XPS 9710 When direct output mode enabled..

Question

Hi there. I appear to have ran into a weird issue, don't know is it a fault or a bug.
I'm wondering is there something I'm doing wrong? Maybe someone can shed some light on this.
Not contacted support yet.

I have a shiny new Dell XPS 9710 i9-11900h with the RTX 3060 GPU connected to a WD19TB dock and two ASUS ROG Swift PG279QE (1440p, 60hz) both via DisplayPort. Generally the system works fine with direct output mode disabled.

I can view the laptop's built-in display and both external displays, work and do whatever I need, I can even set the external display refresh to 165Hz and I can even disable the laptop's display and only use my external screens - Everything appears normal - This is rock solid.

However. If I restart the system and go into the UEFI and direct output mode enabled.
Things can get a little funky at times. Let me explain (is this the reason it default to off?)

Once I'm in windows, all displays enabled are enabled, everything runs just fine! But the moment I go into Window's Display Settings and select the laptop's display from the top where you can rearrange your displays, then scroll down to the bottom to disable it.. Both of my external display will start flashing, the display aren't going into sleep mode, they're staying on but the screens will flash randomly. On off on off on off etc. Weird right?

Now IF I revert the settings, so that all three displays are on. Everything returns back to normal and all three displays appear to work just fine.

Question.
Why does this happen?
Why can't I disable the laptop's own display when direct output mode is enabled?? I don't understand

Looking forward to your replies.

UltraNEO · Answer

OK..

Here's some development updates.

I just connected the same two displays directly to the laptop via a couple of Thunderbolt3 to DisplayPort cables. Restarted the machine and entered the UEFI, enabled Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode. System booted to windows without a hitch.

Rearrange the displays to make it more user friendly and disabled the onboard display
and it works absolutely fine. As expected. No flashing, no display issues.

New Question..

Does this mean there might be compatibility issue between a DELL XPS 17 9710 and the Dell WD19TB dock when Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode is enabled or is it faulty?

XPS_Man · Answer

Interesting topic

I am also testing this as of now

Direct output mode when enabled, the graphics signals are sent to the external display using the discrete graphics card instead of integrated

When TB dock is being used it utilizes onboard GPU

Can you open nVIDIA control panel in both scenarios

with and without dock : and see if it shows both monitor

brain4storm · Answer

Hi @UltraNEO  I am considering buying a 4K@144 display. Do you think Dell XPS 9560 with RTX 3060 is able to run 4K@144 Hz?  (with dock WD19TB or adapter Dell 470-ACFC)

DmitryP · Answer

There is unlimited number of discussions regarding Dell WD19TB(WD19TBS) and the way it allocates lanes in HBR2/HBR3 modes. I faced these problems myself and spent half a day digging into details, I have Dell XPS 9710 with RTX 3060, WD19TBS, and 2 x 4K U2723QE.

Long story short, to get maximum performance out of the laptop and working multiple high frequency or high resolution monitors you need:

Enable "direct output mode" in BIOS, this will let RTX 3060 to work in full capacity
Connect one of the monitors using USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 cable to Thunderbolt 3 port on your WD19TB (closest to the thunderbolt cable that goes to your laptop). For your monitor you will need USB-C to Display port cable.
Connect the second monitor to the DP port on your WD19TB

This way WD19TB will allocate sufficient number of lanes to each monitor and will work properly.

XPS

XPS 9710 When direct output mode enabled..

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