Adding a second monitor on Linux Mint
 

I am running a Linux Mint 17.1 (Rebecca) on a first gen I7 desktop machine. The existing graphics card has HDMI and sub min D type outputs, both sockets produce the same view of the desktop picture. I would like to add a second monitor which can display a different view of the same desktop with the obvious capability to cut and paste stuff from applications showing on one monitor to applications showing on the other.

Obviously, I need a second (or different?) graphics card and a second monitor but what else do I need to get? Do I need to install more/different software/drivers?

Can someone advise in words of few sylablles? I am not a sys op but I can usually muddle through and get things working.

Ta. Rans6.....

You may very well be able to use both ports on the existing video card to run it dual monitor extended desktop, depending on the capabilities of the card. What make and model card is it?

https://www.techwalla.com/articles/h...-in-linux-mint

I have to hand 2 graphics cards. Neither suggests, on the box labelling, that it can support 2 independent display views.

1) Gigabyte GT730 with 2GB GDDR5 ram.

2) Gigabyte GE Force 210 with 1GB DDR3 ram.

One of these cards is installed in the machine, the other is currently spare. I have two monitors ready and waiting, one supports VGA and HDMI, the other just VGA. I think I can lay my hands on sufficient cables.

Is my best bet to just plug and see if it plays? Try all the combinations of one card, the other card, two cards etc and see if the software lets me configure?

Ta,

Rans6andrew.

According to the manufacturer specs the GT 730 GDDR5 can actually handle three displays, although that might depend on how a particular manufacturer has packaged it - whatever, it can definitely drive two monitors.

https://www.geforce.com/hardware/des...specifications

The Geforce 210 will only drive two monitors apparently.

So yes, I'd just give it a go with whichever card is installed. As you've observed, by default the displays are mirrored but fiddling with the configuration as shown in the previous post should give you an extended desktop.

Thanks Le P. I'll have a play with it in the morning. I have plugged stuff in before but never two monitors at the same time followed by rebooting.

Fingers crossed.

Rans6...........

There should be no need to reboot - just plug it in & adjust the video settings to suit.

I got shot in the foot very slightly. I confused HDMI with DVI sockets. On inspection both graphics cards have Sub min D (15 way), HDMI and DVI-D connectors. One monitor has only Sub min D connection, the other has Sub min D and DVI-D. I do have a spare HDMI lead but that is no use to me. I have a spare Sub Min D lead and a Sub Min D to DVI-A converter, all in the right gender. Unfortunately the DVI-A converter cannot be plugged into the DVI-D graphics card output because it has 4 pins at the blade end which don't have matching holes on the graphics card's connector.

I wonder if my mother board has another slot available to suit the spare graphics card? if the my OS can work two monitors on different graphics cards.

I also wonder if I can swap about any of our other monitors to find one with HDMI?

Enough upheaval for this morning already.

Rans6.........

I've not used two video cards but having two nvidia cards probably makes it a bit easier. The easiest solution would be finding a DVI cable or a suitable adapter. Do the sockets on both cards have the same problem? Many cards have all the full set of holes.

Well done! The GE-Force 210 has a DVI socket with all of the holes available. It was still in it's packaging and has a plastic cap over the DVI connector so I couldn't see until I opened it. Fancy the cheaper card with less RAM having a better socket than the better one!

Until later....

Rans6....