Small white horizontal flickering

ElBeePea · Jan 6, 2022

Hi All,

I was very excited To receive an Xbox Series X from my wife for my birthday. I unboxed it, set it up, signed up for game pass, and downloaded Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, and installed Witcher 3 from disc (from previous XB1). All menu graphics looked normal. So far, so good. By the way, setting this up on a Samsung JU7100 55”. I also have a Denon X2400h receiver. This setup can handle 4K at 60Hz, but not 120, and no HDR.

Upon starting Forza, I noticed a strange amount of bright, flashing lights (almost like 1000 rainbow-colored camera flashes going off in a stadium). I thought it was a strange graphical choice by the dev team, but moved on. However, I soon realized that this never went away. The multicolor flashes reduced with normal gameplay, but they seemed to be replaced by with hundred of small, dash-like white shapes across the screen, constantly changing positions but always present (see https://tinyurl.com/4vkrvwz2 ). These also look like flashing lights in a stadium. I loaded up Halo Infinite and noticed the same thing on the menu (as shown above). It almost looks like snowflakes on the screen, but more seizure-inducing. There is a similar issue reported in a thread here: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/xbox/forum/all/xbox-series-x-graphics-issues/5606c82f-ece4-4db4-b814-a17c1b493e49.

Interestingly, I loaded Witcher 3 and had no graphical issues whatsoever.

I tried changing the hdmi cable. I changed the hdmi port on the receiver. I plugged directly into the hdmi port for the tv. I used a different cable for the tv. I turned off HDR. I used a different cable directly to the tv. I made sure tv was in game mode. I allowed variable refresh rate. I did a hard reset. Nothing has made any difference. I do not have easy access to another tv or monitor, so I cannot check if this is consistent.

Does anyone know what is happening? Has anyone had this same issue? I called Xbox and initiated a repair order today, but I’d love to try some stuff over the next couple of days before sending it in. Please help if you know what’s happening!

Thanks in advance.

:)

ElBeePea

Final update: after receiving my original Series X back from Microsoft (which still had the same exact problem), I sent it back and demanded a different unit. The new unit came last week--note that this is a refurbished console, not a new one--and it no longer has this issue. Everything is working flawlessly. I wanted to post this so that if some other unfortunate customer happens upon this thread and has the same problem, it seems as though it's likely a GPU issue that caused the issue in the first place, and the console needs to be fully replaced in order for it to function properly. I hope this helps someone out who has the same problem!

ElBeePea

Thank you for the response. I will attempt this after work. I have already tried a power cycle, but have yet to try a factory reset. I’ll report back with the findings.

I’m still curious if anyone else has had this problem.

ElBeePea

Update on the situation: I sent my console in, waited for two weeks, and received it back. Nothing has changed whatsoever. The exact same problem is still occurring. I cannot emphasize enough my frustration with this issue. Furthermore, each time I contact customer service, I speak with a different agent and have to start over again. It seems the customer service department and the service techs do not communicate based on the fact that this issue was clearly never tested for despite my being very specific about the problem. I’d like to know if there are any other channels to resolve the problem.

Jesse E'

I have looked at the thread and I'll suggest you get the replacement as well. Sorry for the inconvenience

ElBeePea

Okay, I am home from work. I did a power cycle, and the problem persisted. I also did a factory reset, and this didn’t work. Furthermore, I downloaded Gears 5 and the same issue is immediately apparent at the start screen of this game. I found another thread of 65 responses to the same issue (see link below). It seems nobody has had any luck without full console replacement. If there are other options, please let me know! For now I will send the console in for repair.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/xbox/forum/all/xbox-series-x-graphics-issues/5606c82f-ece4-4db4-b814-a17c1b493e49

Small white horizontal flickering