(2) monitors, (2) Nvidia GPUs - system screwed

[ajgringo619]

I just added a 2nd monitor to my system that already has (2) GPUs (one GTX 1070, one GTX 1050 Ti). What is the trick to get both monitors to work? After going through the nvidia-settings app, it gave me this xorg config:

Code: Select all

# nvidia-settings: X configuration file generated by nvidia-settings
# nvidia-settings:  version 460.39


Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier     "Layout0"
    Screen      0  "Screen0" 0 0
    Screen      1  "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"
    InputDevice    "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
    InputDevice    "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
    Option         "Xinerama" "0"
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load           "dbe"
    Load           "extmod"
    Load           "type1"
    Load           "freetype"
    Load           "glx"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Mouse0"
    Driver         "mouse"
    Option         "Protocol" "auto"
    Option         "Device" "/dev/psaux"
    Option         "Emulate3Buttons" "no"
    Option         "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

    # generated from default
    Identifier     "Keyboard0"
    Driver         "kbd"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor0"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Acer XF270H B"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 180.0
    VertRefresh     48.0 - 144.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"

    # HorizSync source: edid, VertRefresh source: edid
    Identifier     "Monitor1"
    VendorName     "Unknown"
    ModelName      "Acer XF270H B"
    HorizSync       30.0 - 180.0
    VertRefresh     48.0 - 144.0
    Option         "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device0"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 1070"
    BusID          "PCI:8:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier     "Device1"
    Driver         "nvidia"
    VendorName     "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BoardName      "GeForce GTX 1050 Ti"
    BusID          "PCI:9:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen0"
    Device         "Device0"
    Monitor        "Monitor0"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-1"
    Option         "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0"
    Option         "SLI" "Off"
    Option         "MultiGPU" "Off"
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "off"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier     "Screen1"
    Device         "Device1"
    Monitor        "Monitor1"
    DefaultDepth    24
    Option         "Stereo" "0"
    Option         "metamodes" "nvidia-auto-select +0+0 {AllowGSYNC=Off}"
    Option         "SLI" "Off"
    Option         "MultiGPU" "Off"
    Option         "BaseMosaic" "off"
    SubSection     "Display"
        Depth       24
    EndSubSection
EndSection

This, however, causes my system to crawl, with no window manager title bars/edges, nothing but a mouse cursor on the 2nd monitor. Since both monitors are exactly the same, I thought this would be simple. To verify that the setup is working hardware-wise, I booted into my Windows 10 and it was fine. Also, I've been running this way with a single monitor for months, with the 1050 card going 24/7 with BOINC.

One more thing I found: my window manager, xfwm4, core-dumped at least 4 times in my last attempt to get both monitors working.

[roblm]

Your setup will probably work without any additional configuration if the nouveau driver is used.

Using the Nvidia driver is possible if the GPUs are identical or very similar, but there may be some display problems using Cinnamon, such as the background being black. Xinerama has to be enabled in the Nvidia Settings utility. Or you can edit the xorg.conf file and change the value in the line Option "Xinerama" "0" to 1.

MATE or Xfce work better. I assume you are using Xfce.

To find out if the two GPUs are similar enough, use this command to upload the Xorg.0.log file to terminal.com pastebin: cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | nc termbin.com 9999

Post the URL address that displays in the Terminal window.

Another option that usually works well is to replace one of the Nvidia cards with an AMD card. The Nvidia card should be in PCIe slot 1. No configuration file is needed.

[ajgringo619]

Thanks for the suggestions. . I really can't switch to an AMD card, unless I can find one that's super-low power like the 1050 Ti. For now, I find it easier to just use (1) GPU (the 1070) for both monitors and leave the other to BOINC.

Here's the termbin link: https://termbin.com/4t6m

[roblm]

Did you enable Xinerama before uploading the log?

The AMD card can be an inexpensive one. A HD 5000 series or higher will work fine.

[ajgringo619]

Did you enable Xinerama before uploading the log?

The AMD card can be an inexpensive one. A HD 5000 series or higher will work fine.

Sorry, I didn't. I'll have to try again later on this evening.