Win8 Lenovo X1 Carbon with USB 3 Dock: Display Artifacts

jaredmny · 02-27-2013, 11:05 PM

Hello all. Just received a new Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch running Windows 8. The internal display works great standalone, however when I add their "USB 3 Dock" with external monitors, the monitors have an annoying artifact; It is most noticeable as a subtle flicker in any white portion of a window that seems to occur any time the window is updated or there is CPU activity. It seems to be worst when scrolling black text on a white background. Also very noticeable in any vertical lines in a window, as they will seem to "jump" back and forth horizontally as you scroll. The effect is very distracting. I've tried replacing the USB 3 Dock, but didn't make a difference. I've tried multiple resolutions with both dual and single monitors, but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference, either. I've tried the latest drivers from both the Lenovo and the DisplayLink website, no change. I've tried forcing the USB 3 drivers to an Intel version instead of the Microsoft version as I had read that their might be a problem with the bandwidth available when using the stock version... No change.

I've also had times where a portion of the monitor will get blurry/pixelated for a second, then resolve. The cursor for my wireless mouse (receiver is connected via the dock's USB hub) will occasionally pause and not respond for a couple of seconds.

I've read a comment in another forum from someone experiencing similar symptoms, but the response they got from another use was that this is normal compression artifacts for DisplayLink adapters running over the bandwidth-constrained USB3 interface. However, I find this hard to believe as these artifacts are very visible and I can't imagine most users would find them acceptable.

Further, upon working through Lenovo technical support, they told me that they don't think that the graphics adapter in this laptop is going to be compatible with the USB 3 Dock. Now, this seems like a load of crap, but it was repeated by at least two different technicians. They have advised me to return the laptop and dock and purchase a different product.

I've read through the forum and it seems like other users are occasionally seeing similar behavior, though it is tricky to tell if the symptoms are an exact match.

Any thoughts on whether this is expected behavior or how to resolve?

Thanks!

Wim · 02-28-2013, 03:17 PM

We're working on a fix for the blurryness for the next release. We know why it happens.

Wim

jaredmny · 02-28-2013, 04:41 PM

Thanks for replying so quickly, Wim! Will this address the white/gray flickering and mouse pauses as well? Those are the big issues for me.

Do you have an estimate as to when the driver will be released or is there a beta program I can join? I'm facing a deadline to return the machine and dock, but I'd like to keep it if I can see a working fix...

Thanks!

-- Jared

mskovrinskie · 03-01-2013, 08:23 PM

The odd pixellation thing seems to work itself out but a fix would be nice. The mouse lag and pauses is another thing. Is this on the radar for a fix too?

Wim · 03-04-2013, 05:14 PM

I think the mouse pausing is for the same reason as the pixelation... we're working on changes to improve this.

Thanks

Wim

mikeu41 · 03-06-2013, 12:45 AM

so happy to hear this is being worked on. i am experiencing the exact same issues with monitor resolution and the mouse pausing; i'm using the S230u (twist) with the Thinkpad 3.0 dock and win8 64 bit installed.

also have no issues when my monitors and mouse adapter are plugged directly into the laptop.

looking forward to an update as the mouse pausing is highly frustrating.

thanks.

throndsen · 04-04-2013, 08:12 AM

This also happens to me (Win7, X1 Carbon, HP Compaq LA2405wg display, DU9019D1 dock). I've always been happy with ThinkPads before, but this flicker issue (plus general sluggishness and unpredictability when docking) is pretty disappointing.

I hope this issue is solved in the next driver release.

Wim · 04-04-2013, 08:13 AM

Can you retry with v7.2?

Wim

throndsen · 04-04-2013, 08:55 AM

Hi Wim,

Just installed, thanks! So far it looks good. During install I got some error messages ("Displaylink Network Adapter NCM" seemed to fail to install) - but things seem to be working.

I'll update the thread if the artifacts reappear.

throndsen · 04-05-2013, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wim

Can you retry with v7.2?

Wim

Sorry, the problems may have diminished, but there are still some artifacts and some mouse pointer lag. Less bad than before, but still there.

02-27-2013, 11:05 PM	#1
jaredmny Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 10	Win8 Lenovo X1 Carbon with USB 3 Dock: Display Artifacts Hello all. Just received a new Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch running Windows 8. The internal display works great standalone, however when I add their "USB 3 Dock" with external monitors, the monitors have an annoying artifact; It is most noticeable as a subtle flicker in any white portion of a window that seems to occur any time the window is updated or there is CPU activity. It seems to be worst when scrolling black text on a white background. Also very noticeable in any vertical lines in a window, as they will seem to "jump" back and forth horizontally as you scroll. The effect is very distracting. I've tried replacing the USB 3 Dock, but didn't make a difference. I've tried multiple resolutions with both dual and single monitors, but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference, either. I've tried the latest drivers from both the Lenovo and the DisplayLink website, no change. I've tried forcing the USB 3 drivers to an Intel version instead of the Microsoft version as I had read that their might be a problem with the bandwidth available when using the stock version... No change. I've also had times where a portion of the monitor will get blurry/pixelated for a second, then resolve. The cursor for my wireless mouse (receiver is connected via the dock's USB hub) will occasionally pause and not respond for a couple of seconds. I've read a comment in another forum from someone experiencing similar symptoms, but the response they got from another use was that this is normal compression artifacts for DisplayLink adapters running over the bandwidth-constrained USB3 interface. However, I find this hard to believe as these artifacts are very visible and I can't imagine most users would find them acceptable. Further, upon working through Lenovo technical support, they told me that they don't think that the graphics adapter in this laptop is going to be compatible with the USB 3 Dock. Now, this seems like a load of crap, but it was repeated by at least two different technicians. They have advised me to return the laptop and dock and purchase a different product. I've read through the forum and it seems like other users are occasionally seeing similar behavior, though it is tricky to tell if the symptoms are an exact match. Any thoughts on whether this is expected behavior or how to resolve? Thanks!

03-06-2013, 12:45 AM	#6
mikeu41 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 1	same issue using S230u so happy to hear this is being worked on. i am experiencing the exact same issues with monitor resolution and the mouse pausing; i'm using the S230u (twist) with the Thinkpad 3.0 dock and win8 64 bit installed. also have no issues when my monitors and mouse adapter are plugged directly into the laptop. looking forward to an update as the mouse pausing is highly frustrating. thanks.

02-28-2013, 03:17 PM	#2
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	We're working on a fix for the blurryness for the next release. We know why it happens. Wim

02-28-2013, 04:41 PM	#3
jaredmny Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 10	Thanks for replying so quickly, Wim! Will this address the white/gray flickering and mouse pauses as well? Those are the big issues for me. Do you have an estimate as to when the driver will be released or is there a beta program I can join? I'm facing a deadline to return the machine and dock, but I'd like to keep it if I can see a working fix... Thanks! -- Jared

03-01-2013, 08:23 PM	#4
mskovrinskie Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 9	The odd pixellation thing seems to work itself out but a fix would be nice. The mouse lag and pauses is another thing. Is this on the radar for a fix too?

03-04-2013, 05:14 PM	#5
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	I think the mouse pausing is for the same reason as the pixelation... we're working on changes to improve this. Thanks Wim

04-04-2013, 08:12 AM	#7
throndsen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4	This also happens to me (Win7, X1 Carbon, HP Compaq LA2405wg display, DU9019D1 dock). I've always been happy with ThinkPads before, but this flicker issue (plus general sluggishness and unpredictability when docking) is pretty disappointing. I hope this issue is solved in the next driver release.

04-04-2013, 08:13 AM	#8
Wim Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,561	Can you retry with v7.2? Wim

04-04-2013, 08:55 AM	#9
throndsen Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 4	Hi Wim, Just installed, thanks! So far it looks good. During install I got some error messages ("Displaylink Network Adapter NCM" seemed to fail to install) - but things seem to be working. I'll update the thread if the artifacts reappear.