Dell XPS 17 9720 Instruction Manual

XPS 17 9720
External Display Connection Guide
Regulatory Model: P92F
Regulatory Type: P92F003
March 2022
Rev. A00

Notes, cautions, and warnings
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid
the problem.
WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.
© 2022 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other
trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Chapter 1: Before you begin.......................................................................................................... 4
Check the graphics options on your computer............................................................................................................ 4
Modes of connection.......................................................................................................................................................... 4
Enable Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output mode.............................................................................................5
Turn off the internal display..............................................................................................................................................5
Chapter 2: Connect external displays............................................................................................ 6
Integrated graphics............................................................................................................................................................. 7
Discrete graphics............................................................................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 3: Troubleshooting......................................................................................................... 12
Chapter 4: Getting help and contacting Dell.................................................................................13
Contents
Contents 3

Before you begin
You can connect up to four 4K external displays or two 5K and above displays using the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports available
on your XPS 17 9720.
Before you begin, ensure that you:
●Check the graphics options on your computer
●Check the ports available on your external displays and decide on the mode of connection
Check the graphics options on your computer
The number of external displays supported depends on the type of graphics card available on your computer.
NOTE: On computers with a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 graphics card installed, you can
connect up to four external displays or two 8K displays by enabling the Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode
in the BIOS. For more information on enabling this mode, see Enabling Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode.
For more information on the graphics card available on your computer, run Dell SupportAssist on your computer, or scan your
hardware at www.dell.com/support.
The following are the graphic options that may be installed in your computer:
●Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated graphics)
●Intel Iris XeGraphics (Integrated graphics)
●NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (Discrete graphics)
●NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (Discrete graphics)
Modes of connection
Depending on the connectors available on your external display, you can connect the displays to the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C)
ports on your computer using:
●Thunderbolt 4 cables, adapters or docking stations
●USB-C cables, adapters or docking stations
NOTE: To experience the full resolution supported by your external displays, use appropriate cables. For example, use
DisplayPort or HDMI cables for 4K and above resolution.
NOTE: USB-C or Thunderbolt docking stations can be used to connect external displays to the computer using a single
USB-C cable, while charging the computer. For more information about the types of docking stations available from Dell,
see the knowledge base article 000124295 at www.dell.com/support.
NOTE: USB-C adapters can also be used to connect external displays to the computer, though these do not allow power
charging at the same time. For more information about the types of USB-C adapters available from Dell, see the knowledge
base article 000125728 at www.dell.com/support.
These are the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports available on your computer:
NOTE: When connecting a display indirectly using a adapter or docking station, it is recommended that you connect the
display to the docking station first, then connect the docking station to the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port on your computer.
NOTE: The devices connected to the ports on the left side of the computer have priority over the ports on the right. While
connecting external displays, it is recommended that you connect the displays to the left ports.
1
4 Before you begin

Enable Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output mode
You can connect four external displays or two 8K displays on computers with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 or NVIDIA GeForce
RTX 3060 discrete graphics card installed. To do so, you must enable Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode in the
computer's BIOS. When enabled, the graphics signals are sent to the external display using the discrete graphics card instead of
integrated graphics. By default, this mode is disabled in the BIOS.
To change Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode in the BIOS:
1. Restart your computer and press <F2> immediately to enter the BIOS.
2. In the BIOS screen, select Display.
3. Select Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output mode.
4. Select Enable.
5. Save changes and exit the BIOS.
For more information about accessing and configuring the BIOS, see the computer's Service Manual at www.dell.com/support.
Turn off the internal display
There may be instances where you may want to turn off the computer's internal display to connect more external displays.
You can turn off the display of your computer by using the Intel HD Graphics Command Center.
To turn off the display:
1. In the Windows search bar, type Intel Graphics Command Center and press <Enter>.
2. Accept the Intel Graphics Command Center software licence agreement.
3. On the Intel Graphics Command Center window, click Display. The list of active displays is listed under the Connected
Displays section.
4. Click the ellipsis (...) in the top-right corner of your primary display, then click Extend > Display 2.
5. Click the ellipsis (...) in the top-right corner of display 2, then click Make Display Primary.
6. Click the ellipsis (...) in the top-right corner of your computer's display, then click Disable.
Before you begin 5

Connect external displays
You can connect up to four external displays to the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports on your computer.
The number of displays supported depends on the following:
●Whether you're using integrated graphics or discrete graphics.
●If the internal display is enabled or disabled.
●On computers with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 discrete graphics card installed, if the
Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode is enabled.
●Your docking station may also limit the number of supported external displays. Check the documentation that came with your
docking station for details.
The following table summarizes the number of supported external displays:
Table 1. Display support (up to 4K/60 Hz)
Graphics card Direct Graphics Controller
Direct Output Mode
Supported external
displays with computer
internal display on
Supported external
displays with computer
internal display off
Intel UHD Graphics
(Integrated graphics)
N/A 3 4
Intel Iris XeGraphics
(Integrated graphics)
N/A 3 4
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 N/A 3 4
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Enabled 4 4
Table 2. Display support (up to 8K/60 Hz)
Graphics card Direct Graphics Controller
Direct Output Mode
Supported external
displays with computer
internal display on
Supported external
displays with computer
internal display off
Intel UHD Graphics
(Integrated graphics)
N/A 1 2
Intel Iris XeGraphics
(Integrated graphics)
N/A 1 2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 N/A 1 2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 N/A 1 2
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Enabled 2 2
2
6 Connect external displays

Integrated graphics
Connecting external displays to XPS 17 9720 with integrated graphics
NOTE: When connecting a display indirectly using a adapter or docking station, it is recommended that you connect the
display to the docking station first, then connect the docking station to the Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port on your computer.
NOTE: The devices connected to the ports on the left side of the computer have priority over the ports on the right. While
connecting external displays, it is recommended that you connect the displays to the left ports.
With the internal display turned on
You can connect external displays directly to Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, or up to two external displays using a docking
station.
●Connect an external display using a direct USB-C or Thunderbolt cable:
Connect external displays 7

●Connect an external display using a USB-C to Thunderbolt/HDMI/DisplayPort adapter:
●Connect up to two external displays using a USB-C docking station:
8Connect external displays

●Connect up to three external displays using direct USB-C or Thunderbolt cables:
●Connect up to three external displays using a USB-C docking station:
With the internal display turned off
NOTE: Ensure that you turn off the computer's internal display before connecting the external displays. For more
information, see Turn off the internal display .
You can connect up to four external displays directly to Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports.
Connect external displays 9

●Connect four external displays using direct USB-C or Thunderbolt cables:
Discrete graphics
Connecting external displays to XPS 17 9720 with discrete graphics
If you have a discrete graphics card installed in your computer, such as the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, you can connect up to
four external displays or two 8K displays.
NOTE: Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode, needs to be enabled to connect four external displays.
NOTE: When connecting a display indirectly using a adapter or docking station, it is recommended that you connect the
display to the docking station first, then connect the docking station to a Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) port on your computer.
NOTE: The devices connected to the ports on the left side of the computer have priority over the ports on the right. While
connecting external displays, it is recommended that you connect the displays to the left ports.
If you have a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 discrete card with Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output Mode disabled, the
maximum number of external displays supported is the same as the integrated graphics option.
10 Connect external displays

●Connect two external displays using a docking station and two more external displays using a USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort/
Thunderbolt 4 adapter:
Connect external displays 11

Troubleshooting
8K displays cannot select 8K@60Hz
Question
When I connect an 8K display to the computer using a Thunderbolt or type-C cable directly, the display output only runs
8K@30Hz.
Cause
This is due to a hardware limitation (HDMI 8k@60Hz requires VESA DSC 1.2a PCON IC support which is not supported on the
system).
Workaround
The system is work as designed.
There is no display on the monitor while connecting the
monitor via Dell WD15 dock to the system
Question
When I connect a display monitor to the computer using a Dell WD15 Thunderbolt docking station with Direct Graphics
Controller Direct Output mode enabled (dGPU mode), there is no display output.
Cause
This is due to a hardware limitation on the Dell WD15 dock while Direct Graphics Controller Direct Output mode is enabled on
the system.
Workaround
Use default iGPU mode when connecting the Dell WD15 dock or use latest Dell WD19 or WD22 docking stations.
The display output resolution cannot reach 4K@60Hz while
connecting the display monitor with a HDMI-to-DP or DP-
to-HDMI dongle from the docking station to the system
Question
When I connect a display monitor to the computer using an HDMI-to-DP or DP-to-HDMI dongle from a Dell WD19/WD22
Thunderbolt docking station, the display output resolution cannot reach 4K@60Hz (only 4K@30Hz).
Cause
This is due to a hardware limitation while connecting dongles to the Dell WD19/WD22 (Limited Graphic bandwidth) Thunderbolt
docking station.
Workaround
Connect the monitor directly to the HDMI or DP ports on the Thunderbolt docking station.
3
12 Troubleshooting

Getting help and contacting Dell
Self-help resources
You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these self-help resources:
Table 3. Self-help resources
Self-help resources Resource location
Information about Dell products and services www.dell.com
My Dell app
Tips
Contact Support In Windows search, type Contact Support, and press
Enter.
Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows
Access top solutions, diagnostics, drivers and downloads, and
learn more about your computer through videos, manuals and
documents.
Your Dell computer is uniquely identified by a Service Tag or
Express Service Code. To view relevant support resources for
your Dell computer, enter the Service Tag or Express Service
Code at www.dell.com/support.
For more information on how to find the Service Tag for your
computer, see Locate the Service Tag on your computer.
Dell knowledge base articles for a variety of computer
concerns
1. Go to www.dell.com/support.
2. On the menu bar at the top of the Support page, select
Support > Knowledge Base.
3. In the Search field on the Knowledge Base page, type the
keyword, topic, or model number, and then click or tap the
search icon to view the related articles.
Contacting Dell
To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, see www.dell.com/contactdell.
NOTE: Availability varies by country/region and product, and some services may not be available in your country/region.
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information about your purchase invoice,
packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
4
Getting help and contacting Dell 13