Intermittent Screen Flicker on Dell XPS 13 9350

[Caleb Lloyd]

I am using the Dell XPS 13 9350 with Ubuntu 16.04, and I am experiencing random screen flickering where the screen will flicker to black for a split second. This happens repeatedly every few seconds for half a minute or so. Then the issue will disappear for a few minutes, but randomly come back. I have experienced using Ubuntu 16.04 with Unity, Gnome, and XFCE. See LP#1554613.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-16-generic 4.4.0-16.32
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-16.32-generic 4.4.6
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-16-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: caleb 1533 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Sat Apr 2 05:06:21 2016
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=ac6dd208-0bc0-443d-bc73-3411a80e0328
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-03-19 (13 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160319)
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 8087:0a2b Intel 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=/vmlinuz-4.4.0-16-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/mapper/xubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-16-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-16-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 03/01/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.3.3
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.:bvr1.3.3:bd03/01/2016:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139350:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn07TYC2:rvrA01:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9350
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Caleb Lloyd (caleblloyd)]

This a recreate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1552304. This version recreates using 4.4.0-16-generic with Dell XPS 9350 BIOS version 1.3.3.

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[penalvch (penalvch)]

Caleb Lloyd, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better.

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.

[Luís Correia (luis-correia)]

I'm also affected by this bug.
Same model, same Ubuntu ver. updated today, and I tried with kernel 4.6.0-040600rc2-generic without result.

[Tommaso Selleri (tommaso-selleri)]

Same bug here

[Boris Erdmann (boris-erdmann)]

I am affected by this bug on dell xps 13 9350 both on FHD and QHD. Running kernel 4.6rc5 from http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.6-rc5-wily/ helps as a work-around.

[Boris Erdmann (boris-erdmann)]

Update: Now this bug is fixed for me by http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.4.9-xenial/ as well.

[Dmitriy (quentama)]

I had same problem. I updated bios from 1.1.7 up to XPS_9350_1.3.3.exe via Bios built-in tools and usb flash (F12 via boot process) and updated kenel up to 4.4.9 http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.4.9-xenial/

#~/Downloads/4.4.9$ ls
linux-firmware_1.158_all.deb linux-headers-4.4.9-040409_4.4.9-040409.201605041832_all.deb linux-headers-4.4.9-040409-generic_4.4.9-040409.201605041832_amd64.deb linux-image-4.4.9-040409-generic_4.4.9-040409.201605041832_amd64.deb

# dpkg -i *.deb

And I my screen stoped blinking