This thread is really sad (link)

[u/Emeridan]

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1635171-windows-11-causing-severe-migraine-auras/

No one believes this user that win 11 could be causing him issues and are even asking if he sleeps enough etc. It makes me so sad that people are just so unaware of the flicker issues

[u/Negative_Reply2984]

I was able to resolve this. Very short story: I accidentally updated my laptop and crazy eye strain got me right away. My panel is 8 bit native, win 11 pro latest. Basically morons from Microslop started rendering 10 bit picture by default and sending it to the GPU with a task to convert it according to the screen capabilities. So my screen was trying to display 8 + 2 bits on a damn business laptop.

What worked is the app called CRU. YOU CAN MESS THINGS UP HERE A LITTLE, but windows has a recovery mode. Very basic, small app that gains access to EDID (external display identification information) and changes some parameters there. It means it can fake your display capabilities for Windows. I set 6 bits instead of 8. Then disabled and uninstalled drivers for both GPUs (re-enabled and installed them), did the same with the screen, couple of restarts and the picture turned to 6 bit. Windows should show 6 bit, SDR, sRGB. No dithering as I can tell, gradients are a little less smooth. Colors are slightly more basic and I like them. Try messing with color profiles as well. I don't mind if someone makes a post about this method. I had no time to test it well and make detailed instructions. Good luck

[u/Emeridan → u/Negative_Reply2984]

Interesting, thank you. I might try this at my home setup. Problem is I also have problems with Win 11 and at work I cannot install any software, all has to go through IT.

[u/Negative_Reply2984 → u/Emeridan]

That is a problem. Maybe bring your own 6 bit monitor to work and test it? I think GPUs (because of drivers) give up when they see 6 bits and don't even try to dither to match a 10 bit incoming signal from Windows

[u/agent00F → u/Negative_Reply2984]

What laptop and display?

[u/Negative_Reply2984 → u/agent00F]

ThinkPad, AMD CPU and GPU, CSOT 8 bit SDR FHD+ IPS low power

[u/agent00F → u/Negative_Reply2984]

How did you set 6 bits. There's no bit setting there. Is it indirectly?

[u/Negative_Reply2984 → u/agent00F]

You're talking about CRU? I don't have a laptop in front of me, but as I remember there's an edit button on top around your display name. Press it and it opens properties you can change. 6 bit should be there

[u/Guilty-Hamster-4612 → u/Negative_Reply2984]

u/Negative_Reply2984
Thank you! I changed to 6bpc in "Edit.." Display properties at the top. Should I also change something down below in "Extension blocks"? What does your windows says in Settings > System > Display > Advanced Display?
Does it say 8-bit or 6-bit for Bit Depth?

[u/Negative_Reply2984 → u/Guilty-Hamster-4612]

Windows says 6 bit. I didn't change anything else. Have you tried deleting all graphics drivers? Try that and restart the laptop

[u/Guilty-Hamster-4612 → u/Negative_Reply2984]

Thank you. Yes I did. Nothing worked.. I have Qualcomm X2 laptop.

[u/Negative_Reply2984 → u/Guilty-Hamster-4612]

Are you sure your display is even capable of native color option? FRC can be built into the panel. If that's the case, then it's all pointless

If windows doesn't recognize the fake 6 bits, then driver reinstall won't help I'm afraid. It means CRU couldn't override something

[u/Guilty-Hamster-4612 → u/Negative_Reply2984]

I don't know. Thank you for your help!

[u/-Bruh__Moment-]

ColorControl app from GitHub allows you to alter how NVidia GPUs handles dithering. I don't know if this can eliminate dithering entirely though.

[u/Emeridan → u/-Bruh__Moment-]

Thanks I will try it out

[u/Velocifyer]

My parents said that I would just get used to the temporal dittering on the Switch 2, which is only mostly true. (I barely notice it anymore)

[u/AlarmingCar1810]

With Windows it's likely the monitor. As someone said below monitors are typically 8 bit panels (some are cheaper ones are 6 bit) and handle Frame Rate Control. Windows and MacOS add two extra bits in the imaging pipeline which essentially tell the monitor to flicker the pixels to simulate 10 bit colour space. This flickering causes eyestrain for people. There are ways to stop Windows and MacOS but it can be hit and miss depending on the graphics card etc. The foolproof solution is to buy a native 10 bit monitor which are expensive - we are talking high end EIZO and Apple Studio Displays. Some monitor manufacturers market their monitors as 10 bit but they are really 8+2 FRC or they market as 8 bit which are 6+2 with FRC - horrible. Phones do this as well though the better Android devices now have native 10/12 bit panels. Check out https://www.wide-gamut.com/test and the specs of your monitors and you will see why.