I am setting up a PC for a friend. He has the following setup:

Kubuntu 9.04

ATI Radeon 9550 (RV350 AS) with one VGA and one DVI port

Connected on DVI:
Samsung SyncMaster 940B - 19 inch
Resolution: 1280x1024
Hor freq: 30-81khz
Vert freq: 56-75khz

Connected on VGA:
Compaq 5017 - 15 inch
Resolution: 1024x768
Hor freq: 30-61khz
Vert freq: 56-75khz

The Samsung on DVI is the primary monitor and the secondary monitor is on VGA to the right of the primary. As you see, there is different resolutions on the monitors.

The BusID of the primary is 03:00.0 and the secondary is 03:00.1, but I am not sure if it is the DVI or the VGA that has the primary BusID.

I have loaded opensource drivers and tried to set up merged framebuffer mode according to several howto's, but nothing works yet. I have picture on both monitors, but it is mirrored, not independent monitors.

The machine will either boot with both monitors set to 1280x1024 or 1024x768. If it is in the first resolution and I click on the Display config in the settings, the resolution pops back to 1024x768. Seems like it is impossible for the Display settings to treat the outputs/monitors as separate.

The Display settings can see both monitors. It can even see that there is an S-video output, but nothing is connected there. But there is one crucial button missing: The one to stop using mirrored mode. I think someone forgot to put it into the interface

Any suggestions? I have used a whole day editing xorg.conf by hand and rebooting the pc. Getting pretty tired of it and ready to pull out the rest of my hair... And running Kubuntu with no xorg.conf at all seems to work just as good or better than having some kind of smart setup there!

All I want is to get the monitors working the way they do in WindowsXP. Move windows between the monitors, have different wallpapers on each of them, maximize a program to only one monitor... This should be possible, right?

Have you tried the Multiple Monitors configuration tool in System Settings > Display?

bcooksley wrote:Have you tried the Multiple Monitors configuration tool in System Settings > Display?

The machine will either boot with both monitors set to 1280x1024 or 1024x768. If it is in the first resolution and I click on the Display config in the settings, the resolution pops back to 1024x768. Seems like it is impossible for the Display settings to treat the outputs/monitors as separate.

The Display settings can see both monitors. It can even see that there is an S-video output, but nothing is connected there. But there is one crucial button missing: The one to stop using mirrored mode. I think someone forgot to put it into the interface Smile

In Size & Orientation, there is a setting to stop using "Mirrored Mode". First find which output is the "Secondary" and expand it. Ensure the "Position" is set to "left of", "right of", etc. This will allow you to specify independent resolutions also. You will then be able to use Multiple monitors to complete the configuration.

bcooksley wrote:In Size & Orientation, there is a setting to stop using "Mirrored Mode". First find which output is the "Secondary" and expand it. Ensure the "Position" is set to "left of", "right of", etc. This will allow you to specify independent resolutions also. You will then be able to use Multiple monitors to complete the configuration.

Hmm... Take a look at this screenshot:



Maybe I am missing the very obvious here. Grateful for any pointers

I was unable to access the screenshot you posted. It is shown up as a blank image, and wget shows it as empty.

bcooksley wrote:I was unable to access the screenshot you posted. It is shown up as a blank image, and wget shows it as empty.

Sorry. Maybe it is better to just go to this site:

http://www.twitpic.com/photos/Oceanwatcher

I have never seen that before, also the Multiple Monitors tool appears to be missing, which was shipped was KDE 4.2 I believe. There are two possible reasons for "Position" not showing:

1) The graphics card, despite having two outputs, only supports one "CRTC". Each different display needs one. ( two outputs sharing the same display only needs one )

2) Kubuntu have removed the feature.

You can check the CRTC's by posting the output of "xrandr --verbose"

Here is what it should have looked like: http://imagebin.org/46730

bcooksley wrote:Here is what it should have looked like: http://imagebin.org/46730

Wow. So my eyes are still somewhat working ok

I will post in the Kubuntu forum and ask ppl there to take a look. Also, I asked my friend to run the command and this is the result:

Code: Select all

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1024 x 768, maximum 1280 x 1200
VGA-0 connected 1024x768+0+0 (0x4f) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 300mm x 220mm
Identifier: 0x4c
Timestamp: 18040
Subpixel: no subpixels
Clones: DVI-0
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0 1
Panning: 0x0+0+0
Tracking: 0x0+0+0
Border: 0/0/0/0
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
EDID_DATA:
00ffffffffffff000e11481476192af8
0b0d0103681e16a22ab1c69f554b9924
1d4c52adee0001010101010101010101
01010101010164190040410026301888
36002cdc10000018000000fd00384b1e
3d08000a202020202020000000fc0043
4f4d50415120353031370a20000000ff
00333131424e3736584c3533360a00c5
load_detection: 1 (0x00000001) range: (0,1)
1024x768 (0x4f) 65.0MHz -HSync -VSync *current +preferred
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.4KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.0Hz
1024x768 (0x50) 78.8MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew 0 clock 60.0KHz
v: height 768 start 769 end 772 total 800 clock 75.0Hz
1024x768 (0x51) 75.0MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.5KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.1Hz
1024x768 (0x4f) 65.0MHz -HSync -VSync *current
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.4KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.0Hz
832x624 (0x52) 57.3MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 832 start 864 end 928 total 1152 skew 0 clock 49.7KHz
v: height 624 start 625 end 628 total 667 clock 74.6Hz
800x600 (0x53) 50.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 856 end 976 total 1040 skew 0 clock 48.1KHz
v: height 600 start 637 end 643 total 666 clock 72.2Hz
800x600 (0x54) 49.5MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 816 end 896 total 1056 skew 0 clock 46.9KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 604 total 625 clock 75.0Hz
800x600 (0x55) 40.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.9KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.3Hz
640x480 (0x56) 31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 720 total 840 skew 0 clock 37.5KHz
v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total 500 clock 75.0Hz
640x480 (0x57) 31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 664 end 704 total 832 skew 0 clock 37.9KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 492 total 520 clock 72.8Hz
640x480 (0x58) 25.2MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.5KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 59.9Hz
720x400 (0x59) 28.3MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.5KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.1Hz
DVI-0 connected 1024x768+0+0 (0x4f) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 376mm x 301mm
Identifier: 0x4d
Timestamp: 18040
Subpixel: no subpixels
Clones: VGA-0
CRTC: 0
CRTCs: 0 1
Panning: 0x0+0+0
Tracking: 0x0+0+0
Border: 0/0/0/0
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
EDID_DATA:
00ffffffffffff004c2d0e0239314148
231101030e261e782ade95a3544c9926
0f5054bfef8081808140714f01010101
010101010101302a009851002a403070
1300782d1100001e000000fd00384b1e
510e000a202020202020000000fc0053
796e634d61737465720a2020000000ff
00485848503830323437330a20200079
dvi_monitor_type: auto
scaler: off
load_detection: 0 (0x00000000) range: (0,1)
1280x1024 (0x5a) 108.0MHz +HSync +VSync +preferred
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 64.0KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.0Hz
1280x1024 (0x5b) 135.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 80.0KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 75.0Hz
1280x1024 (0x5a) 108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew 0 clock 64.0KHz
v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066 clock 60.0Hz
1280x960 (0x5c) 108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew 0 clock 60.0KHz
v: height 960 start 961 end 964 total 1000 clock 60.0Hz
1152x864 (0x5d) 108.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew 0 clock 67.5KHz
v: height 864 start 865 end 868 total 900 clock 75.0Hz
1024x768 (0x50) 78.8MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew 0 clock 60.0KHz
v: height 768 start 769 end 772 total 800 clock 75.0Hz
1024x768 (0x51) 75.0MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew 0 clock 56.5KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 70.1Hz
1024x768 (0x4f) 65.0MHz -HSync -VSync *current
h: width 1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew 0 clock 48.4KHz
v: height 768 start 771 end 777 total 806 clock 60.0Hz
832x624 (0x52) 57.3MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 832 start 864 end 928 total 1152 skew 0 clock 49.7KHz
v: height 624 start 625 end 628 total 667 clock 74.6Hz
800x600 (0x53) 50.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 856 end 976 total 1040 skew 0 clock 48.1KHz
v: height 600 start 637 end 643 total 666 clock 72.2Hz
800x600 (0x54) 49.5MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 816 end 896 total 1056 skew 0 clock 46.9KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 604 total 625 clock 75.0Hz
800x600 (0x55) 40.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 840 end 968 total 1056 skew 0 clock 37.9KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 605 total 628 clock 60.3Hz
800x600 (0x5e) 36.0MHz +HSync +VSync
h: width 800 start 824 end 896 total 1024 skew 0 clock 35.2KHz
v: height 600 start 601 end 603 total 625 clock 56.2Hz
640x480 (0x56) 31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 720 total 840 skew 0 clock 37.5KHz
v: height 480 start 481 end 484 total 500 clock 75.0Hz
640x480 (0x57) 31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 664 end 704 total 832 skew 0 clock 37.9KHz
v: height 480 start 489 end 492 total 520 clock 72.8Hz
640x480 (0x5f) 30.2MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 704 end 768 total 864 skew 0 clock 35.0KHz
v: height 480 start 483 end 486 total 525 clock 66.7Hz
640x480 (0x58) 25.2MHz -HSync -VSync
h: width 640 start 656 end 752 total 800 skew 0 clock 31.5KHz
v: height 480 start 490 end 492 total 525 clock 59.9Hz
720x400 (0x59) 28.3MHz -HSync +VSync
h: width 720 start 738 end 846 total 900 skew 0 clock 31.5KHz
v: height 400 start 412 end 414 total 449 clock 70.1Hz
S-video disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
Identifier: 0x4e
Timestamp: 18040
Subpixel: no subpixels
Clones:
CRTCs: 0 1
Transform: 1.000000 0.000000 0.000000
0.000000 1.000000 0.000000
0.000000 0.000000 1.000000
filter:
tv_standard: pal
tv_vertical_position: 0 (0x00000000) range: (-5,5)
tv_horizontal_position: 0 (0x00000000) range: (-5,5)
tv_horizontal_size: 0 (0x00000000) range: (-5,5)
load_detection: 0 (0x00000000) range: (0,1)

The graphics card appears to be fully capable of handling two independent displays, as it as two CRTC's, and both are available to both adapters.

So I will start asking in the Kubuntu camp what they did. Thank you for clearing this up so far! I will get back here with more info when I hear what the Kubuntu people have to say.

Hello,

I have the exact same problem here.
So please if you have found a solution for this I would love to have it too

My configuration
Kubuntu 9.0.4

Ati Card
02:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: ATI Technologies Inc R430 [Radeon X800 (PCIE)] [1002:554f]

Code: Select all

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1280 x 1024, maximum 1280 x 1200         
VGA-0 connected 1280x1024+0+0 (0x4f) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 338mm x 270mm
        Identifier: 0x4c                                                                           
        Timestamp:  18492                                                                           
        Subpixel:   no subpixels                                                                   
        Clones:     DVI-0                                                                           
        CRTC:       0                                                                               
        CRTCs:      0 1                                                                             
        Panning:    0x0+0+0                                                                         
        Tracking:   0x0+0+0                                                                         
        Border:     0/0/0/0                                                                         
        Transform:  1.000000 0.000000 0.000000                                                     
                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000                                                     
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000                                                     
                   filter:                                                                         
        EDID_DATA:                                                                                 
                00ffffffffffff00410c39086f050000                                                   
                321001030e221b78eebeb5a356489a24                                                   
                155054bfef80714f8140818001010101                                                   
                010101010101302a009851002a403070                                                   
                1300520e1100001e000000ff00415534                                                   
                30363530303031333931000000fc0050                                                   
                68696c69707320313730530a000000fd                                                   
                00384c1e530e000a20202020202000c3                                                   
        load_detection: 1 (0x00000001)  range:  (0,1)                                               
  1280x1024 (0x4e)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync +preferred                                               
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   64.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1280x1024 (0x4f)  135.0MHz +HSync +VSync *current                                                 
        h: width  1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   80.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1280x1024 (0x4e)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                         
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   64.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1280x960 (0x50)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew    0 clock   60.0KHz                     
        v: height  960 start  961 end  964 total 1000           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1152x864 (0x51)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew    0 clock   67.5KHz                     
        v: height  864 start  865 end  868 total  900           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x52)   78.8MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew    0 clock   60.0KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  800           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x53)   75.0MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew    0 clock   56.5KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   70.1Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x54)   65.0MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew    0 clock   48.4KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   60.0Hz                     
  832x624 (0x55)   57.3MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   832 start  864 end  928 total 1152 skew    0 clock   49.7KHz                     
        v: height  624 start  625 end  628 total  667           clock   74.6Hz                     
  800x600 (0x56)   50.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  856 end  976 total 1040 skew    0 clock   48.1KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  637 end  643 total  666           clock   72.2Hz                     
  800x600 (0x57)   49.5MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  816 end  896 total 1056 skew    0 clock   46.9KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  604 total  625           clock   75.0Hz                     
  800x600 (0x58)   40.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  840 end  968 total 1056 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  605 total  628           clock   60.3Hz                     
  800x600 (0x59)   36.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  824 end  896 total 1024 skew    0 clock   35.2KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  603 total  625           clock   56.2Hz                     
  640x480 (0x5a)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   640 start  656 end  720 total  840 skew    0 clock   37.5KHz                     
        v: height  480 start  481 end  484 total  500           clock   75.0Hz                     
  640x480 (0x5b)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   640 start  664 end  704 total  832 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz                     
        v: height  480 start  489 end  492 total  520           clock   72.8Hz                     
  640x480 (0x5c)   30.2MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   640 start  704 end  768 total  864 skew    0 clock   35.0KHz                     
        v: height  480 start  483 end  486 total  525           clock   66.7Hz                     
  640x480 (0x5d)   25.2MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   640 start  656 end  752 total  800 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz                     
        v: height  480 start  490 end  492 total  525           clock   59.9Hz                     
  720x400 (0x5e)   28.3MHz -HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   720 start  738 end  846 total  900 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz                     
        v: height  400 start  412 end  414 total  449           clock   70.1Hz                     
DVI-0 connected 1280x1024+0+0 (0x4f) normal (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 338mm x 270mm
        Identifier: 0x4d                                                                           
        Timestamp:  18492                                                                           
        Subpixel:   no subpixels                                                                   
        Clones:     VGA-0                                                                           
        CRTC:       1                                                                               
        CRTCs:      0 1                                                                             
        Panning:    0x0+0+0                                                                         
        Tracking:   0x0+0+0                                                                         
        Border:     0/0/0/0                                                                         
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                    0.000000 1.000000 0.000000                                                     
                    0.000000 0.000000 1.000000                                                     
                   filter:                                                                         
        EDID_DATA:                                                                                 
                00ffffffffffff00410c390853670000                                                   
                281001030e221b78eebeb5a356489a24                                                   
                155054bfef80714f8140818001010101                                                   
                010101010101302a009851002a403070                                                   
                1300520e1100001e000000ff00415533                                                   
                30363430303236343531000000fc0050                                                   
                68696c69707320313730530a000000fd                                                   
                00384c1e530e000a2020202020200085                                                   
        dvi_monitor_type: auto                                                                     
        scaler: off                                                                                 
        load_detection: 1 (0x00000001)  range:  (0,1)                                               
  1280x1024 (0x4e)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync +preferred                                               
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   64.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1280x1024 (0x4f)  135.0MHz +HSync +VSync *current                                                 
        h: width  1280 start 1296 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   80.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1280x1024 (0x4e)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                         
        h: width  1280 start 1328 end 1440 total 1688 skew    0 clock   64.0KHz                     
        v: height 1024 start 1025 end 1028 total 1066           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1280x960 (0x50)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1280 start 1376 end 1488 total 1800 skew    0 clock   60.0KHz                     
        v: height  960 start  961 end  964 total 1000           clock   60.0Hz                     
  1152x864 (0x51)  108.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1152 start 1216 end 1344 total 1600 skew    0 clock   67.5KHz                     
        v: height  864 start  865 end  868 total  900           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x52)   78.8MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1040 end 1136 total 1312 skew    0 clock   60.0KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  769 end  772 total  800           clock   75.0Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x53)   75.0MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1328 skew    0 clock   56.5KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   70.1Hz                     
  1024x768 (0x54)   65.0MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width  1024 start 1048 end 1184 total 1344 skew    0 clock   48.4KHz                     
        v: height  768 start  771 end  777 total  806           clock   60.0Hz                     
  832x624 (0x55)   57.3MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   832 start  864 end  928 total 1152 skew    0 clock   49.7KHz                     
        v: height  624 start  625 end  628 total  667           clock   74.6Hz                     
  800x600 (0x56)   50.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  856 end  976 total 1040 skew    0 clock   48.1KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  637 end  643 total  666           clock   72.2Hz                     
  800x600 (0x57)   49.5MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  816 end  896 total 1056 skew    0 clock   46.9KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  604 total  625           clock   75.0Hz                     
  800x600 (0x58)   40.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  840 end  968 total 1056 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  605 total  628           clock   60.3Hz                     
  800x600 (0x59)   36.0MHz +HSync +VSync                                                           
        h: width   800 start  824 end  896 total 1024 skew    0 clock   35.2KHz                     
        v: height  600 start  601 end  603 total  625           clock   56.2Hz                     
  640x480 (0x5a)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync                                                           
        h: width   640 start  656 end  720 total  840 skew    0 clock   37.5KHz                     
        v: height  480 start  481 end  484 total  500           clock   75.0Hz
  640x480 (0x5b)   31.5MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  664 end  704 total  832 skew    0 clock   37.9KHz
        v: height  480 start  489 end  492 total  520           clock   72.8Hz
  640x480 (0x5c)   30.2MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  704 end  768 total  864 skew    0 clock   35.0KHz
        v: height  480 start  483 end  486 total  525           clock   66.7Hz
  640x480 (0x5d)   25.2MHz -HSync -VSync
        h: width   640 start  656 end  752 total  800 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz
        v: height  480 start  490 end  492 total  525           clock   59.9Hz
  720x400 (0x5e)   28.3MHz -HSync +VSync
        h: width   720 start  738 end  846 total  900 skew    0 clock   31.5KHz
        v: height  400 start  412 end  414 total  449           clock   70.1Hz
[/code

]

Thx a lot

Seems like this is a Ubuntu/Kubuntu/KDE combination problem. Have so far not heard of anyone from other distros that have this problem.

I have a IBM ThinkPad A30P that I have been running Ubuntu server on for some time, v. 8.10 lately. Then I installed KDE ( v. 4.1, I believe) and the much needed buttons were there! Then I upgraded to Ubuntu server 9.04 and KDE 4.2 and the buttons were gone. So something definitely is wrong there. But there is no way to get anyone to actively search for the problem even if it has to impact anyone with the combination Kubuntu 9.04 and opensource ATI drivers.

It is possible that Kubuntu did some "Patching" which removed this. If you compile KDE from Trunk ( which isn't as hard or unstable as it sounds ) then it should fix your problem.