Horizontal 'vsync like' lines while playing using dual screen setup.

[Rock1m1]

Hi,
Today I just jumped from my intel hd 4600 gpu to a Radeon R9 290 from Sapphire, yeah a massive jump. I have been enjoying a lot of games in full graphical settings which was a lot fun. However, I seem to be running an issue.

Before when using the intel gpu, I used to run a dual screen setup. I would duplicate my monitor to my TV which was connected via HDMI cable. So that during gaming I would sit back and relax and play games on the big TV. The first time i ran at like this, there used to be some horizontal wavy lines across the screen on my TV whenever there was too much motion, but it didn't happen on the monitor. After I realized, if I selected 'TV and monitor' instead of 'Monitor and TV', the problem went away, my understanding is that it gives the TV the primary role and hence it displayed smoother.

I ran across the same problem with the R9 card, the setup is like before. I put my monitor as 'prefered' desktop according to Catalyst, as I am playing on the desk. However, the horizontal lines are still present if I move the screen around the character too quickly for example. If I chose the TV as prefered, the problem becomes much worse on my monitor.

Any ideas? Hope I could properly explain my situation.

[Azza ☠]

It's most likely due to different refresh rates on each screen... TV monitors normally work at 60Hz, when the PC monitor might be set higher. Therefore, the graphic card to producing the same image speed for both and the other monitor will appear wavey.

Under Start > Control Panel > Display > Screen Resolution > Advanced setting (per monitor)

It will open each monitors properties, under the Monitor tab, tick the hide modes that this monitor cannot display and then select the screen refresh rate both can handle. This would most likely be 60Hz in most cases. Repeat for both monitors.

Ensure the Monitor Type says the name of the monitor, rather than just Generic Monitor (which means it's using crappy Window native drivers). If it doesn't know your monitor, find it's latest drivers from online (offical site) and update, this will help improve it's correct management.

You might also need to enable V-Sync (global setting or just in some games), if the frames are tearing on one or both monitors. This will cap the frames per second (max 60 FPS) for the graphic card outputs, as if it's creating too many for the display to handle at a time, you can get two or more frames on the screen at the same time, which results in a tearing appearance.

[Rock1m1]

Ok I managed to find the issue, it had to do with the refresh rate. For some reason despite Catalyst saying both screens are running at 1080p and 60hz. Reality is my monitor goes to a lower refresh rate. Catalyst seems buggy to make the 60hz for both monitor and TV.

After fixing it and turning off the TV and turning it back on, I have to redo the whole forcing 60hz on the monitor. Despite my monitor clearly supports 60hz.