Samsung 27D850D, horrible monitor flicker

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 29 Dec 2014 at 14:59

Hey guys,

So I received my new monitor today from OCUK, however I got a bit of a problem with it.

The screen flickers like crazy when I'm using this monitor and another (Acer GD245HQ) in dual monitor mode, only the samsung monitor flickers, its so bad I can't use the monitor, if I move my mouse cursor it goes absolutely crazy (flickering like mad).

When using the monitor on it's own it's much better and only flickers occasionally at random, but I can make it flicker by moving a window around the screen.

I've installed the driver, which didn't help.
I've also tried each connection (DP, HDMI, DVI) and it's the same on all of them.
Changing the refresh rate and/or resolution doesn't help.

Power cable is properly seated and so is my GPU (R9 290)

Any ideas guys?

Thanks

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 29 Dec 2014 at 15:17

Ok so it's something to do with the GPU's 2D clocks(?)

In afterburner if I apply my overclock settings then the flickering completely goes away, which seems odd as GPU-Z reports that the only change in clocks in the memory from 1350 to 1450mhz, the core clock stays the same (300mhz).
Maybe it's something to do with the additional voltage being applied to the card, however I thought I was just increasing the 3D clock voltage?!

Confused again! :/

phate101101 · 30 Dec 2014 at 23:31

Very strange that that works around the issue, are you gonna rma it? As it really should just work right..

I've ordered one too, what are your general impressions of the monitor (flickering issue aside)?

Moeks · 31 Dec 2014 at 07:20

Do you mean as shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjLvAYRzPfM

This is a known issue with these panels in both 27" and 32" sizes, it seems to be rather hit and miss as to whether you get one that does it or not.

It is interesting what you say about overclocking stopping it though, I hadn't heard that before.

Darren777 · 31 Dec 2014 at 07:58

Moeks said:
Do you mean as shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjLvAYRzPfM

This is a known issue with these panels in both 27" and 32" sizes, it seems to be rather hit and miss as to whether you get one that does it or not.

It is interesting what you say about overclocking stopping it though, I hadn't heard that before.

I unfortunately had exactly the same issue as show in the video with the 32" model. Sent it back for a refund.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 31 Dec 2014 at 09:49

phate101101 said:
Very strange that that works around the issue, are you gonna rma it? As it really should just work right..

I've ordered one too, what are your general impressions of the monitor (flickering issue aside)?

Well that's the thing, I don't know whether the monitor is faulty or if it's something else like my GPU.

Adding a slight bump to my GPU's core voltage when at idle seems to solve it, I made a thread about it here: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18646247

But the issue isn't seen on my other monitor, perhaps the samsung is more demanding being at a higher res?!

Apart from the flickering the monitor is fantastic, MUCH better picture quality/colour accuracy than my Acer GD245HQ (TN panel), also can't say I've noticed a difference in games in terms of responsiveness (old monitor was 1ms), I'm very happy with it.

Moeks said:
Do you mean as shown in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjLvAYRzPfM

This is a known issue with these panels in both 27" and 32" sizes, it seems to be rather hit and miss as to whether you get one that does it or not.

It is interesting what you say about overclocking stopping it though, I hadn't heard that before.

Interesting, the flickering on his monitor seems to be uniform and across the entire monitor where as mine is more heavily concentrated to the bottom of the screen and in random squares/rectangles.

nutsnut · 31 Dec 2014 at 11:11

Are you running the monitor with DP 1.2 or is it still set to 1.1?

Also, with dual monitors AMD cards are meant to run with the memory always at 3d clocks. Wonder if your 290 is flicking between the 2D/3D clocks for some reason.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 31 Dec 2014 at 11:43

nutsnut said:
Are you running the monitor with DP 1.2 or is it still set to 1.1?

Also, with dual monitors AMD cards are meant to run with the memory always at 3d clocks. Wonder if your 290 is flicking between the 2D/3D clocks for some reason.

I'm using HDMI at the mo, not sure if it was running 1.1 or 1.2 when I tested with DP but the problem is persistent on all connection types.

And yes, the memory clock is always at 1350mhz (3D clock), the core however is at 300mhz, but the problem seems to be with the voltage.

phate101101 · 31 Dec 2014 at 13:47

Thanks for responding!
I'd actually suggest to double check you're not inadvertently overclocking the monitors refresh rate, the problems and solution would seem to, possibly, match that.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 31 Dec 2014 at 14:16

phate101101 said:
Thanks for responding!
I'd actually suggest to double check you're not inadvertently overclocking the monitors refresh rate, the problems and solution would seem to, possibly, match that.

No problem.

I doubt the cause would be monitor overclocking, see my reply in my other thread I linked to, also I have no idea how to overclock a monitor and I haven't touched the settings (I know you said inadvertently, but still seems unlikely given the rest of the evidence).

P3N9U1N · 31 Dec 2014 at 14:21

Had this problem with my 32 as well, set back for refund. It's a shame because it was an awesome panel.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 31 Dec 2014 at 14:37

P3N9U1N said:
Had this problem with my 32 as well, set back for refund. It's a shame because it was an awesome panel.

Hey,

Are you sure it was the screen at fault, I see you have a 290 aswell...

Did you test with another GPU?

Moeks · 31 Dec 2014 at 18:07

The 32" I got today seems fine so far, being drive by an R9 285, not flickering yet and I did try, including with the same map location with all the same amounts of white in the picture as the chap in the video. I have tried hurling white boxes around the screen and then just used normally ...seems ok so far.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 1 Jan 2015 at 00:38

I've noticed something, I put my 1440p samsung monitor to 1080p and the flickering stopped with the voltage at stock....

I said before that it might be something to do with 1440p being more demanding...

Anyway, happy new year to all!

Diddums · 1 Jan 2015 at 08:08

For what it's worth, I have the 32" panel running with a 290 as well, no issues. I've played a match of BF4 on it, a bit of browsing and some Google Earth and had no issues at all.

I'm yet to inspect it closely for dead pixels but nothing stands out so it can't be too bad.

I hope you get it sorted, it's a lovely screen.

Awahwah · 1 Jan 2015 at 10:14

I was looking at the monitor but reading the verious threads of this type, I've been put off. Am I being silly?

Minstadave · 1 Jan 2015 at 10:26

Isn't the OPs flickering just the dual monitor bug that AMD has had for years?

The standard 2D clocks are too low so you get flickering on the second monitor. Normally the driver increases the clock speeds and voltages at idle when you have a dual monitor setup to avoid this. Sounds like this isn't haooening for the OP.

Just make a custom BIOS with higher clocks or use afterburner to disable 2D clocks.

iB CoMpL3XiTy · 1 Jan 2015 at 11:44

Diddums said:
For what it's worth, I have the 32" panel running with a 290 as well, no issues. I've played a match of BF4 on it, a bit of browsing and some Google Earth and had no issues at all.

I'm yet to inspect it closely for dead pixels but nothing stands out so it can't be too bad.

I hope you get it sorted, it's a lovely screen.

Thanks for letting me know, can you tell me what 290 you have and do you have an overclock on the card that's applied when windows starts?

Awahwah said:
I was looking at the monitor but reading the verious threads of this type, I've been put off. Am I being silly?

I wouldn't say silly, probably cautious, I don't think you'd experience my issue as I'm 99% sure it's an issue with my graphics card, and the other guy seems to have received a damaged monitor which could happen with any monitor. There does seem to be a chance you'll receive a monitor that flickers (not the same flickering as mine) but it's still worth the chance as if it's faulty you can just RMA it.
It's a fantastic monitor and I'd highly recommend it.

Minstadave said:
Isn't the OPs flickering just the dual monitor bug that AMD has had for years?

The standard 2D clocks are too low so you get flickering on the second monitor. Normally the driver increases the clock speeds and voltages at idle when you have a dual monitor setup to avoid this. Sounds like this isn't haooening for the OP.

Just make a custom BIOS with higher clocks or use afterburner to disable 2D clocks.

Hmmm...Not sure if it's the same issue, I think if I could increase the 2D clocks it would actually make the problem worse, the stock 2D clocks seem to be somewhat unstable so increasing the clock speed would surely make it more unstable, I'll try a different driver to see if that helps.
Also this does still happen when only using the samsung monitor, it's just much worse when using dual monitors.

RBE doesn't support newer cards apparently, something to do with digital signing(?) and I don't know another program to edit the BIOS that I could use.
I'm using afterburner currently to slightly increase the core voltage on start up, but it's more of a work-around than a solution, if the card is faulty I'll RMA it (which is probably what I'll do).

Diddums · 1 Jan 2015 at 16:49

Awahwah said:
I was looking at the monitor but reading the verious threads of this type, I've been put off. Am I being silly?

I think so. Remember that those with issues scream the loudest. I'm absolutely loving mine, best thing I've bought in ages.

iB CoMpL3XiTy said:
Thanks for letting me know, can you tell me what 290 you have and do you have an overclock on the card that's applied when windows starts?

Sure, it's an MSI Gaming with no overclock. It's exactly as it came from the factory. It has been overclocked before but that was just when I wanted to see what all the cool kids were talking about.