The HDR settings are missing on my OS, yet my monitor supports 4K HDR

[Kevz98]

I've tried to figure out why my HDR settings on my laptop are missing for the last couple of days since i received my new LG 27UK650 monitor but im struggling to do so. My laptop is a HP Envy 15-as001na with an Intel Core i5-6260U processor, with Intel Iris Graphics 540 that supports 4K at 60Hz. The processor specifications can be found here:

https://ark.intel.com/products/91160/Intel-Core-i5-6260U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-2-90-GHz-

The first thing i did was install the latest windows update available on my device, which happens to be version 1803 (not version 1809 that apparently has new settings for HDR). I couldn't manually install this update as it hasnt reached my device yet automatically, even though it was slowly rolled out from the 13th November 2018.

The next thing i did was check on intels website about what drivers i need to make sure my device can produce HDR graphics which i found here:

https://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/graphics/HDR_Intel_Graphics_TechWhitePaper...

This outlines the specific specifications you need in order to run HDR (on page 13), however as i went through this table, i noticed that my laptop didnt have a few things on this list calibrated or installed yet. I will go through each part of the table and state my devices specs in comparison to give an idea below:

Intel Graphics Required: 7/8th Gen Processor with Intel Iris HD/UHD 620 graphics or better

My Intel Graphics: 6th Gen processor with Intel Iris Graphics 540

OS Required: Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (RS3 or later)

OS installed: Windows 10 Build 17134 version 1803 (installed 28/11/2018)

Intel ME FW required: Intel® Manageability Engine Firmware: 11.7.4.3314 or newer

Intel ME FW installed:  Intel® Manageability Engine Firmware: 11.8.55.3510

Intel SGX required: Intel® Security Guard Extensions: 1.8.100.38781 or newer

Intel SGX installed:  Intel® Security Guard Extensions: 2.1.100.46245

Intel MEI Driver required: 11.7.0.1032 or later

Intel MEI Driver installed: 11.8.55.3510

Intel Graphics Driver required: WDDM2.3 driver:  23.20.16.4849 (15.46.4849) or newer

Intel Graphics Driver installed: 23.20.16.4973

Display requirements: HDMI 2.0a or DP1.3 For HDMI 2.0a support, make sure LSPCon support is enabled

Actual Display support: HDMI 2.0 and DP 1.2 (both with HDR support) as well as HDCP 2.2 for streaming 4K content, LSPCon not confirmed on my device yet

In Summary, i'd like to know whether i should wait for Windows 10 version 1809, install the Windows 10 Fall creators update, check to see if my laptop was built with LSPCon, or just stick with 4K as my proccessor is too old for HDR supported proccessors. Hope someone can help clear this up for me, thank you.

From Kevin

[Ineptules]

Hi, 

I have an HP ENVY - 13-ab021nd with Intel HD 620, which should be able to do 4K60Hz, but I only can get 30Hz on my LG 27UK850.

[Kevz98]

Hi there, 

I read online that the change in frequency is due to the limited bandwidth on standard HDMI 2.0 cables that I believe would be the one that came in the box of your LG27UK850. So with the gold plated premium HDMI cables, they support more bandwidth(I believe it’s 18gbps) means it will allow greater data transfer, hence greater frequency so 60Hz. I’m currently waiting on my new HDMI cable to see if this is the case. I’m hoping this will also make my monitor be seen as HDR compatible on windows 10.

[Ineptules]

Thank you for the reply,

I'm interested in your findings once you got the cable. One thing I was thinking is that the HDMI port in my laptop is not 2.0. I can't really find it anywhere and it would be weird, but at least it woud make some sense. 

[Kevz98]

No worries,

I found a post that talks about 4K output on laptops here:

https://www.dell.com/community/Latitude/Laptop-with-4k-Output/td-p/6036040

They found out that USB C can also display 4K at 60Hz so long as your laptop supports USB C with video output. At first i thought this would be the answer, even though i havent tried. Fortunately, I found another link just now ( https://www.startech.com/uk/AV/usb-c-video-adapters/usb-c-hdmi-adapter~CDP2HD4K60W ) that states a USB C to HDMI adapter will still display at 4K @60Hz even if your laptop doesnt support video output on USB C! Which means (hopefully) all we need is this adapter and/or a premium HDMI cable and we'll get 4K at 60Hz! They even mention your laptop as an example that works! 🙂 There are also USB C to HDMI cables on amazon prime for £15 too if you want a cheaper alternative: ( https://www.amazon.co.uk/uni-Thunderbolt-Compatible-Pixelbook-More-Space/dp/B075V5JK36/ref=sr_1_1_ss... )

Hope this helps, i will try and get this adapter if the cable does not work, it arrives tomorrow so ill reply with an update.