Dual Monitors Cannot Display 4K When Connected Through a Thunderbolt Docking Station

Summary: The following article provides information about a resolution issue using dual external monitors through a dock. This is seen when dual external screens are connected to the Precision 7670 and 7770 Mobile Workstation through a Thunderbolt docking station. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

You cannot get 4K 60 Hz resolution from dual screens through a Thunderbolt dock

 

You can see the following limitation if you use dual external monitors on your Precision 7670 or 7770 Mobile Workstation. The monitors cannot reach a 4K 60 Hz resolution.

You this under the following conditions:

  • The dual screens are connected through a WD19TBS or WD22TB4 Thunderbolt docking station
  • You are using the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system (Version 8.6)
  • You are using two 4K capable screens:
    • Monitor 1: 1920x1080 @60 Hz
    • Monitor 2: 3840x2160 @60 Hz

Cause

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system (version 8.6) cannot support High bit rate 3 (HBR3) on the Intel Alder Lake-HX (ADL-HX) core series processor.

Resolution

This is a limitation of a Linux operating system on the Intel ADL-HX processor.

The following instructions are a workaround:

  1. Connect your dock using the USB Type-C port.

  2. Switch the graphic mode to Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode:

    1. Press the power button to turn on your mobile workstation.

    2. Press the F2 key to enter the BIOS setup screen, when you see the Dell splash screen appear.

    3. Click Display.

    4. Go to Enable Hybrid Graphics which defaults to ON.

    5. Change Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode from OFF to ON.

    6. Click APPLY CHANGES.

    7. Click OK.

    8. Click the EXIT button to exit the BIOS and restart into your mobile workstations operating system.


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Affected Products

Precision 7670, Precision 7770
Article Properties
Article Number: 000200244
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 22 Apr 2025
Version:  4
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