Troubleshooting Flickering Displays on Intel® NUC

Documentation

Troubleshooting

000031497

01/25/2024

Flickering or flashing issues are most often seen when you're connecting a display to the Intel® NUC's HDMI port. It's less commonly seen when using USB-C or DisplayPort. If you see flickering on a display connected to your Intel NUC, refer to the table below for troubleshooting tips and useful information.

Step Details
Install the latest BIOS Visit Download Center or use the Intel® Driver and Support Assistant to update the Intel NUC to the BIOS version. See How to Download BIOS, Drivers, and Firmware for Intel® NUC Products for help.
Install the latest Graphics Drivers Visit Download Center or use the Intel® Driver and Support Assistant to update the Intel NUC to the latest graphics driver. See How to Download BIOS, Drivers, and Firmware for Intel® NUC Products for help.
Update HDMI firmware, if available If the flickering occurs when connecting the display to the HDMI port on the Intel NUC, check to see if there's an HDMI firmware update available.
Update Thunderbolt 3 firmware, if available If the flickering occurs when connecting the display to the Thunderbolt/Type C port on the Intel NUC, check to see if there's a Thunderbolt 3 firmware update available.
Update the display's firmware, if available Check with the display or television manufacturer's support website to see if there are any firmware updates available for the display.
Test different display resolutions

Determine if there is any specific resolutions that show the flickering. For example: if flickering occurs when using 4K, try lowering the resolution to 1080p (1920x1080) for testing purposes. You can adjust the resolution in the Intel Graphics Control Panel.

Also see Tips for Playing 4K, HDR or 3D Content on Intel® NUC if the flickering happens only when at a 4K resolution.
Test different refresh rates If the refresh rate isn’t optimal or is too low, flickering, lagging or other issues can occur. You can adjust the refresh rate in the Intel Graphics Control Panel.
Check display cables

To ensure optimal graphics performance with HDMI video, use certified Premium High Speed (4K60 / HDR / UltraHD / 18Gbps) or Ultra High Speed (8K60 / 4K120 / 48Gbps) HDMI® Cables, as identified by the HDMI Forum.

Recommendations:

  • Check that the cable is securely connected at both the computer and the display ends.
  • Use cables no longer than 6.5 feet or 2mts to ensure signal integrity.
Avoid cable adapters Flickering display when using video adapters or converters, like the following:
  • USB-C to VGA
  • USB-C to HDMI
  • HDMI to DVI
  • HDMI to VGA

Recommendations:

  • Don't use an adapter or converter.
  • Purchase a cable to connect directly from the Intel NUC to the display. 
Try a different display

It's always possible that the display itself has gone bad. If possible:

  • Try the flickering display with a known good computer.
  • Try connecting a different display to the Intel NUC. 
Check for workarounds with the display manufacturer

Check with the display or television manufacturer's support knowledge base to see if there are known issues. 

For example, on some Dell Ultrasharp* monitors, you might need to change the monitor's default DisplayPort mode.