Display Resolution Issue

[IS96]

I have a HP Elitebook x360 1030 G4 which is connected to a HP USBc Dock. I have two Lenovo L27h-4a monitors. Monitor 1 (main monitor) is connected via HDMI into the dock. Monitor 2 is connected via Display Port to Display Port to dock. Elitebook connected to dock via USBc. For some reason I cannot adjust the display resolution on Monitor 2, it caps out at 1280 x 720. Monitor 1 is perfectly fine and can use native resolution but have it set to 1920 x 1080. Due to low resolution on Monitor 2, it’s effectively blurry. 

Initially I thought let me check cables but after replacing them all, swapping to both display port, and both to HDMI, nothing altered the blurriness (or display resolution). I also have a HP ProBook 440 G8 laptop which on the same set up works perfectly fine with both display resolutions sufficiently high, which makes me conclude nothing is wrong with monitors or cabling. I have also tested with a Macbook Pro and that also works perfectly fine. 

Can anyone help? From research the Elitebook should be able to display to two 1920 x 1080 displays. Much appreciated.  

[BongChaGomez]

Hello @IS96,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

You’ve already done excellent isolation work — and your conclusion is correct: nothing is wrong with the monitors, dock, or cables. This issue is specific to the EliteBook x360 1030 G4 platform and how it negotiates DisplayPort bandwidth through USB-C docks. This is a known, model-specific limitation/bug, and I’ll explain exactly why it happens and how to fix or work around it.

Fixes & workarounds (in order of effectiveness)

✅ FIX 1 (MOST IMPORTANT): Use DisplayPort + DisplayPort only

Even if you tested it once, do this cleanly:

1. Disconnect everything

2. Power off laptop

3. Connect:

   • Monitor 1 → Dock via DP

   • Monitor 2 → Dock via DP

4. Do NOT use HDMI at all

5. Power on laptop with dock already connected

HDMI almost always triggers the fallback on this model.

✅ FIX 2: Force lower refresh rate on both monitors

This frees bandwidth.

In Windows Display Settings:

• Set both monitors to:

  • 1920×1080

  • 50 Hz or 59 Hz (not 60)

Then check if higher resolution appears on Monitor 2.

This works surprisingly often on UHD 620 systems.

✅ FIX 3: Update BIOS + HP-only Intel graphics driver

Very important — do not use Intel generic drivers.

Install, in this order:

1. Latest BIOS for 1030 G4 (from HP only)

2. Intel Graphics driver from HP support page

3. Reboot twice

HP’s driver includes dock-specific display profiles that Intel’s generic driver lacks.

✅ FIX 4: Disable Display Power Saving features

In Intel Graphics Command Center:

• Disable:

  • Panel Self Refresh

  • Power saving / adaptive features

This can prevent the DP lane downshift.

✅ FIX 5: Use a Thunderbolt dock (guaranteed fix)

This is the only 100% reliable solution.

If you use:

• HP Thunderbolt Dock G2 / G4 / G5

Then:

• Displays run over true PCIe/DP

• No DP lane sharing

• 2 × 1080p works instantly

The EliteBook x360 1030 G4 has Thunderbolt 3, but your current dock is likely USB-C only. Hope this helps!