ALTOS Baseboard Management Controller Instructions

ALTOS Baseboard Management

Overview

In server and workstation platforms equipped with a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), an integrated onboard VGA controller is typically present to support remote management functions (e.g., IPMI remote console). When a discrete GPU is installed, a display priority conflict may occur between the onboard VGA and the external GPU.

Technical Note: Display Priority Conflict in Units with BMC and Discrete GPU.

Problem Description

The BMC-integrated VGA is often initialized as the primary display device by default.
As a result:

• Video output may continue to be routed to the onboard VGA instead of the discrete GPU.
• No display output may be observed from the GPU, especially during POST or OS boot.
• The system may appear to have a non-functional GPU, even though it is properly installed.

This behavior is platform-dependent and varies across different server/workstation designs.

Recommended Actions

To resolve or mitigate this display conflict, the following actions can be taken:

1. Configure BIOS/UEFI Display Priority (Preferred)
   If supported by platform firmware, set the discrete GPU as the primary display device.
   • Look for settings such as:
     • Primary Display
     • Init Display First
     • PCIe/PEG vs Onboard VGA
   • Set the priority to PCIe or External GPU
     Note: Some units do not provide this option.
2. Disable Onboard VGA in BIOS/UEFI (If Available)
   Certain platforms allow the onboard VGA controller to be disabled entirely.
   • This forces the unit to initialize the discrete GPU for display output.
   • This option may be labeled as:
     • Onboard VGA
     • Internal Graphics
     • BMC Video
       Note: Availability of this feature depends on system design.
3. Disable Onboard VGA in Operating System (Last Resort)
   If BIOS/UEFI options are unavailable, the onboard VGA device can be disabled within the operating system (e.g., Windows Device Manager).
   • This may help avoid driver conflicts and ensure applications utilize the discrete GPU.
   • However:
     • It does not affect pre-boot or POST display output
     • It is not a complete solution for display initialization issues

Conclusion

Display conflicts between BMC onboard VGA and discrete GPUs are known behavior in some server and workstation platforms. The most effective resolution is to configure display priority at the firmware level. OS-level changes should only be used as a fallback when firmware options are not available.

Customer Support

Bulletin No.: ALTOS-2026-002
Author: Stella Kuo
Date Issued: 2026-04-02
Department: Service Support