This post is more than 5 years old
16 Posts
3
2607337
Latitude E7450, E-port 2, U2715H - dual monitors - unstable configuration
I have two U2715H monitors connected via one mDP->DP cable each to an E-Port Plus docking station (actually a EURO2 Advanced Port Replicator) in which is seated a Latitude E7450 laptop. All items are brand new. The E7450 is equipped with 16 GB RAM and two graphics cards: Intel HD Graphics 5500 and NVIDIA GeForce 840M; selection is automatic, which usually means the 5500 is in operation. It runs Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 (64 bit). The docking station apparently has DP 1.2a capabilities (for daisy chaining) but DP 1.2 is disabled in both monitors.
I have successfully set up the system to have the Windows desktop span both monitors at 2560x1440 resolution, even with the Latitude's internal screen as a third extension at its full resolution (1920x1080). The Main display may be set to either of the two (or three) and I can successfully move the sequence of the monitors around (left, middle, right).
So there is no doubt about the system's capability to support the intended configuration. However, when I dock the Latitude (mostly with the lid shut) and boot it, most of the time it cannot reestablish the configuration of the two external monitors. Some of the symptoms are: One or both monitors go black, indicating cable connected but no signal arriving from the docking station. If there is a picture on one of the monitors at startup, it may or may not contain the login screen. (I can still log in because I know what keystrokes to send.) If the login screen is visible, it is usually in a low resolution. If I have several screens active, but one is black, I can move the mouse pointer (or an entire window) across the black screen (in the middle or on the side) but it is not visible there.
Both monitors come straight from the box and the only change I have done is to switch from DP to mDP as input channel. I have reseated the cables and swapped the cables between the two DPs on the docking station. I have turned the monitors off and on. I have run the self test as prescribed on both monitors. The laptop connection on the docking station is a bit wobbly but I am using the supplied spacer for the E7450 and making sure the connection is correct and stable. I have updated all drivers and the E7450 BIOS. I have recently seen a reference to a BIOS for the docking station; I didn't know it existed, but I cannot find it.
The instructions packed with the monitors had a note about consulting the supplied CD for using the monitor at maximum resolution. The E7450 doesn't have an optical drive but I have read all the documentation for the monitor at Product Support without finding anything to illuminate the situation (beyond making sure that the graphics card and the drivers are up to the task).
Once I have logged in, I can manage to get everything back in order by randomly(?) reducing screen resolution, changing the position of the main display (left-middle-right), deselecting and reselecting mDP as input channel, and forcing other changes. Once both or all three screens are in operation, I can set them all to maximum resolution and start working. However, this is rather bothersome and I would like to have a stable setup.
The configuration seems to survive power cycling of the laptop/docking station but not if I also undock the laptop. I should mention that when I undock the E7450, I may be using it in other configurations with or without other external monitors through other ports, before I turn it off and later re-dock it as described. However, for the first month I had two older non-Dell monitors of lesser resolution (on DVI and VGA ports) connected to the docking station and the configuration was stable, and for years I have been used to my older Latitude with an older docking station remembering its peripherals between different hardware setups.
Please, anyone - and Dell support staff in particular?
(Edited/updated after move from Forum/Peripherals/Monitors to Forum/Laptop/Video)
decker12
2 Intern
2 Intern
•
157 Posts
1
November 30th, 2015 09:00
Please keep us updated on this! I have two E7450s with the same problem - unreliable dual monitor configurations, and it's driving my users and myself nuts.
hfi
16 Posts
1
November 30th, 2015 14:00
Dell has confirmed that the issue as I have described it has been reproduced and is awaiting a solution. The solution apparently will be to install two updates. The first one is now available: Dell Latitude E7450 System BIOS Version A08,A08 or newer. The second one is not yet available: Synaptics VMM3320 MST HUB Firmware newer than Version 3.8.0,A02 - and no timeline is available for its release. I am checking it on a regular basis and will report back when I know more.
MBurg013
1 Message
0
December 30th, 2015 07:00
I just ran this update (instructions came from Dell support) and it worked. I run Windows 7 and have 2 U2414H monitors connected to a dock with a Latitude E7450. I didn't run a BIOS update so perhaps I already have a current version. This has worked so far to run dual monitors and even allowed me to use the open laptop as a 3rd monitor. Just performed this and haven't experienced issues yet. The update requires a reboot.
I would recommend connecting one display to the dock via displayport and then run this firmware update.
www.dell.com/.../DriversDetails;fileId=3482013792&osCode=W764&productCode=latitude-e7450-ultrabook&languageCode=EN&categoryId=VI
This is info found in the install instructions:
** NOTE: If your configuration does *not* include a dock/APR, this update is not required. **
1. The notebook system must be docked and on a/c power.
2. There must be an external DP, DVI or VGA display connected to the dock.
3. The external display will flash during the Firmware Update process due to automatic reset of the MST HUB.
4. Do not undock the notebook system or remove a/c power until the Firmware Update is complete.
After running the update you can either try the display port to displayport and dvi to hdmi connection or try the daisy chain option.
Splat15
1 Message
1
December 30th, 2015 10:00
I’m having the same problems with dual monitor configuration on these newer Latitude e7450 laptops. We have been using these laptops for sometime now but it seems that, recently, Dell decided to update these models with some new wireless card readers and other hardware. We started having all these monitor flickering issues with these new updated E7450’s only. The older E7450's work just fine. I have done everything to try to fix this problem with no luck. Updated the Bios from A04 to A08…. Updated the new video drivers…. Adjusted power options on the Intel video settings… even installed the latest Synaptics VMM3320 MST HUB Firmware Update (Video_Firmware_29D8V_WN32_3.8.0_A02).
Nothing has helped. We have a total of 15 users now that had these laptops deployed to them and they all complain about this monitor flickering. Some can tolerate this but most cannot. We need a fix NOW Dell! I don’t understand why Dell continues to ship out these laptops when there is something wrong with these motherboards.
For those users that posted they had their motherboards replaced by a Dell technician.. has this resolved your issues? Has anyone found a solution to this problem??… this is driving me crazy!
Thanks
Nimb
3 Posts
0
January 27th, 2016 04:00
Been in contact with Dell Pro Support and they told me that a new version of the firmware is on its way. He told me "in january" - but I haven't found it yet tho. Guess I have to give them a couple of days.
a_1010010
4 Posts
0
January 27th, 2016 09:00
To resolve this issue you need to enable DP 1.2 on both monitors. Go to the settings on the each monitor then go to Display section in the menu and select DP 1.2 to be enabled. Restart the laptop after.
That should resolve the issue.
Nimb
3 Posts
0
January 29th, 2016 01:00
That did not resolve my issue. Screens came up after the reboot, but did not resolve issues with Power saving mode when I lock my computer, and if I turn off any of the screens, they never wake up - not before i boot the computer.
st3ic1
1 Message
0
January 29th, 2016 10:00
The issue we've found at our company points to the Dell Docking station. We've tried new laptops, A08 BIOS, in pairs - new monitors, new dvi cables, new display port cables. In our environment we have access to many products - with that said - we replaced the Dell Docking station with a Lenovo ThinkPad USB 3.0 Docking Station and have not had the issue repeat (it currently has been 25 days).
Regardless of the BIOS version, replacing the docking station with a USB 3.0 Hub works flawlessly.
We are currently testing A09 BIOS verision with the Dell docking stations - as of today.
Nimb
3 Posts
1
February 7th, 2016 23:00
Dell have now released the new firmware for the Synaptics VMM3320 MST HUB:
I've just installed it, and I can't recreate any of the symptoms.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=MK1GG&fileId=3515848990&osCode=WT64A&productCode=latitude-e7450-ultrabook&languageCode=EN&categoryId=VI
a_1010010
4 Posts
0
February 10th, 2016 13:00
Any update on that issue?
DavidT_5
5 Posts
0
February 10th, 2016 13:00
With BIOS version A09 and this latest update I have not seen the issue return. I have installed both on 2 out of roughly 12 users with an E7250.
I will update as I do updates.
www.dell.com/.../DriversDetails;amp;fileId=3515848990&osCode=WT64A&productCode=latitude-e7450-ultrabook&languageCode=EN&categoryId=VI
www.dell.com/.../DriversDetails;fileId=3509445716&osCode=W764&productCode=latitude-e7250-ultrabook&languageCode=EN&categoryId=BI
DavidT_5
5 Posts
0
February 11th, 2016 06:00
Well bad news... 1of the 2 users got back to me. After working without any issues for 2 days, she said both monitors went black and came back on after a few secs.
Turnhout
17 Posts
0
February 11th, 2016 23:00
We are seeing the same result, close but no sigar...
Rehmann
2 Posts
0
February 12th, 2016 01:00
We are facing same problems with Dell E7450. Does any one have working solution for this problem? We have ordered recently around 20 Laptops of this category and all of them have same problem. This thread was started long time ago and I wonder that still Dell didn't take notice of it. At least a reply from Dell Support would help.
hfi
16 Posts
0
February 12th, 2016 04:00
I have today downloaded this firmware driver (version 3.9.0, A04; released 3 Feb '16, last updated 11 Feb '16 -- so it is more recent than the one you applied), despite stronger security warnings than usual for downloads from dell.com web sites. I then installed it with the PC docked and connected to external monitors through the docking station as prescribed. I have since rebooted a number of times with different configurations to test it, but not systematically. So far the video has been behaving flawlessly. Hence for now, it seems that this particular upgrade works well for my particular configuration and issues, but given the history and inconsistency of information from Dell on these issues and the setbacks reported in these pages, I hesitate to pass a final verdict.
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=MK1GG&fileId=3515848990&osCode=WT64A&productCode=latitude-e7450-ultrabook