G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Talk about NVIDIA G-SYNC, a variable refresh rate (VRR) technology. G-SYNC eliminates stutters, tearing, and reduces input lag. List of G-SYNC Monitors.
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panicaz
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Joined: 27 Nov 2022, 17:10

G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by panicaz » 27 Nov 2022, 17:46

UPDATE 30 nov 2022: This problem does not exist in older windows version (I tried 1909).
Solution - disable MPO.
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers ... /a_id/5157

I've run into a problem that really annoys me.
Namely the mouse cursor stutters and monitor flickers (monitor frequency drops) when non-smooth animation is playing in some windows applications. I understand that this problem cannot be avoided in full-screen applications (games). As I understand the G-sync should not work in windowed applications if it is turned off in NVCP. But in my case even G-sync indicator appears in the corner during those stutters. However it somehow works and causes those stutters in many non-fullscreen applications. I would like everything but fullscreen games to run at 144hz all the time for maximum fluidity of the interface.
Of course completely disabling G-SYNC in NVCP fixes the issue but not the type of fix I am looking for.

I use dual monitor setup Dell S2716DG 1440p 144hz monitor + LG 1080p 60hz, RTX 3070, Windows 10 21H2.
Any ideas?

Demonstration mouse stutters on video:
phpBB [video]
Last edited by panicaz on 30 Nov 2022, 11:07, edited 4 times in total.
Dell S2716DG 144hz | R5 5800X3D | RTX 3070 | 16*2gb 3600mhz cl17

Kyouki
Posts: 189
Joined: 20 Jul 2022, 04:52

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by Kyouki » 28 Nov 2022, 03:56

Think maybe a suggested fix would be to try and DDU the drivers, and freshly reinstall them to see if you continue having this issue.

It should indeed work as intended, if you disabled it for windowed mode applications (which, I find a lot of random programs seem to hook Gsync or engage gsync for) should not ever engage unless you enter the other mode, Fullscreen.
CPU: AMD R7 5800x3D ~ PBO2Tuner -30 ~ no C states
RAM: Gskill Bdie 2x16gb TridentZ Neo ~ CL16-16-16-36 1T ~ fine tuned latency
GPU: ASUS TUF 3080 10G OC Edition(v1/non-LHR) ~ disabled Pstates ~ max oced
OS: Fine tuned Windows 10 Pro, manual tuned.
Monitor: Alienware AW2521H ~ mix of ULMB/Gsync @ 240hz/360hz
More specs: https://kit.co/Kyouki/the-pc-that-stomps-you

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panicaz
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Joined: 27 Nov 2022, 17:10

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by panicaz » 28 Nov 2022, 08:44

Kyouki wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 03:56
Think maybe a suggested fix would be to try and DDU the drivers, and freshly reinstall them to see if you continue having this issue.
Yes I forgot to mention I already reinstalled the fresh drivers using DDU in safe mode.
I'll probably end up reinstalling Windows if there are no other solutions.
Dell S2716DG 144hz | R5 5800X3D | RTX 3070 | 16*2gb 3600mhz cl17

Kyouki
Posts: 189
Joined: 20 Jul 2022, 04:52

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by Kyouki » 28 Nov 2022, 09:37

panicaz wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 08:44
Kyouki wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 03:56
Think maybe a suggested fix would be to try and DDU the drivers, and freshly reinstall them to see if you continue having this issue.
Yes I forgot to mention I already reinstalled the fresh drivers using DDU in safe mode.
I'll probably end up reinstalling Windows if there are no other solutions.
Windows also offers a Variable Refresh Rate mode, have you checked if you accidently enabled that as well?
CPU: AMD R7 5800x3D ~ PBO2Tuner -30 ~ no C states
RAM: Gskill Bdie 2x16gb TridentZ Neo ~ CL16-16-16-36 1T ~ fine tuned latency
GPU: ASUS TUF 3080 10G OC Edition(v1/non-LHR) ~ disabled Pstates ~ max oced
OS: Fine tuned Windows 10 Pro, manual tuned.
Monitor: Alienware AW2521H ~ mix of ULMB/Gsync @ 240hz/360hz
More specs: https://kit.co/Kyouki/the-pc-that-stomps-you

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panicaz
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Joined: 27 Nov 2022, 17:10

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by panicaz » 28 Nov 2022, 12:25

Kyouki wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 09:37
Windows also offers a Variable Refresh Rate mode, have you checked if you accidently enabled that as well?
Oh never heard of that.
Just checked this option is off. Tried turning it on, then turning it off - no change.
Dell S2716DG 144hz | R5 5800X3D | RTX 3070 | 16*2gb 3600mhz cl17

Kyouki
Posts: 189
Joined: 20 Jul 2022, 04:52

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by Kyouki » 29 Nov 2022, 05:23

panicaz wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 12:25
Kyouki wrote:
28 Nov 2022, 09:37
Windows also offers a Variable Refresh Rate mode, have you checked if you accidently enabled that as well?
Oh never heard of that.
Just checked this option is off. Tried turning it on, then turning it off - no change.
Unfortunate, damn.

Have you tried also messing with Hardware Acccelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS), see if this OFF makes it not stutter or flicker?
CPU: AMD R7 5800x3D ~ PBO2Tuner -30 ~ no C states
RAM: Gskill Bdie 2x16gb TridentZ Neo ~ CL16-16-16-36 1T ~ fine tuned latency
GPU: ASUS TUF 3080 10G OC Edition(v1/non-LHR) ~ disabled Pstates ~ max oced
OS: Fine tuned Windows 10 Pro, manual tuned.
Monitor: Alienware AW2521H ~ mix of ULMB/Gsync @ 240hz/360hz
More specs: https://kit.co/Kyouki/the-pc-that-stomps-you

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panicaz
Posts: 7
Joined: 27 Nov 2022, 17:10

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by panicaz » 29 Nov 2022, 08:54

Kyouki wrote:
29 Nov 2022, 05:23
Unfortunate, damn.

Have you tried also messing with Hardware Acccelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS), see if this OFF makes it not stutter or flicker?
Tried to turn it ON and off - same thing.

Also:
- reinstalled drivers, reinstalled once again with "clean install" option
- disconnected second monitor
- tried different DP outputs
- reinstalled videocard
- updated other drivers
- updated Windows
- used registry/temp files cleaner

Same.
Dell S2716DG 144hz | R5 5800X3D | RTX 3070 | 16*2gb 3600mhz cl17

Kyouki
Posts: 189
Joined: 20 Jul 2022, 04:52

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by Kyouki » 29 Nov 2022, 10:21

panicaz wrote:
29 Nov 2022, 08:54
Kyouki wrote:
29 Nov 2022, 05:23
Unfortunate, damn.

Have you tried also messing with Hardware Acccelerated GPU Scheduling (HAGS), see if this OFF makes it not stutter or flicker?
Tried to turn it ON and off - same thing.

Also:
- reinstalled drivers, reinstalled once again with "clean install" option
- disconnected second monitor
- tried different DP outputs
- reinstalled videocard
- updated other drivers
- updated Windows
- used registry/temp files cleaner

Same.
Hmm, what's set within Nvcp under the scaling options? Display or GPU?
CPU: AMD R7 5800x3D ~ PBO2Tuner -30 ~ no C states
RAM: Gskill Bdie 2x16gb TridentZ Neo ~ CL16-16-16-36 1T ~ fine tuned latency
GPU: ASUS TUF 3080 10G OC Edition(v1/non-LHR) ~ disabled Pstates ~ max oced
OS: Fine tuned Windows 10 Pro, manual tuned.
Monitor: Alienware AW2521H ~ mix of ULMB/Gsync @ 240hz/360hz
More specs: https://kit.co/Kyouki/the-pc-that-stomps-you

User avatar
panicaz
Posts: 7
Joined: 27 Nov 2022, 17:10

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by panicaz » 29 Nov 2022, 11:51

Kyouki wrote:
29 Nov 2022, 10:21
Hmm, what's set within Nvcp under the scaling options? Display or GPU?
It has GPU option only.

Unplugged main ssd and plugged the old one. Tried fresh Windows 10 22H2 + lastest NVIDIA driver only - same.
Deleted drivers with DDU in safe mode and installed old 472.12 driver - same.
Tommorow will try to install old Windows 10 or even Windows 7. I'm already really wondering who is actually causing the problem - Windows, Nvidia drivers, my monitor or even GPU.

Can someone tell me if this issue exists on their platform? What PC specs/enabled options, native G-sync/G-Sync compatible etc. The easiest way to call these statters in my case is to use a Parsec app and just hover over the UI elements on the left (like I did on video).
I am almost sure that the problem will be reproduced in any application with OpenGL/DirectX as I can understand from this post on Github:
https://github.com/JetBrains/compose-jb/issues/1648
https://github.com/JetBrains/skiko/pull/475
Dell S2716DG 144hz | R5 5800X3D | RTX 3070 | 16*2gb 3600mhz cl17

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imprecise
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Joined: 16 Nov 2022, 13:47

Re: G-SYNC works in windowed mode even disabled and causes stuttering/flickering

Post by imprecise » 29 Nov 2022, 15:31

I have experienced this as well, but toggling G-Sync on and back off has fixed it for me.

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