Safe to assume SD won't connect to my TV again?

[RExyM0n]

So I'm currently borrowing my brother's steam deck. Enjoyed it for a few weeks finally playing Trine with him on the big screen. After a few updates now and trying to tinker with Remote play options and screen resolutions best for the deck I've not been able to connect it to the TV anymore.

I should point out that it's not an official dock it's a ugreen one. Use to work fine but no longer, however in "Desktop mode" it works with the TV but it's a little too buggy to really consider even through big picture mode. Apart from that I've tried a slew of tricks to try to get it back to work but factory resetting it cause I would assume it's software related.

So yeah if anyone can point out what to do other than resetting it yet I'm happy to try it out or figure out what sort of solution to try. I'll try to point out what I've tried already in this list:-
1. Unplug the cables and reseat them
2. Try different hdmi ports and cables
3. TV settings
4. Tried a Beta build for steam os
5. Tried "safe display mode"
6. Changing resolutions & mirror mode
7. TDP limit - No idea who recommended me this but it didn't work obviously
8. Restarting the device while docked and undocked

So yeah, again... Desktop mode is the only thing that works so it's connected but no through the normal way again

[PopinFRESH]

What refresh rate do you have set when booted in Game mode? This is probably the most common culprit as many TVs don't support non-TV-standard refresh rates.

Also which specific ugreen dock are you using? What are the HDMI specs for the dock? Which TV are you using?

Try setting the global refresh rate to 30Hz; and the resolution output to default

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

If that works, then some combination of your TV, HDMI cable, ugreen dock have a limitation that can only do your TVs native resolution at 30Hz (assuming it is a 4K TV).

[RExyM0n]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

What refresh rate do you have set when booted in Game mode? This is probably the most common culprit as many TVs don't support non-TV-standard refresh rates.

Also which specific ugreen dock are you using? What are the HDMI specs for the dock? Which TV are you using?

Try setting the global refresh rate to 30Hz; and the resolution output to default

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2022/06/steam-deck-now-lets-you-override-display-resolution-for-games/

If that works, then some combination of your TV, HDMI cable, ugreen dock have a limitation that can only do your TVs native resolution at 30Hz (assuming it is a 4K TV).

Happy to give more info if it helps me in some way.

It's this Ugreen one but I'm from Malaysia so I bought it locally https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Ethernet-Charging-Accessories-Compatible/dp/B0BQB6VG39

The TV supports 4k at 120hz a Hisense one and currently its running at 1080p 120hz. But I have been playing either with the steam deck's resolution and 4k60. I would need to try it again but the only way to change it now is through desktop mode..

as far as as I know it was working fine before while I was trying to figure out what would be the best solution. Cause original I was playing around with poor remote play performance randomly(also with a super dim display) and different resolutions cause 4k60 was getting poor overall performance running in the menus

[PopinFRESH]

Originally posted by RExyM0n:

...I would need to try it again but the only way to change it now is through desktop mode..

No you can still change the refresh rate and the FPS limit in Game mode afaik. They are now just combined into a single slider that will automatically adjust the frame rate cap along with the refresh rate; however, you can change this back to two independent sliders in the settings if you want.

And you can change the resolution as described in that Gaming On Linux article I linked.

Make sure you aren't setting it to `native` as that will try to render at the external display's native resolution (e.g. 4K) which as you've noted will have very poor performance (both in menus and in game). The "Default" setting will render the game at either 720p or 800p (depending on the external display's aspect ratio) and then will scale that via a virtual output at the external display's native resolution. So your TV will get a 4K signal, but the Steam Deck will be rendering it at its normal resolution internally.

I haven't checked with my Dock on my Steam Deck OLED yet to see if there may be more changes for external displays. I'll try to take a look at that and let you know if there is anything notable that you'd need to change after the SteamOS 3.5.5 update

[RExyM0n]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

Originally posted by RExyM0n:

...I would need to try it again but the only way to change it now is through desktop mode..

"No you can still change the refresh rate and the FPS limit in Game mode afaik."- You are not wrong. I've done it like that before. But I can't even get it to display in game mode at all anymore. Tv just simply says no signal.

[Mahjik]

I didn't see it in your list. Have you tried going from your Deck directly to the TV (i.e. no through the dock)?

[RExyM0n]

Originally posted by Mahjik:

I didn't see it in your list. Have you tried going from your Deck directly to the TV (i.e. no through the dock)?

I don't own another usb c hub/hdmi adapter unfortunately...

[PopinFRESH]

So I spent some time tonight trying to test this. Updated the official Steam Deck Dock to latest firmware. Ensured latest Steam Client update from today was applied. Tested with known working 4K@60 cables and port.

It seems like they’ve just broken the external display output completely in SteamOS 3.5.5+. Testing in desktop mode the Steam Deck keeps freezing up detecting the new display, then would disconnect from the display then freeze up detecting the display.

Hopefully they resolve this soon.

[RExyM0n]

Originally posted by PopinFRESH:

So I spent some time tonight trying to test this. Updated the official Steam Deck Dock to latest firmware. Ensured latest Steam Client update from today was applied. Tested with known working 4K@60 cables and port.

It seems like they’ve just broken the external display output completely in SteamOS 3.5.5+. Testing in desktop mode the Steam Deck keeps freezing up detecting the new display, then would disconnect from the display then freeze up detecting the display.

Hopefully they resolve this soon.

I don't have an official dock. It's a Ugreen one, but I have heard many reports of display bugs that have been reoccurring in the past few updates. Remote play has an issue where the screen in which it's displaying is really dark during remote play(Not sure if it is unique to external displays only) but also not being able to connect properly anymore with any dock from what I've been seeing.

I do hope they resolve this cause it doesn't seem like I'm alone here.