screen flicker on Dell XPS 13 9350 after kernel upgrade

[Anmar Oueja]

I upgraded to this version of the linux kernel (Linux xps 4.4.0-9-generic #24-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 29 19:33:19 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux) and the screen now flickers ramdomly. flicker every few seconds for a fraction of the second. Not related to application install or system load.

WORKAROUND: I discovered that if you have tlp installed and running, you will get screen flicker. If you disable it, or remove it, the flicker goes away.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-9-generic 4.4.0-9.24
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-9.24-generic 4.4.3
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-9-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: anmar 1810 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed Mar 2 11:11:37 2016
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=94adb22b-7cde-416d-a17f-c3e5d40718da
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-03-02 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160301)
Lsusb:
 Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
 Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:5682 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0a5c:6412 Broadcom Corp.
 Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 13 9350
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-9-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=9945d9bf-9e44-4308-a4ec-c1f92f9b330c ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-9-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-9-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.156
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/18/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.1.9
dmi.board.name: 07TYC2
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A01
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.1.9:bd12/18/2015:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139350:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn07TYC2:rvrA01:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9350
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

I tried 4.5 kernel from the Canonical team PPA and it is still flickering but to a lesser degreee. BTW, the flickering goes away when I am on a video conference call such as google hangouts.

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

4.4.3 from the kernel ppa does not exhibit this bug

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

Linux xps 4.4.0-8-generic #23-Ubuntu doesn't exhibit this bug

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

Just tested the Linux xps 4.4.4-040404-generic #201603031931 SMP Fri Mar 4 00:34:16 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
 and flicker is gone.

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

I also found another problem. Resume for a long sleep doesn't turn the LCD back on . Will continue to test using the Linux xps 4.4.4-040404-generic #201603031931 SMP Fri Mar 4 00:34:16 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux and report back

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

issue is still present on 4.4.0-10-generic

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

I am using BIOS 1.2.3 and confirm the issue is not solved with the update

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Issue is still present in 4.4.0-11-generic

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Christopher, I'm not sure I understand your request. I /am/ using the ubuntu repository kernel:

Linux tbonfort-XPS-13-9350 4.4.0-8-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP Wed Feb 24 20:45:30 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

I gave references to the kernel-ppa versions for reference.
Do you still want me to open a new issue?

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Christopher: I've opened #1554613

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

My BIOS is version 1.2.3 and the flicker continues to happen even with the -11 latest kernel update. I just tested Ubuntu Gnome and the flicker is gone. Interestingly , if you boot standard Ubuntu, with unity, and spt-get install gnome-shell-session, then log out and log back in the Gnome shell, flicker continues.

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

1.2.3
01/08/2016

On Tue, Mar 8, 2016 at 8:12 PM, Christopher M. Penalver
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Anmar Oueja, please provide the output of the following terminal command:
> sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1552304
>
> Title:
> screen flicker on Dell XPS 13 9350 after kernel upgrade
>
> Status in linux package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> I upgraded to this version of the linux kernel (Linux xps
> 4.4.0-9-generic #24-Ubuntu SMP Mon Feb 29 19:33:19 UTC 2016 x86_64
> x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux) and the screen now flickers ramdomly. flicker
> every few seconds for a fraction of the second. Not related to
> application install or system load.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
> Package: linux-image-4.4.0-9-generic 4.4.0-9.24
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-9.24-generic 4.4.3
> Uname: Linux 4.4.0-9-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: anmar 1810 F.... pulseaudio
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> Date: Wed Mar 2 11:11:37 2016
> HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=94adb22b-7cde-416d-a17f-c3e5d40718da
> InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-03-02 (0 days ago)
> InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160301)
> Lsusb:
> Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
> Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0bda:5682 Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
> Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0a5c:6412 Broadcom Corp.
> Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
> MachineType: Dell Inc. XPS 13 9350
> ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
> ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-4.4.0-9-generic.efi.signed root=UUID=9945d9bf-9e44-4308-a4ec-c1f92f9b330c ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
> RelatedPackageVersions:
> linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-9-generic N/A
> linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-9-generic N/A
> linux-firmware 1.156
> SourcePackage: linux
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
> dmi.bios.date: 12/18/2015
> dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.bios.version: 1.1.9
> dmi.board.name: 07TYC2
> dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.board.version: A01
> dmi.chassis.type: 9
> dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
> dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.1.9:bd12/18/2015:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139350:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn07TYC2:rvrA01:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
> dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9350
> dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1552304/+subscriptions

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Anmar Oueja, in order to allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue, at your earliest convenience, could you please test the latest upstream kernel available from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/?C=N;O=D ? Please keep in mind the following:
1) The one to test is at the very top line at the top of the page (not the daily folder).
2) The release names are irrelevant.
3) The folder time stamps aren't indicative of when the kernel actually was released upstream.
4) Install instructions are available at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds .

If testing on your main install would be inconvenient, one may:
1) Install Ubuntu to a different partition and then test this there.
2) Backup, or clone the primary install.

If the latest kernel did not allow you to test to the issue (ex. you couldn't boot into the OS) please make a comment in your report about this, and continue to test the next most recent kernel version until you can test to the issue. Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please comment on which kernel version specifically you tested. If this issue is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tags by clicking on the yellow circle with a black pencil icon, next to the word Tags, located at the bottom of the report description:
kernel-fixed-upstream
kernel-fixed-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Where X, and Y are the first two numbers of the kernel version, and Z is the release candidate number if it exists.

If the mainline kernel does not fix the issue, please add the following tags:
kernel-bug-exists-upstream
kernel-bug-exists-upstream-X.Y-rcZ

Please note, an error to install the kernel does not fit the criteria of kernel-bug-exists-upstream.

Also, you don't need to apport-collect further unless specifically requested to do so.

Once testing of the latest upstream kernel is complete, please mark this report Status Confirmed. Please let us know your results.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Caleb Lloyd (caleblloyd)]

This bug affects me on identical hardware on Ubuntu 16.04 Gnome and Unity. I am also running BIOS 1.2.3. I tried with the default 4.4 Kernels and also tried with 4.5.0-040500-generic Kernel and neither fixed the problem.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Caleb Lloyd, it will help immensely if you filed a new report with the Ubuntu repository kernel (not mainline/upstream) via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

Please feel free to subscribe me to it.

For more on why this is helpful, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Christopher: This issue is identified and awaiting on upstream for a fix; Why waste your user's time by opening a new issue on LP or by asking for yet another bisect? It is not going to make the fix come faster.
LP: #1540390
LP: #1554613
https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=94593

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Thomas Bonfort, if you had read the article, you might not have asked questions like that.

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Christopher: OK sorry about that. The bisections just takes such a sh***load of times it seems unfair/unreasonable to ask it to be done again unless you're certain the cause is different.

[Caleb Lloyd (caleblloyd)]

Christopher, I will give it a shot later today. Thanks for bearing with me, this is the first time I've done Linux bug reporting.

[bilout (edwarcha)]

I´d like to report also the same problem on the same hardware, hope it gets fixed soon, thanks for the effort.

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

I discovered that if you have tlp installed and running, you will get screen flicker. If you disable it, or remove it, the flicker goes away. Seems something to do with the power management and skylake.

[Richard Platt (richard-d-platt)]

Hi

I seem to be experiencing the same issue on a XPS13 (9350) running Ubuntu 16.04 Beta:

plattr@beatrice:~$ uname -a
Linux beatrice 4.4.0-16-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Thu Mar 24 22:38:01 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

plattr@beatrice:~$ lsmod | grep i9
i915_bpo 1261568 7
intel_ips 20480 1 i915_bpo
i2c_algo_bit 16384 1 i915_bpo
drm_kms_helper 139264 1 i915_bpo
drm 360448 8 i915_bpo,drm_kms_helper
video 40960 3 i915_bpo,dell_wmi,dell_laptop

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help

[Thomas Bonfort (thomas-bonfort)]

Anmar: I have removed tlp and rebooted but the flickering still occurs.

[Anmar Oueja (anmar)]

I assume you have updated the entire distro to the latest set of packages?

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Richard Platt, it will help immensely if you filed a new report with the Ubuntu repository kernel (not mainline/upstream) via a terminal:
ubuntu-bug linux

Please feel free to subscribe me to it.

For more on why this is helpful, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ReportingBugs.

[Roberto Burgos (roby0b)]

I just installed v4.6-rc6-wily and the flickering seems to have stopped, but I believe it is still too early to tell.

For the record, after I upgraded to 16.04 I was having suspend issues where closing the laptop lid did not suspend the machine. I tried a number of kernels until I settled with 4.5.2, but that's when the flickering problem started. It sort of felt like it only happened when the laptop was running on batteries and discharging, and running on power and charging with a battery percentage of less than 100%.