Y410P black screen flash/flicker?

Hi all,

I'm loving my Y410P, but I have noticed that heavy gaming (read: only ~10 minutes of Bioshock Infinite or ~30 minutes of TF2) causes the screen to flash black and become unusable. Stopping the game immediately stops the flashing. The GPU temp is only around 70 degrees C, but it seems to be a problem related to GPU strain or something. It could also be the drivers (which I heard don't work well with Windows 8). I am sure my computer is using the discreet GPU, and my drivers are 311.41.

Anyway, I would really like to know if anyone else has had trouble with this with their y410p or GT750m, or if it is just my computer. Thanks!

 

It's called micro shutter. I had the same problem with tf2, don't have bioshock infinite. Download MSI afterburner and use the fps limiter to 61 fps, turn vsync on, problem solved.

 

Thank you so much! Fixed!

 

Actually, your fix only seemed to make the problem happen after a longer amount of game play. I think what I am experiencing may not be microstutter, because the screen will go black for about a second or two. Others have said that this might be the graphics switching from the processor to the GPU. I really want to see if this black flashing is just my computer or not.

- Thanks

 

my y410p also facing the same problem. i'm trying to search for the solution right now.. i'm also think that this is because the switching form the Intel HD to GT 750m.

anyone please help...

 

I'm pretty sure it is because of the graphics card switching to the cpu. I have no idea why this happens, but it seems to happen when the gpu is under a lot of strain. By using NVidia inspector I was able to set the FPS limiter to 65 degrees C which sometimes lowered the framerate but did not flicker at all. But this is not what I want!
Somebody with answers please help!! Is there a way to disable the graphics switching? I would even be OK with disabling Intel HD graphics all together

Thanks

 

I reset everything, put the computer back to stock settings, but it still flickers when playing intense games after a little bit. D:

 

I think its a driver issue, wait for an update from nvidia.

 

I don't think it is a nvidia problem, I think it is some other driver problem. I say this because I ran a high-intensity game through my external display and the problem did not occur (I read that when running through an external display the nvidia graphics card is used the whole time). Also, I have tried the 3.20 drivers meant for the 740m and the problem still happens. Are you experiencing this same problem? If so, then I would be more inclined to think that this is not just my computer, but a y410p problem. Thanks

 

Hey Ottopo, I joined this forum just to follow this thread. I had/have the same problem as you. I only have one game right now on the system, BF3. When I played it for a while it would flicker black just like you said. Following your premonition that it is a switching problem (heavy load causes switching) I used the Nvidia Control Panel to force it to always use the "high-performance Nvidia processor" then set the game to mostly Ultra as Nvidia Experience suggested. I only had a short time to test this but no problems at all. I dont have time to test it more today because I am off to work, but you should give it a try and let us know how if goes if you can.

 

nevermind.... this does not seem to fix the problem at all...I really hope we can find a solutions soon.

 

Thank you for chiming in! I'm sure there are tons of lurkers on this thread who don't want to speak up. I have tried this solution and it doesn't work (I also just saw your post confirming this). The only two things that have worked for me are:
A) Limiting the framerate to 30 fps (this is not a good solution, but it prevents the GPU from overworking/overheating which, I think, is the cause of the problem)
B) Connecting to an external monitor (the GPU must be used, so it cannot switch the the intel one)

Some other things I have tried in vain:
- Change the NVidia power management mode to both 'prefer maximum performance' and 'nvidia driver controlled'
- Install 3.20 drivers meant for a gt740m
- Disable intel HD graphics (this might have worked, but the nvidia graphics and intel are somehow dependent upon each other)
- Completely reinstall windows 8
- Scream for hours on end (jk )

Please, please, please, if you are reading this and are experiencing the same problem, I would love for you to post here. We need the community's effort to fix this!

 

Ok! I just got off the phone with a Lenovo Support specialist after talking with her for about an hour about this problem. She was pretty helpful, and walked through most of the steps I mentioned in my previous post--to no avail obviously. And while she said that my screen resolution was the problem (1600x900 may not be supported by the game, she offered (which is complete BS)), I was able to get her to pass my problem onto the software/driver department.

Now, this is apparently the first time this problem was called in, but I implore everyone to call 1-877-453-6686 (the Lenovo Support). The more people we get to talk about this problem, the faster/more likely they are to pay attention to it. You will need your 10 digit serial number (located on the bottom of the laptop, under the battery). Calling is free since the warranty doesn't expire until a year from now.

I hope all y410p users can call, we may be able to get a fix!

 

I called it in too. After walking me through the usual steps which we have already tried (checking and re-installing the drivers) they gave me a case #. I tried BF3 and it flickered and went black as usual. When I called back the new rep seemed to be less helpful and knowledgeable; claiming the gpu was suppose to be that hot and that the 750m is not enough power to run BF3. haha. Frustrating.

So I went ahead and RMA'd it. I will ship it out to get inspected/fixed tomorrow. I will keep ya'll updated. If it does not come back fixed I will just return it, I should still be within that 30 day window by then.

p.s. I just noticed my screen bezel says Y400 instead of Y410p? Looks like they reused the old screen bezel on my laptop. anyone else have this?

EDIT: Changed my mind again. I am returning the computer and I ordered a new one. I figured this is a better idea since they may just replace the Nvidia card with an old refurb and I may continue to have problems. I will just roll the dice again on a new system and send this one back. I should get the new one early next week and see if it has the same issue or not.

We will find the fix to this.

 

Oh boy... Add me to the list. I recently got my Y410P from a slickdeal and I've been burning the midnight oil playing starcraft II @ medium settings and 1600 x 900, I'd say far below what it should be capable of handling. haven't had a problem at all, until today... Almost right away after I started playing, the black flickering would start. Not good... I've changed some settings in the hope that helps, but I have a feeling I'm in the same boat here.

 

Ok, glad to know at least that I'm not the only one... These things definitely have issues.

Same problem here, playing starcraft, not even on high settings. Tried all of the above recommendations. Ran NVIDIA inspector and turned on sensor monitoring to determine if it was a heat issue, as the side vent feels like it's going to blast flames out of it while playing... According to the sensor history, temps never went above 79C during gameplay when the trouble starts. Alt-tab back to the desktop you see an immediate drop in temp. Back to the game, it will be ok for a few moments and then the flickering returns before cutting out to black completely while the sound of the game continues in the background.

Called Lenovo Twice and they are offering RMA. 7 business day turnaround if you opt to send it in for a replacement GT350 alternatively, if you're within the 21 day of purchase window, as I am, I'm told you can call sales at 855-253-6686 and negotiate. Sales is open 9AM to 7PM EST

A slickdeal that was too good to be true it seems!

 

I just wanted to post and confirm that the new beta drivers (320.49) that were released today do NOT fix this problem.

I also noticed while using MSI Afterburner that the card naturally runs at a much higher clock rate (~1058) than it is suppose to in its normal state (~967) so I used Afterburner to underclock the core clock. It helps a little but ultimately the screen will again flicker and go black. Maybe the memory clock should be adjusted too?

 

My y410p has magically returned to normal w/o any of the problematic flickering experienced previously. here's what I did:

First, I went into power options in the control panel and changed my high performance advanced settings, specifically the "processor power management settings". I set the "minimum processor state" when plugged in to 50% and when on battery to 5% and changed the "maximum processor state" to 99% for both on battery AND plugged in.

Then, I reinstalled the nvidia drivers overtop the existing driver. It was exactly the same driver, but I chose the option during the install to default all nvidia settings, keep an eye out for that check box. I grabbed the installer off the d:\drivers\VGA folder on the "LENOVO" partition.

Then, I looked at my Intel graphics properties and under "3-D", changed it to "Balanced", with application optimal mode "on". I disabled keyboard hotkeys, and set power options to maximum performance, when plugged in.

In the Nvidia control panel, I set the "adjust images settings with preview" option to "use the advanced 3d image settings"

Under manage 3d settings, I've got "autoselect" enabled for graphics processor.

I am using GLOBAL settings for my particular app (Starcraft II) Under 2. "Select the preferred graphics processor..." I have "Use Global Settings (Autoselect NVIDIA GPU)

Under "Set PhysX Configuration, I have it set to use the GT 750M

Using Nvidia Inspector 1.97.1, I noted that my temperature never went over 74C while in game nor exceeded 80% GPU usage on ultra level graphics @ 1600 x 900 rez.. Frame rates were consistently between 40 and 60fps in game.

I'll play around with it some more and report back in. Not sure what combination above worked solved the problem, but I played for an entire hour at ultra w/o any problems.

I have the lenovo RMA box here already shipped to me, wondering if I jumped the gun on wanting to return it... Willing to give it a chance if it's just some settings that need toying with.

 

Agamoto,
Thank you very much for playing around with the settings and not giving up on the Y410p! The whole community may benefit from your find; you may have found the correct settings to fix the problem! Unfortunately, I am thousand of miles away from my computer right now, so I cannot test out your settings. I hope some other people with this problem will try your settings and report back to this thread.

Thanks again.

 

Using agamoto's suggestions I still get the flickering in BF3. It seems like it might have helped a bit. Since it worked for him in SCII maybe BF3 simply uses different resources and stresses the system differently. SCII should be more CPU intense while BF3 is more GPU intense. I have found that if I use these suggested setting in a cool room on a cool solid surface, underclock the GPU's clock and memory AND turn down the setting a bit from the Nvidia Experience suggestion I can run the game as long as I care to play it.

Also it looks like my new system wont ship until the second week in July. Once I get the new one I will send this one back and see if the new one is any better.

 

Same here, agamoto's fix does not work for BF3. I am back to my computer, and will keep trying things and tinkering with the settings. I am excited to hear if your new system has the same problem.

 

ok. got my new Y410p today. First thing I did was install Origin and copied over my BF3 files as well as install Afterburner. On my new system the game still runs hot (around 87 degrees) but I did not experience any flickering or black out issues. I was only able to test this for about 40 minutes but on my other y410p that was enough to cause this problem. This isnt to say it wont happen in future testing. I should have a little time tomorrow or the next day to try and run the systems side by side before I send back the old one. I know this is both good news and bad news for some of you.

 

After much longer testing I have yet to make the new y410p repeat the flickering even at higher settings. I also figured out that the bottom air intake is helped out a lot by simply putting a book under the very back edge of the laptop. This trick lowered my temp under stress of the GPU by 10 degrees! So I cant say for sure but it seems that my first laptop had internal problems that this one does not seem to have (or not as bad). maybe it was the thermal paste or something.

EDIT: through more testing I was able to super stress the card bringing it above 90C and still had not problems with flickering or black screen. I think this is a hardware issue and if you have this problem you should send it in.

 

I'm posting here just to contribute in some way with the issue.

I just received my y410p a couple of days ago, I live in a country where usual temps are around 30 C with love of humidity, and I have been playing SC2 for hours straight on high settings without any flickering.

Hope you find a solution soon.

Regards,

 

Thank you!! This is great news. My new y410p is expected to come this Tuesday, I really hope it works. As a software engineer, I absolutely hate hardware bugs (like this one), which is why we could find no solution.

Anyway, I hope you are enjoying your computer, I can't wait to get mine!

 

Hi,

I received my new Y410p, and it works! So, if anyone sees this thread in the future, you have a defective machine and should get it replaced.

Thanks,
Michael H.

 

Ive owned my y410p for 3 weeks now and no hardware failures.