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
    2018-05-20T04:27:38+00:00

    For me I haven’t seen the issue, nearly two weeks now. I've been running both screens for a week and it's been perfect. 

    I wish it was working for you guys but it's certainly fixed for me. If you can be bothered you could try a factory reset?

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-05-20T01:15:34+00:00

    I don’t have the surface display on. Just the external display. It might be worth a try to see if that produces similar results. 

    So you don't have a fix for the problem in the OP. You should consider that before you say it is fixed. It is not fixed. I want my Surface display on AND the external display. So no, I don't want to try it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-05-19T23:33:28+00:00

    I don’t have the surface display on. Just the external display. It might be worth a try to see if that produces similar results.

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-05-19T20:14:18+00:00

    Windows 10 Version 1803 resolves this problem for me. I've been running full screen 4K web meetings without a single screen blackout. I plugged the Mini-Display Port back into the dock vs the surface and it also works. 

    Perhaps someone could also verify and mark this as resolved.

    I am still getting flickering on the external monitor with version 1803.

    Is your symptom exactly as shown in the youtube video on post number 1. My understanding flickering is a different issue. 

    Yes, my issue is the same as shown in the OP. Here's my set up with external flicker (on/off):

    https://youtu.be/aeIF53TmefU

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-19T14:21:38+00:00

    No it is not solved.

    I experience the exact same HUGE WORSENING as kenyonb after the April 1803 update. The turning off/on problem has gone ballistic after the update, and it is now absolutely impossible for me to use both screens.

    So I agree that everything points to a software problem.

    I also think that some of the newcomers in this trend might have another flickering problem.

    This tread is about a secondary 4K monitor occasionally turning off/on. The problem only exists on Surface Pro 4's with i7 processors.

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