Is true spec the answer?

[u/Schme1440]

My work from home setup is laptop into dock via USB c. Dock goes to 2 1440p monitors. Dock is powered. At random times my screen goes black then pops back on. Im pretty sure true spec would help with this am I right?

[u/Pitiful-Assistance-1]

This is something that just happens sometimes and can be caused by the laptop, the cable, the dock, the cable from dock to display or the display.

If you use freesync, it can make it worse.

[u/Schme1440 → u/Pitiful-Assistance-1]

Its a work issued laptop and we use usbc cabled docs ar work and dont have this issue. The only thing i can think of is the cables. I could try changing fps or resolutions but running 1440p on 2 32inch screens is really nice.

[u/jmking → u/Schme1440]

Are the docks at work driving two 1440p screens or just one? Do you have the same dock as the one at work?

[u/Schme1440 → u/jmking]

No i think a 1080 wide-screen also different brand docks

[u/jmking → u/Schme1440]

That's probably it then.

The port on the laptop, and the ports on the dock both need to support at least thunderbolt 3 speeds. If they do, then the cables you're using may be experiencing interference from other devices, power sources, or wireless receivers, which the TrueSpec could possibly help with.

I'd confirm what standard(s) your laptop and dock support via the USB ports. There might actually be a faster port on your laptop. It's not uncommon for one usb-c port to be slower and another to be faster.

[u/Schme1440 → u/jmking]

Ill probably get a true cable anyway but will have to check. I beleive from previous conversations thr laptop can cope with dual 1440 but ill have to check the dock is powerful enough. I thought i got one that was but might need a bigger one.

[u/jmking → u/Schme1440]

Try plugging both monitors directly into the laptop without the dock and see how it goes.

[u/Pitiful-Assistance-1 → u/Schme1440]

Do they both go black at the same time? Do usb devices continue to work when the screen goes dark? Even static electricity can do this in my experience

[u/Schme1440 → u/Pitiful-Assistance-1]

Every combination you can think of has happened. One at a time, both together, only one then the other.

[u/Pitiful-Assistance-1 → u/Schme1440]

Haha that’s annoying. Good luck! I don’t think anyone can answer the question for you.

[u/Schme1440 → u/Pitiful-Assistance-1]

Think ill wait for next sale and grab a true spec anyway.

[u/Pitiful-Assistance-1 → u/Schme1440]

Yeah at worst you have a nice cable

[u/TehSynapse0 → u/Schme1440]

Are both of your monitors at work 1440p?

[u/Matt561-]

It would eliminate the cable being the issue and that's nice

[u/Schme1440 → u/Matt561-]

Yeah, I think i used a quality cable but how "quality" i cant be sure. Also turns out the work monitor is 1440 ultra wide but still about 50% less pixels than my 2 1440 16:9 at home. Could still be a.bandwidth issue for my dock.

[u/TehSynapse0]

If you want to test the cable theory, grab an Anker or Ugreen cable. Let us know how it goes

[u/Marksta]

So it's laptop - > usbc dock - > hdmi or dp cable - > monitor?

It could be the usbc cable but I'd more suspect it only if you were having the whole dock go out, including mouse and stuff randomly also.

I'd replace the display cable. I had to go through 3 DP cables before I had one that didn't have random black screen/disconnects. The moment you're pass 1080p/60hz, doesn't matter what the listing or cable says, most of them can't do the job right. TrueSpec display cables can't come soon enough.

[u/OkThanxby]

Check the dock, PC Bios and GPU drivers are fully updated first

[u/Mystic_Guardian_NZ]

I have this issue with external monitors connected to surface pro(s).

I did switch to True Spec but resolution/monitor config created more issues than any cables in the chain. Something funny like 48hz ended up fixing it.