Thunderbolt Dock 3 display issues

[Amateur_Wheels]

SImular issues like many others here.  I've been following these posts for a while.

This computer: HP ZBook Studio G3
This BIOS: N82 Ver. 01.15
ThunderBolt: Gen 3, NVMVersion 22, PDVersion 1.07.03, Security Level: 1 (PCIe and DisplayPort - User Authorization)

Driver versions...

Manufacturer devicename driverversion
------------ ---------- -------------
Broadcom Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet 17.4.0.1
Conexant HP Dock Audio 1.31.36.14
ASMedia Technology Inc ASMedia USB3.0 eXtensible Host Controller 1.16.38.1
Intel(R) Corporation Thunderbolt(TM) Controller - 1577 16.1.47.2
Intel Corporation Intel(R) HD Graphics P530 20.19.15.4483
NVIDIA NVIDIA High Definition Audio 1.3.34.17
NVIDIA NVIDIA Quadro M1000M 21.21.13.7586

Two issues --

Problem 1: I have two connected DP to DP monitors, and laptop screen on.  Overall stability has been improving with various updates, but still issues.   One of the Monitors, Acer K272HUL will drop the DP signal, while my other Acer B246WL  will stay connected.  BIOS settings for Intergated/Hybrid don't make a difference.  Only way to get it back is to power off monitor and power back on.

Problem 2:  Other times all three displays will go blank.  Have to unplug dock cable, wait a few seconds, plug back in.  Sometimes repeat the process a couple times.

I've found highest reliablity if I boot the computer up in the morning on battery, completely login to Windows 10, then connect the dock cable.  Even when doing this problem 1 will sometimes occur.

Dock has been updated to 10_11_23.  Even swapped docks (and upgraded the other dock)

HP Softpaq shows everything downloaded/updated.

Some various Googling DP dropping Nvidia points to a possible vBios issue that was fixed back in 2014 by Nvidia.

I'd really like to start purching these notebooks for our users, but after 3 months I'm thinking this model series may just be a lemon.  Seems like every few years you get a series that is buggy.

[Amateur_Wheels]

To update my previous post... After doing more reading, somehow I stumbled on Display Port Cables, which may or may not be certified.  I decided to order a few "certified" display port cables off of Amazon.  24 hours later, and Zero issues.  I want more run time on the new cable, but so far all computer wake events have been uneventful, and for testing purposes this AM, I turned on the computer with the dock plugged in first, and it came up perfect.  So while some of us have been chasing drives around and updates, don't rule out the DP cable if you are using DP connections.  The cable I just replaced has been in use for two years on an HP Z230 with no issues, so it was a known good cable...

[MSLEEE]

Please update Thunderbolt 3 Dock DisplayPort (DP) Hub Firmware Update version 3.10.005 Rev.A at the following address. I beleive that this will fix the display problem with DP-DVI dongle configuration.

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=9822170&swItemId=ob_180194_1&swEnvOid=419...

I work for HP. All opinions and comments are my own.

[bubler]

This firmware is from 3 Nov 2016, in other words several month old.

I find it stange that I have never heard of this firmware before.

It's not listed on the driver page for Zbook 15G3 and it's not listed in this document (http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c05178033) either.

I do not have access to a computer with issues at the moment so I cannot test to see if it makes any difference.

[MSLEEE]

The "Thunderbolt 3 Dock DisplayPort (DP) Hub Firmware Update version 3.10.005 Rev.A" is NOT listed on the Customer Advisory. There are multiple controllers in the Dock such as ASMedia USB controller, Conxant Audio Codec, Broadcom Network Controller, Synapctics DP Hub Controller, and Intel Alpine Ridge COntroller.  Thunderbolt 3 Dock DisplayPort (DP) Hub Firmware is Synacptics Controller that controls DP and VGA ports. Plese update "Thunderbolt 3 Dock DisplayPort (DP) Hub Firmware Update version 3.10.005 Rev.A" that enhances the DP-DVI compatibility. This fw was released recently.

I work for HP. All opinions and comments are my own.

[bubler]

I have now tested this and it does seem to solve the problem.

Just too bad it has taken months to get to this solution and HPs own support have no idea about it.

[MSLEEE]

Glad to hear that the problem is fixed. In the future, please call HP Support and escalate the case so that HP can take proper action. This wil expedite to provide the solution or workaround.

I work for HP. All opinions and comments are my own.

[CassePer]

So far this fix seem to help most of the issues regarding external monitors coming to life.

I do still have problem when putting my laptop to sleep mode in Windows 10.

Windows does not recognize the dock at all so I end up turn on/off the laptop.

[MSLEEE]

If you still have the problem, you need to escalate to HP. Once you install Thunderbold driver, it should recognize the dock. If your system was purchased before last June, you need to update Thundebolt firmware after installing the Thudnerbolt driver.  If you installed the drivers and firmware according to the Customer Advisory and the system did not recognize the dock, there is a possbility that your Thunderbolt cable or your system board was damamged.

I work for HP. All opinions and comments are my own.

[bethe1]

Hello all, I have some interesting news. Because earlier in this thread someone wrote about the quality of DP cables I found an intersting artice regarding the PIN20 in the DP cable  "https://hardforum.com/threads/displayport-cables-must-not-use-pin-20-warning.1803684/". I found in other forums infos about blinking monitors, black monitor after awaking from sleep mode, etc. Because I have had no issues with my ELITE8300 desktop connected to the same monitor as my Dock3 (using a KVM switch vom DELOCK) I have swapped the cables (the one connected to my desktop was a 2m from a different vendor). Since that time I have had very less issues on my notebook (2 times in one week I have to remove the dock connector cable an reconnect it), but some black screens on my desktop now. I never have had a so long time without major issues before. In my favorite web shop, there are cables with the description "PIN20 not connected" (DELOCK 83805, 83806) and others without this information (I assume there are all pins wired). I will order new cables now and will check if that solves my problems (it seems so).