External monitor randomly flickers in black

[javo8]

I bought a brand new Samsung M5 monitor and I would like some help to troubleshoot this issue before I have to disassambly my whole setup to visit the tech support.

The thing is that the external monitor randomly goes black for a second and then recovers. It can flash twice in a short period, a few seconds later flashes once or twice again, and so on. There is no noticeable pattern.

So I'm using Ubuntu 24.04 in a Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 with Intel Graphics RPL-P. I could tell it shouldn't be a hardware problem because 1) I used to have another monitor and had no issues, 2) I already tested a couple of different cables with no changes in the behavior, and 3) it also works perfectly well in Windows (dual boot).

Here are some command outputs I've found so far in my useless research. Also I attach the txt file generated by SSU.

$ LANG=C inxi -Fxxxrzc0 --usb
System:
  Kernel: 6.8.0-38-generic arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.2.0
    clocksource: tsc
  Desktop: GNOME v: 46.0 tk: GTK v: 3.24.41 wm: gnome-shell
    tools: gsd-screensaver-proxy dm: GDM3 v: 46.0 Distro: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
    (Noble Numbat)
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Raptor Lake-P [UHD Graphics] vendor: Lenovo driver: i915
    v: kernel arch: Gen-13 ports: active: HDMI-A-1,eDP-1 empty: DP-1,DP-2
    bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:a7a8 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Bison Integrated Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-5:5 chip-ID: 5986:215f class-ID: fe01
    serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
    dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x2280 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x603mm (20.00x23.74")
    s-diag: 788mm (31.04")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: top model: Samsung Smart M50C
    serial: <filter> res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 70
    size: 698x392mm (27.48x15.43") diag: 690mm (27.2") modes: max: 1920x1080
    min: 640x480
  Monitor-2: eDP-1 pos: primary,bottom model: BOE Display 0x0b76
    res: 1920x1200 hz: 60 dpi: 141 size: 345x215mm (13.58x8.46")
    diag: 407mm (16") modes: 1920x1200
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: intel iris platforms: device: 0 drv: iris
    device: 1 drv: swrast surfaceless: drv: iris x11: drv: iris
    inactive: gbm,wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: intel mesa v: 24.0.9-0ubuntu0.1
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel Graphics (RPL-P)
    device-ID: 8086:a7a8
(...)


$ xrandr
Screen 0: minimum 320 x 200, current 1920 x 2280, maximum 16384 x 16384
eDP-1 connected primary 1920x1200+0+1080 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 345mm x 215mm
   1920x1200     60.00*+  60.00  
   1920x1080     60.00  
   1600x1200     60.00  
   (...)
HDMI-1 connected 1920x1080+0+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 698mm x 392mm
   1920x1080     60.00*+  50.00    59.94    30.00    25.00    24.00    29.97    23.98  
   1680x1050     59.88  
   1600x900      60.00  
   1280x1024     75.02    60.02  
   1440x900      59.90  
   1280x800      59.91  
   (...)


$ LANG=C sudo lshw -class display
  *-display 
      description: VGA compatible controller
      product: Raptor Lake-P [UHD Graphics]
      vendor: Intel Corporation
      physical id: 2
      bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
      logical name: /dev/fb0
      version: 04
      width: 64 bits
      clock: 33MHz
      capabilities: pciexpress msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
      configuration: depth=32 driver=i915 latency=0 mode=1920x1200 resolution=1920,1200 visual=truecolor xres=1920 yres=1200
      resources: iomemory:600-5ff iomemory:400-3ff irq:177 memory:6000000000-6000ffffff memory:4000000000-400fffffff ioport:3000(size=64) memory:c0000-dffff memory:4010000000-4016ffffff memory:4020000000-40ffffffff


$ sudo dmesg -l err
(...)
i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* Unclaimed access detected prior to suspending
(...)

[RobbieR_Intel]

Hi javo8

Thank you for providing all the necessary details that may contribute greatly to our troubleshooting.

Kindly answer the following questions:

• What is the Driver Version of your Integrated Graphics?
• What is the make and model of the Monitor?

We look forward for your response!

Best Regards,

Robbie R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[javo8]

Hello

brand new Samsung M5 monitor

- Display
               - "Intel Corporation Raptor Lake-P [UHD Graphics] (rev 04) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])"

Thanks

[RobbieR_Intel]

Hello javo8,

Thank you for your response.

Kindly answer the additional following questions:

• What is the exact model number of the new Samsung M5 monitor?
• Can you check the system logs for any errors or warnings that occur when the monitor goes black? Please use the command dmesg | grep - i drm.
• How is the monitor configured in your display settings? Are you using any custom resolution or refresh rates?

Upon checking the BIOS of your System, it seems that it is currently outdated. I suggest having this updated to latest, kindly visit Lenovo System Update: Update Drivers, BIOS and Applications - Lenovo Support US.

We look forward for your response!

Robbie R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[javo8]

Hey Robbie

So.

• What is the exact model number of the new Samsung M5 monitor?

It is this one. It says S27CM501EL on the back.

• Can you check the system logs for any errors or warnings that occur when the monitor goes black? Please use the command dmesg | grep - i drm.

dmesg says nothing at the exact moment of the blink. But it does show this as soon as the SO is up.

$ sudo dmesg | grep -i drm
[ 0.885781] ACPI: bus type drm_connector registered
[ 0.889943] [drm] Initialized simpledrm 1.0.0 20200625 for simple-framebuffer.0 on minor 0
[ 0.890853] simple-framebuffer simple-framebuffer.0: [drm] fb0: simpledrmdrmfb frame buffer device
[ 3.609210] systemd[1]: Starting modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm...
[ 3.614089] systemd[1]: modprobe@drm.service: Deactivated successfully.
[ 3.614138] systemd[1]: Finished modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm.
[ 4.264357] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] VT-d active for gfx access
[ 4.277823] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Using Transparent Hugepages
[ 4.280632] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Finished loading DMC firmware i915/adlp_dmc.bin (v2.20)
[ 4.295243] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GuC firmware i915/adlp_guc_70.bin version 70.20.0
[ 4.295247] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: HuC firmware i915/tgl_huc.bin version 7.9.3
[ 4.309250] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: HuC: authenticated for all workloads
[ 4.309601] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: submission enabled
[ 4.309602] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: SLPC enabled
[ 4.309998] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: RC enabled
[ 4.310741] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Protected Xe Path (PXP) protected content support initialized
[ 5.648459] [drm] Initialized i915 1.6.0 20230929 for 0000:00:02.0 on minor 1
[ 5.681937] fbcon: i915drmfb (fb0) is primary device
[ 5.681950] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] fb0: i915drmfb frame buffer device
[ 8354.571948] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] *ERROR* Unclaimed access detected prior to suspending

• How is the monitor configured in your display settings? Are you using any custom resolution or refresh rates?

Nothing special. 1920x1080 @ 60 Hz, 100% scaling.

[javo8]

Also, I updated the BIOS as you suggested and it didn't help but it changed the output of the dmesg command.

$ sudo dmesg | grep -i drm
[ 0.882530] ACPI: bus type drm_connector registered
[ 0.891076] [drm] Initialized simpledrm 1.0.0 20200625 for simple-framebuffer.0 on minor 0
[ 0.891829] simple-framebuffer simple-framebuffer.0: [drm] fb0: simpledrmdrmfb frame buffer device
[ 1.983919] systemd[1]: Starting modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm...
[ 1.988386] systemd[1]: modprobe@drm.service: Deactivated successfully.
[ 1.988442] systemd[1]: Finished modprobe@drm.service - Load Kernel Module drm.
[ 2.777012] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] VT-d active for gfx access
[ 2.796961] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Using Transparent Hugepages
[ 2.800765] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Finished loading DMC firmware i915/adlp_dmc.bin (v2.20)
[ 2.817591] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GuC firmware i915/adlp_guc_70.bin version 70.20.0
[ 2.817594] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: HuC firmware i915/tgl_huc.bin version 7.9.3
[ 2.831304] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: HuC: authenticated for all workloads
[ 2.831662] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: submission enabled
[ 2.831664] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: SLPC enabled
[ 2.832032] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] GT0: GUC: RC enabled
[ 2.832910] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Protected Xe Path (PXP) protected content support initialized
[ 4.182911] [drm] Initialized i915 1.6.0 20230929 for 0000:00:02.0 on minor 1
[ 4.213614] fbcon: i915drmfb (fb0) is primary device
[ 4.213617] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] fb0: i915drmfb frame buffer device

[RobbieR_Intel]

Hello javo8,

Thank you for providing the detailed information, including the SSU file and recent updates. It's helpful to know that you've updated the BIOS and provided the relevant logs and specifications.

Kindly answer the additional following questions:

• Can you provide the exact version of the i915 driver installed on your system? To acquire this, please refer to https://dgpu-docs.intel.com/Q%26A/Q%26A.html
• Have you tried adjusting the refresh rate and resolution settings in your display manager to see if it affects the issue? If so, what settings did you try, and did they have any impact?
• Are there any external devices or peripherals connected to your laptop that could potentially cause interference?

We look forward for your reply!

Best Regards,

Robbie R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[RobbieR_Intel]

Hello javo8,

I wanted to check if you had the chance to review the questions I posted. Please let me know at your earliest convenience so that we can determine the best course of action to resolve this matter. 

Best regards,

Robbie R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[RobbieR_Intel]

Hello javo8, 

I have not heard back from you so I will close this inquiry now. If you need further assistance, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer be monitored.

Best regards,

Robbie R.

Intel Customer Support Technician

[javo8]

This forum is sooo slow that I already had the monitor returned to the store.