Surface Pro 7 flickers with every external monitor

Anonymous
2019-12-19T15:19:53+00:00

When I connect an external display while the Surface is already turned on, the external display is flickering. When I restart the Surface with the external monitor already attached everything works fine. Disconnecting the Surface then and reconnecting

  • same problem. The flickering appears with different monitors, different cables and with different connectors (Surface Dock or USB-C). I have the 16 GB, i7 Version of the Surface 7 with an up to date OS.
Surface | Surface Pro | Display and screen

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-04-27T18:06:53+00:00

    Good discussion; however, on a pretty sad topic.

    I really don't want to use the USB-C port as I invested decent money into a Microsoft dock.

    Wanted to share some additional observations:

    • Appears to have less issues with only one external monitor (use a LG Ultra HD 4k via DP)
    • The other monitor I used was sometimes making an interesting sound when or before having issues (flicker, on and off, etc.)
    • I used different power outlets but it didn't seem to have an impact
    • Lots of issues with display refresh rates and kind of conflicts between intel graphic command center and windows system tools...e.g. the 4k display went from 60hz randomly to 30hz and the other monitor (1920x1400) went to 1920x1080 which distorted the picture...

    Since this is the second SP7 with sort of identical issues it has to be HW or lots of other users would complain as well. Using a second or more monitors should be pretty common place, particularly in these days. Maybe they had a batch of SP7s with some small manufacturing issues and I (and you) just all happen to have them....changing might be the only option. Darn it, it takes always hours (even with OneDrive etc.) to have it all working again...no fun in that...

    Theo

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-04-28T07:17:33+00:00

    I'm in exactly the same situation. I've noticed that the USB-C hub ( in my case inside the monitor) is reconnecting and disconnecting from the surface all the time, like reaching a timeout. One time in 50 or 60 trials it finally connects.

    Therefore, I conclude it's a software or firmware issue of the surface USB-C port.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-04-28T20:44:49+00:00

    So Theo,

    I received my SP7 warranty replacement and so far so good. i have a HP z27n G2 monitor connected with a monoprice usb-c to usb-c cable. i have even woken the surface up while connected and the monitor came back on without flickering. fingers crossed. monitor is 2736x1824 at 60hz. 

    interesting though is that when i was setting up warranty replacement and updating. there were a lot of Intel updates and a windows update from 4/2020. I dont remember any notifications on my former SP7 about Intel updates.

    Lets see, hoping this switch out did the trick.

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-05-16T12:31:06+00:00

    I have some issue before update to version 2004. I had a Apple USB C adapter plug to TV to watch Netflix near after an hours TV screen has flicker, but it's happened very randomly.

    Today, I got anther flicker issue from Surface Pro 7 itself. I tried reinstall display driver, upgrade to latest windows with no luck. I did force shutdown and I works ok now. I guess it's Intel driver issue between display and chips.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-17T03:16:08+00:00

    I have the same problem with my SP7 i5. In my case after restart the issue is solved, but it seems that this would be a problem.

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