Dell XPS Intel Multi Display option in bios

Question

Multi Display option for Dell desktop was first described in XPS 8700. https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000132250/setting-up-multiple-monitors-using-intel-multi-di...

Advanced→ Onboard Device Configuration -> Intel Multi-Display
Allows you to enable or disable multiple displays.

it is also present in actual bios screenshot of XPS 8900

As noted by a user “There is no Intel Multi Display option listed in BIOS setup for the XPS 8930, according to the Service Manual. That was an option on some PCs with older generation CPUs, but not with newer generations like the 9th Gen CPU in the XPS 8930.”

indeed multi display absent in XPS8910, 8920, 8930 service manual.

however, multi-display is present in newer XPS 8940 System setup options—Video menu

VIDEO
	Multi-Display		Enable or disable multiple displays.

Multi Display again present in newest XPS 8950 system setup options.

System setup options—Video menu

VIDEO
	Multi-Display		Enable or disable multiple displays.
	Primary Display		Set or change the primary display.

recap: there is multi display option in bios of 8700/8900, no in 8910/20/30, yes in 8940/8950.

Intel FAQ: Can I install an external PCI Express graphics card and use it in parallel with Intel® graphics?

Yes, integrated and discrete graphics adapters can work in parallel.

8930 user: 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 boot into windows, the on board graphics can be used as a second monitor though.

PS

a user opined that ” 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.”

On a side note, system setup options are totally omitted in XPS 8900 service manual . nor is it present in 8900 spec .

redxps630 · Answer

Dell changed bios look from 8700 -> 8900 -> 8910/20/30 -> 8940 -> 8950

8700 bios by Aptio

8900 bios has a GUI similar to optiplex 790

8910/20/30 bios by Aptio

8910 bios

8920 bios

8930 bios

XPS 8940 bios returns to the looks of 8900, and video menu present again

XPS 8940 bios

XPS 8950 bios is by Aptio again, this time video>Multi-Display is described in service manual. but there is no video menu in actual bios. to find multi display, BIOS >ADVANCED>POWER OPTIONS>INTEL MULTI DISPLAY.

On a side note, 8950 service manual system options looks completely different from actual bios screenshot. This manual is a totally reshuffled map of actual bios organization. It is like bios in service manual was blueprint version 1.0.0. which users never saw in actuality. The real bios update version evolved and reshuffled everything.

XPS Desktops

Dell XPS Intel Multi Display option in bios

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