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4971
February 28th, 2022 08:00
XPS 8940, how to enable both iGPU Intel and dGPU Nvidia?
My XPS 8940 bought in January has both integrated Intel UHD graphics 750 and a discrete Nvidia card, a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti. This is the config that shipped from the factory.
I have two monitors connected to the Nvidia card - a Dell S3221QS UHD monitor connected via DisplayPort as the primary display, and a Samsung S24D330 FHD monitor connected via HDMI as the secondary display.
Having seen a number of posts here with users asking about using both graphics connections at the same time, I wondered about that too. My research led me to conclude that it's definitely doable:
1: BIOS version 2.4.0 shows that multi-display capability is enabled.
2: I changed the BIOS setting for Primary Display to 'Nvidia HD graphics' instead of the 'Auto' default. This is why (copied from BIOS):
This field determines which video controller will become the primary display when multiple controllers are available in the system. If you select a device other than what you are currently using, you will have to reconnect your your selected device. Note: When Auto is not selected the onboard graphics device will be present and enabled.
3: Computer turned off, then Dell monitor connected to DP (on Nvidia card) and Samsung monitor to HDMI (on Intel GPU in upper-back of PC).
4: Computer started, booted as normal without error.
5: Dell monitor connected to Nvidia card displays normally as expected. Samsung monitor connected to Intel GPU does not display but booting the PC turned on that monitor, ie, brought it out of standby.
5: Display settings in Windows 11 Pro identifies both monitors correctly - see screenshots
6: Device Manager identifies both monitors and shows no errors. The Intel Graphics Command Centre sees both monitors and has detailed info about the Samsung connected to Intel graphics.
So the computer sees both monitors yet only the screen on the Dell connected to the Nvidia card illuminates.
What did I miss? Comments appreciated, thanks.
Tesla1856
8 Wizard
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March 1st, 2022 09:00
The default is to have both GPU's left enabled.
HOWEVER, if you want to use two monitors with a discrete PCIe-Addin video-card (like an Nvidia) you would connect both monitors to the discrete video-card. That's just the way it is.
The two monitors should use native ports and cables if possible. If not, you can usually get-by with an inexpensive (but name brand) passive video adapter .
Vic384
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March 1st, 2022 13:00
@Luke717 My research indicates that the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti has three DisplayPort 1.4a connections and one HDMI 2.1 connection so I would connect the Dell monitor to one of the NVIDIA DisplayPort connections and the Samsung monitor to the HDMI connection. The NVIDIA card should outperform the Intel integrated graphics so I would use the NVIDIA card.
RoHe
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March 1st, 2022 18:00
@Luke717 Is the monitor connected to the onboard Intel video port turned on just before you power PC on?
If you turn that monitor on while PC is booting or after it has booted, the monitor connected to the onboard port may not be recognized until a power-off boot or Restart, as long as that monitor is still powered on.
Luke717
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March 6th, 2022 06:00
Thanks. Both GPUs are enabled. My thinking was to use the Intel GPU for the secondary display which is used for just displaying something, whereas all actual activity and engagement with apps, etc, takes place on the primary display connected to the Nvidia card.
If each display is connected to each GPU, each of which is seen by the PC and presents no errors, I'm struggling to understand why both can't bse used.
But the hassle factor of this is huge so I'll stick with running both from the NvIdia card.
Luke717
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March 6th, 2022 06:00
It doesn't seem to make much difference what state the monitor connected to the onboard Intel port is, either turned on or in standby. In either instance, the PC recognises the monitor, displays info about it within Windows and in device settings, it works fine but does not display anything on the screen.
So I'm concluding that my idea of using two monitors each connected to two different GPUs at the same time can't be done!
Luke717
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March 6th, 2022 06:00
Yep, that would make sense. But I wanted to see if it would work connecting the primary display via DP to the Nvidia card and the secondary display via HDMI to the Intel built-in GPU.
Looks like it can't be done!
Vic384
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March 6th, 2022 08:00
@Luke717 Have you selected the monitor that is connected to the onboard Intel port in Windows All settings / System / Display and then under 'Multiple displays' selected 'Extend desktop to this display?
RoHe
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March 6th, 2022 12:00
@Luke717 What's set as Primary Display in BIOS setup? Try setting it to NVidia, not Auto (if that's an option) and not Intel.
Luke717
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March 6th, 2022 13:00
It's set to Nvidia instead of Auto. I mentioned this in an earlier post with screenshots of the BIOS settings and explainer.
Vic384
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March 6th, 2022 13:00
@Luke717 You stated that the PC recognizes the monitor and displays info about it within Windows, so on the All settings / System / Display page under the heading 'Rearrange your displays' it should show two monitors labeled 1 and 2. If you click on the 'Identify' button the number 1 should be displayed on one monitor and the number 2 should be displayed on the other monitor. Is that happening?
Luke717
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March 6th, 2022 13:00
Yep, doesn't make any difference.
Luke717
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March 7th, 2022 01:00
When the second display, the Samsung FHD, was connected to the Intel built-in GPU (it's not now as I stopped that experiement and it's now connected again to the Nvidia card) Windows settings showed the setup, identifgying all monitors and displaying '1' on the screen of the primary display, the Dell monitor.
I expect it does do that as well on the secondary monitor, showing a '2'. And it clearly knows it's extended as the mouse cursor moves out of the primary display and to the secondary display when I move the mouse that way. But as the screen on that monitor remained blank, I can't see if it does.
Vic384
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March 7th, 2022 04:00
@Luke717 I am out of ideas. You said you expect that the secondary monitor would show a "2", but I think it would be more consistent with your problem if it didn't show the "2" since it did not show the mouse cursor. Showing the "2" on the secondary monitor would indicate that Windows can display to the secondary monitor.
Luke717
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March 7th, 2022 05:00
Re showing the '2' on the secondary display, nothing at all shows on the secondary monitor even though the computer and Windows say there is a secondary monitor connected and it has no errors. The screen is blank and displays nothing even though it's powered on and the connection is live. I can access the monitor's on-screen menus but that's it.
So out of ideas here too. Maybe it cannot be done (display two monitors on two different GPU connections at the same time) as some people say.
RoHe
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March 7th, 2022 11:00
You should be able to use both onboard Intel UHD Graphics and an add-in video card at the same time. Otherwise, there'd be no need for a Multi-Display or a Primary Display option in BIOS setup.
Your Samsung monitor is only FHD so could that be part of this issue? Have you tried a higher resolution monitor on Intel Graphics along with your other monitor on the NVidia card?