Dell XPS 15 9550 Display Refresh Flicker (I'm out of ideas)

So I having a unique issue here that I haven't been any closer to finding a solution on. I have scoured the forum for the last several months looking for a solution and had no luck so I figured I do a new thread. The problem I'm having in finding a solution is that I haven't heard someone describe their problem the same way (you'll understand what I mean as you read on...).

So here is the issue: I am having an issue with a display flicker. However, it is not an on-off flicker (like most other describe on here). It's more of a brightness flicker. It is kind of hard to describe but the flicker looks like when you would turn down the refresh rate of an old CRT monitor super low. Here is what happens: using laptop as normal, computer freezes (cannot use mouse), and then display flickering starts once it unfreezes. It only stays frozen for maybe a couple of seconds most of the times, but sometimes it can be 30 sec to a minute. The longer it is frozen determines how bad and unbearable the flicker is. The flicker will eventually go away but that takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes.

I have been unable to identify the trigger but it happens most frequently in a web browser, regardless of which one. It just seems completely random. It also happens only when on battery power. Knowing that, I messed with the power profiles and that made no difference.

Here is what I have tried to fix it with no success:

• Tried Dell Intel graphics drivers as well as beta drivers.
• Used Dell nvidia drivers and those provided by Nvidia
• Uninstalled Premier Color
• Altered power profiles
• Updated to current BIOS versions

I hope that was enough info. I haven't reinstalled the OS, but for obvious reason, I am trying to find a solution short of doing that (and also before I contact dell and sit on the phone for hours).

Thanks in advance for your help. It's getting to the point that my wife and I never want to use it on battery power.

 

Does anyone have any ideas?

I just got off Dell customer support after being on there for two hours and they were no help. Told me to send the laptop in, or gave me the option of having a tech come visit to replace the motherboard for $160. Is that all right?

 

Might check Intel HD's settings:

Spoiler: Intel HD power options

Sounds like it's some sort of power-saving feature gone awry. It's possible that has to do with the specific lcd's features as well, so please copy/paste the display's ' raw' section from MonInfo.

 

Thank you so much for the help!

I downloaded the app and here is the "raw" section:

Raw data
00,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,FF,00,4D,10,3E,14,00,00,00,00,28,19,01,04,A5,23,13,78,0E,EB,81,A9,53,34,B9,25,
0D,50,58,00,00,00,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,01,4D,D0,00,A0,F0,70,3E,80,30,20,
35,00,5A,C2,10,00,00,18,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,FE,00,37,
50,48,50,54,82,4C,51,31,35,36,44,31,00,00,00,00,00,02,41,03,28,00,12,00,00,0B,01,0A,20,20,00,56

 

Right, timings are good and a nice display (even if it is a touch). Doesn't support any power saving features, though:



So make sure to disable those things on the Intel HD. However, since it happens more often when using a browser it might be a similar setting from the nvidia driver (most browsers have 'hardware acceleration', which can trigger dgpu to start). In order to rule out igpu or dgpu; use the 'rollback' option (in 'Device manager') for the nvidia gpu, so it's reporting 'Native VGA' or some-such. If the issue's gone then; run by all nvidia settings that have to do with power saving.

Also, to rule out a few other potential culprits; disable Adaptive brightness and Fast Startup.

Lastly, it is of course entirely possible that the battery is either defective or underpowered. Try a little benchmarking on battery and a scenario with as little draw on resources as possible, see if that correlates with the issues' frequency.

 

Hi lovel88,

The problem that you are experiencing is familiar to some users including me, however the flicker issue that I'm experiencing happens both on battery and AC power when the screen brightness is below 50%. This issue is related to the latest BIOS update. When I reverted back to the previous BIOS version, the problem went away. Here are some more details:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/4rhp38/xps_15_9550_bios_1210_display_flicker/

 

How did you revert back the firmware? I called support and they said the firmware cannot be rolled back at this point. They did offer to replace my screen and the motherboard though, which I declined at the moment as I never had the flickering issue previously.

 

Dell Support has no idea what they are talking about. You can revert back you firmware (I already did). I just followed this link to revert back the BIOS:

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=KTR76

Replacing the screen and/or the motherboard will probably not help at all since this is probably a BIOS issue - other users have also confirmed that. I've heard that Dell will release another BIOS update soon dealing with the low brightness flicker issues.

 

Heard from?
I hear lots of rumors so any official proof it appreciated as they haven't replied to my premium within 24 hour support ticket for 2 days, I may be phoning in the morning to give someone what for but as Dell fill buckets of ******** I often doubt anything spoken.

Anyone who wants to roll back but gets a denied message need to enable the ability to install an older BIOS in BIOS settings. Done it myself.

 

Heard it from the folks at Reddit: ( https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/4rhp38/xps_15_9550_bios_1210_display_flicker/). I haven't contacted Dell Support about this issue at all.

 

Good to know, thanks for the link.

 

I reverted back and this seems to have fixed the flickering issue. Why does Dell not recommend flashing the older firmware executable instead of wasting time troubleshooting?

 

They don't know you can!

Every time I deal with Dell I point out at the start that I am a qualified laptop tech and have taken the following steps. Usually that is enough but when they start I have an answer why I shouldn't need to do what they are asking, such as the flickering occurs outside of the operating system so no I won't reinstall drivers as it serves no purpose.

 

It is my understanding that people at Dell Support stick to the script given to them and do not spend any effort at understanding the products they are advising about.

 

Don't lose help and always be polite.

I called Dell support once on my laptop this year on an esoteric Micro$oft error code I spent days trying to resolve.

The "Dell Guy" had a long script to follow but after ~15 minutes we returned to my esoteric Micro$oft error code and he had some good insight (I pushed him politely to explain the canned error definition and I think he gave some of his personal recommendations - which were very helpful).

 

Had flickering. Rolled back to 1.19 and solved. BIOS downgrade was enabled on my unit by default. Mind you my TB15 has an even worse time dealing with a simple Hdmi display linked to it. I had issues on 1.2.10 but it's worse now. My Win10 task bar frequently positions itself in the middle of both screens. Wallpaper on external monitor is not scaled correctly and the taskbar is MASSIVE all the time. I don't think Dell or Microsoft are close to getting this right just yet. Let's hope SP1 sorts this rubbish out.