Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Computer case for new build
Grant Edwards wrote: > On 2023-09-20, Dale wrote: >> Grant Edwards wrote: On 2023-09-18, Dale wrote: >> >>> The built-in Intel video on an oldish Intel i5 at the office is >>> currently driving 3 displays. The built-in video on the AMD at home is >>> driving 2 and, IIRC, could handle 2 more. >> Then maybe I can use the onboard one. At least I know it is a option. >> Most of the mobos I've seen, shich are older by the way, have only one >> port, usually a DB15. I think I got one around here somewhere that has >> a HDMI, I think. > The old i5 used to have an NVidia 3xx Quadro board installed which had > a dual DisplayPort pigtail cable with DisplayPort to DVI adapters to > drive two 1600x1200 monitors. I wasn't using the built-in graphics at > all because we've all known for decades that built-in graphics were > useless, right? > > Then the pandemic happened, and I brought the NVidia card and one of > those monitors home for the duration, leaving the other monitor > plugged in to the i5 motherboard's DVI output. > > Not too long after that, NVidia stopped supporting the Quadro card. I > got to a point where I needed to update the kernel for [some reason]. > But, the NVidia driver wasn't available for a kernel that recent. The > i5 motherboard I had at home at the time had DVI, HDMI, and DB15 > connectors on the back. I sort of assumed that the built-in graphics > could only mirror the same image onto multiple displays, but once I > got the right cables, it drove a 1600x1200 and a 1920x1200 at full > resolution with no problems. The one thing the built-in graphics > couldn't do is provide two separate X11 displays (instead of one > virtual display that's spread out over two monitors). For various > reasons I had always run multiple separate X11 desktops on NVidia > cards rather than one desktop spread over multiple monitors. But I got > used to the single large virtual desktop setup. > > I've since replaced the home i5 machine with a Ryzen 5 3400G, and it > was definitely a step up in video performance. > > Then I acquired a couple more monitors so that I had three at the > office. That i5 motherboard has DVI, HDMI, mini-DisplayPort and DB15 > connectors. With the right adapter cables, I was able to connect two > 1600x1200 monitors to DVI and HDMI, plus a 1600x900 monitor to the > mini-DP port. It drives all of them at their native resolutions. > > I don't do any heavy duty gaming or 3D stuff, so I can't vouch for > performance in that area. But both the i5 and Ryzen 5 have HW > direct-rending 3D support, and the RC heli/plane flight simulator I do > play with seems happy enough (the two year old Ryzen 3400G does > maintain noticably higher frame-rates than the ten year old i5-3570K). > > Neither one of these processors was top of the class for integrated > graphics when they were introduced. I tend to go for lower TDP to > keep fan noise down, and that limits GPU performance. > > -- > Grant The way my displays are set up is like this. In nvidia-settings, I set my monitor as primary. In nvidia-settings, I set the second display, sometimes called screen 1, to be to the right of primary display. Primary is also called screen 0 in places. Names seem to change at times. My usual computer stuff is on the primary screen, screen 0. However, to watch TV, I right click on file and pick smplayer. Now smplayer is set to go to screen 1, right display, automatically and go full screen. Also, sound is set to go there as well. It behaves just the same as it does when I'm watching some other device, cable etc. Neither of the displays takes much as far as power goes. Heck, a lot of videos I watch are only 720p anyway. From what you describe, that should be more than enough for my uses. It seems that the way on board stuff works even with Linux has come a long ways. Sounds like the Linux drivers have come a long ways too. This is good to know. It helps with some options at least. Dale :-) :-)
[gentoo-user] Re: Computer case for new build
On 2023-09-20, Dale wrote: > Grant Edwards wrote: On 2023-09-18, Dale wrote: > >> The built-in Intel video on an oldish Intel i5 at the office is >> currently driving 3 displays. The built-in video on the AMD at home is >> driving 2 and, IIRC, could handle 2 more. > > Then maybe I can use the onboard one. At least I know it is a option. > Most of the mobos I've seen, shich are older by the way, have only one > port, usually a DB15. I think I got one around here somewhere that has > a HDMI, I think. The old i5 used to have an NVidia 3xx Quadro board installed which had a dual DisplayPort pigtail cable with DisplayPort to DVI adapters to drive two 1600x1200 monitors. I wasn't using the built-in graphics at all because we've all known for decades that built-in graphics were useless, right? Then the pandemic happened, and I brought the NVidia card and one of those monitors home for the duration, leaving the other monitor plugged in to the i5 motherboard's DVI output. Not too long after that, NVidia stopped supporting the Quadro card. I got to a point where I needed to update the kernel for [some reason]. But, the NVidia driver wasn't available for a kernel that recent. The i5 motherboard I had at home at the time had DVI, HDMI, and DB15 connectors on the back. I sort of assumed that the built-in graphics could only mirror the same image onto multiple displays, but once I got the right cables, it drove a 1600x1200 and a 1920x1200 at full resolution with no problems. The one thing the built-in graphics couldn't do is provide two separate X11 displays (instead of one virtual display that's spread out over two monitors). For various reasons I had always run multiple separate X11 desktops on NVidia cards rather than one desktop spread over multiple monitors. But I got used to the single large virtual desktop setup. I've since replaced the home i5 machine with a Ryzen 5 3400G, and it was definitely a step up in video performance. Then I acquired a couple more monitors so that I had three at the office. That i5 motherboard has DVI, HDMI, mini-DisplayPort and DB15 connectors. With the right adapter cables, I was able to connect two 1600x1200 monitors to DVI and HDMI, plus a 1600x900 monitor to the mini-DP port. It drives all of them at their native resolutions. I don't do any heavy duty gaming or 3D stuff, so I can't vouch for performance in that area. But both the i5 and Ryzen 5 have HW direct-rending 3D support, and the RC heli/plane flight simulator I do play with seems happy enough (the two year old Ryzen 3400G does maintain noticably higher frame-rates than the ten year old i5-3570K). Neither one of these processors was top of the class for integrated graphics when they were introduced. I tend to go for lower TDP to keep fan noise down, and that limits GPU performance. -- Grant
Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Computer case for new build
Grant Edwards wrote: > On 2023-09-18, Dale wrote: > >> Well, for one, I usually upgrade the video card several times before I >> upgrade the mobo. When it is built in, not a option. I think I'm on my >> third in this rig. I also need multiple outputs, two at least. One for >> monitor and one for TV. > The built-in Intel video on an oldish Intel i5 at the office is > currently driving 3 displays. The built-in video on the AMD at home is > driving 2 and, IIRC, could handle 2 more. > > -- > Grant > > > . > Then maybe I can use the onboard one. At least I know it is a option. Most of the mobos I've seen, shich are older by the way, have only one port, usually a DB15. I think I got one around here somewhere that has a HDMI, I think. That's good to know. Dale :-) :-)
[gentoo-user] Re: Computer case for new build
On 2023-09-18, Dale wrote: > Well, for one, I usually upgrade the video card several times before I > upgrade the mobo. When it is built in, not a option. I think I'm on my > third in this rig. I also need multiple outputs, two at least. One for > monitor and one for TV. The built-in Intel video on an oldish Intel i5 at the office is currently driving 3 displays. The built-in video on the AMD at home is driving 2 and, IIRC, could handle 2 more. -- Grant
