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
    2018-02-26T04:17:38+00:00

    don't understand why the Monitor plays nice with my old Surface Pro 3 but not the Surface Pro 2017

    If you are trying to use both monitors at the same time, it would mean the resolutions of the built-in monitors and the maximum resolution supported by each processor would be factors; so what are those details?

    BTW I have re-read the whole thread and noticed that no one has mentioned trying Portrait orientation for the Tablet.  FWIW that's what I use when I am not using Second Screen Only.  As well as making me think that the combined resolutions somehow make more sense to me than side by side, especially with 3 screens in use, I wonder if there is any advantage is heat dissipation with this orientation.

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  2. Barb Bowman 80,805 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-02-26T10:34:25+00:00

    That won't help anyone who wants to use in landscape mode.

    > I have re-read the whole thread and noticed that no one has mentioned trying Portrait orientation for the Tablet

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-02-26T10:43:32+00:00

    Hi all, I'm going unsubscribe from this thread now.  My parting advice is to formally complain to Microsoft. 

    Good luck.

    K

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-02-26T10:49:11+00:00

    Hey there,

    I did open this thread 1 year ago and it seems that we are several having the same problem. I did try many different drivers, combinations of settings, etc. In the end, the problem always come back the minute you use a 4K display and the internal SP4 screen...

    I have provided traces and logs to MS but we have never heard about any potential solution. I would suspect a hardware issue which cannot be patched at software/OS level. I'm now considering now selling my SP4 (which I really love using btw) for another device that would support my 2 4K screens.

    So sad...

    G.

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-02-26T12:21:44+00:00

    That won't help anyone who wants to use in landscape mode.

    > I have re-read the whole thread and noticed that no one has mentioned trying Portrait orientation for the Tablet

    It is far more functional than Second Screen Only but more significantly it seems to be a condition which has not been tested and might actually change the problem symptom.  Also, what about having two attached monitors with equivalent resolution?  Has that case been tested?  Second Screen Only does allow that possibility, so that would let users have multiple monitors, just not use their Touch screens (at least in Landscape orientation).  In fact, though, the Touch screen could be used, sort of, they would just have to guess correctly about how to use it for actions on the primary non-touch screen.  Usability for any Second Screen Only scenario would not be great but I am only suggesting that it be tested to know more about the scope of the problem. 

    Also note another apparently untested case related to reducing the functionality available from the Tablet's screen--turning off the Tablet screen's Touch function to try to prevent the TCON error which was also mentioned in this thread and apparently is seen by at least one user.  Perhaps that one would allow them to continue using Landscape mode on the Tablet if that was what really was wanted more than the possibility of using the Tablet's full functionality in Portrait orientation.

    Robert

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