[Hardy] how to extend desktop with intel driver

[Johannes Schmid]

When I updated to hardy, first the default resolution changed from 1280x800 to 1024x768 though this could be fixed using the configuration applet. (just a bit annoying...)

But, setting the screen resolution of a second monitor to 1680x1080 was not possible, maximum resolution was 1280x800. 915resolution would have fixed it but it cannot be installed together with the newer intel driver.

In addition it would be nice to be able to add an options for Xinerama in the applet instead of defaulting to clone.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

The new Intel driver doesn't need 915resolution anymore since it recognizes wide screen resolution on its own and Xinerama isn't supported anymore because it was replaced with xrandr.
I guess the problem is your old xorg.conf. Please regenerate a new one with the command "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg" and restart X.
If it still happens please provide the following information:

/etc/X11/xorg.conf
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
output of lspci -vvnn
output of sudo ddcprobe
output of xrandr

Maybe the Virtual limitation could be a problem. How do you want to configure your second monitor? Clone mode, left or right of or something like that?

[Johannes Schmid (jhs.schmid)]

Thanks for your reply!

Well, I did not have any xorg.conf (is it still needed?). Anyway, after I reconfigured xserver-xorg and created an xorg.conf I could enable clone mode.

Anyway, I don't want clone mode so I probably want xrandr (with extern monitor on the left). Is there any GUI (displayconfig-gtk did not work) or do I have to edit the configuration by hand somewhere?

Thanks!

Output of xrandr:
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 800, maximum 1680 x 1680
VGA connected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
   1680x1050 59.9 + 60.0
   1280x1024 75.0 59.9
   1440x900 75.0 59.9
   1280x960 59.9
   1152x864 75.0 74.8
   1024x768 75.1 60.0
   832x624 74.6
   800x600 75.0 60.3 56.2
   640x480 75.0 60.0
   720x400 70.1
LVDS connected 1280x800+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 331mm x 207mm
   1280x800 60.0*+ 60.0
   1280x768 60.0
   1024x768 60.0
   800x600 60.3
   640x480 59.9
TV disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Just add the follow line to your xorg.conf device section:

Virtual 2960 1050

The problem is that the Intel driver doesn't support DRI (hardware acceleration) with Virtual sizes over 2048 (Bug #146859). This is an hardware limitation for older Intel hardware but afaik not for newer (at least i965). With this option it should be possible to use the external monitor with native resolution left or right of your LFP but afaik only without DRI. Since Hardy you have a gui for xrandr - Screen resolution.
Below or above would work with DRI but it isn't so comfortable :-D . I personally disable my LFP every time the external monitor is connected.
If X doesn't start after adding the option you possibly experience bug #188178 which could be fixed through adding another line mentioned in the report.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Btw. examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report and subsequently we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs.
For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs