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Dell U2515H randomly blacks out
Hi,
I'm using a Dell U2515H monitor connected via HDMI to a Dell Inspiron 13 7000 (7268 model). The display randomly blacks out for about 2-3 seconds, and it is absolutely infuriating. When I first purchased the monitor I had issues with bad backlight coverage and the monitor was replaced twice, making this monitor the third monitor, and all three monitors have had this same blacking out issue.
I am using a relatively new HDMI cable, bought when I purchased the laptop approximately 12 months ago. I have tried changing HDMI cables with no result. A few days ago I purchased a USB-C > HDMI adapter hoping that it might be a problem with the laptop's HDMI output, but that has not fixed the problem.
I am unable to use any other connection method as the laptop only has USB, USB-C, and HDMI outputs.
Dell has sent a service technician to replace the motherboard in the laptop, the problem still persists.
I regularly (3-4 times a week) connect this laptop to my TV via HDMI and watch 2+ hours of video at a time and the TV has NEVER blacked out.
I am currently testing the monitor on an older Dell Inspiron 3452 laptop. It has not blacked out yet, but it has only been connected for about an hour so that's not enough time to be sure yet. I'll run it on this laptop for most of tonight and provide an update later.
I tested another monitor on the Inspiron 13 7000 laptop for two days and did not have any issue with blacking out.
Some help with this would be greatly appreciated as this issue renders a $700 monitor basically unusable.
Cheers,
Dan.
robert p
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May 5th, 2017 09:00
Hello danpower,
Thanks for posting.
Some users have reported success by enabling Display Port 1.2 in the monitor settings and set Windows to use "High Performance" instead of "Balanced"
danpower
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May 6th, 2017 03:00
Thanks Robert, even though I'm using HDMI I have tried enabling Display Port 1.2 but the problem persists.
I'll run the computer on High Performance for a while and see if that helps, but as that results in the fan running at 100% volume pretty much full time, it's not a satisfactory solution.
Anything else?
Cheers
danpower
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May 9th, 2017 03:00
No answer............
Looks like this will be the third and final U2515H returned to Dell
robert p
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July 25th, 2017 09:00
danpower,
"I'll run it on this laptop for most of tonight and provide an update later."
What was the result of the above testing? If the U2515H does not have the "black out" issue on the other laptop, then the fault must not be with the U2515H.
Did you try this?
* Turn the monitor off
* Disconnect all cables (including the power cable) from the rear and side of the monitor
* If a mechanical monitor power button, press the button in for 30 seconds (clears any residual power in the circuits). If not a mechanical power button, just wait for 30 seconds
* Reconnect all cabling and retest
Thanks
danpower
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July 25th, 2017 18:00
Hi Robert,
The monitor did not black out on the other laptop, and I think I have figured out a little bit more about what's making it do it.
If I take a powered USB cable (e.g. the mirco-usb end of a phone charging cord, with the other end plugged into a USB port that's supplying power) and touch it to the left hand side of the laptop body (in the general area of the HDMI port), the monitor blacks out. I can repeatedly and reliably recreate this. I also see a very tiny spark if the room is dark enough.
The issue seems to be occurring when any powered USB device is connected (hub, printer, powered hard drive, etc) and seems to happen when I make enough movement that the USB cable is slightly moved. Unfortunately typing is enough movement for this, which seems to be why the monitor blacks out regularly.
Again I can reliably recreate this behaviour by connecting a powered USB device and giving it the old 'wiggle test,' the monitor will repeatedly black out as long as I'm wiggling the USB plug. This occurs with the monitor connected to both HDMI and USBC.
The laptop motherboard has already been replaced due to this issue so I can only imagine that this is simply a case of poor grounding or below average build quality of the laptop or the motherboard (or both). I cannot really see any solution other than to return the laptop to Dell and replace it with something completely different.