Problem with a new install: X, Radeon 4650, and xf86-video-ati

Question

Hi guys,
I am trying to setup a new install here but am getting stuck at X (I have been following the beginners guide).
Everything is stock (kernel, not [testing], etc.).
I have a ATI Radeon HD 4650 and am using the xf86-video-ati driver. I want to use dual monitors with this card (one 1920x1080 and another 1680x1050), but as far as I can tell, this is not the root of the problem. KMS is enabled by default and works well (with the exception of some slight artifacts on the 1080p monitor). I have tried to disable KMS but to no avail. But here is the essence  of my situtaion:
Note: Yes, hal & dbus are both running.
Running X as root without Xorg.conf: Mirrored at 1680x1050
Running X as root with Xorg.conf: Black screens
Running X as normal without Xorg.conf: Mirrored at 1680x1050
Running X as normal with Xorg.conf: Black screens
Note: The Xorg.conf is being taken from X -configure as well as taken from Xorg.0.log
My /var/log/Xorg.0.log can be found here: http://pastebin.ca/1877044 (after attempting to run X as a normal user without Xorg.conf)
Why can't I use a xorg.conf? How can I setup dual displays at their native resolutions?
Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

oh boy ...been in your exact situation before. I have a radeon 4890 HD. Very easy to get running the way you want it, once you know the steps to take of course.
btw, I've ALWAYS found it easier to run X with an xorg.conf file.
The way you go about setting up a dual head radeon card is actually very simple.
First, delete your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file if you have one.
Second, run "sudo aticonfig --initial=dual-head"
Third, make sure the fglrx module is mentioned in your rc.conf file under modules.
aticonfig will then create a new xorg.conf file for you that will work with your dual head.
A few tweaks to the xorg.conf file before you start x:
Decide whether you would like to run Xinerama or not. Xinerama may or may not have any benefits, but I've had much more success by keeping it off.
You do that by:
Section "ServerFlags"
          Option          "Xinerama"  "off"
EndSection
Make sure 'Load "dri2"' and 'Load "dri"' are commented out under section 'module'
Lastly, specify your display size under Section "Screen" (you should have two screen sections)
Do this by adding Modes     "1920x1080" under each SubSection "Display" .... or just take a shortcut and put it under the last subsection like I did.
Do it again for the your other screen section.
You are going to make a "virtual" screen, which would exist if your two physical screens were joined into one big one.
So put under your second "screen" section, Virtual 3360 3360 (I have two 1680x1050 monitors)
attatched is my xorg.conf for clarification:
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "X.org Configured"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0" 0 0
InputDevice "Mouse0" "CorePointer"
InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection
Section "Files"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/misc"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/TTF"
FontPath "/usr/share/fonts/Type1"
EndSection
Section "Module"
# Load "dri2"
# Load "dri"
Load "record"
Load "extmod"
Load "glx"
Load "dbe"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
Option "Xinerama" "off"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Keyboard0"
Driver "kbd"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Mouse0"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Protocol" "auto"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5 6 7"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Monitor0"
VendorName "Monitor Vendor"
ModelName "Monitor Model"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]-0"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "0-DFP1"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
Option "PreferredMode" "1680x1050"
Option "TargetRefresh" "60"
Option "Position" "1680 0"
Option "Rotate" "normal"
Option "Disable" "false"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "0-DFP2"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
Option "PreferredMode" "1680x1050"
Option "TargetRefresh" "60"
Option "Position" "0 0"
Option "Rotate" "normal"
Option "Disable" "false"
EndSection
Section "Device"
### Available Driver options are:-
### Values: <i>: integer, <f>: float, <bool>: "True"/"False",
### <string>: "String", <freq>: "<f> Hz/kHz/MHz"
### [arg]: arg optional
#Option "NoAccel" # [<bool>]
#Option "AccelMethod" # [<str>]
#Option "offscreensize" # [<str>]
#Option "SWcursor" # [<bool>]
#Option "ignoreconnector" # [<str>]
#Option "forcereduced" # [<bool>]
#Option "forcedpi" # <i>
#Option "useconfiguredmonitor" # [<bool>]
#Option "HPD" # <str>
#Option "NoRandr" # [<bool>]
#Option "RROutputOrder" # [<str>]
#Option "DRI" # [<bool>]
#Option "TVMode" # [<str>]
#Option "ScaleType" # [<str>]
#Option "UseAtomBIOS" # [<bool>]
#Option "AtomBIOS" # [<str>]
#Option "UnverifiedFeatures" # [<bool>]
#Option "Audio" # [<bool>]
#Option "AudioStreamSilence" # [<str>]
#Option "HDMI" # [<str>]
#Option "COHERENT" # [<str>]
#Option "ForceLowPowerMode" # [<bool>]
#Option "LowPowerModeEngineClock" # <i>
Identifier "Card0"
Driver "radeonhd"
VendorName "ATI Technologies Inc"
BoardName "RV790 [Radeon HD 4800 Series]"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "Monitor-DFP1" "0-DFP1"
Option "Monitor-DFP2" "0-DFP2"
BusID "PCI:2:0:0"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Card0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 1
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 4
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 8
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 15
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 16
EndSubSection
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]-0"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]-0"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Viewport 0 0
Virtual 3360 3360
Depth 24
Modes "1680x1050"
EndSubSection
EndSection