 www.centos.org Forum Index CentOS 6 - Hardware Support  [RESOLVED] ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree).
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[RESOLVED] ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree). | #1 |
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Regular Board Member
 
Joined: 2010/11/24
From North Carolina, USA
Posts: 227
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I am building a 6.2 Desktop install for my Dell XPS 8000. The machine has an ATI Radeon 5450 card with two monitors. Here is how the monitors are setup under Ubunu 10.04 and how I want them on CentOS.
Left monitor, connected by VGA cable, 1280 x 1024 Right monitor, connected by DVI cable, 1680 x 1050 I have two separate desktops. I am NOT using Xinerama The Display Manager (Catalyst Control Center on Ubuntu) tells me that I have Multi-Display of type "Single display desktop (Multi-desktop)". I have separate and distinct panels on each monitor. The login dialog appears on the left monitor and it is the default Desktop (that is if I create a file on the right monitor Desktop, it appears on the left). Back to CentOS. The default driver recognized the card and monitors. However, I had only one panel and it was on the right monitor. I swapped the monitors using the Preferences; Display app and moved the main "Desktop" to the left but the panel stayed on the right monitor. I then downloaded the appropriate driver from ATI. I am now stuck with two identical displays and do not seem to be able to select "Multi-desktop" in the ATI app (yes I am running it with root permissions). I have posted the xorg.conf files below using the instructions on inserting formatted code although the forum is not formatting it for me in preview mode. As to the Ubuntu xorg.conf... It started in Ubuntu 9.10 with an nVIdia card and a lot of pick and shovel tweaking. I copied the file back onto a fresh 10.04 install as I could not reproduce it with the nVidia tool. When I changed to an ATI card I again replaced the xorg.conf with this monstrosity and after some kicking and stomping it has been working fine. I built a CentOS 6.0 install some time back. I do not remember if I simply copied the xorg.conf file to it or not. I (think) I have the 6.0 install on a hard drive in front of me and I will try booting the PC with it. I can of course continue to use my legacy xorg.conf. I have a backup copy in my safe deposit box at the bank Seriously, it is on my monthly and yearly backup disks. But I would really rather learn how to configure my displays from a new install. Any advise? TIA, Ken CentOS xorg.conf Ubuntu xorg.conf Here is my system info Information for general problems. |
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Posted on: 2012/6/14 16:23
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taylorkh
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Re: ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree). | #2 |
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Regular Board Member
Joined: 2010/11/24
From North Carolina, USA
Posts: 227
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Update:
I though it better to post a reply rather than to add to the OP which is already too long. The CentOS 6 disk does not boot so I have no idea what I accomplished back then. I did poke around on the ATI configuration tool in 6.2. I found a "Multi-desktop" choice and selected it. After rebooting I had only a single monitor, the right one. I copied over the current Ubuntu xorg.conf and I have the desired display layout with the exception of a couple of doppelgängers on the left panel. For example the "ken" icon in the notification area is present twice. Perhaps I will clean up the Ubuntu xorg.conf by trial and error and use it. I will of course print out a copy on acid free paper and send it to the Library of Congress once I have it working  That said, I (re)learned that CentOS starts User IDs at 500 where Ubuntu starts at 1000. So the permissions on my second hard drive are of course alien to CentOS. I think I will reinstall, set the first User to 1000 and try the Ubuntu xorg.conf without the aid of the ATI driver/software. Ken p.s. I am sort of doing a burn in on the SSD. Based on the reviews I have read on newegg.com they seem to fail quite quickly if they are going to fail. Better to have it crap out now rather than when I have the system all configured to my liking. Of course I will be putting Clonezilla through it paces as I move forward. |
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Posted on: 2012/6/14 17:16
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Re: ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree). | #3 |
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Moderator
Joined: 2006/12/13
From Tidewater, Virginia, North America
Posts: 18773
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There's way too much above to address in detail, but just let me say - try ELRepo kmod-fglrx.
If you have specific issues or questions about things like SSD that do not fit the subject (and never mind the partridge or the pear tree  ), please ask in a new topic. |
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_________________
Phil Recommended reading: FAQ & Readme first ; Search hint: google "your topic site:centos.org"; Smart Questions |
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Posted on: 2012/6/15 10:09
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Re: ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree). | #4 |
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Regular Board Member
Joined: 2010/11/24
From North Carolina, USA
Posts: 227
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Yesterday I could not even spell xorg.conf and today I have built one
Sorry Phil, All too often I see posts asking for assistance which provide too little data. I just got carried away. I must plead for your indulgence. I spent the past 3 weeks trying various distros on my netbook to try and find a replacement for Ubuntu 10.04. I started this project already somewhat burned out. I have posted my SSD question separately. That said, I think I have herded all of the ATI cats into one ring of the circus. Here is what I did... New install of CentOS 6.2 with all updates. Downloaded ATI driver & executed the run file Selected the option "Generate Distribution Specific Driver Package" (had not tried that before, no idea if it helped) The above referenced package automagically launched THIS TIME I ACTUALLY READ THE INSTRUCTIONS which told me to run aticonfig --initial after the installation Ran this as directed and rebooted Launched the ATI Catalyst gui with admin privileges Shoved the monitors into the desired positions left vs. right on the gui chalkboard Set the two monitors to "Single display desktop (Multi-desktop)" Saved and rebooted By some miracle the thing is working with the desired layout. The only issues have to do with the User Switcher in the notification area crashing. After a couple of reboots and telling it not to reload the darned thing it has gone away. No problem, I never use it. I also had two schedule notifiers. Deleted one and both are gone. Never use them either. In general I have found the notifier applet in Gnome2 to be rather flaky and not something I rely on. Bottom line, I have my two monitors lined up as I want them with the left being the real Desktop and two independent top panels. I have preserved a copy of the xorg.conf file in stone and am now on to my next trick. Re-learning how to setup yum priorities so I can really screw up my system  Please stick a fork in this thread. It is done! Thanks, Ken |
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Posted on: 2012/6/15 12:52
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Re: [RESOLVED] ATI Radeon 5450 and two monitors (and a partridge in a pear tree). | #5 |
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Moderator
Joined: 2006/12/13
From Tidewater, Virginia, North America
Posts: 18773
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Marking the thread [RESOLVED] per your request; however, the problem with that approach (as opposed to the recommended ELRepo kmod-fglrx drivers built from the manufacturer's release but as kABI tracking modules) is that it will break with each new kernel update. The other substantial advantage of kmod packages is that the nice folks at ELRepo take care of tracking and building updates for you.
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_________________
Phil Recommended reading: FAQ & Readme first ; Search hint: google "your topic site:centos.org"; Smart Questions |
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Posted on: 2012/6/15 20:45
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