XPS 9550 + 4K panel screen flicker thread.

Considering it only targets the video drivers I don't see how it could break the bluetooth? Maybe coincidence as mine is fine.

FYI I am on the creators clean install so maybe they changed something else or I got lucky with the driver clean.

 

I think I had screen flicker/blacking out very briefly in the beginning, but I've messed with so many updates/drivers/DDUs etc that I can't be sure what fixed it. I've certainly not experienced it recently that I can recall, and am running latest versions of nvidia and intel drivers.

 

My bluetooth somehow restored itself overnight after the system restore. The weird thing is that I removed all my bluetooth devices prior going to sleep after the system restore, and when I woke up and turned my laptop on, all of the bluetooth devices came back without having to pair them. I'll re-do DDU and see the bluetooth issue can be replicated.

Screen flicker happens in a fraction of a second so it can be hard to miss if your eyes aren't attached to the screen the whole time. I notice it the most when I'm in a dark room with a light screen because my whole room flickers if my screen flickers, so it's easy to catch in my case.

 

So I did a clean install with Creator's Update and (knock on wood) there's no screen flickering so far after using DDU and the latest NVIDIA drivers with intel 4590 drivers. The creator's update is a huge revamp and I highly recommend it, flickering issues aside. Apps are less blurry, and the customizable touchpad settings means that I won't really need to use autohotkey anymore.

Edit: I've spoken too soon. After 2.5 hrs in with the Creator's update, I experienced one flicker.

 

Hell of a lot better than before though isn't it

 

It's better, but the new Creator's update overwrites my display drivers for the Dell OEM versions after a few restarts. It seems the option to disable automatic driver updates is removed (along with many other "advanced" options) in the Creator's update. Do you have the same issue / know of a new method to disable the overwrites?

 

The DDU utility disables driver installs when you clean the drivers out, clean the intel drivers with the utility then install them again and see how you get on, otherwise someone posted up how to install group policy on windows 10 home but I can't find it, they may see this and post it?

 

So was using my XPS today and moved the screen, which made it freeze and I had to do a hard reset it.

Now I seem to be getting this flicker problem. I have never had it happen until now. I checked bios and Im running 1.2.14

Should I update to the newest version?

 

If this happened after moving the screen you have a bad/broken connection in the screen ribbon, due to the plug end having a bit of tape up the cable to stop it moving about it may need a new cable fitting. I would call dell anyway.

 

Did anyone purchase their 9550/9560 outside of Dell.com and have experienced flicker problems? Flicker problems doesn't seem to be more of an issue than it is other than on dedicated forums, so I suspect that it might be due to faulty screens and that Dell uses higher quality parts for their laptops that are sent to retail stores like Best Buy or Microcenter. I have not seen or heard of a 9560 that is sold in retail stores with a lower-end Toshiba hard drive despite months after release and their supposed Samsung/Lite-on ssd shortage. Which is why I suspect that only laptops shipped directly from Dell.com has the flicker issue.

 

Oh that sucks, I wont be back in my own country for another month. Though it only does it on low brightness which is 90% of my usage.

How does it work with dell? Would I have to send it to them? I have had it over a year now.

 

Depends on the warranty you have?

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

just the standard I didnt pay anything extra on top. I'm from the UK.

 

Phone them and see what they say?

 

Just a heads up that a Dell rep is looking for "volunteers" in the EMEA region to troubleshoot some problems regarding the screen flickering. Here's the thread/page: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3519/t/20007351?pi41097=5

Don't know if it'll be useful at all, but won't hurt to try. I have noticed that my screen flicker gets progressively worse the longer I keep my laptop on. But after the next day, it "resets" and I won't flicker until a little over an hr from the moment I turned it on. I've tried all Intel hd 630 versions, and used all bios combinations but the flicker problem is unresolved. Wish I was in the 30-day return window period again so I could return my 9560. Sometimes gets to the point where my screen will not stop flickering every 10-30 seconds until I restart my laptop, but that has only happened twice with 4 hrs of daily use these past 5 weeks.

 

Luke at Dell has now posted this:

I have emailed him, but I'm not comfortable with anyone from Dell remotely accessing my laptop as I don't trust them. But they're of course welcome to fly to the Channel Islands and look at it in person!...

If anyone is comfortable with Dell remotely logging into their laptop then they might want to email Luke too.

 

It's messages like these that makes me wonder if they actually use/test their own products. If they normally browse through a 4k display 9560, then they should be able to experience the flickering.

My best guess is that they use an external monitor while at work/stationary since that bypasses the flicker. And probably use a macbook on the go.

 

Yes it's very surprising. I do wonder whether there are any 4k models that do not suffer from this issue - but it's hard to know as really it's only those with issues that tend to post about things like this.

This is the email I got back from Dell today:

I have responded to say that I'm not willing to do this. I don't want to go to the hassle of setting up a new laptop, transfer over my data, etc. Not to mention the risk of ending up with a laptop with other issues, dead pixels, etc. - and then trying to get Dell to repair it with original parts and/or replace it. Other than a single dead pixel (which I can live with) and the flickering, I have no issues with my laptop.

If anyone is willing to do this, I suggest emailing Luke with your service tag - his email address is located on page 6 of this thread: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3519/t/20007351?pi41097=6

 

I've responded, but they're adamant that this is a rare case/problem. Which got me wondering if my laptop being set to AHCI instead of RAID with Intel RST drivers has an impact on the flickering. Is there any person with 4k screen flickering in RAID? I can't seem to find a search within thread button around here, so don't know if I missed any post mentioning that. It's a long shot, but if some people don't report flickering then it seems quite strange.

Also @ GoNz0, you mentioned that your last screen flicker was on April 3rd. Did you experience a flicker since then while on the 4590 drivers? I'm unable to stop Windows from overriding my drivers, so I will have to try the group policy editor method. But even with the 4590 drivers, I still flicker (even more than before).

 

Yeah I'm running on RAID.

 

Well Dell released a bunch of drivers today for the 9560. I downloaded the latest Intel 630 driver (same driver version, but A02 now) and my screen flickered while I typed this message. 5 minutes after installation...

 

Give DDU a go at removing the old ones to rule out conflicting leftovers?
What driver version does it give in device manager?

 

I've used DDU (in safe mode) to remove my old drivers each time for the past 2 weeks. Have been juggling with each driver version at least twice before Windows forces the OEM drivers. But generic or OEM drivers both seem to flicker, so I don't bother with generics until a new one is out. I'll do group policy method if a new generic does resolve the flicker.

As for the driver version, I'll check when I get home which is abt 12 hrs from now. But it should be the latest one from Dell. In my case, it's evident if my driver version changes such as a forced update from Windows, since it changes my taskbar width/height back to default and the tray icon returns after I hid it.

After the initial flicker with the new driver version, I actually didn't flicker for the next 4-5 hrs. I was impressed but I forgot the first rule of Dell: don't get your hopes up. After that, it was back to normal flickering frequency.

Edit: driver ver 21.20.16.4574, driver date 12/23/16 is the latest oem driver.

 

Frank Azor claims that Dell are working on a fix for the flicker: https://twitter.com/AzorFrank/status/857099933803053056

In the meantime, there has been a steady stream of users posting in the thread I started in the Dell forums which is helping keep it at the top of the forum (and with 11 pages of posts now). Hopefully this will keep the pressure on Dell (to the extent they actually care about this issue). I am fed up with flickering and having to disable GPU acceleration for Chrome/Opera.

 

I recently bought a used 9550 and the flickering problem was driving me nuts. I flashed the most recent BIOS and tried lots of different versions of the Intel video driver, including 20.19.15.4483 and other ones that required manual installations. I also uninstalled the Intel applications that came on my 9550 except for the driver itself, the Rapid Storage Technology, and the Serial IO. I was just about ready to give up and sell the 9550 when I tried one last possible solution and finally found a driver that tames the flickering problem to the point at which it's tolerable:

20.19.15.4331

I got it by using Device Manager to

1. Update the driver software to the most recent version.

2. Roll back the driver software.

You may be able to download and install the driver without using Device Manager.

 

Dell wont do anything to fix it, they saying is an Intel problem.

Therefore just downgrade to BIOS version 1.2.0 then problem solved.

Ask yourself, are you even going to notice not running higher than 1.2.0 BIOS once you are in Windows using the laptop?

 

I took your advice and downgraded to BIOS version 1.2.0. So far, there are times when the flickers seem to be completely gone. Then they come back and it behaves the same as 1.2.21 in that Action Center, Personalize, etc., cause short blackouts. Annoying but tolerable. I'll keep 1.2.0 running for a day or two but then go back to 1.2.21 unless I see a good reason not to.

It would be great to get to the heart of the matter but my 32 years of experience in software development tell me that it's a hardware problem and that Dell and Intel are probably pointing fingers at each other. I've seen it happen way too many times. I don't expect it to be fixed until the 9570 comes out.

 

Installing the v4664 Intel drivers appears to have resolved the problem for me. I have had frequent flicker since I received the laptop in February regardless of which Dell/Intel driver installed but I haven't had anything . Here's the link: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26772/Graphics-Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-15-45-

Incidentally, IIRC I am using the version 1.2.0 BIOS (I haven't uploaded to any newer version owing to the reports of bricking the laptop).

Dell have been absolutely useless with this issue. I have been hounding them since 8 March via this thread on the Support Forums I started. It seemed like they were going to do something but then they went quiet and nothing happened. However, it seems today they are finally taking some interest again - but only after I linked to a US law firm considering taking a class action against Dell (sounds like ambulance chasing IMO)!! Let's see how long their interest lasts.

Now that the flicker has seemingly gone, the only issue I have is a form of stutter lag with scrolling in Excel.

 

I'm using the Intel 21.20.16.4664 driver and getting the same results. Action Center, Personalize, etc., cause short blackouts some of the time.

Which law firm? I'm curious because I have a cousin who specializes in class action suits.

 

I got a full refund 2 years and 11 months into a 3 year warranty by kicking up a stink on the phone, the forums are a waste of time.

 

So what did you do with your refund? Did you find something you like better than the 9550?

 

Here's the link: https://chimicles.com/dell-xps-9560-laptop-flickering-screen-defect-class-action-investigation/

It seems like nonsense to me, but anything which adds to flagging up the issue is all good IMO.

There are plenty of reports in the Dell Forum thread that the v4664 drivers haven't work for many people. It has to be a software issue though as my laptop has been flicker-free since I installed the drivers about a week ago.

 

I wouldn't expect anyone who doesn't actually own one to make an intelligent decision about it. The product does what it's supposed to do and I think it would take a much more serious flaw to win a class action suit. Nevertheless, I'd add my name if it also covered the 9550.

 

Absolutely growing sick and tired of this machine. I have tried numerous BIOS configs with different Intel and NVIDIA drivers. I am currently on bios 1.2.21 with the newest video drivers directly from Dell, the Intel 530 4664 and NVIDIA 960m 382.05

Can someone please give me advice on how to fix this steaming pile of dog excrement besides throwing it away. Before this computer I had a HP ENVY that experienced less problem in its 4 year lifespan than this Dell has had in one year. I just wanted something with a 4k screen and ability to play games on medium settings. Now I have neither as every single time my screen flashes it resets the mouse to the middle making playing any mouse based game impossible. I have included a short video of the problem. Is this the screen flicker you are speaking of? Mine has zero connection to brightness settings.

I have been unable to reflash over my current bios with either 1.20 or 1.2.18.

 

I couldn't stand it anymore so I bit the bullet and bought a new 4K 9560 from the Dell Outlet store. It's been an absolute joy to use - no flickers - but now I'm afraid to update the BIOS or any video drivers. I'm going to wait until there's no option other than to update them.

Intending to sell my 9550 for whatever I could get, I did a full reset of Windows and kept it running for a few days. No flickers. I ran lots of programs and the flickers were completely gone. Go figure. I sold it for fair market value.

 

That's not what this thread is about. That looks like a hardware issue. The flickering mentioned in this thread is different. You need to get that replaced under warranty.

I'm on 1.2.19 BIOS and Intel 4590 drivers and have had no flicker in Months.
Try the above but i don't think you issue is related to BIOS.

 

Yes I suppose it could be hardware related. My warranty is up and I live in south america. I am unsure of what to do. I may try to use gonzo's ISO and wipe the computer but that is daunting too without a secondary computer to use.

 

I doubt that will help. Try the 1.2.19 BIOS first. That's when Dell fixed the brightness flickering issue. If that doesn't work you might need a new screen. Replacing the LCD isn't very difficult if you can find one with the frame.
I had to have mine replaced when i got the laptop.

 

Have you tried removing all traces of both drivers using DDU http://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html
this is what sorted it for my on my 9550.

You do not have flicker, you have screen blanking and to me that looks like what happens when the display driver crashes, you should see something in the event viewer relating to igfx***** confirming the crash. Either way I would run DDU for both intel and nvidia then install the drivers (do one at a time as it reboots by default)
The other issue is windows update replacing the display driver so make sure device manager reports the same version if it plays up after using DDU and fresh drivers, I would go with the Dell intel video driver to start with.

It's the clean install that probably fixed it (see my above reply)
DDU fixed my flicker and also the blanking when the intel driver crashed.

 

I got rid of my 9550 and got the HP spectre x360 15 inch. Best thing I ever did.

 

Dell has apparently fixed the problem in newer 9560s but isn't going to fix or even publish a fix for 9550s and older 9560s. That does indeed point toward a hardware problem but I can attest to the fact that a full Windows reset fixed my 9550 - I think.

If you have the ability to clone an M.2 SSD, you can try the full reset and then restore the system from the cloned drive if it doesn't work. Reinstalling everything is a pain but preferable to flickers.

 

I have used DDU a couple times to update a couple different sets of drivers and it was not effective. I have checked the event viewer and found some display errors that say "Display driver nvlddmkm stopped responding and has successfully recovered." as well as "The description for Event ID 14 from source nvlddmkm cannot be found. Either the component that raises this event is not installed on your local computer or the installation is corrupted. You can install or repair the component on the local computer." So I'm assuming this is the NVIDIA driver?

I'm sorry I'm now posting in the wrong thread about this problem. Last question. I will try to do a clean install with the ISO Gonzo has for Windows 10. Is a 16gb flash drive sufficient?

 

8gb is enough

the nv***** points to the nvidia drivers surprisingly.

 

Dell fixed the issue on the 9550 (of brightness flickering) in the bios 1.2.19. What Zaneman is experiencing is a hardware issue, i can't remember correctly but i had the same issue and had to have the screen replaced then i got the brightness flicker which got fixed when the 1.2.19 came out.

 

I did a clean install and now do not have the same problem I had in the video. I still have screen flashing but it does not lock me out or force my mouse to the middle of the screen like before. It seems to be worse with the GPU enabled and I have disabled my GPU altogether and now my computer is annoying but usable for daily use.