Question Strange problem with monitor going black

[Weathered]

I am having this strange problem with one of my monitors. On a desktop running windows 11, I have 2 1440p monitors. The monitor in question is a Dell S2716DGR. Every once in a while, it will start to flicker. By flicker I mean the monitor will turn black for a split second. Usually does it a few times in a row, sometimes only once. Almost seems like a loose cable connection but I have checked all that, haven't tried different cables yet.

The strange part about this is it tends to flicker when I move the mouse a certain way, like really fast back and forth,and also when I am plugging a usb drive into a usb hub. This happens really inconsistent. Been trying to figure out a pattern to it but typically once it does flicker, it will stop for a while. I can't get it to happen on purpose, it just randomly happens. One thing I have noticed is it seems to happen when pc has been sitting idle for a while.

The really strange thing about this is with the usb hub and usb drive. When it does start to flicker, I can move the usb drive in the hub and it will cause it to flicker. The thing is when this happens, the slot that the usb drive is in is not even powered on. Each slot can be turned off separate from the rest.

Now here lately when it does start to flicker by mouse movement, I can hear the disconnect and reconnect sound like when adding and removing a usb drive. This is before even touching the usb drive.

When this first started happening, I thought maybe the monitor is going bad. After all, it is 6+ years old. But if that is the case, why would it only happen either when I move the mouse or mess with a usb drive in a usb hub. This is only happening on the Dell monitor. Not sure if this is a monitor problem or I have a problem that is usb related.

 

[dingo07]

How are the 2 monitors connected to the computer - give us details on what wire and where exactly they're connected.

 

[Weathered]

How are the 2 monitors connected to the computer - give us details on what wire and where exactly they're connected.

Dell is connected via display port and other is connected via hdmi to 4080 gpu

 

[dingo07]

Dell is connected via display port and other is connected via hdmi to 4080 gpu

So what you're saying is the 4080 GPU driven monitor is failing sometimes?
Well, from what I know, which isn't that much these days, you should have both screens connected to your GPU via DP.
What happens if you do that?

 

[Weathered]

So what you're saying is the 4080 GPU driven monitor is failing sometimes?
Well, from what I know, which isn't that much these days, you should have both screens connected to your GPU via DP.
What happens if you do that?

I am not sure what I am saying. Not sure if it is failing or not. Not even sure if the monitor is the issue. This whole thing doesn't make sense to me.

Why would it matter if both are connected via DP or not? I will try that and see what happens. It has been connected like it is now for a long time and never had this issue until recently.

 

[dingo07]

HDMI is a connector/protocol that was invented for television, to replace Component Video. DisplayPort is the new DVI, which was a computer monitor connector/protocol.

You likely get better resolution using the DP connection when connecting to a Monitor.
You'll only have HDMI connections on most Televisions.

 

[Weathered]

Got both monitors hooked up with DP and problem is still happening.

I think I got something figured out with this but still not sure if it makes any sense. I have figured out if I walk on carpet and touch the usb hub, the monitor will flicker. Room where computer is at has carpet floor, have a plastic chair mat under the chair. The tower itself does not sit on carpet, sits on a desk. When this happens, the usb hub is not plugged into computer, only an outlet on surge protector. Which is what everything else is plugged into. The wall outlet the surge protector is plugged into is grounded. Also nothing on the usb hub is turned on when this happens, all the ports are turned off. If I unplug the usb hub from the protector and plug it into the same wall outlet that the protector is using, monitor doesn't flicker. Also tried a different outlet for the usb hub on the protector and monitor still flickers. The monitor only flickers when touching the usb hub. And when I say touch the usb hub, I mean I am just touching the casing, not messing with any usb drives and not even close to the ports. Could I have a bad surge protector? If that is the case, wouldn't I be having other issues as well? I am going to try a different surge protector and see what happens.

I have tried a different surge protector and the same thing happens. The wall outlets are grounded. Both surge protectors have lights saying they are grounded and have a overload light. For now I will just plug the usb hub separate from the surge protector. This seems to be static electricity and I know that can do some damage. But how is it getting to the monitor? I never feel any type of shock when touching usb hub. I have a few usb drives I been leaving plugged into the hub, now I am starting to wonder if I have done any damage to them. They all still work.