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Monitor Experiences Intermittent Blanking when Connected to Dell Docking Stations

Summary: Learn what to do when monitors connected to Dell docking stations experience blanking when using an HDMI, USB Type-C, or DisplayPort output.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

A monitor may experience intermittently going black (blanking) when connected to a Dell docking station using HDMI, USB Type-C, or DisplayPort (DP) output. This is not limited to Dell branded monitors. This issue may also be reported on third-party monitors.

Cause

There are several possible causes and solutions that you can try:

  1. Check your cables. Confirm that your cables are properly connected and securely plugged in. Loose connections can cause intermittent blanking.
  2. Outdated drivers can cause compatibility issues and intermittent blanking. Ensure you are on the latest graphics driver for the attached device and dock model.
  3. Check the Drivers & Downloads page from the Support Site for the monitor model for any recent firmware updates.
  4. If the external monitor continues to intermittently blank out for 3 to 4 seconds, this may be a result of Display Stream Compression (DSC) being enabled.

Resolution

Updating the Dell Dock WD19 or Dell Thunderbolt Dock WD22TB4 to firmware version 01.00.36, 01.00.20 or later resolves the issue.

To download and install the firmware, go to:

Once the firmware update is installed on the docking station, you can Manually Enable DSC Using the Registry Key. Alternatively, Dell will roll back the DSC change in a future update to the video driver, enabling DSC by default.

A video driver workaround was previously implemented. For more information about the limitations and changes from the driver workaround, reference Resolution Changes. Users may observe different resolution support after applying this workaround when connecting to certain docks. For more information about Display Stream Compression (DSC), reference What is Display Stream Compression?

Manually Enable DSC Using the Registry Key

Caution: If done incorrectly, modifying the Windows Registry can lead to data loss or operating system corruption. Dell Technologies recommends that you back up data before proceeding with any Windows Registry edit. It is also recommended that a full backup of the Windows Registry is made before starting the edit. See Windows registry information for advanced users This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies. for additional information.
  • Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0000]
    • Registry entry to update: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000000
  • Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0001]
    • Registry entry to update: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000000
  • Location: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e968-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}\0002]
    • Registry entry to update: "DPMstDscDisable"=dword:00000000

Resolution Changes

If the video driver workaround was installed, you may see resolution options change on your external displays, depending on your configuration.

Table 1: Non-TBT host (2*DP lanes)
Condition Triple Display Quad Display (Daisy chain from DP)
HBR3 with DSC ON DP+DP+MFDP/HDMI: 3*QHD (2560*1440 at 60 Hz) DP+DP+HDMI/MFDP: 3*QHD at 60 Hz+1*1280*720 at 60 Hz
HBR3 with DSC off (12.9 Gbps) DP+DP+MFDP/HDMI: 3*FHD (1290*1080 at 60 Hz) DP+DP+HDMI/MFDP: 4*1280*1024 at 60 Hz
Table 2: TBT host (2*DP lanes)
Condition Triple Display Quad Display (Daisy chain from DP)
HBR3 with DSC ON DP+DP+MFDP/HDMI: 3*4k60Hz
DP+DP/HDMI/MFDP+TBT: 2*4k 60 Hz+1*QHD 60 Hz		 DP+DP+HDMI/MFDP+TBT: 3*4k60Hz+1*4k30Hz/1*QHD60Hz
HBR3 with DSC off (32.4 Gbps) DP+DP+MFDP/HDMI: 1*4k60Hz+2*QHD60Hz
DP+DP/HDMI/MFDP+TBT: 2*4k60Hz+1*QHD60Hz		 DP+DP+HDMI/MFDP+TBT: 4*QHD60Hz
Table 3: HD22Q dock
Condition Single Display Dual Display Triple Display Quad Display (Daisy chain from DP)
HBR3 with DSC ON DP:8K (7680x4320) at 60 Hz HDMI:4k60Hz or 4k120Hz or 8k30Hz HDMI+DP: 2*rk60Hz HDMI+DP&DP (daisy chain): 3*QHD60Hz HDMI+DP&DP&DP (daisy chain): 4*QHD60Hz
HBR3 with DSC off (32.4 Gbps) DP:4k30Hz HDMI+DP 2*QHD60Hz HDMI+DP&DP (daisy chain): FHD60Hz+2*1280x720@60Hz HDMI+DP&DP&DP (daisy chain): FHD60Hz+3*1280x720@60Hz

What is Display Stream Compression?

Display Stream Compression can reduce the bandwidth required to transmit high-resolution video signals by compressing the video signal to reduce the amount of data that must be transmitted without compromising the image quality.

When DSC is enabled, the compression ratio varies depending on the resolution and refresh rate of the video signal being transmitted. In general, higher resolutions and refresh rates require higher compression ratios to maintain the same level of image quality. As a result, enabling DSC can increase the maximum resolution and refresh rate that can be supported over a given bandwidth.

DSC can also have some drawbacks. For example, some monitors may not be fully compatible with DSC. This may cause display issues or blanking.

Affected Products

Alienware m15 R7, Alienware m16 R1, Alienware m18 R1, Alienware x14, Alienware x14 R2, Alienware x15 R2, Alienware x17 R2, Dell Dock WD19, Dell Performance Dock - WD19DC, Dell Performance Dock – WD19DCS, Dell Dock – WD19S , Dell Thunderbolt Dock - WD19TB, Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD19TBS, Dell G15 5520, Dell G15 5530, Dell G16 7620, Dell G16 7630, Inspiron 13 5320, Inspiron 13 5330, Inspiron 14 5420, Inspiron 14 5430, Inspiron 14 7420 2-in-1, Inspiron 14 Plus 7420, Inspiron 14 7430 2-in-1, Inspiron 14 Plus 7430, Inspiron 15 3520, Inspiron 15 3530, Inspiron 16 5620, Inspiron 16 5630, Inspiron 16 7620 2-in-1, Inspiron 16 Plus 7620, Inspiron 16 7630 2-in-1, Inspiron 16 Plus 7630, Latitude 3140, Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme Tablet, Latitude 3330, Latitude 3340, Latitude 5340, Latitude 5350, Latitude 7330, Latitude 7340, Latitude 7350, Latitude 9330, Latitude 3430, Latitude 3440, Latitude 5431, Latitude 5440, Latitude 5450, Latitude 7430, Latitude 7440, Latitude 7450, Latitude 9430, Latitude 9440 2-in-1, Latitude 9450 2-in-1, Latitude 3530, Latitude 3540, Latitude 5530, Latitude 5531, Latitude 5540, Latitude 5550, Latitude 7530, Latitude 7640, Latitude 7650, Latitude 5430, Precision 3470, Precision 3480, Precision 3490, Precision 5470, Precision 5480, Precision 5490, Precision 3570, Precision 3571, Precision 3580, Precision 3581, Precision 3590, Mobile Precision 3591, Precision 5570, Precision 5680, Mobile Precision 5690, Precision 7670, Precision 7680, Precision 5770, Precision 7770, Precision 7780, Vostro 5320, Vostro 3420, Vostro 14 3430, Vostro 3520, Vostro 15 3530, Vostro 5620, Vostro 16 5630, Vostro 7620, Dell Thunderbolt Dock – WD22TB4, XPS 13 9315, XPS 13 Plus 9320, XPS 15 9520, XPS 15 9530, XPS 17 9720, XPS 17 9730 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000214256
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2024
Version:  18
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