After the time spent with Dell Support doing diagnostics and updating video drivers to those official Dell drivers on the support page, my new XPS 15 9550 with 4K touch display continues to struggle when using external monitors. I have two (2) Dell U2515H monitors.
I have updated ALL of the drivers and BIOS to the very latest files available on the Dell support page, including the newest Thunderbolt 3 driver.
When the laptop is NOT connected to any external monitors, I am NOT experiencing any trouble.
When the laptop is connected to ONE external monitor via the onboard HDMI port, I am NOT experiencing any trouble.
Trouble begins with the addition of ANY external monitor via the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port.
I have experimented with the following three adapters, all producing the same result:
- Dell USB-C to HDMI (2.0), part number 047KD7
- Dell USB-C Port DA200, part number 5KMR3 REVA00
- Cable Matters USB-C to DisplayPort
First, regardless of which adapter. my laptop ramps up the fan for as long as the adapter is present.
Second, although the monitor works with any of the adapters at the proper resolution, all of the screens will go black about every 10-20 minutes and the displays will seem to resize and reset. In this process, about half of the time, the windows open on the monitor connected to the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 port will either minimize or relocate to the primary display (the laptop screen). However, the laptop itself doesn't freeze. I tried running a YouTube video through the screen freeze event. The sound continued without any trouble and the video advanced through the timeline and was synchronized to the sound when the displays reset.
If I disconnect the USB-C adapter (whichever one), the laptop fan will return to an idle state and the display freezes also stop.
I think that the USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 driver and/or the external display driver is/are to blame and I strongly urge that Dell get this resolved ASAP.
This experience is VERY frustrating, especially considering the premium cost of the XPS 15. I intentionally purchased a top-of-line laptop and fully expect it to be able to at least drive a second monitor with the super magical Thunderbolt 3 port. I am seriously considering returning the device and looking elsewhere.
reenagr
8 Posts
0
July 13th, 2016 14:00
I'm using the plugable doc that supports 3 monitors and it's working great.
gapus
7 Posts
0
July 13th, 2016 18:00
Can you be specific? What dock? TB15 is pluggable and it doesn't appear to work for anyone.
reenagr
8 Posts
0
July 18th, 2016 11:00
Plugable.com has their own USB 3 dock, I returned the TB15. The other one works and it's cheaper. You can buy through amazon.
Randle81
5 Posts
0
July 18th, 2016 16:00
But... it is not thunderbolt and so uses your laptop processor to do the work, it has lower throuhput for data, only supports external displays at 30hz for 4K, does not support HDCP do you cannot play copy protected content.
The last two are the big issues for me as the dock As i want to be able to play copy protected content at high resolution. That and the dock is ugly. So unfortunately it is not a simple swap. I'm waiting for the release of their thunderbolt dock in Q4 this year.
gapus
7 Posts
0
July 18th, 2016 16:00
I completely agree. There is nothing like the TB15 is supposed to, and hopefully will be, out there yet. So I am restarting this obsterperous monster 3-12 times a day so I can live with it until Dell puts things right or a real replacement becomes available. StarTech has one available for preorder. Hopefully it will work well. But won't deliver much power to the laptop. I'm on the fence as to whether to reorder.
willdupnik78240
1 Message
0
August 4th, 2016 19:00
I'm currently having the same issue, I tried the thunderbolt and now the dell dock and neither will work with two monitors. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
carlosia
1 Message
0
August 9th, 2016 06:00
Same problem for me on a displaypor-hdmi cable. Found two solutions:
1. Disconnect and reconnect de display port cable
2. Change the resolution and restore it
None of them are satisfactory
CL0SeY
12 Posts
0
August 17th, 2016 02:00
I had the same problem where all my USB-C connected devices would disconnect when using/searching for Wi-Fi networks with my XPS 9550.
I lodged a support ticket with Dell, who replaced the motherboard, and magically, the problem seems to be solved. If it comes back I'll report back here.
The new motherboard is sitting at A06 (1.2.0) BIOS and I'm not game to update it until the in-built screen flickering issue is properly solved.
roverny
1 Message
0
September 7th, 2016 19:00
Hi all, I have an HP Zbook and am using their TBT dock, and got some bad news, I have the same issue.
Which means most likely it's the TBT firmware/firmware/etc. Which means it most likely involves Intel as well. :(
Muzzer
7 Posts
0
September 8th, 2016 08:00
As I said above, I reckon a lot of this hinges around the USB-based video adaptors which seem to be a triumph of marketing over substance. Sounds like great enabling technology, doing away with the docking port on the laptop but the enabling technology just doesn't quite....work. They've been struggling with these USB docking station things for the best part of 5 years to my personal knowledge. Funny thing is they keep coming back for more.
It also looks like a complete spider's nest and takes a lot of messing about to plug everything in each time I "undock" my XPS15 from the PSU, USB hub, HDMI cable and USB-C/HDMI adaptor. And when I plug it all back together I frequently have to reboot to get the second monitor (the USB-C one obviously) to work. That's progress, eh.
Oh yeh - and if I maximise anything in the second monitor I get *** horizontal lines randomly flickering around the screen.
Guido Pater
1 Message
0
November 15th, 2016 05:00
Wow!!! At last I've found this thread... Already pulling my hair for over 2 months now... And to the looks of it, it's still not fixed. I have the XPS 15 9550 + TB15 dock + 2 external monitors (dell ultrasharp u2515h).. Lid closed with the setup. Its randomly killing my DisplayPort connected monitor (HDMI keeps on working) and also got the same problem with my previous dell dock (Dell D3100) when connecting through DisplayPort... I worked for a couple of weeks but at a given point it randomly (3 to 10 minutes) switching of one of the displays. That gives me the idea that the problem at least lies in the combination of the TB15 & XPS 15... Or the XPS 15 drivers side
Will try to mess around with the closed lid option (power & battery) and will try to also work with the lid open... If somebody already figured out the solution...
flamesfan2635
10 Posts
5
November 25th, 2016 15:00
REPLACE THE DELL WIRELESS CARD
Since replacing the Dell wireless card with an Intel 8265 wireless network card my 4K monitor running on a Thunderbolt 3 to DP adapter from Star Tech has been ROCK SOLID. **Must uninstall the Broadcom software in the Add/Remove programs screen.
My experience is as follows:
-Dell wireless card with output power at 100%: Thunderbolt controller resets every 5-10 min. causing the display to disconnect each time.
-Dell wireless card with output power at 75%: Thunderbolt controller resets approx. 1-2 times per hour. Clicking on a "save" option or other function that launches a File Explorer window often coincides with at reset.
-Dell wireless card with output power at 50%: Thunderbolt controller doesn't reset, but connected Bluetooth devices interfere with the weak WiFi signal and cause the WiFi connection to become useless. Must turn off Bluetooth to use WiFi.
-Intel 8265NGW Wireless-AC: ROCK SOLID. **Must uninstall the Broadcom software in the Add/Remove programs screen, it interferes with the Bluetooth driver.
phineasjw
27 Posts
0
November 25th, 2016 20:00
flamesfan2635: for the last three months I've been managing this problem by adjusting the broadcom's power and that has worked for me 95% of the time. I go back and forth between 75% and 50% on the power output of the broadcom, depending on the setting I'm in. I have two TB15s, each with its own 4K monitor -- one at work and one at home. The TB15s work flawlessly for me with this arrangement. So everything you're saying makes complete sense to me. My only question is where did you get the Intel 8265NGW Wireless-AC and did Windows or Dell have the drivers for it?
flamesfan2635
10 Posts
0
November 28th, 2016 08:00
Hi phineasjw, I purchased the Intel 8265NGW from eBay. (It was the only place that I could find the newest Intel card.) I downloaded the drivers from the Intel website. Make sure to download the drivers before removing the old card. ;)
BerlinGuy
13 Posts
0
December 1st, 2016 12:00
Any solutions yet from anyone how to avoid that Fan turns up when USB-C port is being used?
I have newest everything installed ofc
Thanks in advance for hints