Arch Linux

Velines

Member

Registered: 2013-05-29

Posts: 8

Intel GMA950, Gnome 3 and dual display

Hi everyone,
I'm running Arch with Gnome 3 on a Dell Mini 9 (Vostro A90) netbook. It runs okay (Gnome 3 is a bit slow on the machine, but at least it works) using only the internal display.
However, I also need to use the vga output from time to time, which unfortunately does not work: As soon as I connect an external display, GUI responses are slow with response times > 60 seconds.
I'm currently using the SNA acceleration method, but disabling SNA does not change anything. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks in advance
Velines

Gusar

Member

Registered: 2009-08-25

Posts: 3,607

Re: Intel GMA950, Gnome 3 and dual display

The GMA950 can only accelerate up to a resolution of 2048x2048. If the combined resolution of your displays exceed that, there's trouble. Sometimes it's possible to get around this by stacking the displays top/bottom (using the xrandr option --below or --above) instead of left/right. Basically, the combined resolution must fit into 2048x2048.

Velines

Member

Registered: 2013-05-29

Posts: 8

Re: Intel GMA950, Gnome 3 and dual display

The GMA950 can only accelerate up to a resolution of 2048x2048. If the combined resolution of your displays exceed that, there's trouble. Sometimes it's possible to get around this by stacking the displays top/bottom (using the xrandr option --below or --above) instead of left/right. Basically, the combined resolution must fit into 2048x2048.

My external display is 1920x1200, so that's the issue. Thanks for your explanation! Looks like I have to switch my desktop environment

Gusar

Member

Registered: 2009-08-25

Posts: 3,607

Re: Intel GMA950, Gnome 3 and dual display

Assuming the internal display is 1024x600, top/bottom stacking gives you 1920x1800. That fits into 2048x2048.