Windows Pro 10, Version 10.0.17763 Build 17763
(also occurred with Version 10.0.17134 Build 17134)
Lenovo Thinkpad W530 in Ultrabay Docking Station
NVidia Quadro K2000M
NVidia driver v 24.21.13.9836
Dell U2717D Flatscreen connected to docking station
Dell U2717D (DP) driver v 1.0.0.0
Running the laptop screen simultaneously
Computer starts normally and generally runs normally. But if I open Powerpoint or the "Windows Settings" app, I get very strange behavior. I'll use the word "focus" to indicate what happens when you click on a window: you changed the focus to that window. If the offending program is on my laptop screen and I click on it to change focus, or click elsewhere to change focus from it to another app, behavior is fine. But if the offending program's window is on my flat screen, changing focus to or from that program causes the screen to flicker: it blacks out and returns immediately.
Other programs, including Word, Excel, Mozilla, Chrome, and Notepad++, no problem. No flicker, behavior normal and as expected.
I'm thinking that its a driver issue, as I'm using the nvidia driver and not the older lenovo driver. Does the ultrabay have BIOS that can be upgraded? Is there an ultrabay driver? I suspect that its the nvidia driver. Anyone else ever experience this?
Thx,
Boz
Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message
Weird Screen flicker W530 and ultradoc
-
- Freshman Member
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:22 am
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: Weird Screen flicker W530 and ultradoc
Ultrabay docking station? I have never heard of a Lenovo docking station with that name, could that be the Mini Dock Plus Series 3 with USB 3.0?
That driver version you have listed (24.21.13.9836) appears to be the GeForce 398.36 driver release, which is a little outdated. The newest driver release can be found here (24.21.14.1216).
Strange, does the same problem occur without the docking station?
I believe the Mini Dock Plus Series 3 docking station does not have a BIOS that controls it, so you are out of luck with that. Try installing the newest driver release from NVIDIA, see if that fixes the flickering issue.
That driver version you have listed (24.21.13.9836) appears to be the GeForce 398.36 driver release, which is a little outdated. The newest driver release can be found here (24.21.14.1216).
Strange, does the same problem occur without the docking station?
I believe the Mini Dock Plus Series 3 docking station does not have a BIOS that controls it, so you are out of luck with that. Try installing the newest driver release from NVIDIA, see if that fixes the flickering issue.
-
- Freshman Member
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:22 am
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
Re: Weird Screen flicker W530 and ultradoc
Thanks, Screamer.
The K2000M is a Quadro, and not a GeForce, so the latest driver is 25.21.14.1678. For others reading this, who have a Quadro, be advised that the NVidia site is a bit screwed up in how it lists the Enterprise (stable) and the Latest/Beta versions. I downloaded the stable version, and that worked (albeit with the problems I mention in my post). The Latest/Beta version listed on the nVidia download page is actually earlier than the stable version (version number lower than the stable version), but when you download it you get the version number (which is higher than the stable version) I cite above.
I have another W530, which has a K1000M, and I'm going to try working with that for a bit and see if I can duplicate the problem. I'm not sure what ports are native on the W530 but I may have a cable I can use that will work directly. So I can test the direct connect, too.
I really wish that the K2000M cards were replaceable. I like my W530s a lot.
But back to a point: why do some apps cause the screen to flicker off, then on, when others don't?
I've noticed that these programs cause the flicker:
Powerpoint and (Microsoft) Windows Settings
But these do not:
Task Manager, Device Manager, Excel, Word, Outlook, Notepad+++, Matlab, System Information, Norton Security, iTunes, Visual Studio
It may be that the docking station is kaput, or the K2000m card is going south. But the problem only occurs with those two programs. And only if they are on the Dell external screen, but not on the laptop screen.
So what graphical programming construct is in the first two programs, but not in most others?
The K2000M is a Quadro, and not a GeForce, so the latest driver is 25.21.14.1678. For others reading this, who have a Quadro, be advised that the NVidia site is a bit screwed up in how it lists the Enterprise (stable) and the Latest/Beta versions. I downloaded the stable version, and that worked (albeit with the problems I mention in my post). The Latest/Beta version listed on the nVidia download page is actually earlier than the stable version (version number lower than the stable version), but when you download it you get the version number (which is higher than the stable version) I cite above.
I have another W530, which has a K1000M, and I'm going to try working with that for a bit and see if I can duplicate the problem. I'm not sure what ports are native on the W530 but I may have a cable I can use that will work directly. So I can test the direct connect, too.
I really wish that the K2000M cards were replaceable. I like my W530s a lot.
But back to a point: why do some apps cause the screen to flicker off, then on, when others don't?
I've noticed that these programs cause the flicker:
Powerpoint and (Microsoft) Windows Settings
But these do not:
Task Manager, Device Manager, Excel, Word, Outlook, Notepad+++, Matlab, System Information, Norton Security, iTunes, Visual Studio
It may be that the docking station is kaput, or the K2000m card is going south. But the problem only occurs with those two programs. And only if they are on the Dell external screen, but not on the laptop screen.
So what graphical programming construct is in the first two programs, but not in most others?
-
- Senior ThinkPadder
- Posts: 2670
- Joined: Sun Aug 09, 2015 9:25 am
- Location: N. Bellmore, ny
Re: Weird Screen flicker W530 and ultradoc
Try and set the machine to either "Integrated Only" or "Dedicated Graphics Only" and see how the problem works then.
If the machine goes haywire on every app w/ dedicated graphics and goes away the integrated only....then the K2000M is dying.
Does this only happen on the dock?
If the machine goes haywire on every app w/ dedicated graphics and goes away the integrated only....then the K2000M is dying.
Does this only happen on the dock?
Thinkpad4by3's Law of the Universe.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
The efficiency of two screens equally sized with equal numbers if pixels are equal. The time spent by a 4:3 user complaining about 16:9 is proportional to the inefficiency working with a 16:9 display, therefore the amount of useful work extracted is equal.
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
[SOLVED] - Screen stays on when lid closed on Thinkpad W530
by MajedS » Thu Mar 07, 2024 12:45 pm » in ThinkPad W530/W540/W541/W550 Series - 2 Replies
- 419 Views
-
Last post by MajedS
Fri Mar 08, 2024 7:49 am
-
-
-
W530 - Windows 10 and drivers
by ac427 » Thu Apr 04, 2024 9:04 am » in ThinkPad W530/W540/W541/W550 Series - 2 Replies
- 142 Views
-
Last post by kiterunner
Thu Apr 04, 2024 10:01 pm
-
-
-
FS: ThinkPad W530
by PiZzA EnGiNeEr » Sat Nov 18, 2023 11:48 pm » in Marketplace - Forum Members only - 2 Replies
- 1526 Views
-
Last post by Brad
Thu Nov 23, 2023 9:04 am
-
-
-
W530 Bluetooth sound broken after switching to windows 10
by Gregui To » Sat Dec 09, 2023 6:17 pm » in ThinkPad W530/W540/W541/W550 Series - 1 Replies
- 2229 Views
-
Last post by mikemex
Wed Feb 21, 2024 12:42 am
-
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 7 guests