Laptop secondary monitor flashes black for a few seconds

Hey all, I just got a new laptop (Sager NP8658-S / Clevo 650RG) with Windows 10 on it.

But I cant get my secondary monitor to work with it. Its screen keeps going black for a few seconds every minute or so. This happens regardless of what I'm doing (video, desktop, etc).
The laptop has an nvidia 980M card and I've updated the video drivers (354.?? -> 359.06).
The monitor is an LG IPS LED 23.5" monitor, LG website says it's just PNP so no separate drivers available.

This monitor works fine with my desktop (Windows 7, Radeon 7970, via HDMI)

I have looked around this forum and others for solutions, but no luck yet.
I've tried: driver update, changing HDMI cable, resetting power, using the Windows Hardware & Device Troubleshooter, checking the refresh rate is at the monitor's native 60Hz, setting the Nvidia "Adjust desktop color settings" to "Desktop programs", unplugging all devices and replugging only monitor.

Any ideas?

 

Have you tried plugging the laptop into a TV or another external display? If it still exhibits the same behavior, then there's likely a problem with your GPU. If not, I would try yet another HDMI cable. They should "just work" but sometimes you run into a string of bad luck with them.

 

It could also be a ground loop.

 

Thanks for the replies

Laptop is working fine with my TV (also an LG, using the same HDMI cable).
Also tested the monitor with another laptop (Dell Precision M2800 - Intel HD 4600 + AMD FirePro). It works fine.
It's looking like it's the combination of this laptop with this monitor. But don't know why. I'm wary of getting another monitor because it may do the same thing?

I tested with the laptop in dGPU mode, will test in hybrid mode too.

@TANWare could you elaborate on this? What could cause this / how to check or fix it?
Edit: Nevermind, googled around. Seeing what I can do...

UPDATE:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It seeeeems to not be happening when my laptop is on battery power.
Googling around implied that sticking the laptop & monitor on the same power-strip would help. It didn't but unplugging the laptop did. So far. I think.
I can't do that forever lol, so I may try one of these on my monitor:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...d=1449254939&ref_=sr_1_2&s=electronics&sr=1-2

I'm not too knowledgeable about this... Anything else I can try as a plan B?

 

if both on AC causes the issue then it most likely is a ground loop.

 

Cool, better than the graphics card =] Hope the 3-prong-to-2-prong adapter will help...

On a side note, the "Input" item in the monitor's menu instantly causes it to go black for a few seconds (even if laptop is NOT on AC).
Any idea what could be going on there?

 

Hm... removing the ground from the monitor didn't work.
Removing it from the laptop didn't work.

Out of ideas =[

 

It could be that the house has an improper ground and you not only have a ground loop but a buildup of charge as well. you may need two of those adapters but it still could be going out on you.

The blank screen is the card reading the monitor and synching it to the internal then restarting.

Edit, the HDMI and other connection types have grounds built in so you may in the end be forced to correct the home wiring.

 

Thanks
I'll get another plug adapter just in case and try that out.
I can also try this setup at my sister's house.
UPDATE: same behavior at sister's house. So seems to be laptop not house wiring =[

I tried plugging into my TV again and noticed a more less frequent / bit more subtle flickering than the black screen. So I guess it's not immune.
Also tried the monitor with the iGPU and the black screen still happens.

My desktop still does not have this issue with either monitor/tv however.
Could the radeon card be reacting differently/better to the same thing?
Could it be an issue with the laptop's power adapter? (Ordered a spare just in case. Will test.)
Could graphics drivers behave differently on battery vs ac power?

ANOTHER UPDATE:
No screen flashing when using mini DisplayPort output on laptop (to HDMI input on monitors).
Definitely an issue with the laptop. Not sure if hardware or drivers though.

 

I have the same laptop, and the exact same problem. I also notice that the problem goes away when the laptop is unplugged. Has the connection to the DisplayPort continued to work for you? Thanks.

 

Yeah, the mini DisplayPort seemed to work. I only tried it for a few hours though. I ended up sending it back for repairs, they replaced the motherboard, but it still had the same problem, so it wasn't that. I got a refund (minus lots of shipping and packaging). Might go for an MSI instead =/

 

I see. Thanks. That's too bad. I really like this laptop. I tried removing the ground on the monitor, like you did, but that didn't work. I ordered a DisplayPort-to-HDMI cable. If that works, I will probably just keep the laptop. Sager has been no help...