Graphics
The HP ZBook 15 G2 supports hybrid (switchable) graphics with discrete (MXM daughter card) NVIDIA or AMD professional graphics. The NVIDIA/AMD professional graphics or the Intel HD Graphics can drive the various DisplayPort routes in the system. The discrete NVIDIA/AMD graphics option always overrides the Intel integrated processor graphics.
NVIDIA professional graphics
The HP ZBook 15 G2 supports discrete NVIDIA professional graphics via an MXM 3.1 slot with a PCIe Gen3 x16 link. The following NVIDIA professional 3D graphics cards are supported:
• NVIDIA® Quadro® K610M
• NVIDIA® Quadro® K1100M
• NVIDIA® Quadro® K2100M <<< note, I have this one
NVIDIA professional graphics cards drive up to four independent and simultaneous displays and support Clone, Extended or Mosaic modes for the displays. The HP ZBook 15 G2 routes the four outputs of the NVIDIA card as follows:
• DisplayPort 1.1a to the internal display at 3200 x 1800 @ 60 Hz maximum resolution
• DisplayPort 1.1a to the external DisplayPort connector on the side I/O at 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz maximum resolution
• DisplayPort 1.2 to the optional Thunderbolt™ 21 module port 1 at 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz maximum resolution to a single display
Intel HD Graphics
Intel fully supports Intel® HD Graphics 4600 with the QM87 chipset. Intel Quick Sync is supported on all Intel processor SKUs with Intel HD Graphics. This feature provides faster video transcoding.
Intel HD Graphics supports three independent and simultaneous displays and supports Clone, Extended and Collage modes for the displays. In the case of three simultaneous displays, two high definition audio streams over the digital display interfaces are supported. The HP ZBook 15 G2 routes the three ports from the Intel HD Graphics as follows:
• DisplayPort 1.1a to the internal display at 3200 x 1800 @ 60 Hz maximum resolution
• DisplayPort 1.1a to the external DisplayPort connector on the side I/O at 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz maximum resolution
• DisplayPort 1.2 to the optional ThunderboltTM 2 module at 4096 x 2160 @ 24 Hz or 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz maximum resolution to a single display
Hybrid graphics
By leveraging display outputs from both the integrated Intel graphics processing unit (GPU) and the discrete GPU, the HP ZBook 15 G2 is able to support a large number of independent displays when hybrid graphics is enabled. Hybrid graphics is always enabled by default on the HP ZBook 15 G2. When hybrid graphics is disabled (may be disabled through BIOS Setup), the display outputs from the integrated Intel GPU are not available for use. As a result of this, the maximum number of independent displays supported is reduced to four on these models with NVIDIA graphics.
Special note on hybrid graphics during Pre-OS environment
With hybrid graphics, HP is using displays that may be connected to either one or both GPUs. Because the standard industry support for Pre-OS session involves only one GPU, there is a standard industry limitation where only displays connected to the integrated GPU may be used during Pre-OS. As such, display(s) attached to the discrete GPU are not viewable during Pre-OS. For example, if users boot with the panel closed and an external display attached to a DisplayPort connector driven by the discrete GPU, that display cannot show any image during Pre-OS session such as during POST, when in BIOS setup, when running early diagnosis, when using Power-On Password, and so on.
HP has implemented special support to resolve this limitation. With hybrid graphics, any display, whether it is connected to the integrated or discrete GPU, is usable (viewable) during Pre-OS. This feature is called “Hybrid Graphics Enhanced Display” and is by default enabled in BIOS. Users may disable this feature to only support Pre-OS session with integrated GPU displays (which is typically limited to the internal panel and VGA).
