Framework 13 (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370) + TB4 Dock: DMUB HPD RX IRQ storm causes external monitor flickering on Linux Mint / Ubuntu 24.04

Framework Laptop 13 Linux
1

Which Linux distro are you using? Linux Mint 22.3 Cinnamon (based on Ubuntu 24.04 Noble)

Which kernel are you using? 6.14.0-37-generic (downgraded from HWE 6.17, see details below)

Which BIOS version are you using? 773 (current, verified via fwupd)

Which Framework Laptop 13 model are you using? AMD Ryzen™ AI 300 Series (Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, Radeon 890M, device ID 0x150E)

Problem description

I am running two external monitors via a Thunderbolt 4 dock (OBERDO TB4, one monitor via DisplayPort, one via HDMI). The DisplayPort monitor flickers repeatedly – it goes black for a few seconds, then comes back. Less frequently, the HDMI monitor does the same. In severe episodes, both monitors are almost permanently black, and keyboard input (connected via the dock) is also interrupted simultaneously.

The laptop display itself is unaffected in the current state, but under kernel 6.17 it was also flickering badly.

Kernel logs show a clear DMUB HPD RX IRQ storm:

amdgpu 0000:c1:00.0: amdgpu: [drm] DMUB HPD RX IRQ callback: link_index=7
amdgpu 0000:c1:00.0: amdgpu: [drm] DMUB HPD RX IRQ callback: link_index=7
amdgpu 0000:c1:00.0: amdgpu: [drm] DMUB HPD RX IRQ callback: link_index=7
(dozens of entries within seconds)

What I have tried

  • Replaced DisplayPort cable – no effect
  • Downgraded from kernel 6.17 (HWE) to 6.14 – reduced severity, but storm persists
  • linux-firmware is up to date (20240318.git3b128b60-0ubuntu2.27)
  • All firmware up to date via fwupd (BIOS 773, Thunderbolt controller current)
  • Kernel parameter amdgpu.dsc=0 – no effect
  • Kernel parameter drm_kms_helper.poll=0x4 – has no effect (parameter is ignored, module is built-in)

Question

Has anyone found a working workaround for this specific HPD storm issue with a TB4 dock? Is this a known bug with a fix in progress for the amdgpu/DMUB firmware?

Thanks in advance for your help!

2

This problem is not limited to your laptop or even framework laptops. Unfortunately, I do not know how to fix it, or I would have long ago.

Yeah, it’s definitely not the cable. Mine has a cable that is built-in, and I may have just fixed it ^

3

I’ve had TB4 dock/display flakiness before with a FW13 AMD (7040 version though). This was a different dock, Kensington SD5780T (may or may not be the same ODM model underneath as yours, no idea). The same dock was rock steady with a 11th gen Intel FW13, so I presume that AMD’s USB4 implementation is less stable/more picky, at least under Linux.

What made a difference in my case was the choice of Thunderbolt cable that I used between the dock and the laptop. The cable that came with the dock worked, anything else (including legit Apple Thunderbolt cables) would have issues.

So trying an alternate TB cable could help.If you have access to an Apple store with a good return policy, might be worth the trek.

4

Thanks for your response - I already replaced the TB cable but this did not have any effect, so I do not think that the problem is caused by the cable.