Surface Pro 4 - External screen keeps turning on/off (black flickering)

Anonymous
2017-06-13T21:32:22+00:00

Hi there,

I just made a video of my recent problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phi\_Yru77aM

You can see that when I'm using the built-in screen of my SP4 (i7, 16GB, 512GB) and only one 4K external screen (both at 60hz), this monitor keeps turning black on a random basis. All my drivers and firmware are up to date (Surface Dock and Surface). I even tried the last Intel Iris 540, same results. I tried another MDP to DP cable, same results. I tried another screen, same results. I tried different refresh rates, same results.

I bought this screen a month ago and I was working fine at the beginning. I strongly suspect an update or the fact that I tried to connect two 4K monitors at 60hz (and I would have damaged something in the process?).

If I deactivate the built-in screen, the problem goes away (something that I just found tonight).

Should I send the device in warranty or just wait for a software fix? The 4K experience is not there yet, I'm a bit disappointed I have to say.

Cheers,

D.

Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-05-04T19:30:16+00:00

    Sadly, you're going through the same issues we all went through.

    "I am going to formally create a case with Microsoft." I really hope that helps. Most of us have done the same thing. Ultimately I (like others) was forced to go with a different laptop.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-01T00:37:54+00:00

    it's definitely a software problem. I haven't had the flicker problem for months and now it just returned after the April update.

    this is like a Pirate with a steering wheel on his belt... "it's driving me nuts!"

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  3. Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-03-27T16:14:08+00:00

    replace the multi adapter with a single purpose active MDP to HDMI cable like

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S0BWR2K/

    these multi all in ones are problematic in some cases.

    >I have a mini display port adapter that translates to HDMI, DVI, and VGA.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-03-27T15:50:08+00:00

    I have a mini display port adapter that translates to HDMI, DVI, and VGA. I gave up and went to VGA and the flicker disappeared. I know the resolution is worse, but I just need to work on a second screen. I'm not doing 4K presentations. VGA still works. Glad that hasn't been completely deprecated.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-03-12T10:21:30+00:00

    As I wrote last year, I have basically solved this problem by using the old Intel Driver Version 21.20.16.4678 for my Surface Pro i7 2017. So I think it is not a hardware problem. With those drivers I can use the internal Screen and an Dell P2415Q on 4k 60hz connected to the surface dock and I only have 1 or 2 Blackouts per Week. Sometimes it happens that the blackouts come more often, then I do a restart and everything is O.K again. I guess there is a Problem with the displayport signal because my external screen seems to lose the sync to the signal when it has those blackouts. probably somebody could measure the signal with an Oscilloscope to find out more.

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