Hardware issue on RTX 4050 / BIOS F.29 – Flickering, artifacts, black screen – HP Victus 16-s016nf

[Fanilo004]

Hello,

I'm experiencing several severe issues related to the dedicated GPU (NVIDIA RTX 4050) on my HP Victus 16-s016nf laptop, rendering the system unusable when the dGPU is active.

Key issues :

1. Severe flickering on the last third of the screen when running at 144Hz.
2. When set to discret GPU only in BIOS, the system :
- Displays a split image on the top third of the screen during boot (cut in half vertically),
- Occasionally shows green artifacts before reaching the desktop,
- And consistently ends up with a black screen with backlight on right at the Windows desktop (Or at the Logon screen with iGPU).
4. The GPU appears correctly in Task Manager (with 6 GB VRAM) after installing drivers from HP.
5. However, upon any GPU load or detection attempt (opening GPU-Z, CPU-Z, or NVIDIA Control Panel), the system freezes immediately for a long time, leading sometimes to BSOD (Video memory management internal, dcp watchdog violation, driver power failure) or a reboot into a black screen.
6. No video output works via HDMI, regardless of iGPU or dGPU mode.

Troubleshooting steps already done :

- Clean uninstall using DDU and full reinstall using multiple driver sources (HP official, NVIDIA, Windows).
- BIOS setting changes (High resolution Display USB-C alt Mode, Hybrid vs dGPU only).

- BIOS version currently installed: F.29 (Insyde), dated 03/26/2025, which is not available on HP’s official website.
- All attempts to downgrade to BIOS **F.26** failed, both through HP BIOS Recovery (Win + B), `HP_TOOLS` USB structure, and `InsydeFlash` utilities.

[zoey7886]

@Fanilo004, Welcome to the HP Support Community!  

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding GPU Issues on HP Victus 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC 16-s0000 Series! 

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.  

I'm sorry to hear about the issues you are facing with your HP Victus 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC 16-s0000 (76T50AV). Here are steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the problems with your dedicated NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU:

1. Severe Flickering at 144Hz

• Reduce Refresh Rate: Temporarily reduce the refresh rate to 60Hz to see if the flickering issue persists.
  • Right-click on the desktop and select "Display settings".
  • Scroll down and click on "Advanced display settings".
  • Choose a lower refresh rate, such as 60Hz, from the options available.

2. Split Image During Boot with Discrete GPU Enabled

• Update Graphics Drivers: Ensure that both your integrated and dedicated GPU drivers are up to date.
  • Visit the HP Software and Driver Downloads page.
  • Enter your laptop's model number and download the latest drivers for both integrated and dedicated graphics.
  • Alternatively, you can use the NVIDIA GeForce Experience tool to update the NVIDIA GPU driver.  

Hope this helps! 

Take care, and have an amazing day!  

Did we resolve the issue? If yes, Please consider marking this post as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" to give us a helpful vote - your feedback keeps us going!  

Regards, 

[Fanilo004]

Hello @ZOEY7886,

Thank you very much for your prompt response and for providing the troubleshooting steps regarding the issues encountered with the HP Victus 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC 16-s0000 (76T50AV).

Please allow me to provide some follow-up information based on your suggestions:

1. Severe Flickering at 144Hz : 
   I have indeed reduced the refresh rate to 60Hz, as recommended. Since then, the flickering issue has not reoccurred.
2. Split Image During Boot with Discrete GPU Enabled :

I have updated the graphics drivers using NVIDIA GeForce Experience, Windows Update, and the HP Software and Driver Downloads page. Unfortunately, the issue remains regardless of the driver source.

Additionally, I’ve noticed that when installing the NVIDIA driver provided on the HP support page, there are brief visual artifacts (for about one second) as the GPU is detected and initialized. And also, the HDMI output is not working.

Additionally, I would like to mention that my previous 230W power adapter short-circuited, and I am currently using a temporary 135W HP charger until I am able to purchase a genuine 230W replacement.
Could this power discrepancy potentially be contributing to the issues I'm experiencing, particularly with the discrete GPU?

Kind regards,

Fanilo004

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Fanilo004,

Thank you for the response.

Yes, using a lower-wattage power adapter (135W instead of the required 230W) can absolutely contribute to the issues you're experiencing, especially with a discrete GPU like the RTX 4050, which requires a significant amount of power during initialization and load.

Replace Power Adapter

Buy an official HP 230W adapter compatible with your Victus model.

Using a correct adapter is non-negotiable for full GPU functionality.

In the meantime, avoid running GPU-intensive tasks.

Set BIOS to Hybrid GPU Mode

Until the correct adapter arrives, keep the BIOS set to Hybrid Graphics Mode, not dGPU-only.

This allows the system to primarily use iGPU, reducing load.

Use Safe GPU Drivers (Studio, Not Game-Ready)

Try using NVIDIA Studio drivers, which are more stable and tested for broader compatibility.

Download from: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/studio/drivers/

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Fanilo004]

Hello dear HP team members,

Thank you for your detailed guidance regarding the GPU issues on my HP Victus 16.1 inch Gaming Laptop PC 16-s0000 (76T50AV).

I’d like to provide an update: I received a genuine HP 230W "gray tip" power adapter yesterday and connected it to the system. Unfortunately, even with the correct 230W adapter, the issues with the NVIDIA RTX 4050 GPU persist. Specifically, when driving the dGPU, the system either immediately displays a black screen, encounters a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) with errors such as "Video Memory Management Internal," "DCP Watchdog Violation," "Driver Power Failure," or "Page Fault in Nonpaged Area," or, after rebooting from a BSOD, results in a black screen at the Windows logon screen. Additionally, I accidentally tested the HDMI output, and it does not produce any video signal.

I have followed your previous suggestions, including using NVIDIA Studio drivers and keeping the BIOS in Hybrid Graphics Mode, but these issues remain unresolved.

Could you please clarify whether these symptoms might indicate a problem with the GPU chip itself, the surrounding components (e.g., MOSFETs or VRMs), or the VRAM? Additionally, could you suggest further troubleshooting steps or solutions to address the persistent GPU and HDMI issues? Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Fanilo004

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Fanilo004,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

We're here to help you tackle that malfunction! Don't worry, we've got your back! 

To get you the best assistance, we need to take this conversation to a private chat. We're inviting you to a private message to protect your privacy and ensure that any sensitive information remains confidential. 

To access your private message, just click the little blue envelope icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile, next to your profile name. Alternatively, you can click on this link. 

You can use this link as well: 

Private Messages - HP Support Community

We're looking forward to helping you resolve this issue! 

Stay tuned, and thanks for your patience! 

Best regards,