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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

171 answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-25T15:48:12+00:00

    which exact monitor and what refresh rate? what cable exactly? I can try to pass

    along to an internal contact.

    >The Surface Pro does not support 4K displays.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-02-25T15:42:03+00:00

    We've done all that. Different cables, active / passive, etc. Dock, no dock. Different drivers, fresh installs, you name it. The Surface Pro simply does not support 4K displays reliably. Surface Books however, a different story.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-25T15:39:59+00:00

    I've tried both - dock, and no dock. Different displays, even different Surface Pros. The results are all the same. The Surface Pro does not support 4K displays.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-25T14:49:17+00:00

    this is all possibly related to the massive number reports of SP4 screen

    flickering and shaking ON the Surface Pro 4 itself. I don't know. but THAT seems

    to be a hardware issue. it is my perception that for some people, connecting

    directly to the Surface and taking the dock completely out of the picture

    produces better results. do you have the same issues both docked and undocked ?

    >All that stuff have been tried. This is a one year old thread and nobody has been able to find a solution.

    >

    >It seems to be a hardware design error in the Surface Pro

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-02-25T13:13:37+00:00

    Hi Barb,

    All that stuff have been tried. This is a one year old thread and nobody has been able to find a solution.

    It seems to be a hardware design error in the Surface Pro.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments