI-II" "Screen 1"
Option "MonitorLayout" "CRT, CRT+LFP"
Option "HWCursor" "on"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 0"
Device "MGA CARD 1"
Monitor "Screen 0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "RenderAccel" "true"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1600x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "MGA CARD 2"
Monitor "Screen 1"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "RenderAccel" "true"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "1600x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
Modes "1600x900" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
You should really start using featured images, it would do wonders on the great content you have over here!
Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, this is a tech blog. What’s important is in the content. But, of course, if there will be something to show in pictures, I will post featured images also. 🙂