Intel HD4000 with 4k HDMI output on Linux

7

I wonder if I can output 4k resolution (3840 × 2160) @ 30Hz with a Intel HD4000 graphics using Linux and a single HDMI output.

I have a Thinkpad Edge E330 with HDMI 1.4. The CPU is an i5-3210M.

I know that there is a problem with the pixel clock (which is limited to 165MHz) which limits the output maximal output power. Now I know, that there are patches for Mac OS X.

Where is the pixel clock limited? In the kernel? In the graphics driver? Can it be removed/fixed in general?

Is the HD4000 powerful enough to be able to drive 4k @ 30Hz in general?

kernelpanic

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 73

2Regarding whether it is powerful enough to "drive" a 4K display @ 30 Hz... it has enough memory bandwidth to blit the screen at well above that frequency. RAMDAC is not a factor in this case, since you are using HDMI... and an HDMI 1.4 TMDS is capable of supporting 4K at 30 Hz However, if you are doing anything complicated like rendering a 3D scene with overdraw the story could be very different. – Andon M. Coleman – 2014-02-03T01:58:15.300

Of course the HD4000 is not capable of doing "serious" stuff at 4k resolution. I want the 4k for general purpose mostly (programming and watching video(s) in parallel, so nothing too fancy! For more heavy stuff I can always downsize the resolution to Full HD or so.

But thank you, it is good to know the HD4000 is suitable in general! – kernelpanic – 2014-02-03T02:21:18.557

Answers

2

4K output with Intel HD 4000 graphics via HDMI 1.4 works for me. Both under Win10, as well as Ubuntu 15.

In Win 10 you have to force the graphics to use the stock Microsoft driver (graphic card settings - update driver - choose from disk - Microsoft) NOT the Intel driver which gets enabled by default. Intel Corp. is capping the max resolution, forcing you to buy new hardware. That is unnecessary for the usual web browsing / text / pic editing jobs. The stock MS driver has poor performance though, be warned.

In Ubuntu 15 the 4k output via HDMI works beautifully, both with the stock driver and the proprietary Intel driver. I strongly recommend installing Ubuntu system to use Intel HD graphics and UHD / 4K monitor.

user293110

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 21

1

I also have intel HD4000, and I am running 3840x2160 at 24p Hz on windows, not sure about 30p Hz.

The tv I'm using as a monitor supports 4k@60hz, but I haven't been able to achieve that with this display card, I'm not sure if it is possible, and according to this guide (search for 2160), if it is possible looks like it might have to be done somehow through display port and not hdmi.

For windows users: user283110 said you need to force the graphics to use the Microsoft driver because you cant use the Intel driver. But you can actually use the intel driver by setting a custom resolution, click on your "search windows" and type: "CustomModeApp". Here are the full instructions

aljgom

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 161

How can this answer help the OP who is using Linux? – Dmitry Grigoryev – 2016-08-24T11:24:59.873

1@DmitryGrigoryev He also asked if the graphics card is powerful enough to drive 4k in general. I'm sharing the results I've gotten using the graphics card he's asking about – aljgom – 2016-08-29T02:35:51.153

Ok then. Just keep in mind that answers like this one can easily get deleted by reviewers or mods if those happen to be in the cleaning mood. – Dmitry Grigoryev – 2016-08-29T07:31:51.760

1

The HDMI 1.4 standards supports pixel clocks up to 340 MHz, and this is what allows it to display resolutions like 2560x1600@60Hz (268 MHz pixel clock) or 3840×2160@30Hz (297 MHz pixel clock). For 4k@60Hz, HDMI 2.0 and a 600 MHz clock is required.

The ThinkPad Edge 300's HDMI port, however seems to be limited to a 165 MHz (HDMI 1.0-1.1) pixel clock, while still offering the other HDMI 1.4 features according to Lenovo. This limits it to 1920x1200@60Hz.

Since HD4000 supports full HDMI 1.4 pixel clocks, the limit is typically caused by the TMDS bus driver chip used by the notebook or board manufacturer for the HDMI port. This information is then stored in the BIOS and used by the graphics driver to limit the resolutions available. In some cases, however, the BIOS limit is arbitrarily set to a low safe speed to avoid trouble with badly wired projectors in conference rooms and similar. People have some luck overriding the limit by using custom videomodes. YMMV.

Vojtech

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 934

0

I was able to get 29hz 3840x2160 on an HD4000 in Windows 10.

  1. Click on start, type in custommodeapp and run as administrator.

  2. Change the display drop down to your 4k monitor.

  3. Click on Advanced and enter the following settings

Front Porch Horizontal: 176 Front Porch Vertical: 8

Back Porch Horizontal: 296 Back Porch Vertical: 72

Sync Width Horizontal: 88 Sync Width Vertical: 10

Active Horizontal: 3840 Active Vertical: 2160

Sync Polarity Vertical: + Sync Polarity Horizontal: +

Scan Rate Vertical: 69.42 (This auto updates with Scan Rate Horizontal being set to 30) Scan Rate Horizontal: 29

Total Vertical: 4400 (This auto updates with settings above set) Total Horizontal: 2314 (This auto updates with settings above set)

Pixel Clock: 295.2664 (This auto updates with settings above set) Color Depth: 32 Bit

Click the Add + sign in the bottom right corner.

ThatGuy900

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 1

0

This is just my personal experience, I don't necessarily have any technical data to back it up. I have not had success driving a 4k monitor from a Lenovo. I have tried Lenovo T420, T430, T430s, T440, X1Carbon, T530, and not been able to get a single one of them to push my Samsung 4k display at it's native resolution.

My understanding is that technically the HD4000 graphics should be able to push the resolution, but I have not had much success in Linux (or Windows).

Possibly useful forum: http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/T400-T500-and-newer-T-series/T430S-need-help-outputting-4k-resolution/td-p/1312043

tbenz9

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 5 868

-1

I have a Thinkpad E550 that is capable of displaying 4K @60Hz with only a slight stutter so I believe that you should be able to do so if your just using it as a second screen, anything like gaming will be out of the question.

Kerr_Max

Posted 2014-02-03T01:02:41.867

Reputation: 179