Surface Pro 4, Screen Flickering, Shaking

I've been having the same problem since May. It started with a horizontal white line across the bottom of the screen. Which was not particularly problematic, it certainly didn't affect usage of the device. 

In the past few weeks, it's progressed to the screen flickering, shaking...(usually only momentarily relieved by moving the touchpad before it starts again) and definitely noticed when the device becomes very warm.  Also included darkening of the edges (inside windows and lightening of the edges on the Surface splash screen), persistent graphics.

Support had me run Diagnostic Software, which solved nothing, and had me reset the device, which also had no effect.

Trying to get Microsoft Complete Service has been one of my worst support experiences to date.

I can't honestly say I will purchase another Microsoft device or recommend other's purchase them either, and this is my 3rd Microsoft device, and I've recommended the device for purchase to other family members, recommended it to colleagues, and made similar recommendations on enthusiast forums.

I don't think it is firmware per se. I've ''RESET PC'' so many times by now (I've had the issue since December 2015!) un-installing everything, rolling back updates, trouble shooting, remote troubleshooting with the MS tech guys, reinstalling windows, re-installing drivers, etc. What I have managed to observe is that:

1. Updates tend to exacerbate the problem more than solve it. Whether its a system update, a firmware update, if you problem had 'calmed down', the update will start it again. 
2. It's a hardware problem linked to heating, which is affected by increasingly power-consuming features that get installed with the updates. In other words, the faulty hardware worsens with the software. Each update has more ''things'' running in the background and that heats the whole thing up.
3. One of the worst 'offenders' for increasing the temp is Windows Defender. Disable every feature you can of that program. If you are concerned about viruses (and trust another protection software), install it. Supposedly, that overrides Defender (that's what I've been told at least) and shuts it off since you can't un-install it. Just don't use Norton. Apparently, that causes issues with Windows 10 too.
4. The problem takes longer to appear when you are in an A/C environment, since the tablet takes longer to heat up. It also seems to be triggered by accumulative heat, not just as soon as it gets warm.
5. It gets worse with continuous use (heat accumulates inside). Don't just close it or put it to sleep. Shut it off completely every time you stop using it. In sleep mode, it's still using residual power and won't let it cool off completely on the inside (even if the surface is cool to the hand).
6. I have a big fan in my room. When the flickering gets out of control, I put the edge of the tablet directly on the fan and it reduces the flickering (not completely, but it helps). Proving once more it's heat related.
7. Watching videos will make is happen more quickly, since the entire display is working at its max with the moving images and the evil flicker will start once more.
8. Using the keyboard seems to contribute a bit to it as well, since it uses energy too and gets a bit warm after a while. When I take it off, it seems to take a bit longer for the flickering to start.
9. I set my wifi as metered connection (only way to stop the updates). Last time I did that, the issue went away for a few months (after reseting PC and re-installing everything obvs). Didn't go away completely immediately, but a few weeks later, like it stabilized?? I have no idea. All this is purely empirical, since MS is doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Then when I went somewhere else and used that place's wifi (since that was not set as metered) it updated automatically and effed up everything again. Flickering started back with a vengeance. So if you stop the updates and that helps you, just be mindful to turn off wifi when you go somewhere else and don't turn it back on until you've set that network as metered to.

Honestly, I've never had to do so much work in my life to use an effin computer. Or paid so much to get what is basically a piece of malfunctioning garbage that is starting to make my eyes 'flicker' too. We should sue this damn company. 

Right now I'm looking for a cooling pad to see if that works (if anyone has tried, let us know if it made any difference). Until then, I hope some of these tips might help you guys.

I'm crossing all my fingers to have enough saved up this Christmas to replace this POS, since it's my only device and what I make a living with. Guess I'll have to go back to other brands.

Cheers.

It started to flicker after a half of the hour... But why so much time needed to see this issue if Surface was warm for a whole period. update: It is still warm and flickering, can't get cold, passive cooling seems doesn't work, maybe this is an issue that damaged something?

I'm testing it now with continuous workload on CPU and maybe gpu by keeping opened a game for awhile, now the fan is always active and Surface itself is warm. Let's see what happens. No flickering now. Connected to power cord and on best performance mode.