Intel Iris Xe Graphics: No monitor signal on boot with HDMI, no signal at all with DP

[Anonymous]

Hello, I recently bought the Mini PC "Minisforum TH50", and I came to believe its graphics card has some compatibility issues.

Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics

Monitor (EFP): HP M22f

Problem description:

When I boot the PC, the monitor, connected via HDMI, says "no signal" -- I don't even see the "Minisforum" brand name before Windows starts. However, as soon as I pull the HDMI cable out and plug it back in, the screen appears. From this point on, there's no problem. I can even put the PC to sleep or hibernate, the screen reappears just as it should when I wake the PC up.

When I click "restart", there's a minor anomaly: For a moment, the monitor says "no signal", but then suddenly the Windows login screen appears. So it works, but I don't see the MINISFORUM brand name and couldn't get into BIOS.

When I power the PC off and then manually on again, the problem is as described: No signal until I pull the cable out and plug it back in.

The problem was there from the beginning, but it took me some time to quite realize it because I rarely power off the computer.

What I tried:

• I connected another (way cheaper) mini PC (Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500) to the monitor using the same HDMI cable and everything works fine.
• I bought a "DP to HDMI" cable to test if the Display Port on the mini PC would yield the same problem. It was even worse: I can't get any signal at all! No matter if I boot the PC or it's already running.
• I updated the drivers for the monitor and the graphics card. I was sceptical of that approach because, correct me if I'm wrong, if it were the drivers, then I should at least see the PC brand name before windows starts, since the drivers are installed in Windows. As expected, the updated drivers changed nothing.

Workaround:

I did eventually find a workaround: I connected the mini PC's HDMI port with the monitor's VGA port (via an old cable + adapter). To my surprise, it worked. Now I can boot the PC, and the screen appears immediately (starting properly with the MINISFORUM logo).

Nonetheless, I'm not quite satisfied. I should be able to have a normal HDMI or DP connection.

I assume the graphics card has some compatibility issues and would like to know your opinion. Do you agree with my assumption and is this a known issue? And is there anything I could do to solve this problem?

[Jean_Intel]

Hello rdbnr,

Thank you for posting on the Intel️® communities.  

In order to have a better understanding of your issue, please provide me with the following:

• Do you recall any hardware or software change before the issue started
• You mention having to pull the HDMI cable out and plug it back in. What happens if you don't try this method? Is the monitor unresponsive?
• Have you tried using another monitor or HDMI cable?

Regarding your assumption about the Driver, you are correct and the issue is installed in Windows, and I understand that you are skeptical of these steps. However, it is essential to mention that the driver is important for the communication between the monitor and the Graphics card.  Sometimes corrupted files from previous installations of drivers can linger on a system which can cause driver updates not to work as expected. I recommend performing a clean installation of the latest graphics driver to void the possibility that there are corrupted files. 

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Anonymous]

Hello Jean,

thank you for replying.

Regarding your questions:

• No prior hardware or software change. I am completely sure of that since the problem was there from the beginning (i.e. since I bought the PC a few weeks ago).
• When I don't pull the HDMI cable out and plug it back in, the monitor is unresponsive, yes. It also doesn't help to shut the display off and turn it on again. The only thing that works is to pull the cable out and plug it back in. Then suddenly the screen appears.
• I'm sure the HDMI cable is fine because it works with another PC. (Also, I tried other cables, but the problem is the same.) I'm also sure the monitor is ok because it works perfectly with another (mini) PC.

And regarding the graphics driver: I already installed the newest one. Intel Driver Assistant confirms all my Intel drivers and software is up to date. Unfortunately, the driver update didn't change anything, neither with the HDMI nor the DP connection.

BTW today I realized something else: Connected to the monitor via HDMI, when I first (!) boot the PC and then (!) the monitor, then the monitor detects the HDMI signal, and I can see the Windows login screen. But not the other way around. When the monitor is in standby while I boot the PC, it does not detect any HDMI signal.

Maybe this information helps you with your problem analysis?

[Jean_Intel]

Hello rdbnr,

About the driver installation. I understand that you have already installed the latest driver. However, I recommended the clean installation steps, as sometimes corrupted files from previous drivers can cause driver updates not to work as expected. The clean installation steps delete previous drivers' versions installed on the system.

To have more detailed information about your issue, please create a report using the Intel®️ System Support Utility (Intel®️ SSU). This report will gather information about the drivers, BIOS, and Operating system version installed on your unit.

• Download the Intel SSU

• Open the application and click on "Scan" to see the system and device information. By default, Intel®️ SSU will take you to the "Summary View." 

• Click on the menu where it says: "Summary" to change it to "Detailed View." 

• To save your scan: click on "Next"; then "Save." 

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Anonymous]

Hello Jean,

Oh, I didn't catch that, sorry. Now I reinstalled the latest driver following the clean installation steps from your link. Unfortunately, it didn't solve the problem.

I attached the file from SSU.

Best regards

[Jean_Intel]

Hello rdbnr,

Thank you for the information provided.  

I will proceed to check the issue internally and post back soon with more details. 

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Jean_Intel]

Hello rdbnr,

Thanks for waiting for a response.

Here are some recommendations and information related to your issue:

• Test a different monitor without using adapters. Let me know if you face the same issue.
• Confirm if the same issue occurs with Windows 11 22000 build.
• Are you using a high resolution? If so, can you set up lower resolutions and check if the monitor goes responsive?
• Test an older driver 30.0.101.1631.
• If the system is not showing up on the splash screen, you need to check with OEM this could be because Fast Boot is enabled or another option in the BIOS that skips the splash screen, if possible you may try to disable start boot to see if you can see how the splash screen but you need to check with his OEM for support.

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Anonymous]

Hello Jean, 

• I don't have another computer monitor with an HDMI port, but I tested it with my smart TV. Interestingly, my TV detects the HDMI signal when the computer boots. This seems to indicate there's a problem with my monitor (HP M22f), however, this can't be the case since it works fine with another PC (via HDMI). I find this observation rather irritating; maybe you can make something out of it?
• I don't know how to revert back to Windows 11 22000 build. Also, not to come off as rude, but I don't see how this could solve the problem since the problem starts before Windows is even loaded. 
• The same goes for the drivers: It's still not clear to me how the drivers (installed in the OS) could lead to the PC manufacturer's logo being displayed on boot (before the OS is loaded). Nevertheless, I followed your suggestion and tried it. However, unfortunately it didn't work.
• I'm using the recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080. I changed it to 1600 x 900, but the problem remained the same.
• I'm pretty sure Fast Boot is not enabled because I do see the MINISFORUM splash screen using HDMI -> VGA. Also, I checked, but in my BIOS (UEFI) interface, there is no option "Fast Boot".

Best regards

[Jean_Intel]

Hello rdbnr,

In order to answer your questions and provide you with further information about your issue. I would resume my investigation

Best regards, 

Jean O.  

Intel Customer Support Technician

[Anonymous]

No, I won't proceed. You chose to ignore every piece of information I provided as well as every question I asked. You didn't react when I told you: "I don't know how to revert back to Windwos 11 22000 build." And you stubbornly refuse to explain to me how a different version of Windows could solve a problem that occurs before Windows even starts running. This seems nothing but absurd.

This behavior is not exactly my understanding of customer support.

Anyway, as I stated in my first post (in case you read it), I found a workaround to the problem myself, and I will stick to that.

What a waste of time.