E6400: screen flickering

I don't have the issue.. I mean I do see it on my digital camera screen... but like me using the computer, I really don't.. not even a hint, AC or battery at min brightness.
I have the LG display and Nvidia GPU (see signature).
Also I tried under Win7 (I have it under dual boot) and still no flicker.

 

update:

well i have eliminated the flicker so let tell you what i did.

os: win7
video card: intel 4 series card

advanced settings>
intel graphics media accelerator driver for mobile tab>
graphics properties button>
powere settings button>
modify settings button>
uncheck everything here

i have had no flicker in 4 days at the lowest brightness level. knocks on wood....

someone mentioned turning off all power saving options, which i thought i had done. until i found this nested group of power saving settings.

hope this may help someone else.

cheers
-low

goodbytes: thanks again for the advice on the other thread. i have parts of the dcp up and running now including the ambient light sensor. i also contacted the other users to ask if they would like the features enabled.

 

Hi Low,

Quick question.

Win 7 32 or 64 bit?
What version of display driver are you using?

I'm using MS' default driver and it doesn't seem to have the "intel graphics media accelerator driver for mobile tab" in the advanced settings.

p.s. I'm running Win7 64bit and have tried the driver downloaded from Intel(winvista64_15131.exe)but that ends up giving BSODs, so I have reverted back to the MS' default.

 

I disabled the same settings in Vista and it seems better but not completely gone.

 

i am using the 32 bit win7 rc 7201 currently

intel driver: 7.15.10.1637 appears to be the same driver for 32 & 64 bit
link to dell 32 bit

link to dell 64 bit

 

sorry to hear that Alex. i am happy to say i am still flicker free. i also choose not let the ambient light sensor determine my brightness settings.

 

Thanks for the heads up, Low.

Added Later: Awesome! Problem solved! Installed the driver from your link(which I already had but did not install in my quest to keep as close as possible to MS default driver set). The problem I faced is described in my post in another thread and cross-posted below for reference:

 

fantastic!

still flicker free here as well! so happy now!

your other issue:
i had the same exact problem. i had originally installed the ambient light sensor before any dcp tools. i have since removed the ALS and reinstalled after the portions of DCP i wanted where up adn runnning. Now this problem is gone. not sure if it was because of the order installed the ALS or just the uninstall/install process that did it?

cheers
-low

 

I think the standalone ALS driver/installer is not required. The latest DCP System installer(A11_R218881) has the ALS included within. I have never installed the standalone version. In my opinion, the flickering is caused by something within the Intel GMA driver. I have tried various versions and combination of the intel GMA driver. The only one that worked properly(lowest brighness level without going completely dark and flicker free) is the dell's version you mentioned. I have tried installing the Dell version which gives you the Intel Display Control Panel(in system tray) and then updating only the driver to a newer downloaded-from-intel version by manually pointing to the location of the extracted inf files from within Device Manager but Even that caused the flicker/blank screen. It would seem Dell is providing a custom set of inf files.

 

Hi there,
for anyone of you who have or had the flickering issue due to hardware reasons: did you (or did Dell) fix the problem for you by now?

I got my (used) E6500 recently, thus my late posting here.

This thread seams to touch various possible reasons for screen flickering, including software based ones (operating system, drivers, power management).

Here, I'm talking only about the hardware based, randomly irregular, slight variations of brightness, only on (~4) lowest brighness levels, probably best visible at 3rd-lowest setting.

You would be affected as well, if you can (also) reproduce it while in BIOS setup mode (so that OS, drivers, power mgmt etc. are ruled out as a possible reason).
(note: the keyboard's function keys may not be operating during BIOS setup. Just go to the configuration of AC vs. DC default brightness levels to play around with it while in BIOS setup.)

Q: Why not just pulling up the display brightness?
A: There are enough situations where I use it in such low light, where would find a regular-bright screen annoyingly "eye-hurting" (like another poster mentioned as well). E.g. when working @home in the living room with cosy dimmed light (fireplace brightness), evening/night travel in aircrafts or coaches, watching a movie in a hotel/dorm room, etc...).

Almost a pity that only a minority of E6xxx owners seem to recognise this issue? simply because most bus laptops are purchased for office-only use, i.e. never face any other usage but in very bright envoriments?

From the posts above, I guess this issue is irrespective of the display type, but if anyone likes to know - I have an E6500 with a normal LCD (Samsung SEC5443), and stay updated to the newest BIOS (currenly A18).

How did you deal with your [hardware originated] screen flickering?