New Nvidia GTX 970, bad screen tearing: Settings?

[VanGoghComplex]

Hi all!

I just dropped good cash on my first "high end" graphics card, an MSI Nvidia GTX 970 Gaming 4G.

I'm coming from a Radeon Crossfire setup to this single GPU. I'm happy with the performance, it handily beats my old dual 7870 setup.

However, I'm completely new to Nvidia, and I'm not sure where to look in the settings to optimize. I'm experiencing bad screen tearing, multi-line, and it's very compounded when there are bright strobe/lighting changes on screen. I've fiddled with vsync, but it seems to persist.

Any general advice to an Nvidia newbie?

[_I_]

in game settings turn on vsync

or in the drivers
control panel -> nvidia control panel -> manage 3d settings -> vertical sync -> on

vsync eliminates screen tearing by only displaying complete frames

[VanGoghComplex]

Can't quote my own post, but as I've said, I've changed vsync settings to no avail.

[Air]

Messaggio originale di VanGoghComplex:

Can't quote my own post, but as I've said, I've changed vsync settings to no avail.

Are you sure that you actually applied the v-sync setting? You might have forgotten to click the "apply" button afterward. It's an easy mistake to make, I've done so a few times myself.

You can also experience screen tearing if you use adaptive v-sync.

[_I_]

with adaptive vsync
if fps is above monitor refresh rate = vsync on
if fps is below monitor refresh rate = vsync off

gsync adjusts the monitors refresh rate to what the gpu is outputting

[VanGoghComplex]

Yeah, I've read up on those. Kinda wish I'd sprung for a g-sync monitor when I built my machine, but that's for maybe in the future I guess.

Thanks for the input!

While we're on the topic, most games have v-sync settings in them. If I'm using the driver panel to force it, what do I do with in-game settings?

[Azza ☠]

Ensure you have the AMD drivers completely uninstalled. They tend to conflict.

Also, if Microsoft Updates installed your graphic card drivers, best to remove those as well.

Installed the latest Nvidia Graphic card drivers from (Manual Driver Search):
http://www.geforce.com/drivers

Do a full / express install (all). Set default settings on Global under the Nvidia Control Panel. Ensure everything is Application Controlled. Don't mess with these global settings, it best done individually per gaming profile, as I will show below.

Then (optional) install Geforce Experience:
http://www.geforce.com/geforce-experience

It's best to manually update that software, provide it your game locations, scan and apply optimal game settings. However, check for any (DSR) next to the resolution. If you have any issues with the game, remove DSR by setting the game resolution to your native monitor resolution, rather than higher... DSR will force the game to run at much higher resolution such as 4K UltraHD and downsample it to whatever your monitor actually handles 1080p or 1440p, etc. Some games/computers don't like DSR as much, you end up with similar issues as 4K.

You can tweak from that point on. However, it should be running quite smoothly and lag-free.

For more information about DSR:
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/dsr/technology

[VanGoghComplex]

Azza,

I removed the AMD drivers that pertained to my old card, but left some: my processor is an amd. Though without the card, CCC seems like a waste of resources, can I just remove it?

Got the Nvidia drivers just like you recommended. Tried out Experience and DSR: some games get better fps with DSR enabled, somehow. My machine seems to like it.

I'll fix up the global settings tomorrow and report back.

[Azza ☠]

Messaggio originale di VanGoghComplex:

Azza,

I removed the AMD drivers that pertained to my old card, but left some: my processor is an amd. Though without the card, CCC seems like a waste of resources, can I just remove it?

Got the Nvidia drivers just like you recommended. Tried out Experience and DSR: some games get better fps with DSR enabled, somehow. My machine seems to like it.

I'll fix up the global settings tomorrow and report back.

Yeah, get rid of the ATI Catalyst Control Center (CCC), it's not required for the Nvidia swap, won't be used anymore but can still cause a few issues. The Nvidia Control Panel will be replacing it.

[MaddDoktor [Linux]]

Typically when switching from AMD/ATI video to Nvidia, you need to completely remove the AMD video drivers "before" switching video cards. Otherwise you can have conflicts.

I have had lower end Nvidia cards and have never noticed tearing without using vsync even if fps is less than the Hz of my 32" 1080p HDTV. I recently switched from GTX 550 Ti to GTX 750 Ti (which has a Maxwell chip like the 970) reducing power consumption of my whole PC from ~200 watts to ~150 watts max, which is little more than the 145 watts that a 970 uses itself. TF2 fps in High settings is triple digits most of the time. But even in highly detailed Talos Principle that runs around 40 fps, it is smooth and I do not notice any tearing without vsync.

I normally run Linux Steam, but also have Win7.

[VanGoghComplex]

Messaggio originale di MaddDoktor:

Typically when switching from AMD/ATI video to Nvidia, you need to completely remove the AMD video drivers "before" switching video cards. Otherwise you can have conflicts.

Affirmative. I removed the old drivers through the catalyst install manager before swapping cards. Windows proceeded to install a signed driver from AMD behind my back afterward, but I was hesitant to remove it because I wasn't sure my video card would work at all without it; I have no onboard graphics. Should I try to hunt down and remove that Windows managed driver too, or should it be gone already?

At this point I'm considering using driver cleaner or something to wipe all my drivers and start from scratch...

[Azza ☠]

Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features > Uninstall all AMD related apps. You can get rid of them all including the annoying Windows one it's attempted to reinstall.

Start > Control Panel > Device Manager > Check under "Display adapters" for graphic card and "Monitors" for the monitor driver, ensure they are correct.

If you have Monitor drivers, install them rather than using "Microsoft Generic PNP".

Right-Click your desktop > Screen Resolution > Advanced Settings.

Your monitor resolution should be on (recommended)?

Adapter Type should be your graphics card.

Monitor tab > Monitor Type should be your monitor.
Set the refresh rate to 60Hz or best your monitor can support (tick hide modes your monitor can't support, if required).

The issue with screen tearing is your graphic card is either lagging out or running too fast, creating too few or too much frames for the monitor to handle.

V-Sync will cap to 30FPS or 60FPS for example, which is even for the monitor to handle. If the monitor is 60Hz, and it's getting only 30FPS, it will just hold each frame for slightly longer (2/60th of a secound).

Therefore tearing isn't really a performance issues as such, rather more varations in FPS, such as when the graphic card is producing 30-78FPS, peaking and/or dropping rather than continuous flow, and the monitor can't handle/buffer it all. Most of the time it would actually come down to the monitor.

G-Sync is built into some later generation monitors. This syncs the monitor refresh to match the Nvidia graphic card, therefore replacing V-Sync, and runs a lot smoother as well.

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/g-sync/videos

What is your monitor and how old is it?

[VanGoghComplex]

Messaggio originale di Azza ☠:

What is your monitor and how old is it?

It's a Dell something or other, couple years old. 24" 1920x1080 60hz. Not great, but not terrible: I'm eyeing a BenQ with g-sync for tax time.

And while I appreciate your detailed post, I'm just new to Nvidia cards, not PC gaming as a whole. ^_^; I knew how to get the best out of my old crossfire setup, but this is a different animal.

[Azza ☠]

The BenQ XL Series gaming monitors are a fine pick:
http://gaming.benq.com/gaming-monitor/xl-series/

Saying that, your current monitor should be able to support it without tearing. It's running off digital signal? DVI or HDMI?

No offense with the basic step-by-steps, it's more just troubleshooting and ensuring we haven't overlooked anything. All the best.

[VanGoghComplex]

Messaggio originale di Azza ☠:

The BenQ XL Series gaming monitors are a fine pick:
http://gaming.benq.com/gaming-monitor/xl-series/

Saying that, your current monitor should be able to support it without tearing. It's running off digital signal? DVI or HDMI?

No offense with the basic step-by-steps, it's more just troubleshooting and ensuring we haven't overlooked anything. All the best.

It's currently using the DVI-D port. Resolution and refresh rate are set to native, as recommended.

After following the suggestions posted here, I've gotten rid of the worst of the tearing. It's much more subtle now, on the edge of noticeable. Maybe with a little more tweaking, I can dial it all out. I'm still trying to suppress excitement about that BenQ though... I just bought the card, so getting a monitor twice that price may not be prudent. XD

[rotNdude]

What games and applications have you tested with the GTX 970 when you get screen tearing? A new card like this may have driver issues.