[mythtv-users] Suggestions for dual-headed configuration

[Yan Seiner]

Allen Edwards wrote:
>
>
> On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 6:02 AM, Richard Hartmann 
> <richih.mailinglist at gmail.com <mailto:richih.mailinglist at gmail.com>> 
> wrote:
>
>     Hi all,
>
>     after reading what the wiki [1] has to offer wrt X.org setups, I am
>     still unsure on how to set up my box.
>
>     I have one GFX card with two DVI outlets (my old card & CPU seem to be
>     beefy enough, after all. Yay). I want to use one for a desktop and the
>     other one for my TV. For now, the TV will not be connected at all
>     times
>     as I decided to get some experience with my desktop before
>     purchasing a
>     dedicated system. Ideally, I would want to switch the secondary (TV)
>     display on and off on demand without quitting my desktop session.
>
>     Does this make sense? If yes, does anyone have a setup like this and
>     is willing to share his/her xorg.conf?
>
>
>     Richard
>
>
> This is trivial and supported out of the box.  Just run 
> nvidia-settings with the TV plugged in and enable the second monitor. 
>  Set it up as a separate display and NOT twinview.  You will get 
> exactly what you want. I have two machines set up that way right now. 
>   The only issue you might have is setting the system up so that the 
> monitor you want is the main one.  Worst case, you edit your xorg.conf 
> file and put them in the right order after seeing how they come up. 
>  Or, you might switch the cables and run nvidia-settings again.  Both 
> of my set ups are CRT and TV.  One of my set ups is really a CRT and 
> either a projector or a TV depending on which one is turned on.
>
> Don't let anyone tell you this is complicated and requires some exotic 
> setup unless you want to do as Yan suggests and have an exotic setup 
> but two monitors on one machine with a single mouse and keyboard is 
> easy.  
Yup, that's why I wanted to clarify the difference between dual-head and 
multi-seat.  One is easy; the other is still on the bleeding edge, 
although less so as time goes on.  There is a big push to get it working.

One thing to keep in mind:  The nvidia driver turns off any output that 
is not connected.  Since nvidia doesn't support randr 1.2+, there is no 
way to turn on an output short of unloading the nvidia module, plugging 
in the monitor, and reloading the module.

--Yan