How to Fix External Monitor Problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI Computer and Nvidia Graphics

• This article explains how to fix the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card.
• The problem can be caused by various factors such as incompatible Nvidia driver, improper Nvidia settings, incorrect BIOS settings, or faulty HDMI or DP cable.
• The solution involves updating the Nvidia driver, configuring the Nvidia settings, checking the BIOS settings, and replacing the HDMI or DP cable.

If you have a MSI laptop with Nvidia graphics card and you want to connect an external monitor to it, you may encounter a problem on Ubuntu 23.10. The external monitor may not be detected or recognized by the system, and you may not be able to use it as an extended display. This can be frustrating and limit your productivity.

Fortunately, there are some possible solutions to this problem that you can try. In this article, we will show you how to fix the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card. We will also explain the causes of this issue and how to prevent it from happening again.

What Causes the External Monitor Problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI Computer and Nvidia Graphics Card?

There are several possible causes for the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card. Some of them are:

• The Nvidia driver is not compatible with the kernel version or the Xorg server version of Ubuntu 23.10.
• The Nvidia driver is not configured properly to support multiple displays or output modes.
• The BIOS settings of the MSI laptop are not set to use the discrete graphics card or enable hybrid graphics mode.
• The HDMI or DP cable is faulty or not connected securely to the laptop or the monitor.
• The external monitor is not compatible with the resolution or refresh rate of the laptop display.

How to Fix the External Monitor Problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI Computer and Nvidia Graphics Card?

To fix the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card, you can try the following steps:

Step 1: Update the Nvidia Driver

The first step is to make sure that you have the latest and most compatible Nvidia driver for your graphics card and your Ubuntu version. You can do this by using the Software & Updates application or the terminal commands.

To use the Software & Updates application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Software & Updates application from the applications menu or by typing software-properties-gtk in a terminal.
2. Go to the Additional Drivers tab and wait for it to scan your system for available drivers.
3. Select the recommended Nvidia driver from the list and click Apply Changes.
4. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system.

To use the terminal commands, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by typing terminal in the applications menu.
2. Type sudo apt update and press Enter to update your system repositories.
3. Type sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall and press Enter to install the recommended Nvidia driver for your system.
4. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system.

Step 2: Configure the Nvidia Settings

The next step is to configure the Nvidia settings to enable multiple displays and output modes. You can do this by using the Nvidia X Server Settings application or the terminal commands.

To use the Nvidia X Server Settings application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Nvidia X Server Settings application from the applications menu or by typing nvidia-settings in a terminal.
2. Go to the X Server Display Configuration section and click Detect Displays if your external monitor is not shown.
3. Select your external monitor from the list and choose an output mode from the Configuration drop-down menu. You can choose TwinView to use both displays as one extended desktop, Separate X Screen to use each display as a separate workspace, or Clone to mirror the same content on both displays.
4. Adjust the resolution, position, orientation, and refresh rate of each display as desired.
5. Click Apply to save your changes and test your configuration.
6. Click Save to X Configuration File to make your changes permanent.

To use the terminal commands, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by typing terminal in the applications menu.
2. Type xrandr –query and press Enter to list your available displays and output modes.
3. Identify your laptop display (usually eDP-1) and your external monitor (usually HDMI-1 or DP-1) from the output.
4. Type xrandr –output <external-monitor> –auto –right-of <laptop-display> and press Enter to enable TwinView mode with your external monitor on the right of your laptop display. You can replace –right-of with –left-of, –above, or –below depending on your preference. You can also add –mode <resolution> or –rate <refresh-rate> after –auto to specify a resolution or refresh rate for your external monitor.
5. Type xrandr –output <external-monitor> –auto –same-as <laptop-display> and press Enter to enable Clone mode with your external monitor mirroring your laptop display. You can also add –mode <resolution> or –rate <refresh-rate> after –auto to specify a resolution or refresh rate for your external monitor.
6. Type xrandr –output <external-monitor> –auto –noprimary and press Enter to enable Separate X Screen mode with your external monitor as a separate workspace. You can also add –mode <resolution> or –rate <refresh-rate> after –auto to specify a resolution or refresh rate for your external monitor.

Step 3: Check the BIOS Settings

The third step is to check the BIOS settings of your MSI laptop and make sure that they are set to use the discrete graphics card or enable hybrid graphics mode. This will allow your system to switch between the integrated and discrete graphics cards depending on the workload and power consumption.

To access the BIOS settings, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your MSI laptop and press the power button to turn it on again.
2. Press the Delete key repeatedly during the boot process until you enter the BIOS setup menu.
3. Go to the Advanced tab and select the System Agent Configuration option.
4. Select the Graphics Configuration option and change the Primary Display option to PEG (PCI Express Graphics) or SG (Switchable Graphics) depending on your preference. PEG will use the discrete graphics card as the primary display device, while SG will use the integrated graphics card as the primary display device and switch to the discrete graphics card when needed.
5. Save your changes and exit the BIOS setup menu.

Step 4: Replace the HDMI or DP Cable

The last step is to replace the HDMI or DP cable that connects your laptop and your external monitor. Sometimes, a faulty or loose cable can cause the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card. You can try using a different cable or a different port on your laptop or monitor to see if that solves the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card.

Question: How do I switch between displays on Ubuntu 23.10?

Answer: You can switch between displays on Ubuntu 23.10 by using the keyboard shortcut Super+P. This will cycle through four options: PC Screen Only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second Screen Only. You can also use the Settings application to change your display settings.

Question: How do I update my kernel or Xorg server version on Ubuntu 23.10?

Answer: You can update your kernel or Xorg server version on Ubuntu 23.10 by using the Software Updater application or the terminal commands. To use the Software Updater application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Software Updater application from the applications menu or by typing update-manager in a terminal.
2. Click Check for Updates and wait for it to scan your system for available updates.
3. Click Install Now and enter your password if prompted.
4. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system if required.

To use the terminal commands, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by typing terminal in the applications menu.
2. Type sudo apt update and press Enter to update your system repositories.
3. Type sudo apt upgrade and press Enter to upgrade your system packages.
4. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system if required.

Question: How do I revert to a previous Nvidia driver version on Ubuntu 23.10?

Answer: You can revert to a previous Nvidia driver version on Ubuntu 23.10 by using the Software & Updates application or the terminal commands. To use the Software & Updates application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Software & Updates application from the applications menu or by typing software-properties-gtk in a terminal.
2. Go to the Additional Drivers tab and wait for it to scan your system for available drivers.
3. Select a previous Nvidia driver version from the list and click Apply Changes.
4. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system.

To use the terminal commands, follow these steps:

1. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or by typing terminal in the applications menu.
2. Type sudo apt purge nvidia* and press Enter to remove all Nvidia packages from your system.
3. Type sudo ubuntu-drivers devices and press Enter to list all available drivers for your system.
4. Type sudo apt install nvidia-driver-<version> and press Enter to install a previous Nvidia driver version of your choice. Replace <version> with a number such as 510, 520, etc.
5. Wait for the installation to finish and reboot your system.

Summary

In this article, we have shown you how to fix the external monitor problem on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card. We have explained what causes this issue and how to solve it by updating the Nvidia driver, configuring the Nvidia settings, checking the BIOS settings and replacing the HDMI or DP cable. We hope that this article has helped you to solve your problem and enjoy using your external monitor on Ubuntu 23.10 with MSI computer and Nvidia graphics card.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We are not affiliated with MSI, Nvidia, or Ubuntu and do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the information provided. Please consult your own technician or manufacturer before attempting any of the steps mentioned in this article. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may result from following this article.