HD530 DisplayPort Issue [Works with Mint Linux, not Windows]

[CPayn]

I would be very grateful for any advice as to how I can track down an issue with my PC which manifested when I purchased some new Dell Monitors...

I have a small fanless computer based on an Asus z170i Pro Gaming Motherboard, with an Intel 6700T processor, 16Gb RAM and a Samsung 1Tb SSD. This motherboard has two graphics output ports: an HDMI 1.2 and a DisplayPort 1.2 port...

I am running a latest-patches edition of Windows 7 [64-bit]. However, this machine also dual-boots [from the same SSD] with a full-patched copy of Mint Linux 17.3 [Rosa], with a relatively old kernel. This is relevant, as you'll see...

From a connectivity perspective, I have the HDMI port connected to my "left" monitor; the DisplayPort to the "Right" monitor. I have the two screens set as an extended desktop. This has been working perfectly, since I purchased this computer, with a Dell 2408W [HDMI] on the left and a Dell 2407W [DisplayPort] on the right. Then I had to replace these two older monitors, and ended up with a pair of Dell 2415W screens.

If I boot this hardware into Mint Linux, I get a perfect dual-screen setup, with the ability to drag and drop my application windows between the two physical displays, with the extended display working perfect, and with 3840x1200 resolution wallpaper perfectly rendered. If I then reboot the exactly same computer, with the exact same cable connections, into Windows 7, then ONLY the HDMI-connected screen works. However, when I check the "Intel HD Graphics Control Panel", it is clear that the driver can *see* both monitors, even though it is not sending a signal to the DisplayPort-connected screen.

If I swap the cables between the two screens, the visible image always appears on the HDMI-connected display. If I boot into Mint Linux, I get both screens working perfectly. There is *obviously* something wrong with the Intel Windows Driver... the question is: what???

Below I offer a transcribed copy of the "saved" configuration data, as provided by the Control Panel. I have carefully worked my way through the settings and [so far] been unable to figure out why this isn't working. I'm not sure if this is relevant, but in the configuration options of the Dell Monitors, "DP 1.2" is set to "Disable", which is [as far as I can tell from the manual] what Dell recommend... [ And - just to be clear, the current configuration works *perfectly* with Mint Linux, but not with Windows 7].

Three questions:-

1. Can anyone either offer me a suggestion as to anything I can do to fix this problem please?

2. Failing that, would anyone be able to offer me any suggestions as to things I might try in order to triage this issue or eliminate any possibilities through a process of elimination?

3. Last gasp attempt: if this isn't working for Windows 7, is there any possibility that it might work for Windows 10? [ Please note - this would be a destructive update for me... I can upgrade to Windows 10, but once that happens I'm not going to be able to go back to 7 again.

This is proving incredibly frustrating. How can it be that swapping two [older] Dell Monitors to newer ones can create this amount of grief? [ And - what is it about the Windows and Linux drivers from Intel that are so different that one works and the other doesn't? ]

Very many thanks, in advance, to anyone kind enough to read this far... Suggestions gratefully received!!!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Windows 7 config:-

Intel(R) HD Graphics 530

Report Date: Sunday, October 23, 2016

Report Time [hh:mm:ss]: 11:07:34 PM

Driver Version: 20.19.15.4501

Operating System: Windows* 7 Professional (6.1.7601)

Default Language: English (United States)

Physical Memory: 16268 MB

Vendor ID: 8086

Device ID: 1912

Device Revision: 06

Video BIOS: 1031.0

Current Resolution: 1920 x 1200

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700T CPU @ 2.80GHz

Processor Speed: 2808 MHz

Processor Graphics in Use: Intel(R) HD Graphics 530

Shader Version: 5.0

OpenGL* Version: 4.4

OpenCL* Version: 2.0

* Microsoft DirectX* *

Runtime Version: 11.0

Hardware-Supported Version: 11.0

* Devices connected to the Graphics Accelerator *

Active Displays: 2

* Digital Display *

Display Type: Digital

Serial Number: 7MT016240VYL

DDC2 Protocol: Supported

Gamma: 2.2

Connector Type: DisplayPort

Device Type: DisplayPort

Maximum Image Size

Horizontal Size: 20.47 inches

Vertical Size: 12.6 inches

Supported Modes

640 x 480 (60p Hz)

640 x 480 (75p Hz)

720 x 400 (70p Hz)

720 x 480 (60p Hz)

720 x 480 (60i Hz)

720 x 576 (50p Hz)

720 x 576 (50i Hz)

800 x 600 (75p Hz)

800 x 600 (60p Hz)

1024 x 768 (60p Hz)

1024 x 768 (75p Hz)

1152 x 864 (75p Hz)

1280 x 720 (50p Hz)

1280 x 720 (60p Hz)

1280 x 1024 (75p Hz)

1280 x 1024 (60p Hz)

1600 x 1200 (60p Hz)

1920 x 1080 (50p Hz)

1920 x 1080 (24p Hz)

1920 x 1080 (60p Hz)

1920 x 1080 (60i Hz)

1920 x 1080 (25p Hz)

1920 x 1080 (50i Hz)

1920 x 1080 (30p Hz)

1920 x 1200 (60p Hz)

Power Management Support

Active Off Mode: Supported

Raw EDID:

00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 10 AC B8 A0 4C 59 56 30

06 1A 01 04 A5 34 20 78 3A 04 95 A9 55 4D 9D 26

10 50 54 A5 4B 00 71 4F 81 80 A9 40 D1 C0 D1 00

01 01 01 01 01 01 28 3C 80 A0 70 B0 23 40 30 20

36 00 06 44 21 00 00 1E 00 00 00 FF 00 37 4D 54

30 31 36 32 34 30 56 59 4C 0A 00 00 00 FC 00 44

45 4C 4C 20 55 32 34 31 35 0A 20 20 00 00 00 FD

00 31 3D 1E 53 11 00 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 1B

02 03 1C F1 4F 90 05 04 03 02 07 16 01 14 1F 12

13 20 21 22 23 09 07 07 83 01 00 00 02 3A 80 18

71 38 2D 40 58 2C 45 00 06 44 21 00 00 1E 01 1D

80 18 71 1C 16 20 58 2C 25 00 06 44 21 00 00 9E

01 1D 00 72 51 D0 1E 20 6E 28 55 00 06 44 21 00

00 1E 8C 0A D0 8A 20 E0 2D 10 10 3E 96 00 06 44

21 00 00 18 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 0C

* Digital Television *

Display Type: Digital

Serial Number: 7MT016240H2L

DDC2 Protocol: Supported

Gamma: 2.2

Connector Type: HDMI

Device Type: Digital Television

Maximum Image Size

Horizontal Size: 20.47 inches

Vertical Size: 12.6 inches

Supported Modes

640 x 480 (60p Hz)

640 x 480 (75p Hz)

720 x 400 (70p Hz)

720 x 480 (60p Hz)

720 x 480 (60i Hz)

720 x 576 (50p Hz)

720 x 576 (50i Hz)

800 x 600 (75p Hz)

800 x 600 (60p Hz)

1024 x 768 (60p Hz)

1024 x 768 (75p Hz)

1152 x 864 (75p Hz)

1280 x 72...

[idata]

Hello sproggit:

Thank you very much for providing that information. In this case since you already installed driver 4501, we can try the Beta driver which is version 4539, remember that because the driver is Beta it might or might not get installed: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26347/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=88345 https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26347/Intel-Beta-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-and-Windows-7-8-1-15-40-?product=88345 Another thing to do, based on the fact that DP 1.2 is set to Disable, will be a firmware update on the monitor, even though it is working with Linux, it might be disable for Windows. I looked on Dell's web site, for a firmware update for that monitor, but I was not able to find this specific model in there: Dell 2415W So, the best thing to do to check on that, will be to get in contact with Dell directly: Dell's phone number: 1 800-624-9897 Dell's support site: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04 http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04 Another thing to do will be a BIOS update on the board, latest version is BIOS 2002: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170I-PRO-GAMING/HelpDesk_Download/ https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Z170I-PRO-GAMING/HelpDesk_Download/ Any questions, please let me know. Alberto

[CPayn]

Alberto,

Firstly, thank you so much for your kind response. I am very grateful.

I did check the Dell web site, and I found what looks to be a (new?) driver for the Monitor:-

http://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukbsdt1/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=MHXHM Dell U2415 24" Monitor with LED Driver Driver Details | Dell UK

I am not sure if this will solve the problem, but I think this should be the first thing to try. [ I am just slightly embarrassed that I did not think to check for a Monitor driver before asking you for help... I will also try the Asus BIOS too...

Next, I bought myself a new copy of Windows 10 (64-Bit) for this computer. I had originally intended to run Windows 7 until support was cut, but when I saw these problems I decided that Windows 10 might be worth a try. £200. [ Ouch! ] I will only try that *after* your other suggestions. If all else fails, then I will try the Beta driver [before the Windows 10 rebuild]. The good news is that I actually went out and purchased a brand new SSD for this machine, so I can try the W10 installation 8and* the W7 experiments at the same time - all I have to do is swap the drives... [ Tricky, because the case is not maintenance-friendly, but worth trying].

I will not get time to try this before the weekend, but will report back with the results.

I am very *very* grateful for your kind help.

Regards,

Clive

[CPayn]

[ The really frustrating things is... Under Windows 7, with the current configuration, I can get all 3 of my 2415 screens to work *PERFECTLY* using DisplayPort daisy-chaining. However, whilst that works brilliantly with Windows, it does not work at all with Linux. I have been chatting with the Linux Kernel Driver Team over at the Intel Open Source Community. They tell me that they are still working on the correct kernel driver for DisplayPort chaining... Maybe if they fix that first, my problem is solved...

[idata]

Hello sproggit:

Thank you very much for providing all those details, we really appreciate that. In regard to Linux, what you did is what we recommend to do, because the support we provide is for Windows, so, to check that with Linux Kernel Driver Team is the best thing to do. Now, when you get the chance, go ahead and try those tests, and let us know the results, remember than the Beta driver works also with Windows® 7. Any questions, please let me know. Alberto

[CPayn]

Alberto,

As promised, here is an update of actions taken and results observed, to date.

1. BIOS Update.

I have updated the BIOS to the 2002 version. I had to dig around the BIOS a little bit to get it to boot after the update, because I have this board running inside an Impactics fanless case [it uses heat pipes for cooling]. None of the motherboard fan headers are connected, so the BIOS refused to boot in order to protect the CPU. I got that fixed.

Result: Immediately I could see a slight improvement in performance. My primary screen [HDMI] continues to work perfectly, but I began to see brief "flashes" of display to the DisplayPort screen as well. These lasted as long as a few seconds. Interestingly, this would only happen for approximately the first 5 minutes after system boot. After these first 5 minutes, the DisplayPort connected screen goes dark and does not display anything after that point.

2. Dell Monitor Driver Update.

I located the correct Monitor version on the Dell site, and downloaded a generic update utility. Running this under Windows 7 allowed the software to correctly detect and update the firmware in both of these monitors. I received confirmation that both updates completed successfully...

Result: To be honest it actually looks as though there was a small deterioration in performance after the Monitor update. Subjectively, it seems as though the display wakes up, but for shorter intervals of time. It has now gone dark and is non-responsive. I have just tried to access the function menu for the Display-Port connected monitor, but it is completely unresponsive... I am going to have to try a complete system reboot to see if I can wake up the screen long enough to get to the DP 1.2 setting and try that next...

If that doesn't work then we could try the Beta Driver, and if *that* doesn't work, then I have the new Windows 10 OS USB stick, waiting here to test tomorrow...

I will post this update now, because I'll have to reboot the system next...

Thanks.

[CPayn]

Alberto,

I hope this amounts to excellent news... I've rebooted the system with the DisplayPort Monitor set to "1.2" and I now have a fully-working system...

I've tried both Mint 17.3 and Windows 7 and have stable display output with both Operating Systems. From this perspective I am 100% happy that I've now solved this problem. However, I will be trying one more thing, just to see if these upgrades and patches have made a difference...

One other thing I got working with Windows 7/64 was to use DisplayPort DaisyChaining and that allowed me to run all three of my 24", Monitors as a single desktop. I experienced no lag, no flicker and had an excellent 3-screen desktop experience [all from a tiny, fanless, Core i7 system... However, once in that mode I was unable to get the system to boot into Mint Linux at all. However, with these upgrades, it might be worth one more try. I would like to thank you [very much] for your help and to confirm that this issue is most definitely resolved. If I can fix the Linux driver issue as well, then I can report that with the Open Source Community Support Team.

Thank you for your excellent advice and kind assistance - it was very much appreciated.

Regards,

Clive

[CPayn]

OK, I spoke too soon...

Correction to previous statement... Windows now Works OK with DisplayPort 1.2 set to *ON*. Mint Linux only works with DisplayPort 1.2 set to *OFF*.

Not a major hardship... It's not quite perfect - I would prefer to not have to swap the DP settings between different OS boots... but I can make this work. Might be something useful to discuss with the Linux Kernel Driver Team...

Thanks again,

Clive

[idata]

Hello sproggit:

Thank you very much for sharing all that information on this thread, it will be very useful for all the peers viewing this thread. We hope you can get the system running exactly as you wanted, but the workarounds you are doing are actually pretty good. And yes, anything related to Linux it will be better to discuss it with the Linux Kernel Driver Team, so they can provide the most accurate information on that matter. Any questions, please let me know. Alberto

[CPayn]

Alberto,

One more [final and completely successful - !!! ] update for you.

I have just spent the last 6 hours rebuilding my computer. This involved removing and replacing the Samsung SSD which is still holding copies of Windows 7/64 Pro and Mint 17.3/64, putting in a new Samsung 850 Pro and then installing Windows 10 Pro/64 and a copy of Mint 18.0/64 on to this new drive. It took *much* longer than expected because I hit some really weird issues. For example, the Asus z170i Pro Gaming Motherboard is fitted with an *excellent* Intel LAN Adapter, except that the Windows 10 64-bit installer refused to recognise it. I was forced to boot another machine, download driver files from the Asus web site, manually transfer them via USB and then patch the system...

But the good news is that the combination of Windows 10 Pro/64 and Mint 18.0/64 is perfectly happy to operate with the Dell U2415W Monitor operating with DisplayPort configuration set permanently to "DP 1.2 Enabled". This means that the hardware configuration for all devices is now uniform between Windows and GNU/Linux. This is a huge step forward...

Now I only have one more thing to do, which is to keep experimenting with the latest kernels and DisplayPort drivers to see when I can get all three of my Monitors to "Daisy-Chain" via DisplayPort with Linux. I am pretty sure that it will happen, now it is just a question of when. However, in the interim, I have a 100% stable, reliable and dual-boot-able machine. The secret appears to be:-

1. Use Windows 10/64 Pro and Mint 18.0/64

2. Configure your Dell Monitors to "Enable DisplayPort 1.2 = True" [if you are running Dell Monitors]

3. If you are running more than 1 monitor, ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE that your primary monitor connects via an HDMI Cable. If you connect your primary monitor via DisplayPort and there are driver issues, then ALL of your monitors will remain dark.

and

4. If you are using an Asus z170i Pro Gaming [which is an awesome little Mini-ITX board, with lots of performance in a small form factor for a good price] then make sure that you download all the Windows 10 drivers and put them on USB or DVD-R before you start!!!

Case is now *properly* closed. I couldn't have done this without your help, Alberto. Thank you so very much!

Clive

[idata]

Hello sproggit:

You are welcome, thank you very much for posting all the details on this thread, that information will be really useful for us and for all the peers viewing this thread. Perfect, it is great to hear that your PC is working as you wanted in the first place, and we really appreciate the tips you share in our communities, hopefully the triple display configuration on Linux will work for you with no problems. Any questions, please let me know. Alberto