OptiPlex 3080 Micro SFF Randomly Crashes

Question

Hi. I have a Dell Optiplex Micro 3080 hooked up to a DisplayPort Splitter: https://www.amazon.com/Club-3D-Displayport-Splitter-2-DisplayPort/dp/B09779XGZ3 . The hub connects 2 x Samsung C27F396FHN 27' LED LCD Monitor - 16:9 - 4 ms - 1920 x 1080 - 16.7 Million Colors - 250 cd/m² - 3,000:1 - Full HD - HDMI - VGA - 25 W - High Glossy Black and then I have a TCL monitor plugged into the HDMI port. It works for the most part without issue, but randomly, the computer will crash. All three screens will get a bright color pink, green, blue distorted overlay all over them, if the speakers are on it'll make a loud buzzing noise, and then I'll need to hold the power button to turn it off and reboot. There is no BSOD. Nothing in Windows logs from what I can tell besides a critical shutdown alert after the fact, but no alert prior, and there isn't anything I can do to replicate or find any commonality.  Has anyone had this issue before? All drivers, patches, and BIOS are up to date. It's seemingly random, though thinking about it, it might happen when I'm doing a screen share or remote logged into a PC if that helps give any clues. I've racked my brain and bringing this to the community for some help.

bradthetechnut · Accepted Answer

Making sure I understand - Powered USB brick to power DP splitter? I haven't heard of it, but it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Or simply a powered DP splitter.

What I did find is powered HDMI splitters. But I'm not the king of monitors in this forum, so I don't know if you would get 2 separate screens or if they'd just be mirrored.

I don't know what's all plugged into your USB's. But a powered USB hub could help. Flash drives consume a little power and I think WiFi dongles do to.

The 3080 micro comes with 65w PSU brick. The 5080 comes with 90w brick and optional 130w brick. Same for the 7080 + optional 180w brick. If you wanted to use a higher watt brick, I don't know if they'd work on the 3080 micro, but might not take much to research to see if power plugs are the same.

Reason I thought of DP not having enough power for a splitter is because a few years ago, I'm at an appt. Noticed the Dell micro's and asked about them. Complaint was it seemed like USB's didn't have enough power. Something like couldn't use more than one USB at a time and there were issues with trying to print that didn't exist with their previous PC's.

djskidzz · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion. Prior to connection the splitter and second monitor, I had only one  Samsung C27F396FHN hooked up and no issues. It started after the splitter.

Tesla1856 · Answer

I suggest you connect one nice monitor, via DisplayPort, to the computer with a normal/straight-thru Display-Port cable. Run like that for a few days. See if computer itself is working properly.

bradthetechnut · Answer

The 3080 micro may not have enough power to use a DP splitter.

djskidzz · Answer

Ah makes sense. Should I plug the DP splitter into dedicated power and USB Brick instead of using the USB on the machine?

bradthetechnut · Answer

It looks like the power bricks are universal among the aforementioned micro's.  Optiplex 3080/5080 micro 90w brick on Amazon

bradthetechnut · Answer

Expensive, but interesting.  https://brightlinkav.com/brightlink-new-4kat30hz-2x2-video-wall-controller-dual-hdmi-dispaly-port-usb-c-web-and-app-control.html?utm_medium=adwords&utm_campaign=&utm_source=&utm_content=425989170873&utm_term=&gclid=CjwKCAiAgbiQBhAHEiwAuQ6BkotlzpJswkN-azuSF4hP1jTx0y8qF4SZ4_1cnAavUitAIfLJKgNI-BoCABoQAvD_BwE

djskidzz · Answer

Thanks for the help, follow up and, recommendations. Do you think I'm better off getting a larger power brick to supply more power, or get a powered Display Splitter? It makes total sense that it would be the power. Now to figure out how to fix this. I use 3 screens and all are extended displays

bradthetechnut · Answer

You're welcome. : )

It's up to you what you want to try first as there may be some troubleshooting to go yet. Meaning if a new PSU brick or powered splitter doesn't work, then you'd still have to try the other. Having to use both wouldn't surprise me.

3 screens on a 3080 micro definitely makes it sound like it needs more power. Tim Allen would probably hook up jumper cables to it. : )>

One way to make a decision is which one is more cost effective to start with. Or who knows, trying a powered splitter might be a safer bet and I think it has a good chance of working. I'd also have a hard time having a PC with only 65w brick.

Careful if shopping eBay. They have generic $20 power bricks that I wouldn't trust.

So hopefully you have what you need to make an informed decision.

djskidzz · Answer

Hi. New update. I tried to give the DisplayPort splitter that I had it’s own power to remove the load from the machine (since it was powered from the usb a on the machine before) but I still had the issue. So I bought a Dell D6000S dock and have 2 x DisplayPort monitors into that and connected the doc via usb a to the machine, and the other screen is into the hdmi in the machine itself. Still having the issue.

Optiplex Desktops

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