New Surface Dock Does Not Work via mini displayport to HDMI & DVI

Anonymous

The specific device I am referring to, is the new Surface Dock for Surface Pro 3/4 and Surface Book. I have described the issue here on Reddit, and a number of others are also experiencing the same problem. Basically, the new dock doesn't work when the monitor is connected using mini displayport to HDMI. The monitor is detected correctly and the correct resolution is set, but the screen remains black. In my case, I randomly get some image on the monitor, but it's compressed to one side of the screen and garbled. The mini displayport to HDMI adapter works properly when connected directly to the Surface, so the adapter itself is fine. If I instead connect the mini displayport to VGA adapter to the dock, the monitor displays correctly. I have tried using a straight mini displayport to DVI cable and the issue remains. Additionally, I have connected a Surface Pro 3 to the dock and experience the same issue.

So to summarize, the dock does not function correctly when using a mini displayport to HDMI adapter to connect the monitor, but does work with a mini displayport to VGA adapter. This problem is repeatable using both a Surface Book and Surface Pro 3.

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Anonymous

I purchased an active mDP to HDMI adapter from Amazon (Plugable is the brand) and so far the external monitor is working correctly through the dock.

Moderator Edit (11/3/2015): If you are using a passive MDP to DVI adapter and experiencing difficulties, you may need to switch to using an active adapter.

If you switched from a passive to active adapter and continue to experience difficulties using Surface Dock to display to external monitors please consider making some changes to your cabling: different lengths, different quality, different adapters, etc. If adjusting your cabling fails to resolve please consider sharing the following:

Make and model of external displays
Make/model of adapters if present
Make/model of cables

For more troubleshooting info and steps to confirm your Dock is updated, please view our Troubleshoot Surface Dock article.

Thank you,

Josh

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi,

We suggest that you contact our Surface Answer Desk team for further assistance or visit the nearest Microsoft Store if you are in the US. In case you're offshore, contact our Global Customer Service team.

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315 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-02-05T21:33:08+00:00

Display port works for two large monitors. It is very consistent at 3840 x 2160 running 30 HZ. I run 2 Dell 27 inch. The Dells have a standard setting of 60 HZ but when you hook up 2 of them they go to 30 HZ. I am not a gamer or do a lot of videos so this setup works very well and fortunately always works. Stay with Display port on your monitors and you should get better results.
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Anonymous

2016-02-05T21:03:14+00:00

I cannot to get two external monitors to display via HDMI, even when using two active mini displayport to HDMI adapters. I can get two monitors to work if I use one displayport to HDMI adapter (active) and one mini displayport to VGA adapter. Is there a hardware limitation that limits the digital output to one video signal? It seems like there can be ONLY ONE digital out and one analog out, even when using active display port adapters.
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Anonymous

2016-02-03T16:16:03+00:00

I tried so many different things.... I should have written that down...

I will do another round of test during the week-end.

..

Today, Friday, I am using HDMI on my first minidisplay port to connect to a TV, 1920x1080.

I am using the second minidisplay port to connect to a Dell monitor via a DVI adapter, 1920x1080.

I suspect the core of the issues are with the Surface Book firmware (or Windows 10 Pro), because

I had the same sort of problems when connecting to the build-in minidisplay port as well.

My workaround has been to re-boot as many times (even 3 or 4 times) as necessary for the machines

to pickup to correct configuration of the display adapters.

--

More testing tomorrow, Saturday. ___

Personal note: Tuesday, Feb. 09, 2016

I had to work on a client issue last Saturday, so I was unable to do any testing.

I notice that my TV Monitor connected via HDMI adapter is slower,

however, I am not sure if this is a surface dock issue.

Also, I noticed that my refresh rate for the TV Monitor was set at 59 Hz.

I changed it to 60Hz to match my Dell DVI Monitor and the Surface Book display.

I will do more testing when possible.

--

Personal note: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016

I have disconnected (removed) my surface dock from my surface book.

Although, the TV/Monitor (1920x1080) connected via HDMI adapter was working.

I found it was too slow and a drag on my productivity.

I have one final test with two VGA monitor to do before I make a final decision.

--

Personal Note: Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016

In another location, still with the same surface book, Gen 6. i7 CPU with 16GB Ram:

I am using the surface dock with two Phillips VGA (also have a DVI port) 1440x900 monitors

and the Surface Book built-in monitor (3000x2000).

It works well and the monitors' performance is ok, so far.

The Phillips monitors can only work at 60Hz so there is no issue there.

I am alternating between these two locations, so I will not need to carry a power supply.

Of course, when I am mobile I will run on batteries and that is quite good so far.

This is my final comment.

Good luck to all of you

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