XPS 9570 won't work with 4K/60Hz external monitor

I have an XPS 9570, which I would like to connect to an LG 27UK850 4K/60Hz external screen. The monitor has 2 HDMI 2.0 ports and a USB-C port.

When I connect the XPS with USB-C, everything works fine.

When I use the HDMI port, this happens (see video)
: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16R4I9bXZWqbS0D_3BGnWPyov0WxYfgro/view

The screen flickers and goes to gray. It happens always when the CPU starts to stress. I used XTU here for example purposes, but it always happens with any other program. If the CPU comes under load, the problem starts.

I've tried drivers, different cables, ports, fresh installs of windows and everything in between. Nothing works and I really am getting frustrated with this.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this?

 

Hi Lex G, I don't have this issue happen and I have 9570 HDMI (via Intel UHD630) > 4K TV or 9570 TB3 > Aorus Gaming Box 1080 > HDMI 4K TV. It seems like your CPU when stressed is causing display issues. What I would check out is:

1. CPU Temps - look at undervolting your CPU (I use throttlestop -125mV, start @ -100mV and work your way down by -10mV). Could potentially further reduce temps by repasting the CPU.
2. Updating Intel UHD630 Display Drivers via Intel's site.
3. Updating the Nvidia 1050 Ti Max Q Drivers via Nvidia's site (not sure if you are using this to output to your 4K monitor).
4. PCH Temps (for TB3) - buy some thermal pads (cheap) and stack them (~4mm) onto the PCH (no cooling by default). This had a massive difference (19c) on my PCH temps while gaming @ 4K via Aorus Gaming Box which in turn increased performance. See here for more info - https://egpu.io/forums/builds/2018-...ps-tb3-asus-xg-station-pro-win10-1809-itsage/

Failing that check your BIOS version as some of the newest versions have issues. This thread for some light reading - http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/xps-15-9570-owners-thread.817008/page-287

Hope you get it solved.

 

Hi JaTXaR

Thanks for your reply.

I have repasted the XPS with thermal grizzly kryanout and it runs at a constant speed of 3,8 GHz (when under the full load stress test). It gets up to high 80's max. when the fans work. CPU temps are under control. It does not even thermal throttle right now at that speed.

I've also tried drivers etc. Cables etc. On 30Hz there's no issue through HDMI. I have bios 1.13 installed (newest, maybe I should downgrade in order to try),

I've also tried lowering max clock frequency of the CPU to 3 Ghz. In that case the CPU stays even more cool, but the problems happens still. I found out that it starts happening when the fans startup.


*** The strange thing though: through USB-C I can stress test the hell out of the machine and the screen works perfectly. Which tells me the CPU is capable.

I might still try that PCH temp thing .. who knows.

 

Given the info you have supplied I would look at downgrading the BIOS to see if that makes any difference.

Also maybe you should try and disable the Nvidia 1050Ti in device manager so that it forces it to use the Intel UHD630 to see if it makes a difference. I think when you use TB3 it is using the Intel iGPU but I think when you use the HDMI it will default to Nvidia dGPU. Just a thought. I have the Nvidia 1050Ti disabled permanently because I use an external eGPU with an Nvidia GTX1080. Might be worth looking at the temps on the Nvidia 1050Ti because perhaps when the CPU stressed + Nvidia GPU (via HDMI) together it causes the issue.

Only other thing is maybe try and stress out the CPUs with a different program like Prime95 as I believe others have had issues with Intel XTU.

If it works perfectly via USB-C do you need to worry about the HDMI ? I know that it would annoy me though.

 

I appreciate your effort. Just disabled nvidia and it makes no difference. I've also tried Cinebench, AIDA64 and Prime95... it's all the same..
To be honest, I can't stand the fact that it doesn't work, even though I can work through that flimsy Dellish USB-C port. One hit with a cup of coffee and it will probably break off.

 

I totally understand and a laptop of this grade should not have this type of issue. I think you are at either downgrading the BIOS to see if it makes a difference or return/replace under warranty.

 

The problem is that warranty expired 1 month ago. Because of this Dell tell me they won't offer me support (as if their support is any good)... In any case I will never buy Dell again. Had nothing but trouble with this thing and should have returned it from day 1 tbh. Rubbish it is.

Update : now even USB-C isn't working anymore. It was working, nothing changed and I came back in the morning. Now it says ' display port may be limited ' ... I'm ditching this laptop right now.

UPDATE : SOLVED

I downgraded the bios from 1.13 to 1.10. All my problems have gone away.

 

@Lex G that is great news ! Dell unfortunately has had a long history (dating back to the 9550) with wonky BIOSs. If you have a read of the thread for the 9570 Owners Lounge it has pretty much got to the point where people are afraid to try the newest BIOS as many feel it will do more harm than good. An attitude of "leave it to the reddit beta testers to report the new BIOS issues". With this kind of mentality from Dell of not thoroughly testing their BIOS before releasing to the public, has created a lack of faith in their ability to produce stable releases. It is a shame because I would argue that their hardware, design (despite some easily fixed thermal issues) and pricing are right up there. Hopefully they put more effort into the future BIOS releases but you wouldn't want to hold your breath given their track record.