XPS13 9300 connecting display to monitor via HDMI

makem · 05-07-2021, 06:39 AM

I am using an XPS13 9300 with xubuntu 20.04 and Xfce desktop. The laptop is connected to the monitor on HDMI1 via a Dell adaptor (See below), which connects to one of the USB C ports on the laptop. The adaptor has an HDMI output.

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ sudo lshw -c video
[sudo] password for makem: 
  *-display                 
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Iris Plus Graphics G7
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 2
       bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
       logical name: /dev/fb0
       version: 07
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
       configuration: depth=32 driver=i915 latency=0 mode=1920x1200 visual=truecolor xres=1920 yres=1200
       resources: iomemory:600-5ff iomemory:400-3ff irq:184 memory:603c000000-603cffffff memory:4000000000-400fffffff ioport:4000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ sudo lshw -nn | grep -E 'VGA|Display'
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Iris Plus Graphics G7 [8086:8a52] (rev 07)
makem@XPS-13-9300:~

Using xubuntu Display settings I select the monitor as primary display on the right of the laptop. This tells me that the panel and icons are passed through to the primary display, the monitor but they are not.

I can drag from the panel as expected but that is all.

I am trying to be able to set this up correctly, close the laptop lid (set to turn off the display only) and after final shutdown keep all the settings as they were set. ie open the laptop, sign in, close the lid and work only on the monitor.

To do this I need the laptop display 'permanently' passed to the monitor in total, not just using it as a screen extension.

At the moment I can only use it with screen mirroring and even then the monitor screen width is incorrect, leaving unused screen either side.

Maybe this is not possible? If not can anyone guide or point to a guide where I can set it up as close as possible?

Dell Adapter: USB-C to HDMI/DP with Power Pass-Through

mrmazda · 05-07-2021, 12:30 PM

Please paste here input and output from:

Code:

xrandr --listproviders
xrandr
inxi -SGa

makem · 05-07-2021, 02:11 PM

Thank you for taking the time to assist.

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ xrandr --listproviders
Providers: number : 1
Provider 0: id: 0x47 cap: 0x9, Source Output, Sink Offload crtcs: 3 outputs: 5 associated providers: 0 name:modesetting
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 3200 x 1200, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected 1920x1200+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 288mm x 180mm
   1920x1200     59.95*+  59.88    47.96  
   1920x1080     60.01    59.97    59.96    59.93  
   1600x1200     60.00  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.05  
   896x672       60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
DP-1 connected primary 1280x1024+1920+10 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 527mm x 296mm
   1920x1080     60.00 + 144.01   120.00   119.88    50.00    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1280x1024     75.02*   60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1440x576      50.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1440x480      60.00    59.94  
   800x600       72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    66.67    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08  
DP-2 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-3 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
DP-4 disconnected (normal left inverted right x axis y axis)
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ inxi -SGa
System:
  Host: XPS-13-9300 Kernel: 5.8.0-50-generic x86_64 bits: 64 
  compiler: N/A 
  parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-50-generic 
  root=UUID=172a0627-8560-4b9b-a098-f05c248d0827 ro quiet splash 
  vt.handoff=7 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.13 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 
  dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa) 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 vendor: Dell driver: i915 
  v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:8a52 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: modesetting 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1200~60Hz, 1280x1024~75Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Iris Plus Graphics (ICL GT2) 
  v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 direct render: Yes 
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$

mrmazda · 05-07-2021, 04:36 PM

Let's see if xrandr can work around what appears to be a failure of XFCE display settings. See if this helps at least initially:

Code:

xrandr --output DP-1 --primary --mode 1920x1080

makem · 05-07-2021, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

Let's see if xrandr can work around what appears to be a failure of XFCE display settings. See if this helps at least initially:

Code:

xrandr --output DP-1 --primary --mode 1920x1080

In the meantime, prior to your reply, I found how to move the panel and desktop icons to the 'primary' monitor using the settings in ubuntu.

The monitor had a setting for 16:9. This stretched the screen to fill the full monitor screen but circles became egg shaped.

When I used the command you suggest the laptop was open with a blank screen and the icons and panel were on the monitor together with an open web page, thunderbird email and discord. After issuing your command:

1. The monitor screen was repeated on the laptop. effectively mirroring what had been on the monitor, except that the items now on the laptop were available to drag from the right side of the monitor.

2. The resolution was 1920 x 1080 but the circles were still egg shaped.

I hope my explanation makes sense to you.

Edit: After a reboot the monitor did not have a signal

mrmazda · 05-07-2021, 06:28 PM

Please provide input and output from an X terminal from:

Code:

inxi -SGIay

after first running:

Code:

inxi -U

and after running the comment #4 command.

makem · 05-07-2021, 06:38 PM

With a monitor which does not have a signal at this time the below commands were run on the XPS13:

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ xrandr --output DP-1 --primary --mode 1920x1080
xrandr: cannot find mode 1920x1080
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ inxi -U
Error 20: Option: U has been disabled by the inxi distribution maintainer.
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ inxi -SGIay
Error 10: Unsupported value: 0 for option: y
Check -h for correct parameters.
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$

The mode shown by the display setting is 1920 x 1200

Edit: Disconnecting the HDMI adaptor and replacing it brought back the monitor display.

mrmazda · 05-07-2021, 07:07 PM

Please do:

Code:

sudo echo B_ALLOW_UPDATE=true > /etc/inxi.conf

then:

Code:

sudo inxi -U

and then:

Code:

inxi -SGIay

Provide here only the input/output from the last of these three.

If the last of the three still produces failure, please follow the upgrade instructions here.

The ancient, broken and antique inxi provided by Debian repos is an obstacle to helping people.

makem · 05-07-2021, 07:23 PM

Your link sends me to the manual install of inxi so I would like to check that is correct and that I need to use the following as root:

Code:

cd /usr/local/bin && wget -O inxi smxi.org/inxi && chmod +x inxi

I find prior to that instruction: inxi version 3.0.38-1-0ubuntu1 is already installed

mrmazda · 05-07-2021, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by makem

I find prior to that instruction: inxi version 3.0.38-1-0ubuntu1 is already installed

3.0.38 is an ancient, broken, antique missing many options, incapable of many things, including -y switch, and correct interpretations of data collected for -G.

makem · 05-08-2021, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

3.0.38 is an ancient, broken, antique missing many options, incapable of many things, including -y switch, and correct interpretations of data collected for -G.

First let me outline where I am at today after starting the system:

1. The monitor does not get a signal - the display manager shows only the laptop - disconnect & reconnect HDMI brings it to life.

2. The check box for choosing mirroring has a line through it and the display icons are overlaid.

3. The panel and the desktop icons are now missing from the monitor.

4. The only usable option is extend to the right and drag everything over to the right.

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ sudo cd /usr/local/bin && wget -O inxi smxi.org/inxi && chmod +x inxi
[sudo] password for makem: 
sudo: cd: command not found
makem@XPS-13-9300:~$ cd /usr/local/bin
makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$ sudo wget -O inxi smxi.org/inxi && chmod +x inxi
--2021-05-08 11:26:03--  http://smxi.org/inxi
Resolving smxi.org (smxi.org)... 216.92.30.83
Connecting to smxi.org (smxi.org)|216.92.30.83|:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 301 Moved Permanently
Location: https://smxi.org/inxi [following]
--2021-05-08 11:26:03--  https://smxi.org/inxi
Connecting to smxi.org (smxi.org)|216.92.30.83|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://github.com/smxi/inxi/raw/master/inxi [following]
--2021-05-08 11:26:04--  https://github.com/smxi/inxi/raw/master/inxi
Resolving github.com (github.com)... 140.82.121.3
Connecting to github.com (github.com)|140.82.121.3|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/smxi/inxi/master/inxi [following]
--2021-05-08 11:26:04--  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/smxi/inxi/master/inxi
Resolving raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)... 185.199.110.133, 185.199.109.133, 185.199.108.133, ...
Connecting to raw.githubusercontent.com (raw.githubusercontent.com)|185.199.110.133|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 919588 (898K) [text/plain]
Saving to: ‘inxi’

inxi                     100%[==================================>] 898.04K  --.-KB/s    in 0.1s    

2021-05-08 11:26:04 (7.76 MB/s) - ‘inxi’ saved [919588/919588]

chmod: changing permissions of 'inxi': Operation not permitted
makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$ sudo chmod +x inxi
makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$

I hope I have achieved what you suggest.

Edit:

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$ inxi -b
System:    Host: XPS-13-9300 Kernel: 5.8.0-50-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 
           Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa) 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Dell product: XPS 13 9300 v: N/A serial: <superuser required> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 077Y9N v: A00 serial: <superuser required> UEFI: Dell v: 1.5.0 
           date: 02/03/2021 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 38.1 Wh (100.0%) condition: 38.1/51.0 Wh (74.8%) 
           ID-2: hidpp_battery_0 charge: N/A condition: N/A 
CPU:       Info: Quad Core Intel Core i7-1065G7 [MT MCP] speed: 1166 MHz min/max: 400/3900 MHz 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 driver: i915 v: kernel 
           Device-2: Realtek Integrated_Webcam_HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
           resolution: 1: 1920x1200~60Hz 2: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Iris Plus Graphics (ICL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650i 160MHz Wireless Network Adapter 
           driver: iwlwifi 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 476.94 GiB used: 38.05 GiB (8.0%) 
Info:      Processes: 300 Uptime: 4h 43m Memory: 15.23 GiB used: 2.87 GiB (18.9%) Shell: Bash 
           inxi: 3.3.04 
makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$

makem · 05-08-2021, 09:59 AM

Now I not sure if you want me to continue with post #8 but I think you will only want input/output from the last command.

Code:

makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$ inxi -SGIay
System:
  Host: XPS-13-9300 Kernel: 5.8.0-50-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc 
  v: 9.3.0 
  parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-50-generic 
  root=UUID=172a0627-8560-4b9b-a098-f05c248d0827 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.13 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 vt: 7 
  dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa) 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Iris Plus Graphics G7 vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel 
  bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:8a52 class-ID: 0300 
  Device-2: Realtek Integrated_Webcam_HD type: USB driver: uvcvideo 
  bus-ID: 3-9:6 chip-ID: 0bda:58fe class-ID: fe01 serial: 200901010001 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: loaded: modesetting 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1 
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x1200 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1016x318mm (40.0x12.5") 
  s-diag: 1065mm (41.9") 
  Monitor-1: eDP-1 res: 1920x1200 hz: 60 dpi: 169 size: 288x180mm (11.3x7.1") 
  diag: 340mm (13.4") 
  Monitor-2: DP-1 res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 93 size: 527x296mm (20.7x11.7") 
  diag: 604mm (23.8") 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Iris Plus Graphics (ICL GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 
  direct render: Yes 
Info:
  Processes: 286 Uptime: 4h 56m wakeups: 97 Memory: 15.23 GiB 
  used: 2.81 GiB (18.4%) Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 tool: systemctl 
  Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Packages: 2312 apt: 2303 lib: 1205 snap: 9 
  Shell: Bash v: 5.0.17 running-in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.3.04 
makem@XPS-13-9300:/usr/local/bin$

mrmazda · 05-08-2021, 03:00 PM

From https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt try adding the following to the linu line in grub:

Code:

video=DP-1:1920x1080@60D

You may want to add this to /etc/default/grub on the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line instead of having to add it to each of the next unknown number of boots while troubleshooting. Once on the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line, grub-mkconfig will need to be run to incorporate it in /boot/grub/grub.cfg. Or, you could manually add it to the default linu line in /boot/grub/grub.cfg (the first one following the first instance of menuentry). This will be overwritten with the next kernel upgrade or other cause of execution of grub-mkconfig, unless added in /etc/default/grub first. When editing, note that the linu line typically wraps, so in such case, visibly it would need to be on the end of the following line.

Next, create the file /etc/X11/Xsession.d/95-setup, containing:

Code:

xrandr --output DP-1 --primary

This should put the menubar on the external display always.

Once this is done and tested in your default user, report back if everything is as you wish. If not, try creating a new user to see if results match. In it, don't touch display settings, so that only defaults plus the above configurations via kernel command line and xrandr are in play.

If that doesn't help either, try logging in with the test user, but using some X session type other than the one you're accustomed to, preferably a simple one, such as IceWM.

Whether any of this can work if the external display is not powered up when the laptop is powered on and lid is raised I do not know. My two laptops are too old and feeble to attempt your scenario. If still no joy, try bringing this to the laptop forum, as this scenario is unique to them.

makem · 05-08-2021, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

From https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/fb/modedb.txt try adding the following to the linu line in grub:

Code:

video=DP-1:1920x1080@60D

You may want to add this to /etc/default/grub on the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line instead of having to add it to each of the next unknown number of boots while troubleshooting. Once on the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line, grub-mkconfig will need to be run to incorporate it in /boot/grub/grub.cfg. Or, you could manually add it to the default linu line in /boot/grub/grub.cfg (the first one following the first instance of menuentry). This will be overwritten with the next kernel upgrade or other cause of execution of grub-mkconfig, unless added in /etc/default/grub first. When editing, note that the linu line typically wraps, so in such case, visibly it would need to be on the end of the following line.

Next, create the file /etc/X11/Xsession.d/95-setup, containing:

Code:

xrandr --output DP-1 --primary

This should put the menubar on the external display always.

Once this is done and tested in your default user, report back if everything is as you wish. If not, try creating a new user to see if results match. In it, don't touch display settings, so that only defaults plus the above configurations via kernel command line and xrandr are in play.

If that doesn't help either, try logging in with the test user, but using some X session type other than the one you're accustomed to, preferably a simple one, such as IceWM.

Whether any of this can work if the external display is not powered up when the laptop is powered on and lid is raised I do not know. My two laptops are too old and feeble to attempt your scenario. If still no joy, try bringing this to the laptop forum, as this scenario is unique to them.

Getting a bit unsure here

The current GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT= line contains:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

I am unsure of the syntax to add the 'video=DP-1:1920x1080@60D'

mrmazda · 05-08-2021, 05:39 PM

video=DP-1:1920x1080@60D is exactly what you type after you type a space, following splash, before the quote mark. Or put it in between quiet and splash, or before quiet, anywhere between the quotes, as long as whitespace separates it from what's already there, or you remove what's already there. Without quiet and splash, and with plymouth=0 additionally added, you'll automatically see boot messages instead of the Windows-ese graphic curtain hiding the boot messages that might suggest there is a problem with the init process, as well as indicating init is progressing.