In today’s technologically advanced world, making the most of your computer’s capabilities is essential. One way to maximize your computer’s performance is by using both the motherboard’s HDMI output and the graphics card’s HDMI output to enable multi-display setups. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on using the motherboard HDMI in conjunction with a graphics card for an enhanced visual experience. I’ll walk you through hardware and software prerequisites, BIOS settings, HDMI cable connections, display configurations, and performance optimizations. By following these steps, even users with considerable knowledge of the topic will find this guide valuable for setting up and optimizing their multi-display systems.
How to Use Motherboard HDMI with Graphics Card?
I’ve used motherboard HDMI with a graphics card in many builds and will explain how to do so in a few simple steps in this section. By following these steps, you can utilize both the integrated graphics on your CPU and the dedicated graphics card to connect multiple displays.
Step one
First, make sure that your CPU has an integrated graphics card. Most Intel CPUs come with integrated graphics, while you’ll need an APU for AMD processors. You can check your CPU specifications on the manufacturer’s website or your computer’s documentation.
Step two
Next, access your computer’s BIOS settings by restarting your computer and pressing the required key during startup. The key varies depending on the manufacturer but is usually F12 or the Delete key. Once you are in the BIOS settings, search for a setting related to integrated or onboard graphics. Enable this setting to activate the integrated GPU alongside your dedicated graphics card.
Step three
Now, connect your primary display to the HDMI port on your dedicated graphics card and your secondary display to the HDMI port on your motherboard. Don’t forget to use good-quality HDMI cables to ensure a stable connection between your displays and your computer.
Step four
Finally, ensure that you have installed the latest drivers for both your dedicated graphics card and your integrated graphics. To do this, visit the respective manufacturers’ websites to download and install the graphics drivers. After installing the drivers, you may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
By following these steps, you can enjoy the benefits of using both the motherboard HDMI and graphics card outputs, allowing you to connect multiple displays to your setup. Remember, though, that your dedicated graphics card will likely provide better performance, so make sure to allocate your displays according to your workload and performance requirements.
Your CPU MUST Have an Integrated Graphics Card
One critical aspect of successfully using a motherboard HDMI with a graphics card is ensuring that your CPU has integrated graphics. This means your processor should have built-in graphics processing capabilities in addition to your dedicated graphics card. Integrated graphics are essential for the motherboard HDMI to function properly when connected to a display device.
To check if your CPU has integrated graphics, you can follow these simple steps:
- Press the Windows + R key simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
- Type “devmgmt.msc” and press enter to open Device Manager.
- Expand the Display adapter section to see the list of GPU devices.
If you see two devices listed—one being your onboard integrated graphics and the other your dedicated GPU—your CPU supports integrated graphics. If you only see your dedicated graphics card listed, you may want to consider upgrading your processor or referring to the motherboard and CPU specifications to determine if integrated graphics are supported.
Upon confirming that your CPU has integrated graphics, you will need to enable the feature in your system BIOS. To access the BIOS, reboot your computer and press the designated key during the boot process (usually Delete, F2, or a similar key). Once inside the BIOS, you can navigate to the Integrated Peripherals or similar settings section and enable the onboard graphics.
Remember, accessing and enabling onboard graphics can vary depending on the motherboard manufacturer. If you have difficulty finding the appropriate settings, consult your motherboard’s user manual or contact the manufacturer for assistance.
How to Check If Your CPU Has an Integrated Graphics Card or Not?
In this section, I will discuss how to determine if your CPU has an integrated graphics card. I will guide you through two methods: Checking through the official spec sheet and checking internally from the operating system. Let’s get started.
Checking Through the Official Spec Sheet
Check the official specification sheet to find out if your CPU has an integrated graphics card. Here’s how I do it:
- Visit the official website of your CPU’s manufacturer (For example, Intel or AMD).
- Search for the specific model of your CPU in their product database.
- Locate the specifications for your CPU model, and look for the Graphics section.
- If an integrated GPU is mentioned, your CPU has one.
This method allows us to be sure about the capabilities of our processor, as it is based on the information provided by the manufacturer.
Check Internally from the Operating System (Device Manager)
Another way to determine if your CPU has an integrated graphics card is by checking within the operating system. In Windows, we can use Device Manager. Here’s how I check:
- Press the Windows key + X simultaneously on your keyboard, and select Device Manager from the menu.
- Expand the Display Adapters section by clicking the ‘>’ arrow.
- Check for an Intel or AMD integrated graphics card listed in this section.
If you see an integrated graphics card, your CPU has one. This method helps verify if the integrated GPU is recognized and functioning correctly within the operating system.
Using either of the methods described above, you should be able to confidently determine whether your CPU has an integrated graphics card.
How to Use Motherboard HDMI with Graphics Card
Step 1: Access BIOS
To begin, I’ll need to access the BIOS menu of my computer. I’ll do this by restarting my system and pressing the appropriate key during the startup process (usually Del or F2). Depending on my motherboard, the key may vary.
Step 2: Enable Integrated Graphics Card
Once in the BIOS menu, I’ll look for the option to enable integrated graphics. This may be labeled as “iGPU,” “onboard graphics,” or something similar. When I’ve found it, I ensure it’s set to “Enabled” or “Auto.”
Step 3: Save and Restart
After enabling the integrated graphics, I’ll save the changes and exit the BIOS menu. My computer will then restart with the updated settings.
Step 4: Connect Your Monitor to the Motherboard HDMI Port
Now that I’ve enabled the integrated graphics in the BIOS, I’ll connect my monitor to the motherboard’s HDMI port. This might be slightly different if my computer has multiple HDMI ports or if I have a dedicated graphics card. In that case, I usually consult my motherboard’s manual or online resources to identify the correct port.
Step 5: Go to “Display Settings” on Windows to Customize the Settings for Multi-Monitor Display
With my monitor connected to the motherboard’s HDMI port, I’ll customize the display settings through Windows. I’ll right-click on my desktop and select “Display settings” to access the options. Here, I can detect and configure my multi-monitor setup, adjust resolution, and modify the display orientation.
Motherboard’s HDMI is Not Working Despite Integrated Graphics?
When I tried to use my motherboard’s HDMI port alongside my graphics card, I encountered issues that prevented it from working as expected. Let me share with you some potential reasons and fixes for these problems.
Limited BIOS Options
In some cases, my BIOS settings might have been causing the issue. I realized I needed to enable integrated graphics in the BIOS settings to access my motherboard’s HDMI port. I entered the BIOS by pressing the appropriate key during startup (usually DEL or F2) to do this. Once in the BIOS, I looked for a setting related to integrated graphics and changed it from Auto to Enabled. After saving the changes and restarting, my motherboard’s HDMI port started to work as intended.
No Drivers for Integrated Graphics
Another scenario I encountered was missing or outdated drivers for my integrated graphics. I needed to make sure that the correct drivers were installed and up-to-date. To do this, I opened my device manager (search for “Device Manager” in the start menu), expanded the “Display adapters” section, and looked for the integrated graphics. If the integrated graphics were disabled or missing, I right-clicked on the relevant device and selected “Update driver” or “Enable device” accordingly. This allowed the HDMI port on my motherboard to function alongside my dedicated graphics card’s output.