NUC7I5BNH keeps freezing/crashing in Windows 10, constant flickering with 4k@60Hz

[DArch3]

So like many others I'm having a number of problems with my NUC7I5BNH that doesn't resume from sleep properly and keeps freezing even when it's set to not sleep. First, here's my hardware:

NUC7I5BNH

Windows 10 x64 Pro running Creator's Update

PNY CS2030 240GB M.2 2280 PCIe NVMe Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) - (M280CS2030-240-RB)

1 x G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB DDR4 2400 Model F4-2400C16S-8GRS

I've connected to two different displays that have both exhibited similar behavior

Vizio m55-C2 4k TV

CROSSOVER 324K UHD 32" 3840x2160 60Hz HDMI2.0 DP 4K LED Monitor

All drivers are up to date and I have updated the HDMI 2.0 firmware.

If I try to run at 3140x2160 @ 60Hz, the display flickers frequently, with it sometimes being so bad that the computer is completely unusable. Running KODI, NETFLIX, or even just some websites in Chrome seem to make the problem worse. The only thing that makes the flickering go away is if I go to 4k@30Hz or go down to 1080p at 60Hz. I am using amazon basics hdmi 2.0 cables that worked fine driving 4k@60Hz with my 5th generation NUC so I'm fairly certain it's not the cable.

In addition to the flickering issues, the computer would not wake either monitor when it resumed from sleep >50% of the time and had to be reset using the power button. As a temporary solution, I disabled sleep entirely and that seemed to fix the problem. HOWEVER, after upgrading the HDMI 2.0 firmware, I'm now seeing another similar problem but I have no idea what is going on. After the display is turned off after 10 minutes, it eventually powers off but the computer is set to never sleep. When I power on the TV again, >50% of the time, the computer has frozen. This is different than the previous behavior because before I could remotely login to the computer and restart it. Now it is completely unresponsive and can't even be pinged. It requires a hard reboot to get the computer to respond again. I have looked in the event viewer and can't figure out why the computer is crashing. There is an error message that says something like: "The previous system shutdown was unexpected." but gives no more information about the error. Again, this problem seems to have started happening after updating the HDMI firmware. Is there any way to check the current firmware version and is it possible the update went wrong somehow?

The only BIOS setting I have changed is disabling HDMI CEC (I can't remember if I enabled it in the first place or if it was on by default).

Please help! I am at a complete loss as to what else to do to fix this problem and, as it stands, the NUC is hardly usable.

[n_scott_pearson]

Do you got the latest BIOS installed? While Intel will deny it (or say the possibility is very remote), the HT issue could be responsible for these failures and reboots. Installing the latest BIOS installs the microcode update that fixes the HT issue. I would install this update and remove this as a possibility for the cause...

I am NOT saying that this will do anything about the flickering or HDMI hang issues; that's another matter completely, unfortunately...

...S

[idata]

Hello DougArcher,

Thank you for contacting the Intel community. I'm sorry for all the inconvenience this has caused to you. In this case, as N. Scott Pearson mentioned above it is important to have the latest BIOS version, you can download it here:https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26889/BIOS-Update-BNKBL357-86A-?product=95067 BIOS Update [BNKBL357.86A] Please see https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/boards-and-kits/000005850.html F7 BIOS Update Instructions for Intel® NUC Just checking - you mentioned that you have the latest graphics driver; is the latest graphics version installed https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26480/Intel-HD-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-10-for-Intel-NUC-Kit-NUC7i3BN-NUC7i5BN-and-NUC7i7BN?product=95067 15.45.19.4678? Also, I would check with your TV manufacturer to see if there is an https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/graphics-drivers/000023785.html?wapkw=inf+driver INF driver for you TV Please let us know how it goes. Best regards, Ivan U.

[DArch3]

Ok, here's an update:

I updated to the latest BIOS. Thought I had already done that but your post made me recheck and evidently I had not. And I am on the .4678 driver and am still seeing lots of flickering when I try to run 4k@60Hz. And like I said before, I don't think it's the cable because I was running a 5th gen NUC at 4k@60Hz using the same cable (and a display port to HDMI adapter).

And no, it doesn't appear that my TV has a .inf file for it. And based on my searches online, I think most TVs (I couldn't find a single one) don't have .inf files.

One thing I've learned that I forgot to mention. When the NUC was randonly freezing after a few minutes/hours, despite never going to sleep, and not providing any symptoms or error code for what happened, it was plugged into a SONY HT XT1 soundbar with HDMI passthrough. When I plug the NUC directly into the TV (which complicates my setup and might result in no audio with some formats), the freezing stops but I still get the screen flickering when I try to run 4k@60Hz.

Also, even when plugged directly into the TV, the wake from sleep doesn't work correctly and I think the computer is actually freezing when it wakes up because I can't ping it either. So the NUC hasn't randomly frozen (yet) but wake from sleep is still broken.

It seems like these issues are very widespread. Is there anything else we can do to make a little noise so that people higher up the intel food chain see what's going on and recognize that this is a real problem that needs to be addressed quickly? I have a number of other computers and have never had an issue like this.

[idata]

Thank you for the information and I'm sorry for the issue you have experience with this unit.

When using the .4678 driver, if you try to run it at 3140x2160@30Hz does the issue persists? – This is just for testing and I'm not meaning that you can use it at the refresh rate. Just to make sure the issue is not just with the latest graphics version, would you please try a previous driver version; you can download this previous version here:https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26604/Graphics-Intel-Graphics-Driver-Beta-15-45-?product=98911 Intel® Graphics Driver Beta [15.45] I will appreciate if you could test this driver and the resolution mentioned above. Please let me know how it goes. Best regards, Ivan U.

[DArch3]

As I said before, when I run at 4k@30Hz, everything is fine and the flickering stops. It starts again immediately after selecting 4k@60Hz.

I also noticed that there was just a BIOS v0048 just released so I installed that before doing anything and it didn't help the flickering. I don't know about the resume from sleep issue.

I also installed the .4614 BETA driver at the link you provided and the flickering didn't stop. So now I have had flickering on 4678, 4664, and 4614 when trying to run 4k@60Hz.

I saw in other threads a request to post information from the Intel Graphics utility. It is attached here.

edit: I should also add that I can make the screen flicker when I'm running 4k@60Hz every time I just scroll in Chrome. The issue is very easy to reproduce.

[idata]

Hello DougArcher,

I have been testing this unit with the latest drivers and BIOS and I got the flickering issue as well, the resolution I set up is 3840 x 2160 @60Hz and I get this flickering problem, the only thing I couldn't replicate is when you resume the unit from sleep mode, I was able to resume the unit without problem. We will further investigate this issue and once we get an update it will be post here. Best regards, Ivan U.

[DArch3]

Good to know you can reproduce the problem but I'm a little shocked that it exists at all given the severity of the problem and that it has existed for many driver versions. Hopefully you pass this info along to your supervisors so QA can be improved .

Regarding the resume from sleep issues, and actually sometimes I can't get the monitor to come back online and I think the NUC has just frozen at least once even though it's set to never sleep, are there any logs I can look at or send you to try to troubleshoot what the problem is?

[idata]

Please attach all your system information; you use the Intel SSU (System Support Utility) to attach your system configuration https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25293/Intel-System-Support-Utility:

Download Intel® System Support Utility

1. Download the utility
2. Run the exe and select 'Scan'
3. Save and include as an attachment in the Intel Community Forum

You can also attach more information using the DxDiag and DispDiag.DxDiag Instructions:

1. Click on the "Start Menu" -> Type "DxDiag" -> Press "Enter" -> Wait for the DirectX Diagnostic Tool to finish loading
2. In the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, click "Save All Information" -> Save the file DxDiag.txt
3. Include DxDiag.txt as an attachment in the Intel Community Forum

DispDiag Instructions:

1. Click on the "Start Menu" -> Type "cmd" -> Then a command shell window will open
2. In the command shell, type "dispdiag –out %homepath%\Desktop\DispDiag-Intel-Issue.dat" -> The command shell will output something similar to "Dump File: C:\Users\[username]\DispDiag-# -# -# -# .dat"
3. Locate the .dat file on your desktop and include DispDiag-Intel-Issue.dat in the Intel Community Forum

Regards, Ivan.

[DArch3]

Requested files attached

[RZayf1]

Hi Ivan,

Since I'm experiencing the same issues as DougArcher (and many others), I'm attaching all the requested debug data as well.

Hopefully this will help your ENG team finding a solution ASAP for a critical show stopper issue

Please keep us posted with updates.

Thanks,

RZ

[TTX]

Hello again Ivan,

I've continued to have video dropouts to black on 7i7BNH at 4k60p HDMI 2.0a to receiver, same issue direct to the TV.

Even trying to write this reply in windows 10, the screen drops out several times to full black and several times to a flicker and back again. I notice my receiver goes into hunt mode trying to detect the signal from the NUC.

I have the latest graphic driver bundle, latest bios, windows 10 1703, all updates applied.

This appears to be a serious issue with this new DP to HDMI chipset used in these NUCs . I'm glad you are able to reproduce our issues/complaints and I hope you can move the ball along to get something resolved. Perhaps a new megachips firmware update is needed.

Regards.

[LLega]

I have the exact same problems with my nuc7i5BNK. Less flicker on 4664 driver version than the newest. I just hope we get a solution soon!

[MAlla4]

I reverted to BIOS 47 and I think (?) things are better.

[TTX]

Previously I thought I had better luck with the newer video driver, so I think I'll just down-rev the BIOS to 47 if it's not locked to a newer ME version.

[Radi_Z_Intel]

Can add as well no flicker with 4664 GFX driver with 4K@30fps (4K@60fps still bad though).

[GSher1]

Hello Ivan.

Are you going to give us some kind of update on this just to let us all know that the techs are relentlessly working to resolve these issues.

[TTX]

I can confirm this, when I watch a movie dropped to 24fps @4k It's fine, but anything back in the menus or desktop at 60fps it drops to black or flickers. Audio still continues during this time. Please get this resolved intel!

[MAlla4]

It has been two days since I reverted from BIOS 48 to 47 and I haven't seen flicker/shearing/black-screen/retraining.

[DArch3]

That's interesting. I definitely had problems on the 0047 BIOS.

So Intel released a new graphics driver but it doesn't say it's specifically for the NUC7s (https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26941/Graphics-Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-15-46-?product=80939 Download Intel® Graphics Driver for Windows* [15.46]). I'm traveling at the moment so can't try to install it myself but would be interested to know if it works if anyone is willing to try. And if it doesn't work on the NUC, maybe it's at least a sign that we'll be getting a new driver soon . Right Intel?!

[MAlla4]

I'm running the new (15.46) driver and BIOS 47.

I'm also using that 1m StarTech USB-C to DP (full-sized) cable.

Like other commenters, a lot of things in my setup changed at once -- replaced NUC + new BIOS -- so it's hard to find the culprit.

The only concrete clue I have is that I had zero problems with the previous NUC and BIOS's (up to 47) for a month.

It wasn't until I got the new NUC and simultaneously updated to BIOS 48 that I saw this issue.