xorg.conf configuration for nVidia TwinView on the Dell D620

20060908 4:46 by javier

I managed to get TwinView working on the Dell Latitude D620 under Debian GNU/Linux and I’ve been using it for a few weeks now without any problem whatsoever.

The key section in /etc/X11/xorg.conf is this:

Section “Device”
Identifier “Generic Video Card”
Driver “nvidia”
BusID “PCI:1:0:0″
Option “TwinView”
Option “MetaModes” “1280×1024, 1440×900; NULL, 1440×900″
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Generic Monitor”
Option “DPMS”
HorizSync 28-72
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “External Monitor”
Option “DPMS”
HorizSync 28-72
VertRefresh 43-60
EndSection

I’m using an external 1280×1024 LCD, and I use the KDE control center (Peripherals/Display) to switch between metamodes. The nice thing is that whenever the X server starts and it doesn’t sense the external display it automagically defaults to using only the built-in display. Moreover, TwinView handles gracefully the “hole” below the 1440×900 display. Now what I’d really like to do is to specify that the primary monitor is the built-in display instead of the external LCD, but that can wait a bit longer.

Of course, you can download the complete xorg.conf I’m using, with my finely-tuned (right) TrackPoint and TouchPad configuration.

Tags: nVidia, TwinView, Dell, D620, Debian, GNU, Linux, Xorg

This entry was posted on Friday, September 8th, 2006 at 4:46 and is filed under Dell D620, Gadgets, General, Linux, SysAdmin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

5 Responses to “xorg.conf configuration for nVidia TwinView on the Dell D620”

Art Fore Says:
December 2nd, 2006 at 6:12
You info was very valuable. Only thing I did was not use Twinview. Works great.

Art
Thomas Krichel Says:
February 17th, 2007 at 14:22
I have a the same laptop, and use your xorg.conf. But I don’t get the server to run with it, only when I recplace nvidia with the nv driver. I have a pretty complete description of the issue at

http://openlib.org/home/krichel/debian_dell_latitude_d620/

It is the last of the four issues I had with the machine, three still open, one (sound) fixed.
Christoph Says:
March 21st, 2007 at 23:33
This one saved me at least two hours! Thanks!!
nVidia Says:
April 6th, 2007 at 2:44
Awesome read. Really handy info.
Theo Says:
July 16th, 2007 at 15:11
My D620 is much, much happier today!

Using the built-in NVIDA loader and looking at many web sites for further help, I just could not get the driver to load.

I think a critical element you put in was commenting out this line: Load “dri”