How To Enable Motherboard HDMI?

The graphics cards come with at least one HDMI port so that you can connect a monitor or projector to it. The latest graphics cards have more than one port for versatile connections.

The second HDMI port comes in handy when you want to connect a second monitor or a projector and a monitor. However, if your graphics card has only one HDMI port, then it can be quite tricky to connect a secondary display device. Still, it is not the end of the road.

You can use the HDMI port that is located at the back of your motherboard. There are certain things you need to check before plugging your secondary monitor to the motherboard HDMI.

What Is The HDMI Port On The Motherboard For?

HDMI port on the motherboard is there to provide a video output option in case your system doesn’t have a dedicated graphics card with an HDMI port.

This is particularly useful for:

• Systems with integrated graphics: Many CPUs come with integrated graphics processors (GPUs). The motherboard HDMI port allows you to connect your monitor directly to the motherboard and utilize the integrated graphics for basic display functionality.
• Troubleshooting: If your graphics card malfunctions or isn’t detected, you can use the motherboard HDMI to temporarily connect your monitor and troubleshoot the issue.
• Secondary display (with limitations): If your motherboard BIOS supports multi-monitor configurations and your CPU has integrated graphics, you can use the motherboard HDMI for a secondary monitor alongside a dedicated graphics card (performance might be lower on the motherboard display).

Is Your HDMI Port Not Working On PC?

There are several reasons why this HDMI port do not work on your PC, but a common problem is a disabled HDMI port on your motherboard. Don’t worry! Enabling the motherboard HDMI is a straightforward process, and this guide will walk you through it step-by-step. By the end, you’ll be back to enjoying your extended display in no time.

How To Enable Motherboard HDMI?

Here is a quick DIY guide to help you enable your motherboard HDMI for connecting another display device.

Step 1: Check for Integrated Graphics in your CPU

Before enabling motherboard HDMI, first check if your CPU has integrated graphics. The HDMI port on your motherboard does not run from the GPU, but rather from the integrated graphics. There are multiple methods to confirm this.

The simplest method is to access the Device Manager and check the Display Adapter menu to see if your CPU has integrated graphics.

Another method is to find the processor model and get the information online. For this,

Open Settings and select System. Then, click on About. You will be able to find the processor model. Alternatively, you can right-click on My Computer or This PC and select Properties. Here also you will be able to see the processor model.

Using the model name, search on Google to see whether it has integrated graphics or not.

Step 2: Enable Integrated Graphics in BIOS

After confirming that your CPU has integrated graphics using any one of the above methods, then you have to enable it in BIOS. To do this, follow the steps specified below,

Restart your PC and press any one of the keys – F1, F2, F8, F12, Escape, and Delete. Doing this will open the BIOS. You will find the exact key in the manual of your motherboard

The interface of the BIOS will be different for different motherboard models. The BIOS contains all the important settings of your PC. So, you have to be careful while navigating through the BIOS screen so that you don’t unknowingly modify any other settings.

Locate the Advanced tab or section on the BIOS.

Now, search for IGPU and Multiple Display settings. Ensure that this setting is enabled. This will activate your motherboard HDMI.

After this, save the changes and hit Enter to confirm the new settings.

Restart your computer to activate the new settings.

Step 3: Connect to your New Monitor

After enabling your motherboard HDMI, you can connect the monitor to the HDMI port. Here are the steps to connect two monitors to the CPU.

First, plugin the primary monitor to the HDMI port located on the back of the video card. Then, plugin the secondary monitor to the motherboard HDMI.

Next, plug the other end of the HDMI cables to the respective monitors. After making the connections, your PC will automatically detect the two monitors.

Then, you will have to configure the display settings. Right-click anywhere on the Desktop screen of your primary monitor and select Display Settings.

The Display Settings menu will open. You can configure the settings related to the monitors as you desire.

Also Read: How To Fix If Monitor Keeps Going Black?

Step 4: Install the Integrated Graphics Driver to its latest Version

In some cases, the secondary monitor will not be detected even after enabling the motherboard HDMI and configuring the display settings correctly. The reason for this can be due to the driver for the onboard graphics not installed or outdated. In such cases, you can install or update the driver by following the steps below,

Search for Device Manager in the Windows search bar and open it. Now, under the Other Devices section, look for an unidentified device.

Then, visit your CPU manufacturer’s website and download the latest drivers by searching using your CPU model. Alternatively, you can also let your PC search for the latest driver. The other option is to use Check for Updates native feature in Windows to find and download the latest driver.

Once you have downloaded the driver, you can run the setup and install the driver by following the on-screen instructions.

After this restart your computer to save the changes. When the computer turns on, the secondary monitor will be detected.

How To Use Motherboard HDMI?

Using the motherboard HDMI involves enabling it in the BIOS settings and ensuring your system prioritizes it (if a graphics card is also present). Here’s a general guideline, but refer to your specific motherboard manual for detailed instructions:

• Restart your PC and enter BIOS Setup: This typically involves pressing a specific key (like Delete or F2) repeatedly during the boot process.
• Locate the display or graphics settings: The specific menus and options will vary depending on your BIOS version and motherboard manufacturer. Look for sections related to “Display,” “Graphics,” or “Integrated Peripherals.”
• Enable the onboard HDMI: Find the option for onboard or motherboard HDMI and set it to “Enabled.”
• Set display priority (if applicable): If you have a dedicated graphics card, some BIOS versions allow you to manage display priority. Ensure the graphics card is set as the primary adapter.
• Save and Exit BIOS: Once you’ve enabled the motherboard HDMI and configured priority (if needed), save your changes and exit the BIOS setup. Your PC will restart, and you should be able to use the motherboard HDMI port.

Also check:

• How to Choose a Motherboard
• Motherboard Sizes
• Is my Motherboard dead?
• If Motherboard HDMI Not working
• What motherboard do i Have?

Influence on Performance of Dedicated and Integrated Graphics

If you don’t have any free ports on your dedicated graphics card, then you can utilize the motherboard HDMI port to connect an extra device. An integrated graphics solution uses a lot of power and memory with the GPU to view information. This produces a burden on the CPU and system memory which can lead to high latency in APIC Timer interrupt transmissions.

The dedicated GPU can easily access image data using the discrete graphics cards with memory. The same can not be said for embedded graphics. They can not extract image data as they do not have a reliable memory collection. However, they use the device’s memory to extract the image data.

If you unplug the secondary monitor while playing a game, it will increase the FPS (Frames per Second). The onboard graphics will enter sleep mode. You can plug the monitor back after your gaming session.

Advantages of Using Motherboard HDMI

The most obvious benefit of using motherboard HDMI is to connect multiple display devices. If your graphics card does not have a second HDMI port or if both the ports are used, then the motherboard HDMI can come in handy for connecting another monitor.

There are several advantages in using a second monitor. It creases your work efficiency and productivity by allowing you to multitask.

When it comes to gaming, you can use one monitor for the game interface while the other monitor can be used to keep a track of your hardware and RAM use. You can also browse online and open web pages containing gaming tips and tricks to give you an edge.

As the latest games come with high end graphics, a single graphics card will not stand up, forcing you to use two cards. In this case, a second monitor will speed up the phase allowing you to afford slight performance effects. Your PC will have more VRAM for supporting high-resolution textures in games.

Drawbacks of Using Motherboard HDMI

The primary drawback of using motherboard HDMI to connect a monitor is that you will not play multi-monitor games.

Moreover, if you are not a gamer or do not use high end 3-D software, using a second monitor with the motherboard HDMI will not be the right option. Instead of that, you can buy a motherboard that supports several graphics cards including the power supply for the multiple cards.