Blurry external displays (VX3216) after upgrading laptop (from Elitebook 360 G3 to Elitebook 840 G8)

[Mezzadge]

I recently upgraded my PC from HP Elitebook 360 G3 to HP Elitebook 840 G8

Before I upgraded - everything was working perfectly fine.

With my new PC, I noticed my external displays (I have two Viewsonic VX3216) are blurry

After some investigation, I noticed that the refresh rate for my external displays is only 30hz (resolution is 1080)

I am not able to increase the refresh rate (I tried using the Windows Advanced Display Settings, and the "Display Adapter Properties" - Neither will allow me to increase to 60hz)

I have tried reinstalling drivers, adjusting scaling, adjusting resolution

I am using the appropriate cables and dock - I want to reiterate, I was operating perfectly using my Elitebook 360 G3 just one week ago. Once I upgraded my computer is when the issues started. So the cables/doc I am using are perfectly capable of pushing 1080p at 60hz.

I have also tried a number of HP system checks. Everything seems to be operating normally.

I am able to get 60hz if I lower the resolution to 720

So I either have to settle for lower resolution (which is not idea), or lower refresh rate (30hz) which is extremely blurry and difficult to look at for long periods of time

I am wondering if this is a compatibility issue w the Intel Iris XE Graphics card, if this is a Windows 10 issue, or if this is a hardware problem. Any help would be appreciated. 

[banhien]

@Mezzadge 

How do you connect them ? Please download and install monitors driver first

               https://www.viewsonic.com/us/support/install-display-driver

Regards.

[Mezzadge]

Hi, Banhein - Thanks for replying to me. I am connected to one of the VX3216 monitors using high-speed HDMI cable, which is more than capable of delivering 1080p at 60hz (I even tried troubleshooting with a brand new HDMI with no luck). The other monitor is connected through a Dell WD15 Docking Station, which uses USB-C from Laptop to docking station, then an HDMI from docking station to monitor. I also used the same brand new HDMI cable to ensure my HDMI cables were not the issue (I am running 4k at 60hz through these cables through another application in my home. So I know the cables are not the issue.

And I already tried updating the Viewsonic drivers with no luck. 

[banhien]

@Mezzadge 

Please forget the Dell dock, they are not compatible for sure. Can you simply connect just ONE monitor to your HP notebook ? What is the outcome ?

Regards.

[Mezzadge]

Ok, let me reiterate. Everything worked PERFECTLY five days ago using the same exact set up (including the Dell dock). The only difference is I was using an HP Elitebook 360 G3, and now I am using an upgraded 840 G8. So we can "forget the dell dock" as "not being compatible" but I can tell you it has nothing to do with the Dell dock. 

One of my first trouble shooting steps was to check a single monitor connected just with the dock and seprately, just with an HDMI. Neither produced the desired result. 

Through all the trouble shooting steps I've taken (1) various settings, (2) cables, (3) driver updates, nothing seems to work. I am down to either the Intel Graphics Card/software or a Windows 10 issue.

What I dont understand is - Advanced Display Settings is showing 1080 @ 60hz (Interlaced), but when I open the Display Adapter Properties and click List all Valid Modes - I only see 1080 @ 30hz. No option for 60hz interlaced... Either way, 60hz interlaced or 30hz are both horrible.

[banhien]

@Mezzadge 

You can't expect HP x360 G3 and HP 840 G8 work the same. Your Dell dock may work with old HP machine but won't work with new HP machine.

>>>>>> What I dont understand is - Advanced Display Settings is showing 1080 @ 60hz (Interlaced), but when I open the Display Adapter Properties and click List all Valid Modes - I only see 1080 @ 30hz

Please install driver for monitor first.

Regards.

[Mezzadge]

Hi Banhien - I already did this. It doesnt help, unfortunately.  Still can only select 30hz 😞

[banhien]

@Mezzadge 

Do you have another monitor (different brand, model) to try ?

Regards.

[Mezzadge]

So a few updates since last post

(1) I tried a colleague's laptop (same model 840 G8 running windows 10 Enterprise) to see if it was something unique to my PC - the issue is not unique to my  PC. I had the same result with colleague's laptop - max 30hz with 1080 resolution - 

(2) I tried my wife's Google Chromebook - No issues, was able to achieve 1080 @ 60hz

(3) I tried my PC on a 65" 4k display and was able to achieve 1080 @ 60hz

So I am settling on the fact that this is a Windows 10 issue, perhaps compatibility with Viewsonic VX3216 displays. Would just love if someone actually knew what the problem was instead of hours and hours of troubleshooting on generic. fixes. If I hear one more person tell me to reinstall drivers, I am going to go insane 🙂