What is "Hybrid Graphics Enhanced Display Feature" in ProBook BIOS?

[BorekB]

In my ProBook 650's BIOS, there is an option called  "Hybrid Graphics Enhanced Display Feature".

What it does and how will it affect my system if it's turned off? The help text is "Enable option is to have a visible image on an attached display" which I find terrible and don't understand at all.

BTW is there a manual or user guide to the BIOS somewhere? Couldn't find anything.

[MrSka]

I went looking for this too, for my EliteBook 840 G1, and found this:

Hybrid Graphics Enhanced Display Feature

Enable additional display capability to allow pre-OS applications to be visible on any one of the available display at boot.

When disabled, pre-OS applications can only be visible on certain displays (Internal Panel, VGA, System Display Port on selected platforms) at boot. Digital displays attached to dock will not support pre-OS applications.

Still dont have a clue what that means though

[TIG201]

See below.  Whitepaper is for Zbook but the same principle apply here.

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA5-2657ENW

Special note on hybrid graphics during Pre-OS environment
With hybrid graphics on HP ZBooks, HP is using displays that may be connected to either one or both GPUs. Because the standard industry support for Pre-OS session involves only one GPU, there is a standard industry limitation where only displays connected to the integrated GPU may be used during Pre-OS. As such, display(s) attached to the discrete GPU are not viewable during Pre-OS. For example, if users boot with the panel closed and an external display attached to a DisplayPort connector driven by the discrete GPU, that display cannot show any image during Pre-OS session such as during POST, when in BIOS setup, when running early diagnosis, when using Power-On Password, and so on.

HP has implemented special support to resolve this limitation. On HP ZBooks with hybrid graphics, any one display whether it is connected to the integrated or discrete GPU is usable (viewable) during Pre-OS. This feature is called Hybrid Graphics Enhanced Display” and is by default enabled in BIOS. Users may disable this feature to only support Pre-OS session with integrated GPU displays (which is typically limited to the internal Panel and VGA).

[MrSka]

Thank you very much for such a thorough explanation!

[Trezore]

would this setting be related to the number of displays able to be used?

I read that zbook supports 5 displays using the HP Advanced Docking Station... same as the current 8570w I am using... yet when I connect the zbook, I am only able to use 4 of the 5 detected. As soon as I select and extend to the diabled one, another display is disabled... very frustrating to figure out why...

On the zbook:

I tried the Display Port and that display was not detected.

I tried the thunderbolt (mini-display) port, and the display was detected, but again, only 4 of the 5 displays detected may be used... 

So... how do I get the 5th (all 5 displays) to work?

Thank you in advance.

~Christian