Maximum available resolution is 1080x1920 when connecting UHD monitor using hdmi

Question

I just purchased a 4k Samsung Monitor (Samsung u28d590ds), and the problem is that when I connect to my laptop through hdmi the maximum available resolution is 1080x1920. From what I understood is that I should be able to output 4k at 30 hz using the high speed hdmi cable that was provided with the monitor.

Laptop Hardware: Nvidia Geforce Gt 650m 2 gb Intel core i7 3630 qm with integrated intel HD 4000 graphics

I tried updating the drivers of the intel and nvidia graphics adapters, but the problem is still persisting.

Solution

This is an answer to a similar but not identical problem.

I bought a video card (PNY) with NVIDIA GeForce GT 730, connected by HDMI to a Samsung U28E590D 4k capable monitor. Windows 7 x64.

The NVIDIA Control Panel -> Change resolution screen shows HDMI - HDTV, and Ultra HD, but only with maximum resolution "1920x1080 (recommended)".

The Windows Screen resolution application: (Mouse right on desktop)->Screen resolution application is showing only 1920 x 1080.

I tried installing the Samsung driver from the CD that comes with the monitor, no help.

What finally worked was this.

NVIDIA Control Panel -> Change resolution -> Customize... then Create Custom Resolution... then Display mode Horizontal pixels: 3840 Vertical pixels: 2160 Refresh rate(Hz): 30.

Then, IMPORTANT change the timing from Automatic to one of the other choices. I think the best choice is "CVT reduced blank".

Automatic timing gives a very fuzzy screen. But one of the other timings apparently tell the video card to use native resolution correctly.

Aside 1: In the course of chatting with NVIDIA support, they pointed me at a tool that will show you what your monitor is telling your computer about its resolution and color capabilities: http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

Aside 2: This monitor is only 28". Full 4k resolution is very tiny. So I ended up creating a custom resolution of 2560 x 1440, 60Hz.

Comments

[Ramhound]

You tried updating the drivers or you did update the drivers? What version of HDMI cable are you using? your Nvidia and Intel GPU should have no problem doing this.

[GeoHotz]

I updated to the latest drivers and using the HDMI cable supplied with the monitor which has ethernet, so I guess it's at least version 1.4

[GeoHotz]

Is it possible that the limitation could come from HMDI output, or does HDMI output have the same limitation as the graphics card?

[Ramhound]

Your monitor supports 4k. Both GPUs in your system supports 4k. The problem likely is a display driver problem honestly.

[gronostaj]

Video outputs are always driven by Intel GPU, see my answer here.

[GeoHotz]

I have already tried doing this, but the maximum resolution is still at 1080p.

[Ramhound]

@GeoHotz - You have the current intel drivers installed?

[Robin]

Thank you for this. I have the same monitor and graphics card. Oddly, it doesn't appear to have saved the custom resolutions after a reboot. You're right in that 4K makes everything tiny doing it this way, but you can set Windows 10 to scale the text to 150% which makes it much better - that way you get the benefit of extra pixels but the text is far more readable.