[ale] Best way of setting up a 2nd monitor.

[Scott Castaline]

On 12/26/2010 05:06 PM, Richard Bronosky wrote:
>
> For your longer run I would suggest using a DVI to HDMI cable. The 
> digital is more tolerant than the analog VGA. But, before you buy a 
> long cable, try your tv out and make sure it doesn't overscan. I have 
> a sharp that always overscans the HDMI but not the VGA.
>
I have a VIZIO 22" and tried with an existing VGA (8ft) cable that I had 
and the result was my top and bottom panels and open windows moved to 
the 2nd screen, the VIZIO while the desktop icons stayed on the 1st 
screen, my Viewsonic 22". The specific models are on my original post, 
"Using a HDTV for 2nd monitor" with links to mfg web pages related to 
the model specs. The VIZIO does not have DVI inputs only 2 HDMI (1 type 
1 and the other type 2), VGA, composite, S-Video and RF. I wasn't able 
to try the HDMI as my current setup the viewsonic uses the HDMI output 
from the MoBo and I can't use the HDMI at the same time leaving only the 
VGA output, that is why I was wondering if I should leave my Viewsonic 
alone and install my HD3650 PCIe x16 for the VIZIO, this way I could go 
with HDMI or as you mentioned DVI-HDMI for the VIZIO. I could probably 
try it tomorrow, I think the VIZIO did come with a short HDMI cable.

I had also seen something about the limitations of Compiz-Fusion is 
restricted to a combined resolution that I had figured would be smaller 
than my 2 screens side by side, but was fine with one over the other. 
What effect would that have on my virtual display? Also what would 
happen if I were to set one over the other?
>> On Dec 26, 2010 4:58 PM, "Scott Castaline" <skotchman at gmail.com 
>> <mailto:skotchman at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>
>> I reference an earlier post as to using my HDTV as the 2nd monitor. This
>> is just a temporary solution until I get the necessary hardware for a
>> separate box for a MythTV solution. I am wondering if I'd be better off
>> using a 2nd video card for the other screen instead of using the 2nd
>> display port of the onboard video. My thought was to go with a 30ft VGA
>> cable from the VGA port to the TV. Doing that is there a way to control
>> which screen gets what desktop objects or can I just drag and drop them
>> to the desired part of the virtual display.
>>
>>  From what I've been able to find about xrandr it seems to only allow
>> positioning the 2nd screen either to the left, right, above or below the
>> primary screen, but no mention of object placement on the desktop. On
>> another forum someone had suggested using a separate video card or at
>> least something other than the onboard video to do this. Also before I
>> get the cable should I consider HDMI or would VGA be ok? As I said in my
>> earlier post I do have a HD3650 PCIe x16 card so I could go that route
>> which would allow me to go with the HDMI option since my primary is
>> using the DVI port on the onboard not allowing the use of the HDMI which
>> would require the use of VGA.
>>
>> With these options which way am I better going?
>>
>> 1. Primary monitor on the onboard vdeo DVI port and 2nd monitor on the
>> VGA port same video bd.  getting a 30 ft cable.
>>
>> 2. Primary monitor on the onboard video DVI port and the 2nd monitor on
>> the HD3650 going either VGA or HDMI same length cable needed.
>>
>> Also I believe on another thread (Re: [ale] xinit, autoexec, xorg, gdm,
>> kdm, etc.etc.,) Bryon Jeff (or Jeff Bryon) mentions running a 2nd copy
>> of X Server allowing 2 separate users with graphical access to the
>> system. I am wondering what is involved in setting that up and how
>> complicated would that be to do? What options to configurations would I
>> have?
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