Screen flicker with Intel i915 driver

[Rami Vanguri]

After updating from 14.04 to 16.04 xenial, I am experiencing a screen flickering issue. The screen periodically completely blanks out. I tried the following kernels:
4.10.0 (daily from 1/30/2017)
4.4.0-59 (ships with 16.04)
4.1.21 (recommended from another random thread)

All with the same problem. Possibly related is this error from dmesg:
[ 5.138438] [drm:intel_dp_link_training_clock_recovery [i915]] *ERROR* failed to enable link training
[ 5.141129] [drm:intel_dp_start_link_train [i915]] *ERROR* failed to start channel equalization
[ 5.343585] [drm:intel_cpu_fifo_underrun_irq_handler [i915]] *ERROR* CPU pipe B FIFO underrun

I also tried the following kernel options:
i915_enable_fbc=0
i915_enable_rc6=0

I installed and ran the Intel graphics update tool as well. The issue occurs on a X1 Carbon (3rd gen) laptop and only with an external monitor plugged into mDisplayPort at the maximum resolution (4k). If the resolution is lowered from the max, the flickering goes away.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: linux-image-4.4.0-59-generic 4.4.0-59.80
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-59.80-generic 4.4.35
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-59-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: rvanguri 1836 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: rvanguri 1836 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: rvanguri 1836 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Mon Jan 30 18:01:51 2017
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=0a55c618-23a5-4af9-9a32-cf23efc5466a
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-01-21 (9 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
MachineType: LENOVO 20BSCT01WW
ProcFB: 0 inteldrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-4.4.0-59-generic.efi.signed root=/dev/mapper/xubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-4.4.0-59-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-4.4.0-59-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.157.6
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 02/04/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: N14ET34W (1.12 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20BSCT01WW
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98417 WIN
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: None
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrN14ET34W(1.12):bd02/04/2016:svnLENOVO:pn20BSCT01WW:pvrThinkPadX1Carbon3rd:rvnLENOVO:rn20BSCT01WW:rvr0B98417WIN:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNone:
dmi.product.name: 20BSCT01WW
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X1 Carbon 3rd
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Brad Figg (brad-figg)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v4.10 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v4.10-rc6

[Rami Vanguri (rvanguri)]

I added the tag and marked the bug as confirmed. The upstream kernel is one of the kernels I tried in my original bug report.

[Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury)]

This issue appears to be an upstream bug, since you tested the latest upstream kernel. Would it be possible for you to open an upstream bug report[0]? That will allow the upstream Developers to examine the issue, and may provide a quicker resolution to the bug.

Please follow the instructions on the wiki page[0]. The first step is to email the appropriate mailing list. If no response is received, then a bug may be opened on bugzilla.kernel.org.

Once this bug is reported upstream, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-reported-upstream'.

[0] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Bugs/Upstream/kernel