Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
6 Posts
0
3208
November 1st, 2018 16:00
XPS 8930, Missing Intel Multi-Display option
I'm trying to setup GPU pass through via KVM on my XPS 8930. In order to do this, I'd like to boot the host using the onboard graphics. I've read that this requires setting the Intel Multi-Display BIOS option, but my XPS 8930 BIOS has no such option available.
Other Dell machines seem to have this option, such as the XPS 8700.
My BIOS doesn't even have an "Onboard Device Configuration" section. Both of these options are missing from the XPS 8930 Service Manual.
Is there something missing that I must enable in order to get this option? Why would the XPS 8930 have this limitation, unlike other Dell models?
No Events found!
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
November 1st, 2018 17:00
Old PCs completely disabled onboard Intel Graphics whenever there was an add-in video card, so you could only use the add-in card.
Then newer PCs required Intel Multi-Display to be enabled in BIOS in order to use onboard Intel Graphics together with an add-in video card.
And now, the newest PCs with the latest CPUs and chipsets don't require a Multi-Display feature to be enabled in BIOS. Onboard Intel Graphics is always enabled as long as the 1st monitor is connected to the add-in video card.
Have you tried what you want to do without worrying about whether or not you have the Intel Multi-Display option in BIOS?
fortesdotcom
6 Posts
0
November 1st, 2018 18:00
When I try booting with only the HDMI from the onboard graphics, nothing is displayed. The Dell logo and boot menu only appear when the monitor is connected to the NVIDIA card.
If I boot into windows, the on board card can be used as a second monitor though, so you're correct that it does work .
Is there any BIOS method to change the primary graphics output, i.e. where the boot menu, setup, etc are displayed?
546insp
2 Intern
•
732 Posts
0
November 1st, 2018 19:00
So how does that work on the newest PC's? Does the video card overtake the onboard graphics? Do they work together? Can the onboard work separately ?
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
0
November 1st, 2018 21:00
Sounds like @RoHe explained how it works. So, now hook-up your KVM.
I don't use KVM any more. Many reasons I guess. Now, I use multiple input ports into monitors, (and maybe a wireless keyboard and mice) .... or just run them "headless" with network RDP and similar. Seems like VT also helped to remove dependencies on KVM.
I plug all my monitors into the dedicated cards. Only thing I use the Intel on-board one for is troubleshooting (like if I have to remove the dedicated one) or if I decide it doesn't need a dedicated one (for a particular use-case).
fortesdotcom
6 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 07:00
My end goal is to have the following:
1. Host OS output via onboard graphics
2. Guest OS output via NVIDIA card
In order to be able to passthrough the graphics card, I need to be able to boot (and use) the Host OS via the built-in graphics, but I'm not finding any way to get the output there. I've found ways in Linux to not load up the drivers for the graphics card, but then I have no output whatsoever and my goal is to still be able to use the Host OS graphically. Does that make sense?
fortesdotcom
6 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 07:00
Hm, it looks like Dell may be purposefully locking this option in BIOS :(
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Locked-BIOS-settings/td-p/5626100
> [T]he Bios in most of our systems are coming locked
> ... there are things in the BIOS that you cannot change for example enable or disable a video card.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 10:00
That's a 4-year-old thread with a CPU and BIOS several generations older than the one in your XPS 8930. So there's no way to know if that option is actually in BIOS on the XPS 8930 but hidden/locked.
BIOS is set to look for a video card in the x16 slot with a monitor attached during the POST. Once POST is complete and it boots into Windows the onboard Intel Graphics are available.
Don't understand what you mean by "host" and "guest". What happens if you just don't power the monitor connected to the nVidia card on until the PC has booted?
fortesdotcom
6 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 11:00
> Don't understand what you mean by "host" and "guest".
Host is the machine that is running the actual VM system (in this case Linux w/ QEMU-KVM, but could just as well be Windows w/ Hyper-V). The Guest is the Operating System running inside of the Virtual Machine
> What happens if you just don't power the monitor connected to the nVidia card on until the PC has booted?
It boots normally, but never outputs anything to the monitor connected to the on-board graphics, only the NVIDIA card ever displays anything
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 12:00
That makes more sense.
Typically, when you say "KVM" I think most people will think you are talking about a Keyboard-Video-Mouse hardware switch box.
But your more recent posts reveal you are actually talking about VirtualMachine-Technology.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
•
17.1K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 12:00
There is no conspiracy. :Smile:
The new Intel CPU/GPU/Chipset architecture is fundamentally different than it was back then.
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 16:00
That's exactly what I thought too and that's why I didn't understand when you suddenly mentioned "host" and "guest".
And FWIW, I don't think what you want to do is going to work...
546insp
2 Intern
•
732 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2018 22:00
fortesdotcom
6 Posts
0
November 3rd, 2018 17:00
> And FWIW, I don't think what you want to do is going to work...
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
November 5th, 2018 10:00
No, you don't know that. The XPS 8930 is one of Dell's first high end consumer desktops with a Gen 8 CPU. Models with that option use older generation CPUs which have entirely different architectures. Besides, you have no data to show that the option is actually hidden in BIOS for the XPS 8930.
Perhaps if you'd bought an Optiplex or Precision Workstation, which are geared toward office/business applications, instead of a consumer model, you might have gotten the option you want...
546insp
2 Intern
•
732 Posts
0
November 5th, 2018 12:00
What is the main difference between the OptiPlex and the Workstation?