HD4000 random flicker

[iclick]

Ever since building this new system and using the on-board HD4000 I've had a random flicker that occurs a few times per day.  It is very fast and the display appears to shift slightly, occurring on either of my two monitors but never on both simultaneously.  There is a long thread about this in the Intel forum and the solution appears to be to remove one memory module if two are installed (yeah, right) and/or upgrade the BIOS which has MRC 1.5.0.0 or greater.  I'm running f16 BIOS now but I can't determine if it or the new F17f has this newer spec.  Here are some specs:

Mobo: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H (Z77 chipset, LGA 1155)
CPU: Intel 3770K
RAM: 2 x 8gb Kingston HyperX Black (1600)
BIOS: F16
OS:  Win7 x64
Current graphics driver:  9.17.10.2867
One monitor is connected via DVI and the other via HDMI using an HDMI-DVI cable

I tried loading the latest Intel graphics driver v. 15.28.12.64.2932 but when it runs it reports that my system does not meet the minimum requirements?  Huh?  Why not?  It's supposedly for the HD4000 and Win7 x64.  I notice that Gigabyte has a driver that's newer than my current one but older than the Intel driver mentioned.  It is 15.28.4.2843.  Would there likely be any improvement upgrading to that?  The problem is not major but if I could get rid of it I would be happier, as it tells me something isn't quite right.  It's a new build and I'm trying to tweak it, kicking and screaming if need be, to perfection.  Thanks in advance for any input on this.

[dbh]

I have the same problem on similar system with the  Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H and 3770k 8bg ram DVI-D. I was just able to update the Intel HD 4000 driver to Version15.28.12.64.2932.
 

[iclick]

I have the same problem on similar system with the  Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H and 3770k 8bg ram DVI-D. I was just able to update the Intel HD 4000 driver to Version15.28.12.64.2932.
 

So you were able to update to 15.28.12.64.2932?  When I tried it I got an error that my system wasn't up to minimum requirements, which doesn't make sense.  If you were able to update, did it solve the problem?

[dbh]

Yes I updated the HD 4000 driver to 15.28.12.64.2932 with the download from Intel. It installed without issue and I checked in device manager to make sure that the driver was updated.

I'm not sure yet if it fixed the problem because the flicker only happens once or twice per day. I also updated to the most recent beta bios. I will post back in a few days with results.

[iclick]

Yes I updated the HD 4000 driver to 15.28.12.64.2932 with the download from Intel. It installed without issue and I checked in device manager to make sure that the driver was updated.

I'm not sure yet if it fixed the problem because the flicker only happens once or twice per day. I also updated to the most recent beta bios. I will post back in a few days with results.

I'll look forward to your report.  Did you use the EXE or ZIP version of the Intel upgrade?  I used the EXE, so maybe I'll try the ZIP variant.  

Update:  Just tried the ZIP upgrade file and it completed without a hitch.  I won't try upgrading the BIOS to F17f just yet, as I'm squeamish about using beta stuff, especially BIOS.  I'll report back in a few days, too.

[dbh]

I used the zip file like you had success with.

I just had another momentary black screen. That is with the new beta bios f19g, which is a different version than the beta bios for your MB, but still the latest for a Z7 board from Gigabyte.

So it would be good at this point to know which version of MRC is in the bios.

Here's a quote from the Intel engineer working on the HD 4000 flicker issue: "This issue is a BIOS issue specifically with the Memory Reference Code (MRC) version 1.4.0.0 or older. Please contact your system or motherboard manufacturer for a system BIOS update for your system or motherboard that includes MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer."

[iclick]

I used the zip file like you had success with. I just had another momentary black screen. That is with the new beta bios f19g, which is a different version than the beta bios for your MB, but still the latest for a Z7 board from Gigabyte.

I never had a "momentary black screen," but was getting more of a very quick flicker, like the screen shifted a bit.  It was noticeable but not in any way disruptive and could occur of either of my two monitors, but never both simultaneously.  It would do this maybe a few times per day, but I haven't noticed it at all since upgrading the video driver.

So it would be good at this point to know which version of MRC is in the bios.

I'm still running F16, which dates back to 10/12, and I don't know when MRC 1.5.0 was implemented.



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[Rehan]

Hi guys,

I'm having the same exact issue as described here. My screen never goes black but does shift for a split second, and almost like there's a flicker/flash.

I do have the issue occur more than a few times a day, especially if I am watching a movie on one monitor while browsing the web on the other monitor.

I have an i7-3770K with the Gigabyte Z77X-UD3H. I have tried upgrading to the very latest Intel drivers and also have updated to BIOS F19e.

Neither one of these has solved my issue however. The only thing that has solved my issue is removing one stick of memory so that I only have one stick remaining in the system.

It really does look like Gigabyte has not implemented MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer in their latest BIOS.

If anyone has came up with a solution besides not using half the RAM I purchased, I'd love to hear it.

[dbh]

I have gotten in touch with Gigabyte customer support on this issue. While I'm not convinced nor are they that I'm having the "flicker" issue as described on the Intel forum and what you describe, the Gigabyte tech did say that the MRC is older than 1.5.0.0 in the latest bios release F19gfor my board the GA-Z77-d3h.

[iclick]

I've made no further changes since Jan. 14 (Reply #4 above), but the flicker is reduced considerably from its original state.  I now notice it only 1-2 times per week, if even that much, with it only happening a few times since upgrading the video driver to the latest from Intel (labeled as 15.28.12.64.2932 but Dev. Mgr. shows as 9.17.10.2932).  The problem does not bother me at this frequency as long as it doesn't indicate some problem that will get worse, and based on what I've read so far it seems innocuous. If Gigabyte ever upgrades the BIOS to MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer I hope someone will post here.

BTW, removing half my memory is not an option.

[dbh]

Gigabyte tech service says they are working on this issue and may have an answer in a week. I will post here if I find out anything of interest.

[iclick]

Anyone have any updates on this issue?  My flicker is now a rarity, maybe once or twice per week and doesn't seem to be indicative of anything that will get more serious.

[waynet68]

I have the same issue with my Z77X-UD4H and HD 4000 graphics with two monitors.  If I put the CPU under load (Prime95) it will flicker a couple of times a minute, so it is easy to test.  If I disconnect one monitor, the problem goes away.  If I remove one of the memory sticks, the problem goes away.
I prefer to use both monitors and memory modules.  I'm running Windows 8 Pro with the 9.17.10.2932 graphics driver on a i7-3770k, not overclocked.

I tried updating to the F2h bios, then the F2i bios, but the problem is still there.  Is Gigabyte planning on adding MRC 1.5.0.0 or newer into their BIOS for this board?

[didebuli]

I had the same issue with flickering on GA-Z77X-UD3H(Rev 1.0) with i5-3570K CPU. It was caused by old MRC in BIOS(F19e).. removing one RAM DIMM was fixing the flickering..
I contacted Gigabyte support and they provided me BIOS version F20C with newer Intel VGA ROM Code MRC 1.5.0.0.

Upgrading to it fixed the issue with flickering without causing any negative side effects on my system.
 
Download link which I got from Gigabyte:
http://ggts.gigabyte.eu/FileList/1422815/z77xud3h-20c.zip

I don't know if same bios can be used on GA-Z77X-UD3H revisions other than Rev 1.0 so you may want to contact Gigabyte support first..