Pro Max 16 Premium MA16250, stability/system freezing issues

Update: 10/28/2025, 1 day after motherboard replacement.  Unfortunately, after only running the laptop for a few hours, it froze again with the exact same symptoms.  Everything stops on the laptop, the screen turns gray black and the mouse, keyboard/controls and apps all become completely unresponsive. The only way to get out of this black frozen paralysis is to do a very hard reboot, by pressing the power for at least 8-10 seconds to shut it down and then turn the power back on.  This is really, really bad and occurs each day I use the laptop.  So, the complete motherboard replacement did not fix the issue.  I will report this back to Dell.  If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.  I am not running ESET, but Bitdefender antivirus.  I run it on other Dell machines using Windows 11 24H2 with no issues.

Update: 11/1/2025, Dell asked for further logs and came to the conclusion that the motherboard needs to be replaced yet again (within the same week).  I asked what led them to that conclusion given they said the logs came back clean. I received no adequate response from support only that I need to comply with the second replacement. I also asked if the motherboard revision is different that would lead to a second motherboard replacement and they were not able to answer that question. I believe they are suggesting the replace the motherboard with the same revision, which is illogical to me and will yield the same result - unresolved.

I went ahead and tried a different test.  I ran the laptop without the monitor and nothing else attached.  I was streaming Youtube videos for four hours as a test. Generally, the system has a complete freeze/black screen within the first two hours.  This test ran successfully.  There has to be a conflict between the Dell Pro Max 16 Premium Laptop MA16250 (or the drivers or Windows) and the Dell Ultrasharp 27 4K Thunderbolt Hub Monitor U2725QE which are both newer models purchased mid-August 2025. The processor is the Intel Core Ultra 9 and the graphics card is the NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell GDDR7. It's going to be a total waste of time replacing the motherboard again, unless someone at Dell can in fact state that the motherboard has been upgraded since the motherboard replacement 6 days ago.  Has anyone seen this type of conflict which results in a hard freeze when using this model and monitor?  As a note all firmware/software is current.  Dell never suggested to reinstall the Windows 11 operating system.

Per some Google Gemini info, there could be a corrupted or improperly layered chipset and thunderbolt drivers and a recommended approach is to do a driver purse and reinstall.  Given this issue is occurring across two motherboards (one replaced) then it could be a software layering conflict with the handshake between the monitor and laptop.

Update: 11/3/2025, Dell replaced the motherboard again, but this time, the board was a new rev from 10/24/2025.  The previous one that was replaced was from July 2025.  I've been testing the new change with the laptop connected to the Dell monitor as noted above.  So far, I've been streaming data from Youtube for over 4 hrs and 15 minutes as a test and there have been no system freezes/hangs.  It would never run this long without freezing.  I want to give it another week before making a final declaration that it is fixed.  So far, it is looking good.

Update: 11/8/2025, I ran another streaming test connected to the Dell monitor and after about 4.5 hours the same hang occurred.  This time, it took longer by several hours.  With the previous motherboards, it hung within the first 2 hrs.  I give up and don't feel like dealing with this issue anymore. I've spent way too much time on it already.

Hi, I have the same problem.
The only thing that helps for me is to disable "NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 Blackwell Generation Laptop GPU" in device manager.
I have Windows 11 25H2
I have been testing nVidia driver R580 U5 (581.80), R570 U10 (573.76), R570 U10 (573.51) with same problem every time.

I have buy this laptop with nVidia graphic so I want this to work.

Dell support have not yet fix this for me.

@Rillomannen​ Thank you for also sharing your experience and the workaround.  I agree with 'wanting it to work' given we bought this particular configuration.  Just out of curiosity, did you take the step to completely reinstall Windows from scratch? I haven't done that yet, but really don't want to go through the process only to find the issue still exists.  I'm curious if you took that step or not.  Appreciate the dialog. Warm Regards.

Hi, Yes I always do a clean installation when I got my laptops.
I have seven laptops, five MA16250 and two MA14250 and all of them have the same problem. :(

@Rillomannen​ Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry you have this particular issue on all 7 laptops.  I'm shocked that DELL has not properly responded to this.  I can see them looking at me as a 'one off', but you have a lot, and it is definitely some hardware/software type of conflict. I truly hope a solution is found, more so, for you. I appreciate you sharing as it helps to understand this problem further.  If any more information is obtained, then I will share it on this thread.  In the meantime, please take care and thank you.

Just received my Dell 16 Premium DA16250 yesterday and I'm already having keyboard and mouse lag issues.  Embarrassed for telling a friend recently to get a Dell, "You can't go wrong!" 🤦‍♂️  It is fast and it is pretty though 😂

Update: All is well now, had to disable "C-State Control" in the BIOS.  It's fast, pretty and no issues anymore.  😉

Setting: C-STATE CONTROL

The setting is officially called C-STATE CONTROL (or sometimes just C-States).

• Location in BIOS: Usually found under Performance or Power Management settings in the Dell BIOS.

• Default Value: Enabled/Auto.

• The Fix: You need to Disable this setting.

💡 Why It Causes Lag

1. What C-States Are: C-States are CPU power-saving states (C0 is fully active, C1-C6 are progressively deeper sleep states). When the CPU is idle, it quickly drops into a deep C-State to save battery power.
   
   

2. The Problem: On certain Dell motherboards (often coupled with Thunderbolt/USB-C docks), the process of the CPU rapidly entering and exiting these deep sleep states appears to interrupt the timing or power delivery to the USB controllers.
   
   

3. The Result: This results in momentary "stutters," mouse freezing, or delayed/repeated keystrokes, which is the exact lag you experienced.
   
   

4. The Drawback of the Fix: Disabling C-States prevents the CPU from entering its deepest sleep modes when idle. This typically leads to slightly increased power consumption and reduced battery life when running off the battery.

If you disabled this setting and the lag disappeared, that confirms the issue was a conflict between the CPU's power-saving features and the peripheral controllers.

✅ Action Plan to Find the Setting

1. Restart your Dell laptop.

2. Repeatedly tap the F2 key (or sometimes F12 and select BIOS Setup) to enter the BIOS/UEFI screen.

3. Look for sections named Performance, Processor, or Power Management.

4. Find the setting: C-STATE CONTROL and change it from Enabled to Disabled.

@Give Me Time​ Thank you so much for both messages.  Agree that Dell should have added to this thread. I'm happy that you were able to find a fix that fixed your issue.  Thank you for sharing that and responding to this thread. 

Dell Pro Max 18 Plus... precisely the same problem.  I had Dell send me a replacement since I didn't have time for the repair.  The new build was in November, and YES, same problem you have here on the replacement and the original.  Dell tech thought it was the motherboard, but obviously not.  I've spent hours setting up both computers.  My clients have been delayed on their projects, thus costing them and me money.  At this point, this new $5k laptop has cost me double what I paid for it.  I'm at my desk now with two Dell Pro 18 Plus laptops and an old Dell Precision 7720, trying to figure out my next steps.

@raypaceng​ Hi, Ihave the same problem.
But in the last three days everything has working good after that I in BIOS disable C-STATE and install this BIOS version and driver versions (download from Dell support site) =

Dell Pro Max 14 Premium MA14250/16 Premium MA16250 System BIOS, 1.6.1

NVIDIA RTX PRO 1000/2000/3000 Graphics Driver, 32.0.15.8183, A03

Intel Arc Graphics Driver and Intel Graphics Software Application, 32.0.101.8132, A03

@raypaceng​ Thank you for sharing.  See @Rillomannen 's note below as well as the related @Give Me Time to see if that can help. I certainly understand your frustration as I spent so much time on this issue.  

@Rillomannen​ Thank you for sharing your update.