my external monitor screen keeps going blank intermittently

[Amrut Bingi]

I have connected a samsung exnternal monitor to my laptop via VGA cable.
But the screen frequently goes blank, I have tried updating the graphics drivers but of no use. Please help.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 23.10
Package: xorg 1:7.7+23ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-25.25-generic 6.5.13
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-25-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.27.0-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
BootLog: Error: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '/var/log/boot.log'
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CompositorRunning: None
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Tue Mar 12 13:10:05 2024
DistUpgraded: 2024-02-05 14:12:41,366 DEBUG Running PostInstallScript: '/usr/lib/ubuntu-advantage/upgrade_lts_contract.py'
DistroCodename: mantic
DistroVariant: ubuntu
DkmsStatus: nvidia/470.239.06, 6.5.0-25-generic, x86_64: installed
ExtraDebuggingInterest: Yes, if not too technical
GraphicsCard:
 Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:0a16] (rev 0b) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
   Subsystem: Lenovo Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller [17aa:380c]
   Subsystem: Lenovo Sun LE [Radeon HD 8550M / R5 M230] [17aa:380c]
InstallationDate: Installed on 2022-11-10 (488 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 22.10 "Kinetic Kudu" - Release amd64 (20221020)
MachineType: {report['dmi.sys.vendor']} {report['dmi.product.name']}
MonitorsUser.xml: <rate>59.96</rate>
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-6.5.0-25-generic root=UUID=d786cdef-a41c-4f13-8357-af62bee963a6 ro i915.enable_dc=0 intel_idle.max_cstate=2
SourcePackage: xorg
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to mantic on 2024-02-05 (36 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/20/2014
dmi.bios.release: 0.29
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 9ACN29WW
dmi.board.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Lancer 5A2
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: NANANANANO DPK
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Lenovo G50-70
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 0.29
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr9ACN29WW:bd10/20/2014:br0.29:efr0.29:svnLENOVO:pn20351:pvrLenovoG50-70:rvnLENOVO:rnLancer5A2:rvrNANANANANODPK:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrLenovoG50-70:skuLENOVO_MT_20351_BU_idea_FM_LenovoG50-70:
dmi.product.family: IDEAPAD
dmi.product.name: 20351
dmi.product.sku: LENOVO_MT_20351_BU_idea_FM_Lenovo G50-70
dmi.product.version: Lenovo G50-70
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO
version.compiz: compiz N/A
version.libdrm2: libdrm2 2.4.115-1
version.libgl1-mesa-dri: libgl1-mesa-dri 23.2.1-1ubuntu3.1
version.libgl1-mesa-glx: libgl1-mesa-glx N/A
version.xserver-xorg-core: xserver-xorg-core 2:21.1.7-3ubuntu2.7
version.xserver-xorg-input-evdev: xserver-xorg-input-evdev N/A
version.xserver-xorg-video-ati: xserver-xorg-video-ati 1:19.1.0-3
version.xserver-xorg-video-intel: xserver-xorg-video-intel 2:2.99.917+git20210115-1
version.xserver-xorg-video-nouveau: xserver-xorg-video-nouveau 1:1.0.17-2build1

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Thanks for the bug report. This is a common problem and is almost always due to a bad connection or low quality cable. Please try unplugging and replugging the cable at both ends. If that doesn't solve it then please try a different cable. For better performance and reliability on a Lenovo G50-70, I would recommend using the HDMI port instead of VGA.