XPS 15-9570, two monitors, HDMI to DVI Issue

* The power cable and power adapter must be plugged into the XPS 15-9570
* The XPS 15-9570 lid must be closed

If you are already doing the above, disconnect the monitor connected to XPS 15-9570 TB3/USB Type-C port. Does the other monitor on XPS 15-9570 HDMI now work?

I too have seen reports that using an HDMI to DVI adapter doesn't work on the XPS 15 9570's built-in HDMI port.  The only difference I can see from previous XPS 15 generations where that worked fine is that the 9570 has an HDMI 2.0 port rather than 1.4.  It may also be fed by an "LSPCON" chip that essentially takes an internal DisplayPort 1.2 output from the GPU and converts it to HDMI 2.0, as opposed to having a native HDMI 2.0 signal from the GPU.  Current Intel GPUs don't support HDMI 2.0 natively, so if that HDMI output is wired to the Intel GPU (as it always has been on previous XPS 15s), then it would have an LSPCON.  But I've also seen suggestions that on the XPS 15 9570, the HDMI output is wired directly to the NVIDIA GPU on systems that have one equipped, although I haven't been able to confirm that.  In any case, none of that means an HDMI to DVI adapter shouldn't work; they're just possible reasons why it doesn't even though previous generations do.

In terms of workarounds (other than getting newer displays), your only other option would be something like a USB-C DisplayPort MST hub to get dual outputs out of your USB-C port (or a Thunderbolt 3 to Dual DisplayPort adapter if you need more display bandwidth) and then using active DisplayPort to HDMI/DVI adapters as needed.  The more common passive adapters don't always work with these types of adapters.  But that equipment is admittedly fairly expensive.

I'm not sure what Chris M is suggesting above.  Laptop video outputs do not require AC power or a closed lid in order to work.

Laptop video outputs do not require AC power or a closed lid in order to work.
It is just basic troubleshooting. Take the battery and laptop LCD out of the equation.

When using an external monitor (or hopefully two), the power adapter is always plugged in.

I don't think you are correct regarding closing the lid while using external monitor(s). I tried it just in case and had the same result.

I also have tried the HDMI to DVI connection without the USB-C connected to a monitor and still get the same results.

Thanks for replying!

You have proven that the XPS 15-9570 HDMI out port is functional by connecting it directly to the TV via HDMI to HDMI cable. What are the two specific monitor models?

The monitors are both Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP manufactured in May 2006. Please don't say that they are too old as they function perfectly and work as expected when connected to my desktop computer's NVIDIA GTX 970 video card's HDMI port using a HDMI to DVI cable.

Are you able to test a XPS 15 9570 connected to the DVI port of any monitor using a passive HDMI to DVI cable?

Unfortunately, we do not have any of the 12 year old 2007WFP in our lab. Nor do I see any new ones with DVI.

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@Delta_7B wrote:

The monitors are both Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP manufactured in May 2006. Please don't say that they are too old as they function perfectly and work as expected when connected to my desktop computer's NVIDIA GTX 970 video card's HDMI port using a HDMI to DVI cable.

Are you able to test a XPS 15 9570 connected to the DVI port of any monitor using a passive HDMI to DVI cable?

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Even if Chris M doesn't have a DVI display available to test with, as you say this has already been reported by multiple users elsewhere, both within these forums and on other sites, so I don't see why that would be especially useful.  It would simply be yet another confirmation of behavior that has already been reconfirmed by you and others.  Unless of course a Dell rep reproducing this issue internally might lead to an actual fix being developed, but as much as I think that should happen, I personally wouldn't hold my breath, partly due to the age of DVI and mostly due to how Dell recently decided to handle a similar issue.  This KB article was the result of multiple XPS 13 9350 users in multiple threads here reporting that their USB-C video output didn't work with recently introduced Dell USB-C displays -- even though their USB-C video output worked fine with other displays and those Dell displays worked fine with other USB-C video sources.  As you can see in the KB, Dell's basic answer was, "The XPS 13 9350 is considered end-of-life, so this won't be fixed, but it works fine if you use a docking station between your system and display."  That answer was given even though the XPS 13 9350 was only about 3 years old at the time, and even though this issue was a problem between a Dell PC and a Dell display.  DVI has been out of vogue for much longer than 3 years, so like I said, I wouldn't hold my breath.  And I suppose in fairness, there's the possibility that the issue I just mentioned and/or this DVI issue simply aren't easily fixable with something like a firmware update.  In both cases it might be a hardware issue.  Unfortunately the KB article I linked above doesn't provide any insight as to underlying cause.

Do you have access to either of these current Dell monitors that have DVI inputs?

Dell 22 Monitor: P2217

Dell UltraSharp 24 Monitor: U2412M

If not, how do we escalate this to engineering for further investigation?

Thanks

This seems to be the same issue I have been seeing and have seen a lot of users complain about it, but to no avail.

The Dell technicians on these forums has been giving the useless "Connect your AC adapter, Close your lid" solution to everyone and has never bothered to take this up with to the next level. The Dell service centers have been equally vague about the issue. They just don't want to budge nor do they want to provide an alternative. Our laptops having the latest protocols doesn't imply that the infrastructure at public places such as colleges and corporates is going to change, and yet they are adamant on providing no backward compatibility.