Display resolution problem

We need more info...

Which CPU do you have, i3, i5, or i7?

How much RAM is installed?

Do you have an add-in (NVidia) video card or only have onboard Intel Graphics? Check out the picture of the PC's back here. An add-in video card would be in the area marked "6".

If you have an add-in video card, which one? When you have an add-in video card, the monitor has to be connected to the card, not to the onboard Intel Graphics HDMI port (#2 on back).  Note: onboard Intel Graphics HDMI port is HDMI 1.4b and supports 1920 x 1200 @ 60hz max resolution.

What's the "recommended" (aka: "native" or "optimum") resolution of your monitor?

Have you tried a different HDMI cable?

If the monitor has a DisplayPort input, have you tried using that port? Connect monitor directly to an add-in video card's DisplayPort (assuming the add-in card has DP), or directly to the onboard Intel Graphics DisplayPort connector, but only if you don't have an add-in video card.

You can try to update Intel 770 driver to see if it may help.

Hi, 

in answer to your questions:

- CPU: i7-13700

- RAM: 16GB

- Video Card: Intel UHD 770 (no add-ins)

- Monitor resolution: 1980 x 1080

- I've only tried HDMI connection - have just ordered the DP cable, so will give that a go

Upon some investigation (going into the Display Adapter advanced settings), the list of "valid modes" includes a dozen or so options with 1360 x 768 being the highest one available. Intel website states that this video card is capable of supporting a much higher resolution and the HDMI port should support 1980 x 1200.

So it is a mystery why there are no available options above the 1360 x 768 - is there a way to add a higher resolution to the list?

@Sergio12326  -Consider these in order listed...

1. If your monitor has with its own driver, did you install it, and is the driver compatible with Win 11?

After the monitor's driver is installed and PC rebooted, does Win 11 correctly identify it or is it listed as a "generic" monitor? 

2. If the monitor has an On-Screen Display (OSD) that's accessed by pressing button(s) on the monitor, open the OSD, and see if it's set to use 1920 x 1080.

3. Right-click an empty area of the desktop and select the Intel Control Panel. See if you can change the resolution settings there. Also make sure the correct refresh rate for the monitor is selected (eg, 60 Hz), depending on its requirements.

4. If Intel Control Panel isn't offered on that desktop right-click menu, click Start>Run>type in: services.msc and click OK. When services.msc opens, scroll down to Intel Graphics Command Center Service. Double-click the entry and make sure its Startup type is set to Automatic, and confirm the service is running. Then do the same for Intel HD Graphics Control Panel Service. Exit services.msc and reboot.

See if any of that solves the resolution issue.

Thank you both for the suggestions.

Have tried all of the above and no luck unfortunately.

I managed to get into the Intel driver app, which theoretically offers the ability to add custom resolution to the list (although it warns that doing so could make the whole system unstable, could invalidate the warranty etc etc). Alas, trying to add 1920 x 1080 ends up with a 'bad parameters' error message. Looking on Intel website, this likely means the hardware just isn't able to support the request. 

It seems that, in mid-2023, Dell are happy to ship a 'new' Inspiron desktop with a graphics card that can't support resolution higher than 1360 x 768. Truly remarkable.

After wasting 4 days on trying to make this work, I give up and am returning this piece of junk. I am done with Dell - never again!

Thank you for all your advice though!

You've called the monitor HD resolution in your first post -- which would be 1280X720.  That, plus the error you quote above "bad parameters", suggests the issue is the monitor -- not the system.  

What is the specific monitor model you have?

No, the (max) monitor resolution is showing as 1980 x 1080 - I've been using other devices with this resolution without any issues

Agreed. The HDMI port on this system defaults to 1920X1200, not FHD, which is 1920X1080.  The system is putting out a resolution the monitor cannot handle.

You may be able to adjust the video output of the system to 1920X1080, but that likely will involve setting up a custom resolution -- it won't be the default.

@Sergio12326  - Did you load the monitor's driver? Does Windows identify it correctly?

"(max) monitor resolution is showing as 1980 x 1080" doesn't necessarily mean that's the "recommended" ("native" or "optimal") resolution for this monitor. And at what frequency (eg 60 Hz) is that resolution available on this monitor?

Can you try a different monitor with this PC..?

Yes, monitor is identified correctly by Windows and the 1980 x 1080 is available at 50 and 60 Hz. As mentioned, I've used it with a couple of other machines in the past and never had this issue. 

Sadly, I don't have access to another monitor

Any suggestions on how to do this?

As mentioned, I've used Intel dashboard app on the computer already to try to set up a custom resolution - but it's not accepting 1920x1080 (or 1920x1200)

@Sergio12326 - What version of BIOS is installed? Win 10 or Win 11?

Have you checked Native Resolution in BIOS setup? It supposed to display the native resolution of the computer.

You said you ordered a DP cable, so you may want to wait until you can try that, rather than making yourself crazy trying to use HDMI at higher resolution...

And if all else fails, you may want to try a clean install of Windows to see if that solves the problem...

I have Win 11 installed. 

Interestingly, I tried the same exercise using my Dell laptop - ie connecting it to the same screen with my HDMI cable. And the same thing happened - highest resolution available was 1360 x 768.

I then connected the laptop to the docking station and then the docking station to the monitor, using the same HDMI cable. And, hey presto, i got the option to change the resolution to 1920 x 1080. 

So what is the magic ingredient that the docking station adds into the mix vs. connecting the machine (desktop or laptop) directly to the monitor?

So clearly this is an issue with that monitor, not the Inspiron 3020 (or your laptop).

What version(s) of HDMI does the monitor support? And what version(s) does the dock support?

Hmm, not sure I follow why the issue is with the monitor. The monitor is clearly capable of showing 1920 x 1080 and it does so when connected to the laptop via the docking station (via HDMI). 

But perhaps the issue is with the mismatch between HDMI versions. The dock has HDMI 2.0 out, while Inspiron 3020 has HDMI 1.4.

The monitor spec sheet says "One HDMI-in 1.4 port (FHD display)/One HDMI-in 2.0 port (UHD display)"

So, perhaps connecting 1.4 (Inspiron 3020 output) with HDMI 2.0 (monitor input) is what is causing the problem. With the dock, the connection is 2.0 to 2.0. 

Either way, 1.4 should still easily handle resolutions higher than 1360 x 768 so still a mystery why I can't go higher than this.