Intel Iris XE graphics limits my external monitor to 120Hz

[RazvanXO16]

Hi,

I got an Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6 with Intel Iris XE Graphics ( Intel® Core™ i5-11300H ) and Nvidia GeForce GTX1650 connected to an external monitor which is BenQ MOBIUZ EX240N which the refresh rate could go up to 165Hz but when I plugged the monitor using an HDMI 2.0 cable ( my laptop and also the monitor has HDMI 2.0 ) it got capped at 120Hz. Is it because the external monitor it's connected to the Intel Iris Graphics and not the GPU? 

Can you help me with a suggestion on how can I get at least 144Hz if not 165Hz? 

Also my laptop has an USB 3.2 Gen Type C, can I try to buy a Type C - Display Port cable? Will it work?

Bellow I will leave screenshots with my display properties and specs.

[MUC]

Laptop: Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6

You can only connect an external monitor via HDMI. The USB-C port does not transmit video.

HDMI 2.0: 3840 x 2160 @ 60Hz RGB 8-bit TMDS = 18 Gbps

Monitor: BenQ MOBIUZ Gaming Monitor EX240N

• 1920 x 1080 @ 165 Hz 8-bit CVT-RB = 12 Gbps
• 1 x HDMI 2.0
• 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
• VESA AdaptiveSync

The video bandwidth is sufficient. Please use the graphics drivers that Lenovo offers for download:

• Intel VGA Driver for Windows 10 (64-bit): 31.0.101.4502
• Nvidia VGA Driver for Windows 10 (64-bit): 31.0.15.2904

If that doesn't help, then please create a Report for Intel Graphics Drivers and attach the output file here.

[RazvanXO16]

Hi,

I've installed the Intel VGA + Nvidia VGA driver, did a quick restart and tried to see if it's working, did not worked at all, I'm starting to question if I need to change to a new HDMI cable.

Here is the output of the report for Intel Graphics Driver, hope this helps. 

[MUC]

The report shows that the monitor data is being received correctly.

The yellow parameters deviate from the VESA standard Coordinated Video Timing - Reduced Blanking (CVT-RB), but that shouldn't be a problem with the HDMI 2.0 bandwidth.

1080p @ 144 Hz = 325.08 MHz = 54% HDMI 2.0

1080p @ 165 Hz = 380.96 MHz = 64% HDMI 2.0

If you are currently using a "High Speed ​​HDMI Cable", which corresponds to version 1.4, then you can of course try an HDMI 2.0 cable ("Premium High Speed ​​HDMI Cable").

If that doesn't help either, you should ask Lenovo Support, referring to this thread, what this HDMI connector actually supports. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM = Lenovo in this case) has the final say in this regard, not the capabilities of the graphics integrated in the Intel processor.

[RazvanXO16 · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Thanks for the prompt reply, I'm gonna look forward a new Premium High Speed HDMI cable and we can mark it as solved !

Thanks in regards.

[YureFr]

Could you please confirm if the issue was actually resolved? I’m facing the same problem, but my monitor is an LG ULTRA GEAR 24' 180Hz 24GS60F-B. I’ve already purchased a premium high-speed cable, model ELG HS8K20. I’ve tested with both the manufacturer’s drivers and the latest reference drivers. I’d like to support at least 144Hz, but 165 or 180Hz would be great as well. Attached is the report. 

Note that the maximum that shows up is 120Hz.

I even tried checking through third-party software, and the resolution shows up.

If possible, please provide me with a solution.

[MUC]

Yes, the monitor's capabilities transmitted via the Display Data Channel (DDC) in the HDMI cable arrive in both the Intel driver and the Windows registry (in your case read with CRU).

HDMI 2.0 MAX = 600 MHz

This corresponds exactly to the video timing according to VESA CVT-RB. I can therefore only assume that the HDMI connector on this device is not capable of outputting resolutions and refresh rates that are not included in the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) standards. 1080p @ 120 Hz is the maximum in the CTA-861 timing table, Video Identification Code (VIC) = 63.

Since this monitor information is already carried in the base block of the EDID, I don't think you can achieve anything with CRU. To be sure, you have to contact the manufacturer of the device. The HDMI retimer (PS8409A) on the motherboard may be a limitation, since retimer devices are protocol-aware and -dependent. Such chips are basically required to bring the video signal from the processor integrated graphics to the physical connector by recovering the data, extracting the embedded clock and retransmitting a fresh copy of the data using a clean clock. As mentioned, however, It is just possible that in the case of HDMI only the CTA-861 formats are supported, which excludes 144 Hz and higher.

[MUC]

Is your device even a Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 15IHU6?

The laptops with Intel Core i7-11370H and GeForce GTX 1650 often have an USB Type-C port that can also output a video signal. Please provide the exact model number of your device or consult the manual.

In case of a video capable USB Type-C port, please use one of these cables to connect your LG UltraGear Full HD monitor with the DisplayPort protocol:

• Zeskit MAYA 8K Bi-Directional USB-C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable
• Club 3D USB Type C Cable to DP 1.4 (CAC-1557)
• Cable Matters USB-C to DisplayPort Cable - 8K Ready (201036)
• Cable Matters Premium Braided USB C to DisplayPort 1.4 Cable (201336)

[nat84]

I have the same issue. My laptop is a Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3-15IHU6-82K100Y6RU, and my monitor is a 2K Redmi GPro 27 180Hz. In Windows, I can't get more than 60Hz at 2K resolution, but using the CRU tool, I managed to achieve 75Hz. It seems that HDMI is running in 1.4 mode instead of 2.0 as it should. Interestingly, this issue does not exist in Linux - there, the monitor runs at 144Hz.
Many people online are complaining about the same problem with this laptop, and so far, I haven't seen anyone find a solution.
Maybe you have some advice? I would really appreciate any help.

[MUC]

Please run edid-test.exe:

https://www.monitortests.com/edid-test.zip

This will create a file named "edid-test.txt" in the same folder. Please attach this TXT file here.

[nat84]

edid-test.txt

[MUC]

The monitor's EDID shows:

When I apply your monitor's EDID in my simulation environment for my Iris Xe in the NUC11, everything can be set up to 144 Hz under Windows 11 23H2 with driver 32.0.101.6647.

The receiving device shows the following in the signal diagnostics:

I'm afraid you'll have to contact Lenovo Support about your issue. It doesn't seem to be related to the generic Intel drivers. If it works under Linux, there's obviously a Lenovo-specific firmware issue preventing it from working under Windows. The resolution you've set of 2560 x 1440 @ 75 Hz in the EDID's first block requires a pixel clock of 295 MHz, which is still within the HDMI 1.4 range.