Webcam flickering on my Victus 15L

[wwwwx9]

I have 2 webcams that worked fine on my old computer (main one is Logitech Streamcam). Ever since i got the Victus 15L, the webcam will flicker (flashing a glitched or white screen image every few minutes) when streaming.

I have already tried: Updating everything (Windows, Webcam Driver, Nvidia Driver, BIOS), Removing/Reinstalling Webcam Driver, Using different resolution/FPS/frequency settings, using different USB ports, disable USB selective suspend settings in Windows, set Nvidia to prefer maximum performance.

My webcam and my older webcam work perfect on my old computer, but both will flicker when streaming on the Victus 15L.

After doing extensive online research on this, this seems to be an issue for many people (also on this forum) and some suggested the problem is the motherboard not providing sufficient power to the USB ports.

Beside further ideas how to fix the problem, i would kindly ask to include information about the motherboard and the USB power it provides, as i could not find any further details about this online from HP.

[Raj_05]

Hi @wwwwx9,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you've done quite a bit of troubleshooting already! The fact that both webcams worked fine on your old computer but flicker on the HP Victus 15L suggests that this may indeed be related to the USB power supply or some other hardware-related issue with the Victus 15L.
 

Here are some additional steps you can take to address the issue:

Check USB Power Management Settings

Even though you disabled USB selective suspend, there are additional steps you can take:

• Open Device Manager.
• Expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• For each USB Root Hub or Generic USB Hub, right-click and select Properties.
• Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

Test with a Powered USB Hub

If the motherboard isn't providing sufficient power, using a powered USB hub can help. A powered hub has its own power supply and can deliver stable power to connected devices, bypassing any power limitations of the motherboard's USB ports.

Update Chipset and USB Drivers

Ensure your Victus 15L has the latest chipset drivers installed:

• Visit the HP support website for the Victus 15L and download the latest drivers for your system.
• Check for USB drivers or firmware updates for the motherboard.

Check for Conflicting Software

Some background software, like webcam utilities, streaming software, or third-party USB device managers, can cause conflicts.

• Test your webcam in a clean boot environment:
  • Type msconfig in the Windows search bar and press Enter.
  • Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and click Disable all.
  • Go to the Startup tab in Task Manager and disable all startup programs.
  • Restart your PC and test the webcam.

Adjust Nvidia Settings for USB Devices

Since you're using a gaming desktop, the Nvidia GPU may influence performance settings:

• Open Nvidia Control Panel.
• Go to Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings.
• Add the streaming software you're using and set Power Management Mode to Prefer Maximum Performance.

[Raj_05]

Test Webcam on Different Streaming Software

To rule out software issues, test your webcam on different platforms (e.g., OBS, Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams). If the flickering happens only on certain software, the issue may be specific to that application.

Test Power Supply Unit (PSU)

If the motherboard isn't providing enough power, it could be due to a weak or insufficient PSU. If you've upgraded components (e.g., GPU), ensure your PSU has enough wattage to support all connected devices.

Update Windows USB Stack

If none of the above work, consider performing an advanced update for the Windows USB stack:

• Open Command Prompt as Admin and run the following commands:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow
 

• These commands will repair potential system-level corruption that could affect USB functionality.

HP Diagnostics

Use the HP Support Assistant or run the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics tool to check for hardware issues with your USB ports or motherboard.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support 

[Muqqitikki]

It sounds like you've done a thorough job troubleshooting, but the flickering issue could indeed be related to USB power delivery on the Victus 15L. Some gaming desktops, including pre-built ones like this, may have USB power limitations, especially when multiple high-power peripherals are connected.

Since this issue seems common, you might want to try:

1. Using a Powered USB Hub – Some gaming setups, especially those with high-refresh-rate webcams or streaming gear, require more consistent power than the motherboard USB ports can provide. A powered hub ensures stable voltage.
2. Checking BIOS USB Power Settings – Some HP gaming desktops have BIOS settings related to USB power. Try checking if there's an option for "Always On USB" or similar, and enable it.
3. Disabling USB Power Saving in Device Manager – You mentioned adjusting Windows settings, but also go into Device Manager → Universal Serial Bus controllers, find your USB Root Hub(s), and disable "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
4. Testing with a Different USB-C to USB-A Adapter or Cable – If your Streamcam is using USB-C, some gaming desktops handle power delivery differently between USB-C and USB-A ports.

Since gaming performance is a priority on the Victus 15L, HP might optimize power delivery towards the GPU/CPU rather than USB peripherals. If the issue persists, reaching out to HP Support for specific motherboard USB power details would be the best step. Hope this helps you!

[wwwwx9]

Thank you very much for the replies and suggestions! I tried more things meanwhile, unfortunately without really fixing the issue.

What i tested so far:

• Bought an external powered USB-C Hub (Anker, Model No. A8307), and tested it on the USB-C port of the Victus 15L, as well as on an USB-A port.
• Tested with other streaming software than OBS (used Meld Studio).
• Ran command "DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth" and "fc /scannow".
• Checking with "HP Diagnostics" tool (everything is fine).
• Checking BIOS for any Power or USB related setting (there are none, except security options to disable USB ports).
• Using USB-C to USB-A Adapter, and testing on USB3 and USB2 ports.
• Using a different webcam than Logitech Streamcam (an about 10 year old Microsoft LifeCam).
• Starting PC with all non-microsoft services disabled, and all autostarts deactivated.
• Verifying again, that i have the latest chipset drivers and BIOS installed.
• Disabling Nvidia G-SYNC and Windows Core Isolation.
• Disabling "USB selective suspend settings" in Windows power settings.
• Disabling "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" in Device Manager.
• Set "Prefer Maximum Performance" in Nvidia Control Panel.

I even took a 15 year old PCIe x1 USB3 card and plugged it into the Victus 15L, connected it to power through old computer's power supply - the port worked, but the webcam glitching was much worse. Given that this is a very old PCIe card, i didn't expect much.
My only last idea is to buy a PCIe x1 USB-C 3.2 card. But i don't feel very confident putting even more money into this now just to test things out that might not even work.

When i set the format MJPEG in OBS, i will also see these errors showing up in the OBS log:

19:54:15.851: error: overread 6
19:54:15.851: warning: EOI missing, emulating

20:38:36.008: warning: Found EOI before any SOF, ignoring
20:38:36.008: fatal: No JPEG data found in image
20:38:36.008: Webcam: Error decoding video

22:57:51.043: warning: mjpeg_decode_dc: bad vlc: 0:0 (00000217319B6948)
22:57:51.043: error: error dc
22:57:51.043: error: error y=112 x=4

I think i could reduce the amount of the glitches happening, by setting webcam format in OBS to YUY2 instead of MJPEG, but it still happens about every 10 minutes currently.

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @wwwwx9,

Welcome to the HP Support Community 

  

I understand you're facing an issue. Don't worry, I'll assist you in finding a resolution to resolve it.

  

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I hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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