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Color Depth Shows 6-Bit Instead of 8-Bit or Higher

Content Type: Troubleshooting   |   Article ID: 000057132   |   Last Reviewed: 09/04/2024
Description Resolution

Description

The system shows 6-bit color depth support when it should be 8-bit or higher.

Resolution

Intel® Graphics supports up to 12-bit color depth, but this may vary depending on the display. On the current Intel Graphics Driver, the color depth is set per the OS configuration by default. You can also manually set the color depth to 8, 10, or 12 bit starting with Intel® Graphics Command Center version 1.100.3407.0 for native HDMI connections (if supported by the display).

If the color depth is not appearing as expected, try the following:

  • Confirm that you are using the latest driver provided by your system manufacturer's (OEM) driver. OEM drivers are handpicked and include customized features and solutions to platform-specific issues. The generic Intel driver provides the latest feature enhancements and bug fixes that OEMs may not have customized yet to address platform-specific needs. Check your OEM website for OEM graphics drivers.
  • If the above doesn't work, you can try using an Intel generic graphics driver. Note that this will overwrite your OEM customized driver. If you want to proceed, we recommend performing a clean installation:
    1. Right-click the Windows Start button. Select Device Manager.
    2. Expand the section for Display adapters.
    3. Identify the Intel Graphics device among the options listed. Note the name and model number of the device listed,
    4. Access Download Center, search for the Intel Graphics model identified in step 3 using the Search box in the top-right corner.
    5. Select the driver from the list that is designated for Windows® 10.
    6. Download the .exe file.
    7. Disconnect from the internet to make sure the driver will not be automatically updated by Windows.
    8. Go back to the Intel Graphics entry in Device Manager using steps 1 and 2.
    9. Right-click on Intel Graphics and click Uninstall.
    10. In the device removal dialog box, check Delete the driver software for this device and click OK.
    11. Restart the computer after the removal is complete.
    12. Open Device Manager once more.
    13. Expand the Display Adapter section again.
      • If the graphics entry still displays Intel Graphics, repeat steps 8-11.
      • If the graphics entry displays Microsoft Basic Display Adapter, run the previously downloaded .exe file to install the driver.
    14. Reboot the computer when prompted.

If the installation is unsuccessful with the .exe file, try installing the driver using the .zip file:

  1. Save the .zip file from Download Center on the computer.
  2. Follow steps 9-11 above until the driver in the Device Manager displays as Microsoft Basic Display Adapter. Go to where the .zip file is saved and unzip it.
  3. Right-click the Microsoft Basic Display Adapter.
  4. Select Update driver.
  5. Click Browse my computer for driver software.
  6. Click Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer.
  7. Click Have Disk.
  8. Click Browse. Select the location where the driver files are located.
  9. Click Next. Drivers are being installed.
  10. Reboot the computer when prompted.

Other considerations:

  • Check that your Operating System (OS) is up to date. Refer to Microsoft's* recommended actions to update the OS.
  • Update the system BIOS to the latest version provided by the OEM to make sure that the Video BIOS is also updated. (check downloads and recommendations with OEM).
  • This issue can be caused by a hardware limitation in the monitor (also the built-in display). Check with the OEM to see if the monitor supports 8-bit or higher color depths and not 6-bit with Frame Rate Control (FRC) or dithering techniques.

Related Products

This article applies to 128 products.
Other Graphics Radeon™ RX Vega M GH Graphics Radeon™ RX Vega M GL Graphics Intel® Arc™ Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ B-Series Graphics Intel® Arc™ B580 Graphics Intel® Arc™ B570 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A-Series Graphics Intel® Arc™ A580 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A770 Graphics (8GB) Intel® Arc™ A380 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A750 Graphics Intel® Arc™ A770 Graphics (16GB) Intel® Arc™ A350M Graphics Intel® Arc™ A370M Graphics Intel® Arc™ A530M Graphics Intel® Arc™ A570M Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Arc™ Pro A-Series Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A30M Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A60 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A50 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A40 Graphics Intel® Arc™ Pro A60M Graphics Intel® Iris® Xe Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Xe MAX Dedicated Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Xe MAX Graphics Processor Graphics Intel® Graphics Intel® Graphics for Intel® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 1) Intel® Arc™ Graphics Intel® Arc™ 130V GPU Intel® Arc™ 140V GPU Intel® Arc™ graphics for Intel® Core™ Ultra processors (Series 1) Intel® UHD Graphics Family Intel® UHD Graphics 620 Intel® UHD Graphics 605 Intel® UHD Graphics for 12th Gen Intel® Processors Intel® UHD Graphics 630 Intel® UHD Graphics 770 Intel® UHD Graphics 710 Intel® UHD Graphics 617 Intel® UHD Graphics for 10th Gen Intel® Processors Intel® UHD Graphics 730 Intel® UHD Graphics P750 Intel® UHD Graphics 750 Intel® UHD Graphics for 11th Gen Intel® Processors Intel® UHD Graphics 615 Intel® UHD Graphics 610 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 655 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 645 Intel® Iris® Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Graphics 6100 Intel® HD Graphics Family Intel® HD Graphics 510 Intel® HD Graphics for Previous Generation Intel® Processors Intel® HD Graphics 5500 Intel® HD Graphics 6000 Intel® HD Graphics 5300 Intel® HD Graphics 500 Intel® HD Graphics 505 Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics eligible Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics Family Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 6200 Data Center GPU Intel® Data Center GPU Flex Series Intel® Data Center GPU Flex 140 Intel® Data Center GPU Flex 170 Intel® Data Center GPU Max Series Intel® Data Center GPU Max 1100 Legacy Graphics

Discontinued Products

Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 650 Intel® Iris® Plus Graphics 640 Intel® Iris® Graphics 5100 Intel® Iris® Graphics 540 Intel® Iris® Graphics 550 Intel® HD Graphics 2000 Intel® HD Graphics 3000 Intel® HD Graphics 515 Intel® HD Graphics 520 Intel® HD Graphics 530 Intel® HD Graphics 5000 Intel® HD Graphics 4200 Intel® HD Graphics 4600 Intel® HD Graphics 4400 Intel® HD Graphics 2500 Intel® HD Graphics 4000 Intel® HD Graphics P630 Intel® HD Graphics 630 Intel® HD Graphics 610 Intel® HD Graphics 615 Intel® HD Graphics 620 Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 5200 Intel® Iris® Pro Graphics 580 Graphics Drivers for Intel® B43 Express Chipset Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 600 (Intel® GMA 600) Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150 (Intel® GMA 3150) Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 500 (Intel® GMA 500) Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3600 Series Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q35 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q33 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G31 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G35 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G33 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82810 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82852/82855 Graphics Controller Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82865G Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82845G Graphics Controller Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82830M Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82915G/82910GL Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82945G Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82Q963 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82Q965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82G965 Graphics and Memory Controller Hub (GMCH) Graphics Drivers for Intel® 82946GZ Graphics Controller Graphics Drivers for Mobile Intel® 4 Series Express Chipset Family Graphics Drivers for Intel® G43 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G45 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® G41 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q43 Express Chipset Graphics Drivers for Intel® Q45 Express Chipset

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