Screen flickering on Arch

Framework Laptop 12 Linux
1

I’ve got an issue with screen flickering using Arch Linux. I suspect its related to the graphics driver in some way.

I’ve tried both the i915 and the xe driver. I’ve also tried almost every combination of the enable_psr, enable_dc, enable_guc, psr_safest_params, enable_psr2_sel_fetch driver options. Intel graphics - ArchWiki

I’m using the latest version of Arch, with Linux 6.15.4-arch2-1

The flickering is very intermittent, I’m using gnome shell and the flickering only rarely happens, but if I hibernate the flickering then kicks up. I tried out plasma for a bit and for some reason it triggers the flickering immediately.

The flickering once triggered to happen intensely can only be fixed with a clean reboot.

Any ideas of what else to try is appreciated.

2

That is odd. I’m using Plasma (wayland) without issue. lsmod tells me both i915 and xe are loaded, but xe is used by 0 and i915 is used by ~60.
I have a default install, plus plasma-meta, and sddm enabled.

3

Same here, i915 and xe are loaded, using plasma on last arch kernel version and I have no issue. I think you should try to take a video of the issue and open a support ticket.

4

I got this issue as well this week. I’m using Fedora 42. I never had this issue before (Since I received my framework 13 2025 in may).

5

Here is a video of the flickering. flickering with Arch Linux on Framework laptop 12 - Album on Imgur

@technick since you mentioned it only happening recently, I tried other versions of the kernel but didn’t have any luck. I tried 6.1, 6.6, and 6.12, but they all still had the issue for me.

2 Likes
6

Happened today for a few seconds — exactly like in your video. I will look a little more through the log file.

7

Any possibility of a loose cable?

8

There are two cables connecting the screen that I found, I tried reseating both of them, but it didn’t have any affect.

9

Thank you for the video. To just make sure it isn’t your personal install of Arch there, would it be possible for you to create a fedora live usb and boot from it? The idea being to see if you could get this flickering to start on Fedora.

If you can’t then it is most likely a configuration issue, but if it happens on Fedora, I would submit a support request.

10

I was finally able to find some time to try a new OS. I did a fresh install of Ubuntu 25.04 since it was on the supported list, and it exhibits the same screen issue in the exact same way.

I have submitted a support request and am waiting for a response.

11

It seems you’re experiencing more flickering issues than I do on my Framework 13. Running Fedora 42, I only notice it once or twice a week, and it lasts just a few seconds.