Alienware 17 (2014) HDMI OUT

[xenomorph]

Hi. I hope this is the correct forum.

I've recently obtained an Alienware 17 (2014) which I've upgraded with an i7-4910MQ, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB Samsung 860 EVO mSata SSD, and AX210 WiFi card. It has an NVIDIA GTX 860M. I've installed the latest official BIOS A17.

 

The only thing I can't get to work is HDMI OUT. It won't detect an external monitor. I just get a no signal message on the connected display. I've tried the usual things, different cables, updated to the latest display drivers etc. The Display Port works fine, but I'd really like to run two external displays.

 

HDMI IN works fine too so presumably there's nothing physically wrong with the port.

 

Any ideas/suggestions?

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Maik]

Hello Xeno,

 

Is the HDMI routed with NVIDIA or Intel? Have you tried disabling Optimus, or temporarily remove integrated graphics drivers for quick test?

What windows do you have? Have you tried "share screen (Windows key + k)" maybe it is a temporal solution without the cable.

 

Cheers

[xenomorph]

Hi Maik

 

Thanks for your reply. Good question, I'm not sure. I've tried FN + F5 which disables the iGPU (Intel UHD 630) but there's no HDMI output using only the dGPU either. Windows key + K doesn't find any devices.

I'm on Windows 10, but perhaps I should try Linux and see if it works there.

[Maik]

Yeah, then it is definetly connected to the cpu, not gpu. (I asume you already set windows +p to duplicate/extend screen once connected and you are connecting to HDMI OUT, not IN)

I would run the following tests:

 

1. Confirm the drivers are fully up to date (no yellow triangles around or missing the following): Device Manager/Display adapters/ Intel UHD 630 and also the Intel/NVIDIA Audio/Displays ones

2. If not working after update, try disable manually and enable again after few seconds.

3. if that doesnt work, verify in BIOS iGPU /Intel graphics are enabled

4. If you did the inf manual install of any related drivers, ensure to disable windows updates for those specific drivers, restart the laptop on “Driver Signature Enforcement Disabled mode”, reinstall drivers, and try it in this mode. 

5. if not working, Try to change back to the old cpu (to test if HDMI works properly)

6. Last resort, Ubuntu usb...

7. if not working, an alternative work around would be a miracast monitor connected through WIFI....

 

UPDATE: I have been also checking and this would go beyond uncharted waters on a laptop, but there is another method. It would be to get a LVDS to lvds (connect laptop screen) and hdmi extention (connect external screen), there is 5v and 12v, if you get the 5V you could power it via usb 2.0. It should definetly work, then get a software to separate virtually both screens.(around 20 usd)