Dell Vostro 15 3500 external display maximum resolution

Question

I have a Vostro 3500 i7-1165G7 and a 4K display (Iiyama ProLite XB3288UHSU) connected via HDMI. But maximum resolution I can set is 2048x1152. Is there a way to set 4K resolution?

jphughan · Accepted Answer

@Trostian  If a USB-C port supports video; the specs usually specifically say it supports DisplayPort. My understanding from those specs is that only systems that have an NVIDIA GPU include a motherboard that has a USB-C port, but even then it’s a data-only port. Systems that only have an Intel GPU don’t get a USB-C port at all.

jphughan · Answer

@Trostian  I had to edit my post above since I said 60 Hz at one point where I meant 30 Hz. Sorry for the confusion.

jphughan · Answer

@Trostian The specs of that system claim it has an HDMI 1.4 port, which should allow 4K 30 Hz or 1440p 60 Hz — but not 4K 60 Hz, which requires HDMI 2.0. Still, you should be able to do better than what you’re getting now. The only other way I thought you might be able to do better was by using USB-C for video, in which case you could have run at least 4K 60 Hz, but the system specs say that the USB-C port is data-only, so apparently Dell didn’t wire a GPU output to it.

The 3000 Series is Dell’s entry-level lineup, so these feature cuts are probably related to that. Unfortunately if you can’t get 4K 30 Hz or that’s not acceptable for your purposes, you’ve got the wrong laptop for your needs.

Trostian · Answer

Thank you @jphughan for clarification. Now I'm thinking about connecting the display via cable USB Type-C - DisplayPort. I see there are two graphic cards - Intel Iris Xe Graphics and NVIDIA GeForce MX330. Intel Iris uses the HDMI port so I have to make sure USB type-C port used by NVIDIA card and can output video. Do you know a way? If it is possible - I'll buy the cable. Thanks!

jphughan · Answer

@Trostian  The Intel GPU isn't the problem.  Intel GPUs have supported 4K 60 Hz since about 2013, and the Intel Xe GPU in your system could actually support up to 8K 60 Hz when used in a system that has the appropriate display output connectors.  Your limitation comes from the HDMI output that Dell implemented on the system, not the GPU that runs it.  So even if the Intel GPU ran your USB-C output, that would be fine.  But as I said, the Vostro 15 3500's specs specifically say that the USB-C port is data-only.  Scroll down to the Ports & Slots diagram on its product page here.

Trostian · Answer

What I see at your link: '1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C™ (Optional with discrete graphics)' and '5. USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C™ (Data only)*'. Clicking on the asterics I see: 'Important DetailsOnly available with configurations that include the NVIDIA® GeForce® MX330 graphics.' So my conclusion is I can use it for video output, isn't it?

Trostian · Answer

I'm confused with that, depend on answer I'll buy or not the cable

Vostro

Dell Vostro 15 3500 external display maximum resolution

Was this post helpful?