Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS problem with 2K resolution on additional screen

Currently, I am using Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS and problem with the external screen (I'm using HDMI to connect). My additional screen supports 2K resolution, but I am not able to use it. I don't have this option in the dropdown list. The highest resolution that I'm able to choose is 2560 x 1080.

The weirdest thing is that on the same machine I have also Windows 10 on that system, by deafault resolution is 2K.

I was reading many questions here about resolution problem on Ubuntu, but nothing helps me. The next step is to reinstall the whole system.

I updated Ubuntu from 18 to 20, maybe this is problem, but on 18 it didn't work also.

Can some have any ideas about the solution? I am able to attach all the needed data.

My computer spec:

  • Processor -> Intel® Core™ i7-8550U CPU @ 1.80GHz × 8
  • Graphics -> Mesa Intel® UHD Graphics 620 (KBL GT2)
  • Memory -> 16 GB

Add xrandr:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 2560 x 2160, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected 1920x1080+269+1080 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080     60.06*+  60.01    59.97    59.96    59.93    48.04  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.05  
   896x672       60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
HDMI-1 connected primary 2560x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 698mm x 393mm
   2560x1080     30.00*   29.97    24.00    23.98    25.00  
   2048x1152     60.00  
   1920x1200     59.95  
   1920x1080     60.00    50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98  
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1440x576      50.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1440x480      60.00    59.94  
   832x624       74.55  
   800x600       72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x576i      50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x480i      60.00    59.94  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    66.67    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08 

After added new mode with xrandr:

Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 4480 x 1080, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 344mm x 193mm
   1920x1080     60.06*+  60.01    59.97    59.96    59.93    48.04  
   1680x1050     59.95    59.88  
   1600x1024     60.17  
   1400x1050     59.98  
   1600x900      59.99    59.94    59.95    59.82  
   1280x1024     60.02  
   1440x900      59.89  
   1400x900      59.96    59.88  
   1280x960      60.00  
   1440x810      60.00    59.97  
   1368x768      59.88    59.85  
   1360x768      59.80    59.96  
   1280x800      59.99    59.97    59.81    59.91  
   1152x864      60.00  
   1280x720      60.00    59.99    59.86    59.74  
   1024x768      60.04    60.00  
   960x720       60.00  
   928x696       60.05  
   896x672       60.01  
   1024x576      59.95    59.96    59.90    59.82  
   960x600       59.93    60.00  
   960x540       59.96    59.99    59.63    59.82  
   800x600       60.00    60.32    56.25  
   840x525       60.01    59.88  
   864x486       59.92    59.57  
   800x512       60.17  
   700x525       59.98  
   800x450       59.95    59.82  
   640x512       60.02  
   720x450       59.89  
   700x450       59.96    59.88  
   640x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x405       59.51    58.99  
   684x384       59.88    59.85  
   680x384       59.80    59.96  
   640x400       59.88    59.98  
   576x432       60.06  
   640x360       59.86    59.83    59.84    59.32  
   512x384       60.00  
   512x288       60.00    59.92  
   480x270       59.63    59.82  
   400x300       60.32    56.34  
   432x243       59.92    59.57  
   320x240       60.05  
   360x202       59.51    59.13  
   320x180       59.84    59.32  
HDMI-1 connected 2560x1080+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 698mm x 393mm
   2560x1080     30.00*   29.97    24.00    23.98    25.00  
   2048x1152     60.00  
   1920x1200     59.95  
   1920x1080     60.00    50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98  
   1920x1080i    60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1152x864      75.00  
   1280x720      60.00    50.00    59.94  
   1440x576      50.00  
   1024x768      75.03    70.07    60.00  
   1440x480      60.00    59.94  
   832x624       74.55  
   800x600       72.19    75.00    60.32    56.25  
   720x576       50.00  
   720x576i      50.00  
   720x480       60.00    59.94  
   720x480i      60.00    59.94  
   640x480       75.00    72.81    66.67    60.00    59.94  
   720x400       70.08  
   2560x1440_60.00  59.96  

EDIT Maybe this will be game-changer but I was able to set up 2560x1440 using

cvt 2560 1440 30


Solution 1:

To get access to a given mode, you typically need the following sequence of commands:

  1. cvt <width-pixels> <height-pixels> You would need cvt 2560 1440.
    Note: this post from a thread linked below suggests one may have to tinker a little with parameters, different from what is returned by the "bare" cvt command posted above. If you found one set that works, you may start tinkering to adjust for the best performance. I have little experience on that.

  2. Copy the second line of output, except for the leading Modeline, in the command xrandr --newmode <copied parameters>, to create the new mode.

  3. Add the new mode to those available for your target display xrandr --addmode HDMI-1 <name of new mode>.

You should now see it as an available mode for your display, and select it.

If this works, you could automate the process of adding and selecting the mode. In Best place to automatically add mode in xrandr you will find a description (without cvt, as I had already done it at that point). As for why the mode is not automatically detected, I wouldn't know, but it would be more of a curiosity I guess.

You could post feedback/what you get by updating your question.

EDIT: Try connecting via DVI instead of HDMI.

Possibly related:

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2399525

https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/how-to-increase-display-resolution-to-2560x1440-4175623279/