X220 Video/Audio out through DisplayPort

I purchased this DisplayPort to HDMI cable off eBay.

I'm unable to determine if any of the problems I'm having are laptop- or cable-related (since the X220 is the only DP device I have in the home):

1. Overscan -- the display output by the X220 crops the edges off the screen in all directions (about 50 pixels or so).
2. Input lag -- pretty severe, the mouse responsiveness on the laptop screen is much faster than on the TV (doesn't matter if the TV is set as the only display)
3. No audio -- Audio plays only on the laptop speakers, is there a setting I need to change to output via DisplayPort?

I was hoping to use the laptop as a media streamer and big screen gaming device from time to time, but all of these issues preclude that.

Any thoughts or experiences?

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Edit to include solutions found:

1 & 2 were fixed by putting my TV into "Game Mode" and changing the resolution to "fit".

3 was a cable problem (despite what the next post says, the X220 displayport does, in fact, support audio). I got an adapter from monoprice that works perfectly. I complained to the ebay vendor of my cable (in HKG) that despite his listing reading audio/video, audio didn't work. He said send it back, which really isn't viable since shipping to HKG is more than the cable is worth. Sigh.

This is the adapter that worked for me and others in this thread.

Another poster said this cable works with sound as well.

This is another from monoprice that I can confirm works.

 

Lenovo X220 displayport doesn't support audio, you need to get separate audio cable.

 

Are you sure or is that a guess?

I seem to remember someone saying they did get audio although it might have been with a different thinkpad.

 

I said it based on some other people's feedback that they don't get audio either.

Another possibility is that some HDMI-Displayport cable do not support audio.

 

That's what I'm hoping to determine. Whether it's user error, a problem with the cable, or if the X220 simply can't do it.

 

See this thread about similar problems on the T420. I would expect that whatever works there with the Intel graphics should also work on the X220.

John

 

1. This is a TV setting with the picture. Each TV is different, but mine had a picture button that I hit a few times and then it picked the right setup.

2. Probably your cable
3. Also, probably your cable

 

Thanks for the responses, but I would prefer to not spend money on another cable until it is confirmed that somebody has managed to get the audio passthrough to HDMI to work with the X220. Anyone?

 

I just order a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter from Monoprice.
Here's the link:
DP (DisplayPort) Male to HDMI Female Adapter

I should be getting it on Tuesday and I will report back if audio works or not.

 

I'll take an X220 home from work tonight and try it with the same cable I use on my W520. Will post back then.

 

Been using this adapter with my X220, had a similar problem with the overscan but adjusted TV settings to get it to fit properly. Audio and video both work great otherwise.
Amazon.com: Premium Black DisplayPort Male to HDMI Female Adapter: Electronics

 

Thanks, dtp7.

Question for you -- does the Intel Audio Video device show up in your "Playback Devices" list (right-click the speaker icon in the system tray) only after you connect the cable or does it show all the time?

 

Sorry I haven't responded yet... I was at work when I saw the post yesterday and didn't have 2 seconds to turn on my computer last night to check. I will check for you tonight, I promise!

 

I believe this is incorrect. Displayport is similar to HDMI in that they both carry audio and video (the former is royalty-free). Audio out is a standard part of its technical specs.

The most likely culprit is that Window's sound output was not changed from internal speakers to DisplayPort output.

 

That's the problem. I have no device to change to in Win7 either with the TV hooked-up or without. Only the conexant audio and my BT headset show up in the playback devices. The Intel Audio Video device shows up in device manager but there's no way to get it to kick in -- my guess is a bad cable but I'm just hoping for confirmation of that which other kind souls in this thread are pursuing for me.

 

So when you right click on the speaker icon in the system tray and go to Playback devices, there's not a playback device for display port? You can also get to this by typing "Sound" in the windows search box and click on the sound control panel.

As long as drivers are properly installed, there should be an option for displayport. Did you do a clean install of Windows 7? I'm assuming you already tried restarting the laptop while the laptop is connected to your tv?

edit: I wish I had a way of testing this for you but I just returned my x220 for a different model. It certainly can be the cable or adaptor youre using.

 

Correct, there is no playback device for DisplayPort. I have tried connecting the TV with the laptop on, off, reboot with it on, etc, etc.

The installation is from the recovery disks, with updated Intel drivers (not the Lenovo ones). I could try to revert to the Lenovo-approved video drivers but I'm reluctant.

 

You have to rule out a driver issue before you test out a different cable. Also, I've seen displayport cables that don't support audio. An elegant solution is an HDMI to DisplayPort cable, instead of messing with another adapter.

 

Yep, there are a lot of threads around here from people with bad cables. Though I agree to test the drivers before getting a new cable.

 

FWIW, I am using the Lenovo video drivers. (still at work, though, so haven't checked on the playback devices list yet)

 

I got this adapter today and it works perfect! My plasma was detected instantly and sound played flawlessly as well. Only thing I had to change was to disable to laptop display and set my plasma to 1920x1080.

 

............

 

Ok, finally tested! My Samsung TV shows up under Playback Devices as soon as I plug in the adapter, and it is selected as default when it shows up. Sorry it took so long!

 

OK I reverted to the Lenovo-supplied video drivers, and it didn't change anything.

The good news is that I found how to fix my other two problems (overscan fixed with changing the TV settings to "fit", and input lag fixed by putting the TV in "game mode").

While my current cable is a more elegant solution than an adapter, ultimately it needs to work. So I'm going to buy an adapter and will report back here!

 

I have one more thing for you to check. I'm not entirely convinced this isnt a software issue since you're not working with the default factory image with Lenovo only drivers. I believe regardless of what cable you use, you should still see the appropriate playback devices. For example, on my desktop, my gfx card has HDMI and I'm showing an hdmi audio playback device with the status "not plugged in"

Open the sound control panel again where your playback devices are shown.

Right click in the window, anywhere really, and make sure these 2 options are checked and see if a playback device for the displayport appears:

Show disabled devices
Show disconnected devices

 

Yup, checked those a while back. With others having success (almost instantly after plugging-in the cable) I'm really thinking my problem is the cable I have. So I just ordered the adapter (monoprice is great) and I will report back here when it arrives.

I wonder if the playback device only shows after the first time it is detected or if it shows in playback devices (as unplugged) right from the factory.

I can't wait for some 55" L4D2 action!

 

I've just received an adapter for my T420, I'm also having audio problems with på Display port, and still no audio, I don't get it.

 

Which flatscreen tv's have you tried to connect to? I've only have access to Panasonic Plasma screens for the moment.

 

Jesper, I'm using a Samsung LCD. When I connect my DP->HDMI adapter and connect to the TV, windows recognizes it as a Samsung TV immediately.

 

Thanks for the info, anyone else?

 

Update: Problem fixed! This adapter did it. It was the cable, after all.

As soon as I plugged the adapter and HDMI cable in, the audio driver automatically flipped to my Samsung LCD and was passing audio seamlessly.

I'm not a fan of how far the adapter sticks out but it's just nice to have it working now. Thanks for the link, briantek!

 

I checked with X220 and Displayport-HDMI cable and it can play both video and audio. Make sure you read the fine print that the cable support audio, it seems some cables doesn't and others do. The one I used is ~$10 range.

 

As a x220 owner, I just wanted to confirm that 'Display port to HDMI cable' that I bought from monoprice.com works perfectly with sound. The cable costs $8.33 each and shipping is very cheap. The cable is pretty thick just like the rest of the HDMI cables that they sell.

Product ID 6011, 6ft 28AWG DisplayPort to HDMI Cable - White.

I own two LG TVs since they are cheap and good quality. I tested on LG 47" LCD TV and LG 42" LED TV. For LG TV's you must select the 'Label' of the 'Input' devices to 'PC' to avoid overscans (screen edges getting cut off). If you set it to 'PC', it'll automatically fix the selection of input ratio 16:9. You don't have to use 'JustScan' which is gives bad result.

edit:
On my LG 42" LED TV, I had to plug in the HDMI cable to slots other than slot 1. HDMI 1 is labeled (ARC) which I don't know what it is for. So if yours didn't work, try it on the second port.

 

Thanks for the info guys, good to know that it seems to be a cable problem, now I only hope that the one I ordered from Amazon works, because it does not seem that monoprice.com will ship to europe.

 

YES, it finally works, the one from Amazon I've ordered worked right away, nice. So I can confirm this one works: Amazon.com: StarTech.com DP2HDMI DisplayPort to HDMI Video Adapter Converter: Electronics

Thanks for your help and suggestions, even though I didn't even start this thread.

 

got one from meritline that people claim works well for $7 last wk. already shipped from ca, and my x220 should be here by the end of the wk, so I'll let ppl know my experience.

 

Good for you mate!

 

I can confirm that this one works as well for both audio and video:

For only $8.96 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 15ft 28AWG DisplayPort to HDMI Cable - White | DisplayPort to HDMI Cables

Although it did not pass audio through when plugged into my Onkyo receiver; I had to plug it into the TV directly. I might have to fuss with that to see if it is user error.

 

Hey guys, I just bought a DP-HDMI cable and managed to get picture across but also have the problem with no audio.

So looking at this thread it seems to be decided that it's a cable problem right?

There isn't any way to see or control the audio settings with external displays? You just plug it in and sound comes out of both the laptop and TV automatically?

 

bump, any input appreciated

 

I just bought this adapter from monoprice. Both audio and video work fine on my X220.
For only $6.30 each when QTY 50+ purchased - DP (DisplayPort) Male to HDMI Female Adapter | DisplayPort to HDMI | DVI | VGA Adapters

I previously bought a similar adapter from amazon.com (ELMENOS) that did not pass audio.

 

Pretty much plug it in and it plays audio through the TV right away.

 

Thanks for the recommendation and the link! I ordered this, and it works great. plugged it in, and it worked immediately with both audio and video

Also having the overscan thing, and I didn't fiddle with the TV to try to get it fixed but I'm sure I could get it to fit properly if I was doing more than just testing the display and audio.

 

I sorta have the same problem. I bought a DP>HDMI cable with the computer but no sound. So, after reading this thread among others I figured it must be the cable so I bought an adapter that said it should work with audio on the box, but it still didn't work. It shows up in the device manager but not in the sound properties.
I tried uninstalling the drivers and lettting windows install it's generic driver and that got three HDMI devices to show up in the sound properties, but none of them got enabled when I plugged in the cable.
I figured that instead of spending even more money I'd try a different OS. So I dowloaded ubuntu and put it on a USB stick and booted from it. Ofcourse it worked there almost straight away. So I'm thinking it's probably a driver issue of some sort, but I'm not sure. I would gladly buy a new cable if I was sure it worked, but I live in Sweden and I havent found any place that sells the cables you guys recommend above around here.
Any help would be appriciated. Thanks.

 

Others, be careful at amazon.com. I ordered what was supposed to be the identical thing from amazon.com from the seller ELMENOS. What I received looked similar but different (it did not have the larger female end as the one in the image and had rounded edges). It did not support audio. I also clicked on a link such as yours from a forum member - his worked (bought from a different seller at amazon.com) and turned out to be different from mine which did not. I ended up buying one from monoprice.com which worked great (see link above in earlier post of mine).

 

A interesting development on the subject:

DisplayPort-To-HDMI Cables Illegal, Could Be Recalled | News & Opinion | PCMag.com

They're saying, aparently, that though adapters, are okay, cables that adapt are not.....

Have a Magical Day

 

Interesting.

I have considered getting one, but with no immediate need, would of done so the next time I had to put an order in to monoprice for other things. May go ahead and grab one now just in case. Nothing will come of it if I do, but if I dont, they wont be around anymore the day I do need to get one and could use it . Certainly a lot more elegant solution then adding an adapter into the mix in addition to the cable.

I wonder why they even went to this stupid display port setup. HDMI has been around quite awhile now, does the exact same thing, and also has mini ports as well as full size. Why computer manufacturers had to go mess everything up with yet another connection that not many displays have when they could of done the exact same thing with a connection already widely used beats the heck out of me.

 

Hi all, just would like to share that I bought this Displayport to HDMI adaptor from ebay for my X220: http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150582148900&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

It works perfectly with both visual & audio appearing on my HD TV.

Cheers!

 

Display Port is more common in projectors and other business devices. It makes sense in a laptop marketed to business users. It's also slightly cheaper to use, as there aren't any royalty fees. (It was also designed from the ground up to be a computer display port, while HDMI was designed for TV's and video devices.)

 

Amazon.com: 6FT Displayport-male To HDmi-male Adapter Cable: Electronics
This cable works for both sound and video. Just plugged it in and works immediately. Don't have to do a thing. Also, don't know if they all have it, but on the display port end of the cable is a secure connection where you have to press a button to release it from the X220's port. Nice. I have always hated how sloppy and loose hdmi connectors are.