New Gsync Compatible Monitor - brightness flickering with Track IR

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
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Please tag your post with #pc and/or #xbox.
PC
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Brief description of the issue:

I recently took advantage of a Cyber Monday sale and bought a Asus VG279 for a good price. Its a 27" 1920x1080 IPS Freesync 144 Hz gaming monitor. It replaced a 12 year old 23" IPS 60Hz monitor. With my Lenovo legion laptop, I use the USB-C port that doubles as a DisplayPort connection to my RTX2060.

I have the monitor set-up, @144 Hz, and configured as Gsync Compatible. Vsync off and Frame rate unlocked. And WOW does it make a world of difference! Max frame rate is about the same as before, but theres nearly NO stuttering, and everything is movie quality smooth! I actually wasnt expecting such a dramatic change, especially with my mid-range computer! Almost brought a tear to my eye when I first saw the results. 45-60fps on the High preset, buttery smooth.

However, I’ve noticed that whenever I start Track IR 5 software (which is up to date), I get brightness flickering on my new monitor. If I maximize the Track IR window, even my desktop will flicker. In MSFS2020, the loading screens and some menus flicker, but so far, no visible flickering in-Game. Mild flicker, but quite noticeable/distracting.

I’ve done some research and discovered flickering is VERY common with VS (Gsync/Freesync) screens, and its really no cause for concern. Its due to the ultra low latency of the screen and how the screen deals with software that has highly variable (bouncing around) out-of-range framerate (lower than 40 or more than 144hz/fps). I also know that true Gsync screens (more expensive) may handle this better. I suspect that Track IR itself is running at over 144 fps (the software, not the camera). I know the camera polls at 60 fps.

I’ve also read all about cables being the cause, or certain settings fixing things, but I think this is mostly placebo effect…Because the monitor only does this with Track IR running. I have quality cables. The DisplayPort cable is the Asus certified/stock cable, and the DP adapter is a quality CableMatters brand unit. Without Track IR on, MSFS2020 is perfectly smooth and flicker free. I just cant look around without it!

So, my question is basically - are my thoughts/findings correct? Or am I missing something that will help? Or…is something indeed wrong here? Track IR issue? It never did this with the old screen.

PC specs and/or peripheral set up of relevant:
i7-10750 6-core CPU, 32 GB DDR4 ram, and Nvidia RTX 2060 GPU with 6bg of memory. Two 1TB M.2 NVMe SSDs. Asus VG279 144hz IPS Freesync screen.

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Moved to self-service , pc & hardware. #self-service

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Thanks @Beechc23 . Sorry about that!

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Correct, unfortunately there is nothing to do with flickering. The only solution is give in the VRR and use the monitor as a standard monitor with all those games that are affected by microstuttering or in general cannot maintain a stable framerate above 48 fps (or 60, depending on Freesync/Freesync Ultimate).
I can also confirm that real GSync monitors have an additional chip and are not affected by flickering, having switched from a Freesync to a GSync monitor recently.

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Thanks for the confirmation! Good news and bad. So, basically, since I use Track IR (and not VR), and I have the issue when the Track IR software runs, that means I bought the wrong monitor? I either live with the flickering, turn off Gsync, or buy a true Gsync monitor?

It just seems as though there should be a way to prevent Track IR software from initiating the flickering, because MSFS is flicker-free otherwise. Perhaps not?

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I am not sure why specifically TrackIR should introduce flickering, but you can limit the FPS with your GPUs software for specific programs.
I would also check if the GPU driver version could be the cause of flickering.

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I’ve tried several recent drivers - I’m on one a few releases back right now to avoid the newest CTD issues being reported.

Interesting - I wonder if adding Track IR to the list in Nvidia control panel and limiting FPS on it to… 70? would work? I’ll have to try it.

I’ve also reached out to Track IR support - no response as of yet.

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The issue depends on your monitor and the freesync technology, TrackIR support can do nothing for you.

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I understand the limitations with Freesync vs Gsync - I guess my confusion (and question to Track IR support) is because I dont get why Track IR (with no other programs/sims running) is causing flickering all by itself. That doesnt really make sense to me.

If I end up having to turn off Gsync most of the time, so be it. I cant justify a true Gsync monitor right now. And even at 60hz, its an improvement because it’s bigger. Im just trying to cover all my bases and understand this oddity better.

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I should also add that knowing that the flickering is not indicative of a fault or issue, and is a side effect of the Freesync technology, makes me feel way better. Short of any other ideas (please, if anyone has suggestions!) I suppose I’ll just use it when I can, and turn it off when it’s annoying.

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Does TrackIR use any window or overlay? If that’s the case, when TrackIR is active the game may switch to borderless window mode which makes flickering even worse.

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There’s a setting in the Nvidia Control Panel G-Sync settings that might help. I’m away from my PC at the moment, but if I recall correctly, there’s something about enabling it for Full-Screen applications or both Full-Screen and Non Full-Screen apps. You could try toggling that option to see if it helps.

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It does, but the window is minimized. You might be on to something. Not sure what to do about it though.

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I’ve played with this setting - it seems to work identically with MSFS regardless of the setting. In other words, I get the benefit of Functional Gsync and also get the annoyance of the flickering regardless of how that option is set.

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I’ve run trackIR and various sims on both freesync and gsync monitors with Nvidia gpu’s.
No flickering issues

I usually set my monitors to 120hz and leave them there.

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I tried the 120 Hz setting and it makes no difference for me. I only get flicker in the loading screens, not in-game, and I only see it when Track IR is running.

I dont know what to say, its quite subtle, not obnoxious. But once you see it, you cant not notice it. It can catch your eye if you’re looking at the other screen, and then you have to watch for it to see the next random flicker happen, but it’s there. Turn off Track IR, and it’s gone.

I’m not sure what to do at this point. I have 3 days left before I cant return the new monitor. I’ve had responses in PM’s and on other forums like this:
-There’s no issue, I see flicker too. It’s normal for a Freesync used as Gysnc Compatible screen.
-Flicker is part of how the screen works at times, theres no issue, most have it and some arent sensitive to it or dont have high enough attention to detail to see it.

and an equal number of:
-Your screen/cable is defective. Not normal at all, I have no flicker.
-Flicker is abnormal and not how these screens work. People would see that and report it.

Quite confusing.

All I know is I have it, and many others have reported similar issues with Freesync screens for nearly a decade on various forums. This is an older video but he goes into the reasons behind it. https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ujgRjsmwtgY

I dont know what to try/do next. I guess I just live with it.

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So, after more investigating, it seems the flickering is no longer associated (was it ever?) with Track IR. MSFS2020 launch and loading screens flicker anytime Gsync is turned on. Turn it off, slightly stuttery gameplay but no loading screen flicker.

I’m on Nvidia 471.96, and I’ve read through the forum thread on Nvidia driver updates. I’m curious if 496.76 will help fix the flicker, but I’m really hesitant to mess with something that’s otherwise working well. I’ve read about gamma/brightness issues with 496.76 and the hotfix drivers, and the latest one and all the CTD issues.

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Nope, you will never resolve the flickering issue with a driver.
As explained above, that’s a feature of the Gsync compatible monitors.

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Well, I’ve got a Gsync monitor and no flickering. And drivers can DEFINITELY cause (or fix!) odd issues - the 496.98 Nvidia hotfix driver specifically addresses both a gamma issue playing video content and fixes a Gsync-specific issue as well.

I was affected by that gamma issue playing videos and the hotfix corrected that. I can’t say I was affected by the specific Gsync issue mentioned in the Nvidia patch notes, but what’s the harm in the OP trying it? If it makes things worse, he can always roll back. “Flickering” should not be a thing with a proper setup. If it was, no one would ever buy or recommend others buy a Gsync/Freesync technology monitor.

However, at this point, do have to wonder if he has either a monitor hardware problem, a cable or DisplayPort connector going bad, or simply a setting wrong somewhere in the monitor, sim or NCP.

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I think you both may be partially correct. From what I’ve found, Freesync monitors that are Gsync Compatible doesnt mean they’re 100% like a true Gsync monitor, and flickering is indeed a common and known issue among dozens of monitor makes out there. It really seems to depend on the hardware, and the individual game.

I only get the flickering in the menus and loading screens. When I have a framerate counter up, it 100% correlates with framerate spikes during loading, so this sounds like the known behavior. And to be clear, the flickering is maybe 2-5% brightness changes. It’s really not much, but its enough to be annoying when you catch it out of the corner of your eye.

I suspect that Nvidia drivers could very well improve (or make worse) this behavior. I’m hesitant to try the new drivers. I’ve been following the driver thread here on these forums, and there seems to be an unusually high number of people having issues with them. CTD, gamma issues, etc.

I’ve just turned off Gsync for now, and I’m living with slightly choppy framerates. Maybe I’ll try one of the 5xx series drivers once they’re out.

Something else I just noticed - the bezel is actually loose on my monitor at the top. I made a new topic for that since its probably not related? Asus VG279Q monitor screen loose in case