Second monitor losing signal when gpu accelerated application is in focus

[Not a Number | Not the fake one!]

So this is a weird issue on Windows 11 that is driving me nuts.

Whenever i use a gpu accelerated application, for example a video game, Adobe software or LibreOffice, my secondary monitor will lose the signal and turn off after a while. However, this is only while said application is in focus - in case i tab out or focus something else like my browser window playing a YouTube video, the display does turn on again and i can see the content as expected.

I have not yet found any setting that does prevent this from happening and i do not remember configuring anything that could have caused this. When using another boot drive with Linux everything does seem to be fine.

I am using W11 with the latest Updates and drivers as well as a 7800X3D and RTX 4080.

Id appreciate any help, i am kinda out of ideas

[_I_]

get the drivers from the mobo mfg or oem site
and amd/nvidia

never use windows updates for drivers

[Not a Number | Not the fake one!]

Originally posted by _I_:

get the drivers from the mobo mfg or oem site
and amd/nvidia

never use windows updates for drivers

I already do, but that does not fix the issue.

[C1REX]

Originally posted by Not a Number | Not the fake one!:

Id appreciate any help, i am kinda out of ideas

Does the problem persist if both monitors are set to lower resolution and refresh rate?
Checking if it's bandwitch related.

[Numlock687]

Lose cable? Also flex the cable too

[Not a Number | Not the fake one!]

Originally posted by C1REX:

Originally posted by Not a Number | Not the fake one!:

Id appreciate any help, i am kinda out of ideas

Does the problem persist if both monitors are set to lower resolution and refresh rate?
Checking if it's bandwitch related.

Yes it does persist. However my monitor has issues with 240hz and DSC (horrible firmware), so i have locked it to 140 anyways. Second one can only handle 75hz. Both have GSync enabled.

[Not a Number | Not the fake one!]

Originally posted by Numlock687:

Lose cable? Also flex the cable too

Actually using two cables to route out of the case, then two cables from the back of the case to the desk across the room. All cables are DP 2.1 certified. To be honest, i have jiggled, tickled and moved the cables with no avail, event used different ones connected directly to GPU hanging out of the case on the back with same behaivour.

Important to note is i done this with my previous build (the tv rig in my profile) before and worked, same as the current build - this only started after 1-2 years of Windows 11.

I would have thought it is the hardware, but again: It works flawlessly with a Linux boot drive, like no issues at all. Also the fact that i can toggle it by focussing the accelerated application or just circumvent it by having something "fullscreen" on second screen kinda points to software issue, but i have no clue what or where. I am more of a linux guy, so id not even know where to start on Windows beyond the usual stuff we already gone throught.

Thing is: i would rather not reinstall this drive, as i did a lots of configuration for my software development, cryptography, my photography as well as my flight sim stuff. I dread setting all that up again.

[_I_]

what gpu, and monitor res and how are they connected?

7800x3d has an igpu, but dont plug any displays into the mobo
only use the 4080 hdmi and dp ports

[PopinFRESH]

Originally posted by Not a Number | Not the fake one!:

Originally posted by Numlock687:

Lose cable? Also flex the cable too

Actually using two cables to route out of the case, then two cables from the back of the case to the desk across the room. All cables are DP 2.1 certified. To be honest, i have jiggled, tickled and moved the cables with no avail, event used different ones connected directly to GPU hanging out of the case on the back with same behaivour.

Important to note is i done this with my previous build (the tv rig in my profile) before and worked, same as the current build - this only started after 1-2 years of Windows 11.

I would have thought it is the hardware, but again: It works flawlessly with a Linux boot drive, like no issues at all. Also the fact that i can toggle it by focussing the accelerated application or just circumvent it by having something "fullscreen" on second screen kinda points to software issue, but i have no clue what or where. I am more of a linux guy, so id not even know where to start on Windows beyond the usual stuff we already gone throught.

Thing is: i would rather not reinstall this drive, as i did a lots of configuration for my software development, cryptography, my photography as well as my flight sim stuff. I dread setting all that up again.

The "across the room" suggests you're potentially using long HDMI cables? Also can you clarify what you mean by "two cables to route out of the case". Are you not connecting the displays directly to your 4080 headers?

This sounds like you have long HDMI cables and are on the cusp of a signal integrity issue due to the length. Your description that you aren't having an issue in Linux but are having the issue now in Windows 11; I'd lean toward your system having Auto-HDR turned on. I'd wager you don't have any HDR support in your Linux environment. With HDR your video signal will need more bandwidth than your SDR signal; and you're likely pushing beyond what your cabling can do at that distance.

[C1REX]

Originally posted by Not a Number | Not the fake one!:

Originally posted by Numlock687:

Lose cable? Also flex the cable too

Actually using two cables to route out of the case, then two cables from the back of the case to the desk across the room. All cables are DP 2.1 certified. To be honest, i have jiggled, tickled and moved the cables with no avail, event used different ones connected directly to GPU hanging out of the case on the back with same behaivour.

Important to note is i done this with my previous build (the tv rig in my profile) before and worked, same as the current build - this only started after 1-2 years of Windows 11.

I would have thought it is the hardware, but again: It works flawlessly with a Linux boot drive, like no issues at all. Also the fact that i can toggle it by focussing the accelerated application or just circumvent it by having something "fullscreen" on second screen kinda points to software issue, but i have no clue what or where. I am more of a linux guy, so id not even know where to start on Windows beyond the usual stuff we already gone throught.

Thing is: i would rather not reinstall this drive, as i did a lots of configuration for my software development, cryptography, my photography as well as my flight sim stuff. I dread setting all that up again.

In that case I can only think of Windows or GPU drivers and if it's windows then re-installation is sometimes the easiest and quickest realistic scenario. Maybe check some power management settings.

When you run out of ideas you can take desperate measures and ask AI. Few different ones. If not for direct answer then to help search online for a similar case.

[emoticorpse]

Is the power settings to put the monitor to sleep after specified amount of time or that is disabled?

[_I_]

sometimes windows would put displays to sleep if using a controller
but k/m input should keep ti awake

with multimon setup, both should sleep at the same time tho