Screen flickers, cable or panel?
Four suspects, in order of likelihood: cable, driver, refresh-rate mismatch, panel itself. Rule them out one by one.
support/hardware-en-lifecycle/scherm-flikkert-oorzaak-zoekensteps: 5
Try this first
- (If the flicker comes with crashes or black screens, start with the GPU-driver-crash topic under performance first; the driver steps live there.)
- External monitor: try a different cable (HDMI or USB-C). Most flicker lives in a cable or a dock port.
- Update the graphics driver (Windows Update or NVIDIA/Intel app). Reboot.
- Check refresh rate in Settings > Display. Some docks push 4K at 30 Hz, which causes a wobble.
- On the laptop's own screen: always, or only when moving? Movement-related often points at a loose flat cable near the hinge.
When to bring us in
External monitor flickers across multiple cables and docks? The panel or its electronics could be it. Warranty claim if under 2-3 years old.
See also
- Should we buy or lease laptops as a 5-person company?Both work. Lease is predictable but pricier over the term; buying needs cash and your own depreciation. The difference is mostly admin.
- Is buying refurbished smart or asking for trouble?For office work fine, if from a serious vendor with warranty and a clean OS install. The trap is shady marketplace listings.
- How much RAM and SSD for office work in 2026?Rule of thumb for knowledge work: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD as a comfortable minimum. 8 GB already feels tight; 32 GB is for heavy tools.
None of the above fits?
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