Ubuntu scaling across multiple monitors and managing workspaces
Ubuntu scaling across multiple monitors and managing workspaces
I'm facing some challenges with setting up multiple monitors on my Ubuntu machine. It's a MacBook Pro 13", running Ubuntu 16.04 (with MacBook 11.1 xenial), Unity and Compiz. My goal is to connect a 1920x1080 display and use it alongside the built-in 2560x1600 (16:10) screen. Problem #1, Scaling: Most of the time I use my laptop on campus, so everything is adjusted for that display using the Scale menu option under Display settings. But when I connect the larger monitor, the resolution jumps about 33%. I want the scaling to match exactly what's on the MacBook screen. I attempted this with xrandr, thinking I could upscale the external monitor by 33% (resulting in 2560x1440). I ran: xrandr --output HDMI2 --scale 1.3333x1.3333 --panning 2560x1440. This scales the desktop on the external screen to 2560x1440, but it appears magnified into 1920x1080. It's hard to see the whole screen at once, so I have to shift the cursor to the edge to view the full area. Trying without panning, I scaled the titlebar and UI to a manageable size, but the bottom third of the screen is hidden by the top part of my laptop, and the right side is completely black, making it impossible to move the mouse there. Issue #2, Workspaces: I rely heavily on Workspaces and want them to stay consistent across external monitors. Ubuntu created a 2x2 workspace layout on the external display as well. However, switching workspaces between laptop and external monitor causes both to update simultaneously, which is not ideal. I only want changes to reflect on the active monitor. I tried enabling this behavior in Compizconfig, but it didn't seem to take effect.
I'm checking if the window manager was built for a single monitor. I'm focusing on improving workspace features in my current version. You can find more details on their GitHub page: https://github.com/AaroniusLeonius/Compiz-Multi-Monitor. For now, it's suggested to install your graphics driver.
I’m glad you’re following along! The information you shared suggests some compatibility considerations. Your GPU is an Intel HD Iris graphics card, which is compatible with x86_64 Linux. You’re using Ubuntu 16.04 with a custom Compiz setup. For drivers, Intel’s official drivers for your specific GPU model are usually the best starting point. If you decide to switch to GNOME or KDE, they offer good support for multi-monitor setups and touch gestures, though some configurations may require adjusting your desktop layout. Installing a new version of Compiz might mean reconfiguring your desktop, but it’s manageable if you’re comfortable with the process.
I set up Gnome and resolved the workspace problem. Now I'm focusing on adjusting the scaling and arranging my desktop.
Gnome works adequately at the moment. There are a few challenges: I’m unable to revert back to Unity from the login screen, and the installation process seems to affect my boot order. The scaling issue persists since I can only apply system-wide HiDPi adjustments, not per-monitor settings.
I don't think Gnome is a good choice. It's really frustrating. I tried applying a dark theme globally but got confused with options and titlebars. Then I switched back to Unity, but the scaling and trackpad settings still didn't work as expected. It seems Gnome altered those settings in Unity too. I don't need multiple workspaces since my screen only shows a few lines of code.
If you're connecting the 960 as an external GPU, consider using the NVIDIA Linux driver. http://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverRes...4708/en-us It should be compatible with your hardware.
I discovered a method to adjust titlebars and menus on the external screen using this link: http://askubuntu.com/questions/614301/ho...e-monitors. This ensures they scale independently. However, it only affects titlebars and menus—apps, courses, icons on the desktop remain unchanged.