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January 31st, 2023 14:00

Dell Latitude 5530 - Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD22TB4 - Flickering Screen

Latitude 5530

Latitude 5530

Hi

I have a brand new Latitude 5530 with a brand new Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD22TB4.

Since day one I have intermittent flickering issues on externals monitors HP N246v (2x).

Most of the time either one of the screen goes black like 3 seconds and come back to normal.

I use the docking station with the laptop screen closed in its racking using docking station DP to HDMI passive cables  and 1920x1080 60Hz.

Dell support has made diagnostics, updated everything, changed settings and I offer them to make more in dept verification as instructed by my cable supplier.

We have tested the instructions that we had from our cable supplier bellow.
 
Here's the reply from the product specialist:    
1. Use an HDMI cable to connect  the HDMI interfaces of the laptop and the monitor to see if there will be a black screen. Check the graphics card driver  
2. Connect the docking station. Use one DP cable , connect only one monitor to see if there is a black screen . This is to check each monitor cable.  
3. If the separately connected monitor and cable connection test are working properly, then it may be that the bandwidth of the docking station is insufficient, resulting in a black screen.
 
So here is what we have as a result.
Laptop display on with onboard HDMI to one monitor. No flickering screen.
Laptop display on with docking station HDMI to one monitor. Flickering black screen.
Laptop display on with docking station DP to HDMI to one monitor. Flickering black screen.
Laptop display on with docking station second DP to HDMI to the second monitor. Flickering black screen.
Laptop display off with docking station both DP to HDMI to both monitors. Flicking black screens.
 
This seems to be all using the same protocol on the docking station even when we are plugged directly into the HDMI.
The laptop onboard HDMI using the HDMI protocol.
 
The cables are all fine but there are some issues with your display port ++ / thunderbolt docking station.
 
After all test reported we we contacted Dell support back they replaced my docking station for another one.
The new dock as the exact same issues.
 
I had the case escalated to some kind of upper management and they made diagnostics, updated everything, changed settings, took more in dept information on the system.
Dell told me that they working on some kind of fix and that I'm not the only one that has reported this issue.
 
After couples days, I received email with updating instruction...  after couples days again they called me to change to a lower resolution... and  yesterday I got an email that they want me to lower the refresh rate...
It's start to look like a real joke now spending hours and hours with them and nothing move forward.
 
I even offer them to buy 2 new Dell Monitors with DP ports and they could not guaranty that this will resolve my issues. Last thing that I want is trying to get refund on a docking station and 2 monitors.
 
We have been loyal to Dell as multi business for many year but the way they treat this case is making me look at other option in the near future.
 
Any real help would be much appreciated.

6 Posts

August 8th, 2023 11:00

We were having the same issue for months on all of our Latitude 5530s as well. After running the most recent graphics driver update (released July 24th)  (https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER10323560M/1/Intel-UHD-Iris-Xe-Graphics-Driver-and-Intel-Graphics_F3YY0_WIN64_31.0.101.4369_A12.EXE), the issue appears to have been resolved on our machines.

If you are unable to install the update or the update does not work, a Dell Premium Support Plus rep said there was also a workaround using registry keys. The following registry keys would need to be added:

Manually Create the Registry Keys

Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0000]
Registry entry to create: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000002

Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001]
Registry entry to create: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000002

Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0002]
Registry entry to create: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000002

We have not tested the registry key workaround since the driver updates fixed the issue.

August 8th, 2023 13:00

@TTI - thanks, I'll give that a shot.

There are Reddit threads on this topic here and here.

3 Posts

August 25th, 2023 20:40

@TTI​ I gave this a try on my XPS 15. The drivers installed fine and the flickering is greatly reduced. But it still happens probably once a day :(. I've tried the USB-C Gen2 and USB-C Thunderbolt port and both seem to have the problem. It does seem better though. 

3 Posts

August 29th, 2023 19:55

Same Problem with a Latitude 9430 with a WD22TB4 dock always the same monitor. 

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September 15th, 2023 19:33

Just an update on the situation.

I found a deal on 4 Dell P2419H screen for a quad display setup.

My new setup is now laptop screen off into a rack to maximise desk space. ( https://www.primecables.ca/p-394677-pc-n17-3 )

All 4 monitors are plugged directly into the docking station and resolution set at 1920x1080 60Hz.

I use the Quad-display setup guide as per Dell owner manual.

2 monitors using DP to DP ( dell OEM supplied cables )
1 monitor using USB-C to DP ( https://www.primecables.ca/p-399588-pc-cab-ua13-usb-c-to-dp-male-cable-6ft )
1 monitor using HDMI to HDMI ( dell C2G cables )

The only monitor that still has flickering issues is the one usings HDMI to HDMI.
From the Intel Graphics Command Center under display tab, information tab, it shows that it's connected to Display port.

I found this note also on dell.com

Can't really tell if is a backward compatibility issue, a bandwidth issue or some firmware issue, but it still flickers.

My last option I will order another USB-C to DP ( They call that a MFDP Type-C ) and try the other Quad-display setup guide as per Dell owner manual.

Dell should really take care of the matter once for all.

(edited)

1 Message

October 11th, 2023 14:50

I had a similar issue with different laptop and screen, if you have an external power adapter try plugging it in simultaneously. This fixed (until better solution comes) it for the lat 5440. 

Maybe not helpful but wanted to mention.

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3 Posts

November 21st, 2023 16:25

@Smadatek Support​ just did that. no help.

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November 21st, 2023 20:43

I'm having the same issue on screen 1 (main screen) going black for a few seconds and it happens several times a day. It's the Dell WD22 Thunderbolt dock. We bought 4 of these and I've tried several, they all do it and I've used these on other laptops and screens same issue. Everything is up to date. We have some Visiontek docks and they don't have this issue.

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October 16th, 2024 17:12

@TTI​ This made the problem worse for me because instead of having one monitor out of 2  going black, activating Display compression made both monitors go black.

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