Steam Link Blinking TV screen with Ubuntu

[dolson6616]

I have a Steam Link device I just received as a gift. When connected to a wired or wireless connection it randomly has a blinking screen on the TV and crackling audio. This isn't during any game play it's at the base big picture mode screen.

Prior to linking to a computer, there is no blinking with the Steam Link setup screens. It was being linked to an Ubuntu 64 bit 14.04 computer with an Nvidia 650 video card, 16 gigs memory and Core i3 processor. I've tried the suggestions for toggling the encoding option, but that didn't help. Also the unit did update itself so it is using the latest firmware.

I have also tried another computer running Windows 7 64 bit using an AMD cpu and Nvidia 550ti video card. There was NO blinking on the TV and running a game worked perfectly. Sound was fine too. I did this to test for any network problems. I much rather use Link with my Ubuntu computer as it runs my Steam games better and I like Linux better.

The blinking when connected to my Ubuntu machine is the same no matter if wired or wireless and is random but averages about 2-3 times every 5 seconds.

More info: I'm able to stream from my i3 Ubuntu computer to my AMD Fx Win 7 computer using the steam client without issues. So computer to computer streaming works fine. The issue seems to be only from Ubuntu using the Steam link device. Any ideas to the problem or what I can try? All games I have work great on my Ubuntu machine including Borderlands 2 and Bioshock. What other information can I provide? I assume Link does work and was tested with Linux and Ubuntu, as those are support with the client.

Update: I have now also tried the latest Beta and there is no difference in the blinking screen behavior. I have tired and toggled just about every option I could find. The only thing that seems to make a slight difference is changing the resolution to a lower value. The difference is minimal but there seems to be a little less blinking and less audio crackling. One might think that points to a network issue, but as I stated my other AMD based machine on the same network streams to Link fine.

Anybody else out there with a similar issue and solved it?

[mcd1992]

Try using the proprietary nvidia drivers if you aren't already. Also avoid wireless if possible.

[Remlish]

Doesn't sound like your issue can be fixed with this peticular Ubuntu fix , but you can try making sure big picture mode is activated on your desktop before you turn on the steam link

[dolson6616]

I am using Nvidia proprietary driver 352.63. I also did have big picture mode activated on my Linux box. I have tried it with big picture activated and not activated when starting the Link device. Made no difference. I'm happy to provide additional info to help solve the problem. Just let me know what I can provide.

In answer to mcd1992, maybe you missed it, I stated in my inital post I have tried wired and wireless with no difference in the blinking.

[JuanMa]

I am afraid, I have the same problem here. I haven't tried with windows yet, but when I'm streaming from Ubuntu beta steam client to a beta steam link in Big Picture Mode, there is some black blinking. When I start a game, it disappears completely and I can play without problems, but when I am in Big Picture Mode it is quite annoying. My setup is

Ubuntu 15.10
GeForce GTX 550 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
NIVIDA Drivers 352.79
Steam build Feb 4 2016. Package version 1454620878
Steam link (latest beta, sorry cannot provide more info at this moment)

I would like to try a newest Nvidia driver, and I would like to try Windows, but it is already too late, and tomorrow I have to work. I will post back if I find anything. If there is any other other info I could provide, please let me now.

By the way, I am quite impressed how well does this work with linux :D. Great job Valve! keep it up!

Excuse my broken english ;)

[JuanMa]

Okey, I have just tried with Windows, and I didn´t see any blinking in Big Picture Mode. I haven´t tried with any game yet, but I think that it is clear that it is a bug in the Linux Steam Client.

UPDATE: I have just tried with NVIDIA Drivers 361.28 and the blinking is still present.

[WarStomp]

I have the same problem.
Ubuntu 14.04
Nvidia GTX670, latest nvidia driver
AMD CPU

[Arderath]

I've reported this on the bugtracker: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4351

[Gordo[88]]

Same here on ASUS ROG 750JH w/ nVidia 780M. Driver 361.42 prop tested. Ubuntu 16.04.

[toidi]

I can confirm the bug, happens on different Ubuntu distros as well as versions (15.10 16.04 etc). Also the dm makes no difference, lightdm, gdm, unity, kubuntu. Antergos runs fine regardless of dm or window environment.

[Benedolt]

i had the same issue. After upgrading to the 367.18 Nvidia driver and switching my steam client to the beta channel finally everything works. I'm on 16.04 and have a GTX 660.

[JuanMa]

I am happy to hear that! Currently I have a GTX 550 with 367.18 drivers an steam beta also. To solve this problem I have configured the big picture mode to be windowed. By the way, I have a steam update pending! I am goint to try it right away!

UPDATE: I didnt work for me :(. Back to windowed mode i guess

[Benedolt]

Yep, same here. The flickering actually returned and I had to switch back to windowed as well. :| FIngers crossed they fix it at some point...

[dolson6616]

I just noticed that I can run Borderlands 2 without flicker or problems. If I go to big picture mode that's when the blinking occurs. If I exit big picture mode everything is fine including doing anything on my PC. I'm using the latest Beta as of 6/11/2016. So I wonder what they are doing in big picture mode that causes the blinking? This blinking issue with Steam link and linux has been there since they started selling the link and wish they would fix it. But I'm much happier now that I can run games without the blinking.

[dolson6616]

Forgot to add that I was using Ubuntu 16.04 when I discovered this. Not sure if the same improvement exists in 14.04, but will try that soon. Also wanted to mention the initial audio crackling with the blinking is gone too.

[Blaster♡Linux]

Ok here is my work arround but valve and nvidia should fix this to work out of the box!

1. Opent a Terminal CTRL+ALT+T

2. Edit xorg.conf. If you dont have it generate one with this comand ( sudo nvidia-xconfig )

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Add this option to the Section "Screen" under DefaultDepth 24 :

Option "metamodes" "CONNECTOR: nvidia-auto-select +X+Y { ForceFullCompositionPipeline = On }"



Example: (this is my configuration i have 2 displays, edit it where needed)

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen0"
Device "Device0"
Monitor "Monitor0"
DefaultDepth 24
Option "Stereo" "0"
Option "nvidiaXineramaInfoOrder" "DFP-0"
Option "metamodes" "DVI-I-1: 1920x1080_60 +0+0 { ForceFullCompositionPipeline = On }, HDMI-0: 1920x1080_60 +0+0 { ForceFullCompositionPipeline = On }"
Option "SLI" "Off"
Option "MultiGPU" "Off"
Option "BaseMosaic" "off"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 24
EndSubSection

3.Save and reboot! that is it enjoy your steam link!