VRR not working on LG CX OLED

[MARl0]

So the new VRR update is live, and I've tried testing it out on my LG CX OLED, and it is telling me that my display doesn't support VRR. Which is definitely not true. VRR works fine with my PS5 and Xbox Series X on the TV.

I've updated my official dock as well. And I've tried using the same 2.1 HDMI cable that my Series X is using, so it's not those things either.

Does the Steam Deck VRR just not work with LG OLED TVs?

[MARl0]

So I was running more tests today with VRR on my LG C3 OLED, because I was planning on getting a new VRR capable Denon receiver for Christmas so I could run the Steam Deck through that. And even when the Steam Deck is plugged directly into the TV, it has so many problems connecting with VRR that it's not even worth it.

It almost never sends the video signal to the TV without first unplugging the Steam Deck from the dock first. And even then it is spotty at best. When it actually does work, it works. But the headaches of constantly needing to unplug and replug in the Deck from the dock is a nightmare.

If it's having this many issues when plugged directly into the TV, there is no chance it will be better when running through the receiver as well. What a disappointment. This was the only reason I was going to upgrade the receiver, so this has kind of killed that. Now I need to return the receiver to the store after I open it for Christmas, since that money will be much better spent elsewhere.

[Emu]

Hello, I'm on Lg c series same issue still exists i have to restart the steamdeck 7 times everytime i wan't to play a game because when Vrr not works i get only half framerate always stuck on 30Fps.

[Twyst]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Emu:

Hello, I'm on Lg c series same issue still exists i have to restart the steamdeck 7 times everytime i wan't to play a game because when Vrr not works i get only half framerate always stuck on 30Fps.

If you're locked to 30, then try opening the quick access menu when docked and removing the 30fps default limit.
To access this menu using an Xbox style controller it's long press Xbox button + A.

[The Master]

No Worry :) Xbox Series X and PS5 could drive them... But it also drives switch and steamdeck :)

[Juls-ZX]

How to make VRR work on Steam Deck Led + Steam Dock + LG Oled CX:

1º - Make sure AMD Freesync Premium, Ultra HDMI Deep Color and Instant Game Respond options are enabled on CX (additional settings section) at the hdmi port connected to the Dock.
2º - (CX) Picture Settings -> Picture Options, TrueMotion must be Off.
3º - Set the Deck external display at 1920x1080@120.
4º - Boot order: First power on the tv and wait until the painting screen saver is on screen. Then turn on (cold boot) the Steam Deck already connected to the Dock.
5º - Enable VRR option on the Deck (at the ... menu, performance and battery section).

For some reason, my Deck and my CX like to be connected throught port HDMI 1 to VRR to work. And sometimes there's some black frame here and there.

Some games defaults to 10Hz (?). Change to 60Hz or whatever.

VRR support is a bit spotty for now but works very well. Some hard to drive games like Rime or Sable flow beatifully.

[sgtnoodle]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von MARl0:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von MOPL JaXs:

Same lg c9

Apparently the problem is that HDMI 2.1 is not supported by linux. So the only way to get VRR in docked mode is to use a DisplayPort connection, which most TVs do not support...

That's not quite how it works. That recent announcement only affects GPUs with built-in HDMI ports. The Steam Deck GPU outputs DisplayPort over USB-C regardless of whether you're plugged into an HDMI port on a dock. The docks all have active conversion chips that translate DisplayPort to HDMI. Some of those chips support HDMI 2.1, some don't. The one in the official dock only supports HDMI 2.0.

Some forms of VRR do work over HDMI 2.0. Freesync premium, for example, does work over the official dock's HDMI port.

I suspect there is a regression in the latest SteamOS release. I used to be able to use VRR with my LG C2. It was buggy and unreliable, but it worked. Lately, I am unable to get my deck to even enable the option to turn on VRR.

[sgtnoodle]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Kage Goomba:

I have to ask - why are they still using HDMI? DisplayPort is so much better.
Always bugged me.

The TV manufacturers were the entities that created HDMI to begin with.

[MARl0]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von sgtnoodle:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von MARl0:

Apparently the problem is that HDMI 2.1 is not supported by linux. So the only way to get VRR in docked mode is to use a DisplayPort connection, which most TVs do not support...

That's not quite how it works. That recent announcement only affects GPUs with built-in HDMI ports. The Steam Deck GPU outputs DisplayPort over USB-C regardless of whether you're plugged into an HDMI port on a dock. The docks all have active conversion chips that translate DisplayPort to HDMI. Some of those chips support HDMI 2.1, some don't. The one in the official dock only supports HDMI 2.0.

Some forms of VRR do work over HDMI 2.0. Freesync premium, for example, does work over the official dock's HDMI port.

I suspect there is a regression in the latest SteamOS release. I used to be able to use VRR with my LG C2. It was buggy and unreliable, but it worked. Lately, I am unable to get my deck to even enable the option to turn on VRR.

Yes, if you read my later posts, I already corrected that.

[deaddoof]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von sgtnoodle:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von MARl0:

Apparently the problem is that HDMI 2.1 is not supported by linux. So the only way to get VRR in docked mode is to use a DisplayPort connection, which most TVs do not support...

That's not quite how it works. That recent announcement only affects GPUs with built-in HDMI ports. The Steam Deck GPU outputs DisplayPort over USB-C regardless of whether you're plugged into an HDMI port on a dock. The docks all have active conversion chips that translate DisplayPort to HDMI. Some of those chips support HDMI 2.1, some don't. The one in the official dock only supports HDMI 2.0.

Some forms of VRR do work over HDMI 2.0. Freesync premium, for example, does work over the official dock's HDMI port.

I suspect there is a regression in the latest SteamOS release. I used to be able to use VRR with my LG C2. It was buggy and unreliable, but it worked. Lately, I am unable to get my deck to even enable the option to turn on VRR.

HDMI forum forbid AMD from providing HDMI 2.1 support on Linux. You need a TV that support VRR on HDMI 2.0.

https://www.phoronix.com/news/HDMI-2.1-OSS-Rejected

I am divesting away from HDMI. The HDMI cartel have proven they do not care about consumer needs and will label innocent users as pirates.

[1337Dude]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von sgtnoodle:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von MARl0:

Apparently the problem is that HDMI 2.1 is not supported by linux. So the only way to get VRR in docked mode is to use a DisplayPort connection, which most TVs do not support...

That's not quite how it works. That recent announcement only affects GPUs with built-in HDMI ports. The Steam Deck GPU outputs DisplayPort over USB-C regardless of whether you're plugged into an HDMI port on a dock. The docks all have active conversion chips that translate DisplayPort to HDMI. Some of those chips support HDMI 2.1, some don't. The one in the official dock only supports HDMI 2.0.

Some forms of VRR do work over HDMI 2.0. Freesync premium, for example, does work over the official dock's HDMI port.

I suspect there is a regression in the latest SteamOS release. I used to be able to use VRR with my LG C2. It was buggy and unreliable, but it worked. Lately, I am unable to get my deck to even enable the option to turn on VRR.

I appreciate you sharing this info. I've been digging through threads and pieced together that the VRR, at one point, worked with LG OLED's as early as the CX. I've been trying multiple adapters trying to get it to work with my CX and C1.

Currently I'm using an adapter that allows 4k 120HZ on the Deck over HDMI 2.1 and USB C. Considering that LG OLED's are victim to VRR flickering, I'm just going to have to accept the trade-off of having VRR turned off.

[deaddoof]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 1337Dude:

Currently I'm using an adapter that allows 4k 120HZ on the Deck over HDMI 2.1 and USB C. Considering that LG OLED's are victim to VRR flickering, I'm just going to have to accept the trade-off of having VRR turned off.

I believe you need an active adapter for VRR to work. I believe Alex Deucher said HDMI 2.1 only works via Displayport alt mode.

[1337Dude]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von deaddoof:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 1337Dude:

Currently I'm using an adapter that allows 4k 120HZ on the Deck over HDMI 2.1 and USB C. Considering that LG OLED's are victim to VRR flickering, I'm just going to have to accept the trade-off of having VRR turned off.

I believe you need an active adapter for VRR to work. I believe Alex Deucher said HDMI 2.1 only works via Displayport alt mode.

I believe that if people say it works, then I believe them. First-hand information vs 2nd-hand (or worse)

EDIT: To be more specific, if a bunch of users report that a dock/adapter and display device works for them with VRR, I'm more inclined to believe them over someone citing some other guy with a vague reason of why it doesn't work. Given the amount of misinformation I've encountered on this subject, I'd rather not speculate on technical specifics.

But you can plainly find Valve staff in this forum encouraging people to use HDMI 2.1 with VRR and people saying it works. Or at least it did at one point, because it's also been reported that VRR compatibility has been reduced within the last couple updates.

[deaddoof]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von 1337Dude:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von deaddoof:

I believe you need an active adapter for VRR to work. I believe Alex Deucher said HDMI 2.1 only works via Displayport alt mode.

I believe that if people say it works, then I believe them. First-hand information vs 2nd-hand (or worse)

EDIT: To be more specific, if a bunch of users report that a dock/adapter and display device works for them with VRR, I'm more inclined to believe them over someone citing some other guy with a vague reason of why it doesn't work. Given the amount of misinformation I've encountered on this subject, I'd rather not speculate on technical specifics.

But you can plainly find Valve staff in this forum encouraging people to use HDMI 2.1 with VRR and people saying it works. Or at least it did at one point, because it's also been reported that VRR compatibility has been reduced within the last couple updates.

Alex Deucher is a AMD driver developer who maintains the AMDGPU stack.

The problem is that HDMI in general is unreliable.... HDMI forums hates it when you emulate their signals because they want to be only the entity that can do anything interesting.

You put way too much faith on ancedotal evidence.

[deaddoof]

Ahhh.

There is an whitelist for adapters.

https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/3059#note_2318386

@1337Dude, you should make an account and post information about your displayport adapter. Do the due diligence today and VRR support may show up in two years into the steam deck.

https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/3059#note_2221176

My active connector comment may be wrong. Sweet.

[Juls-ZX]

How to make VRR work on Steam Deck Led + Steam Dock + LG Oled CX. HDMI 2.0

Setup:

1º - Make sure AMD Freesync Premium, Ultra HDMI Deep Color and Instant Game Respond options are DISABLED on CX (additional settings section) at the hdmi port connected to the Dock. Picture Settings -> Picture Options, TrueMotion must be Off too.
2º - Power on the Deck and Connect it to the Dock. Set the Deck external display at 1920x1080@120. Turn off the Deck and disconnect it from the Dock.
3º - Turn off and on the TV and ENABLE Ultra HDMI Deep Color, AMD Freesync Premium and Instant Game Respond options for the hdmi port connected to the Dock.
4º - Power on the Deck and once is fully turned on connect it to the Dock.
5º - Enable VRR option on the Deck (at the ... menu, performance and battery section).

From this point, every time the Deck is going to be used with the external display, must be turn off, disconnected from the Dock, turn on (wait until fully started up) and connected to the Dock again. The TV must be on at the moment the Deck is connected to the Dock.

If you disable VRR, change external screen resolution and/or external display frequency while using the Deck connected to the TV, there's is a high chance to get a black screen or a no signal message from the TV and the setup process must be redone from the start.

Use high quality HDMI cable (bidirectional?) to avoid random black frames.

Didn't try it on Steam Deck Oled or newer Oled LG Tv's.

Cheers!