HDMI to VGA not working with NUC11

[Popnowlin]

I have a NUC11PAHi7.  I have it connected to a keyboard, mouse, and monitor via a KVM switch.  The keyboard and mouse work fine.  The monitor does not.

I have two older NUC8i5BEHs on the same KVM switch and they work just fine using HDMI to VGA adapters.  The new NUC doesn't work at all with the adapter.  If I separate it from the KVM switch and hook it directly to an HDMI monitor it works fine.

Why won't the new NUC11PAHi7 work with the HDMI to VGA adapter?  It's a Moread HDMI to VGA adapter, just like the other two that work.  This is extremely frustrating.  I did not intend for this NUC to be a headless server, but for now that's what it is.

And the OS is linux Mint 20.02.  The other two NUCs, that work just fine, are Ubuntu 20.04.3 and Mint 20.02.

System Information
        Manufacturer: Intel(R) Client Systems
        Product Name: NUC11PAHi7
        Version: M15513-305
        Serial Number: G6PA13500BCU
        UUID: 28e97a1f-c316-f4a9-b593-1c697aab51fd
        Wake-up Type: Power Switch
        SKU Number: RNUC11PAHi7000
        Family: PA

[David_G_Intel]

Hello Popnowlin

Thank you for posting on the Intel️® communities. Please share with us the following information:

• NUC BIOS version
• KVM switch model
• Did you check the KVM firmware is up to date?
• Model of the monitor

Regards, 

David G 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[Popnowlin]

Thanks for the reply.

• The NUC BIOS is PATGL357.0040.2021.0414.1645, obtained with the dmidecode command.
• The KVM switch is a TRENDnet TK-409K 4-Port USB KVM Switch and Cable Kit With Audio.  I have all four ports populated with an old gateway mini-tower and three NUCs.  Only one of the NUCs has problems with the HDMI to VGA adapter.  I've switch ports on the KVM switch to see if that affects the problem and the problem follows the NUC to any port.
  
• As far as I can tell this KVM switch has no way to apply firmware upgrades.
• The display is a Samsung Syncmaster 1920x1200 monitor.

[David_G_Intel]

Thank you for the update. The latest BIOS for this NUC is 0041, you can update it to check if it will hep with your problem but neither the manufacturer nor Intel has validated the products as compatible:

• https://compatibleproducts.intel.com/ProductDetails?EPMID=205073#

It's always recommended to use straight connections without any adapters, since the NUC works fine with the monitor without the adapter it's recommended that you contact their support for further troubleshooting steps.

Regards, 

David G 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[Popnowlin]

The BIOS  update procedure explicitly warns against updating the BIOS unless you  know it will fix a known problem.  The 0041 BIOS notes don't mention any kind of fix to display problems.  Thanks but I'm going to pass.

As to not using the HDMI to VGA adapters, I have two other NUC8i5BEHs that work just fine with the adapters.  And I've swapped the adapters to make sure the problem isn't one of the four adapters I have.

I appreciate the caution about using adapters but apparently the NUC11PAHi7 either broke something in the HDMI interface or it's a new feature.  If it's broken it would be nice if they fix it.  If it's a new feature you might want to fire the engineer who created that one.

[David_G_Intel]

Since the NUC8's are older models with different specs we cannot confirm that the same components will work on both units. I have passed your feedback to the correct team but the recommendation for now is to continue using connections without the adapters or use one that has been validated from the website above.

Regards, 

David G 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[David_G_Intel]

We have not heard back from you, so we will close this thread. If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored. 

Best regards,  

David G. 

Intel Customer Support Technician