Razerbook HDMI port limitation?
Hi I am running 3 external 4 k monitors on my razerbook all at 60 Hz. I am getting occasional flickering of the 4k monitor attached to the HDMI port. That screen goes black for about 3 seconds and then returns to normal. It happens maybe once an hour. I tried changing the cable and using a different HDMI port on the monitor. I tried another monitor. Same thing. I took a look at the Intel Graphics command center for that display and see it is set to YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz. If I try to switch to RGB or YCBCR_444, the max supported refresh rate is 30 Hz. So I am thinking running YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz is hitting some internal bandwidth limitation occasionally. I am currently trying running at 59p to see if that prevents the flickering. But I am confused because the specs say this is an HDMI 2.0 port and from this table HDMI 2.0: Specification Overview & Frequently Asked Questions | Extron, as long as I am using 8 bit color, then even RGB and YCBCR_444 should be supported at 60 Hz. Does anyone know what the story is with this HDMI port on the Razerbook? Is this a limitation of Iris Xe graphics on the HDMI port or a Razerbook bandwidth limitation? As an aside, my dad also recently got a razerbook and has a 4k monitor plugged into the hdmi port and is having a similar occasional flickering.
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14 April 2022
apowers00
Hi I am running 3 external 4 k monitors on my razerbook all at 60 Hz. I am getting occasional flickering of the 4k monitor attached to the HDMI port. That screen goes black for about 3 seconds and then returns to normal. It happens maybe once an hour. I tried changing the cable and using a different HDMI port on the monitor. I tried another monitor. Same thing. I took a look at the Intel Graphics command center for that display and see it is set to YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz. If I try to switch to RGB or YCBCR_444, the max supported refresh rate is 30 Hz. So I am thinking running YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz is hitting some internal bandwidth limitation occasionally. I am currently trying running at 59p to see if that prevents the flickering. But I am confused because the specs say this is an HDMI 2.0 port and from this table HDMI 2.0: Specification Overview & Frequently Asked Questions | Extron, as long as I am using 8 bit color, then even RGB and YCBCR_444 should be supported at 60 Hz. Does anyone know what the story is with this HDMI port on the Razerbook? Is this a limitation of Iris Xe graphics on the HDMI port or a Razerbook bandwidth limitation? As an aside, my dad also recently got a razerbook and has a 4k monitor plugged into the hdmi port and is having a similar occasional flickering.
Did you try running the Intel Driver & Assistant to check all the available drivers for your laptop? Please send me a PM including a photo of your laptop's BIOS main tab so I can view its details and firmware versions. Please refrain from posting any device and personal details publicly.
Userlevel 7
apowers00
Hi I am running 3 external 4 k monitors on my razerbook all at 60 Hz. I am getting occasional flickering of the 4k monitor attached to the HDMI port. That screen goes black for about 3 seconds and then returns to normal. It happens maybe once an hour. I tried changing the cable and using a different HDMI port on the monitor. I tried another monitor. Same thing. I took a look at the Intel Graphics command center for that display and see it is set to YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz. If I try to switch to RGB or YCBCR_444, the max supported refresh rate is 30 Hz. So I am thinking running YCBCR_420 at 60 Hz is hitting some internal bandwidth limitation occasionally. I am currently trying running at 59p to see if that prevents the flickering. But I am confused because the specs say this is an HDMI 2.0 port and from this table HDMI 2.0: Specification Overview & Frequently Asked Questions | Extron, as long as I am using 8 bit color, then even RGB and YCBCR_444 should be supported at 60 Hz. Does anyone know what the story is with this HDMI port on the Razerbook? Is this a limitation of Iris Xe graphics on the HDMI port or a Razerbook bandwidth limitation? As an aside, my dad also recently got a razerbook and has a 4k monitor plugged into the hdmi port and is having a similar occasional flickering.
As Razer speedcross said flickering on external monitor usually driver issue, check intel driver update utility if the problem still exists try older version latest doesn’t metthe best for your hardware. I don’t have 3 4K monitors and don’t use hdmi on book13, I run multi monitor (if I’ve to) through Razer corev2, so far I don’t experience flickering but I can look at, I’ve only 1 4K 1 QHD and 1 FHD monitors though. Can you be more specific how you run 3 4K, are you using like thunderbolt dock or directly port connection from book 13?
Thanks for the reply. 2 are connected via usbc, and the 3rd via hdmi. Just try your 4k monitor on the hdmi port and see what you find in intel graphics command center. I have all the latest drivers.
Userlevel 7
apowers00
Thanks for the reply. 2 are connected via usbc, and the 3rd via hdmi. Just try your 4k monitor on the hdmi port and see what you find in intel graphics command center. I have all the latest drivers.
Okay, I see your point. It’s some kind bandwidth limitation when using usb C near HDMI together with HDMI for external monitors, so try to use dock (in my case I only have thunderbolt dock to test) to show all monitors without flickering. For two monitors best experience is using right and left io ports to output for triple use dock to avoid that close io (right HDMI and usb C connection) bandwidth jam (I assume). I had also experienced on old usb C dock where display port can’t work well together with HDMI, but that was maybe also power issue since it didn’t have own power adapter. I recently rarely use book 13, and it’s for egpu setting so it’s not latest driver, but I think in this case driver isn’t matter it’s more to data bandwidth jam to CPU imo.
I believe this is actually an hdmi 1.4 port. See this discussion from a few years ago regarding old nvidia graphics cards that used 4:2:0 to achieve 4k at 60 fps. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-kepler-4k-hdmi-1.4,27117.html
Intel 11th gen iris xe does support 4 external monitors at 4k 60 hz. See the 11th gen NUCs for example. Does anyone know if the nucs and other 11th gen laptops with hdmi ports also are limited to 4:2:0 on the hdmi ports?
Intel 11th gen iris xe does support 4 external monitors at 4k 60 hz. See the 11th gen NUCs for example. Does anyone know if the nucs and other 11th gen laptops with hdmi ports also are limited to 4:2:0 on the hdmi ports?
The table in this Wikipedia article also shows that 60 hz is possible at 4k over hdmi 1.4 using 4:2:0 sub sampling. So razer needs to update their description of the razerbook to say it is an hdmi1.4 port.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Version_1.4
Sorry forgot to include the link. Btw razer support has been unhelpful. Not Speedcr0ss but the official razer support has been clueless.
Sorry forgot to include the link. Btw razer support has been unhelpful. Not Speedcr0ss but the official razer support has been clueless.
Userlevel 7
apowers00
The table in this Wikipedia article also shows that 60 hz is possible at 4k over hdmi 1.4 using 4:2:0 sub sampling. So razer needs to update their description of the razerbook to say it is an hdmi1.4 port.
It’s hdmi 2.0. Did you mean display port 1.4? Not sure since both are thunderbolt 4 so it should have better bandwidth. What I mentioned above is pch controller bandwidth limitation, it’s from the CPU, like for example on Apple laptops m1 support 1 external monitor, m1 pro 2 and m1 max 4, book 13 can support from right and left 2 monitors using dongle (like thunderbolt dock) 3 monitors (don’t have more to test, flickering/black screen means there’s signal bandwidth jam on effected io (on book 13 hdmi and usb c right side, so you can only use one of them at the same time.
Thanks for the info. Today I am working all day with the three 4k monitors plugged in and I have the hdmi monitor set to 59.94 Hz and so far there has been no flickering. Maybe just that slight decrease in fps is preventing any bandwidth jam.
I still do think it's actually an HDMI 1.4 port. I tried plugging the razerbook only into my 4k TV and separately only into another 4k monitor I have using the HDMI port. For both the TV and the 4k monitor, the only way to get 4k 60 fps over HDMI is to use 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. As soon as you try 4:4:4 or RGB the max is 30 fps which is following the limit of the hdmi 1.4 spec exactly as in the wikipedia table I shared above.
For practical purposes, I don't mind the 4:2:0 subsampling - I dont notice any difference. I definitely do mind 30 fps or decreasing resolution. And part of the reason I really like this laptop is because it is unnecessary to use any expensive thunderbolt docks.
Hopefully just switching to 59 Hz over HDMI is the solution.
I still do think it's actually an HDMI 1.4 port. I tried plugging the razerbook only into my 4k TV and separately only into another 4k monitor I have using the HDMI port. For both the TV and the 4k monitor, the only way to get 4k 60 fps over HDMI is to use 4:2:0 chroma subsampling. As soon as you try 4:4:4 or RGB the max is 30 fps which is following the limit of the hdmi 1.4 spec exactly as in the wikipedia table I shared above.
For practical purposes, I don't mind the 4:2:0 subsampling - I dont notice any difference. I definitely do mind 30 fps or decreasing resolution. And part of the reason I really like this laptop is because it is unnecessary to use any expensive thunderbolt docks.
Hopefully just switching to 59 Hz over HDMI is the solution.
New update. 59 Hz seemed to be working well with the latest Intel driver at YcBcR 4:2:0.
Using on another system, I had to connect an eGPU to my razer book and Windows automatically installed an older Intel driver. It reverted back to intel driver 27.20.100.8729 upon connecting the egpu. Now on the HDMI output there are no longer options in the intel graphics command center for RGB, YbCbR 4:2:0 or 4:4:4. The options are now the same as the USBC ports. Maybe the newest Intel driver caused issues with the HDMI port. I am running the HDMI port at 4K 60 Hz today with the reverted driver. Will report back if there is any flickering.
Using on another system, I had to connect an eGPU to my razer book and Windows automatically installed an older Intel driver. It reverted back to intel driver 27.20.100.8729 upon connecting the egpu. Now on the HDMI output there are no longer options in the intel graphics command center for RGB, YbCbR 4:2:0 or 4:4:4. The options are now the same as the USBC ports. Maybe the newest Intel driver caused issues with the HDMI port. I am running the HDMI port at 4K 60 Hz today with the reverted driver. Will report back if there is any flickering.
FYI for reference anyone having a similar issue, previously I was running the latest intel driver 30.0.101.1660. joikinsai, just looking at your first post, maybe you are right it is better to run an older driver version.
Just providing an update. I have been able to drive three 4k monitors perfectly using only integrated Iris Xe graphics with the razerbook by attaching a thunderbolt dock to one of the ports and outputting to 2 of the 4k monitors from there and the 3rd one off the other Razerbook TB port. All 3 monitors in this configuration are at full RGB 60 Hz - no need for YcBcR 4:2:0. And most importantly ZERO flickering of any monitor. I have done this with 2 separate TB docks successfully as well as TB to 2 Displayport device. I have notified Razer that this absolutely is an HDMI 1.4 port and the tech specs on the page for the Razerbook should be updated. They have agreed that this is an HDMI 1.4 port.
A small disappointment in an otherwise excellent laptop.
A small disappointment in an otherwise excellent laptop.
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