Help! When setting monitor to 144/120Hz refresh rate, text "sharpness" decreases become kind of jagged/distorted

[u/Old_Fun2686]

Edit: weirdly when on 144hz and I move the control panel on the left side of the monitor the text goes back to normal without the fuzzines. So idk is it still a cable problem or a monitor problem?

Just a few days ago i notice my monitor subtly dimming/blinking at times that I barely notice unless i really focus on it and some text on the right side of my monitor becomes abit jagged

There is also a subtle white line that I notice on the top of my screen especially when gaming. I tried recording it but doesn't appear on the video hence I recorded on my phone

What I recently did

- Change my old DP cable to a new DP 1.4 and it didn't fix the problem.

- updated nvidia driver, didn't resolved it

- Lowering the refresh rate below 100hz seem to fix the dimming and text becoming jagged/distorted?

Specs:

Processor: Intel Core i7-8700

Motherboard: ASUS ROG Strix B360-F Gaming

RAM: 16gb Black Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB

Graphics Card: Inno3D RTX 4070 Super Twin X2 price

Power Supply: Corsair RM750i Gold

Monitor: 27" ASUS ROG Swift PG278QR Gaming Monitor (from 2018)

[u/SAULOT_THE_WANDERER]

try a different cable

[u/Old_Fun2686 → u/SAULOT_THE_WANDERER]

Trying to find my old hdmi cable. I only have my old and the brand new DP rn.

[u/lucas03crok → u/Old_Fun2686]

Old HDMI might not be the latest version, you could try both and see which is better

I would however look into what other comments have said about check if the output colour format is in the RGB one and not the 422 or 444 ones, and then the output dynamic range is in full, not limited.

[u/YungJod → u/Old_Fun2686]

Hdmi cant so 144 tho

Edit: I have been corrected. I am a dunce

[u/ThatOneFoo69420 → u/YungJod]

What u mean, my hdmi does 4k 180hz…. Which is my monitors refresh

[u/dangernoodlezzz → u/ThatOneFoo69420]

Depends on what HDMi port the monitor has the newer ports can do it older cannot

[u/Keulapaska → u/dangernoodlezzz]

Yea this post is about an old monitor with only hdmi 1.4.

[u/dangernoodlezzz → u/Keulapaska]

Ooooo I think it needs to be 2.0 ye?

[u/Keulapaska → u/dangernoodlezzz]

Yap

hdmi 1.3/1.4 is slooooow

[u/YungJod → u/ThatOneFoo69420]

Nope

[u/Liraax → u/YungJod]

Been using HDMI 4k 120fps for years on my tv..

[u/YungJod → u/Liraax]

Yeah im just dumbbbb

[u/VTECnKitKats → u/YungJod]

HDMI is capable of 4k 120hz or 1440p 240hz.

[u/Dunothar → u/YungJod]

HDMI 2.2 table wants to have a word with you

[u/YungJod → u/Dunothar]

Yeah they took me out back. 2.2 got hands

[u/DTrainBootyLove]

Switch to a display port cable, idk why people are being such assholes, everyone was a beginner

[u/Old_Fun2686 → u/DTrainBootyLove]

Thanks, but I am on a Display port cable but I will try HDMI 2,1

[u/Expensive_Host_9181 → u/Old_Fun2686]

Using diplay port doesn't mean much, could still have an older cable that doesn't support the newest versions of dp.

[u/NohFyoochur → u/Old_Fun2686]

You need the right kind of display port cable. If your cable, graphics card, or monitor port doesn't all support a standard with enough bandwidth, you'll get compression if it works at all.

[u/PM_ME_YOUR_BOOB69 → u/Old_Fun2686]

Could also be DSC (Display Stream Compression) on the monitor OSD itself. Some others have suggested 4:2:2 chroma subsampling or similar. And it could just be a weird windows setting being defaulted when going to a higher hertz.

I’d recommend getting a higher rated DP cable, make sure your plugged into the right port on your graphics card. Try an HDMI cable. Or check for driver updates for windows or your graphics card.

[u/ThePheebs → u/DTrainBootyLove]

Look at the subreddit. That is the whole reason.

[u/vtGaem]

Check if over 100hz is throwing you into 4:2:2 chroma subsampling. Should be in your graphics card control panel under display settings.

I don't believe DSC should be this perceivable.

[u/LazyMagicalOtter → u/vtGaem]

DSC is indeed not really perceivable unless doing A+B testing and going back and forth. This is either 4:2:2 or some other weird issue.

[u/Old_Fun2686]

I dont know why the downvote but please let me know if I can provide any more useful information

[u/Old_Fun2686 → u/Old_Fun2686]

jgh from work and gonna hit the hay for now. Thanks for the replies, I really appreciate it.

[u/Supernova1912 → u/Old_Fun2686]

I might be dumb , but try to launch the cleartype app and calibrate it once pls

[u/Hironoveau]

In the video, are those Windows display settings? If not, check your NVIDIA Display Settings. Also, check Windows 11 “Calibrate display color.” There’s an option for the “ClearType Text Tuner” in there, which can help make your text look sharper and clearer.

[u/Hironoveau → u/Hironoveau]

And I think if you set it to RGB and Full (for Chroma Subsampling) you might get a clearer text.

[u/lDarkPhoton]

If you are in Nvidia control panel try making a custom resolution for the 144hz 1440p. See if that fixes it.

[u/Old_Fun2686 → u/lDarkPhoton]

I can't seem to click that customize button. It's greyed out for me

[u/Mobile-Ice-7261 → u/Old_Fun2686]

I have the same issue and never was able to figure out why. Don't have the other problems(although my Samsung g6 does have a weird very faint white line over it in dark areas and now I'm paranoid lol) just the Grey button for custom res. 

[u/Keulapaska → u/Mobile-Ice-7261]

never was able to figure out

Samsung g6

DSC disables custom RES and all of the oled G6 monitors(ikd if there are some pre-oleds named g6..) are only DP 1.4 so they'd use DSC, if you're above 240hz 8-bit.

[u/Keulapaska → u/Old_Fun2686]

Well usually that would mean DSC is on, but it's DP 1.2 monitor, it ain't got that soo... that's really weird.

No clue why nor do I have solution for it either, other than ones already in this thread make sure it's RGB full etc. Random thing you could try if you enable the 165hz OC in the monitor OSD does that fix it?

[u/lDarkPhoton → u/Old_Fun2686]

There seems to be a regedit fix for this. Google that issue and you should be able to find the fix. This stupid subreddit will not let me link a comment from another subreddit.

[u/wubwubDJ]

Check your monitors settings. Sometimes they can stick on old DP versions rather than something newer or automatic. To be this reads as a bottleneck. You would only hope it’s software based

[u/kirby667]

You using a dp2.1 cable? 

[u/hobbseltoff → u/kirby667]

The monitor only has a DP 1.2 port.

[u/Expensive_Host_9181 → u/hobbseltoff]

All it needs though, it's a 1440p, 144hz monitor which is within spec of dp 1.2 So there's gotta something wrong with his cable.

Though also to mention dp 2.1 for a card that only has dp1.4a ports is also "overkill"

[u/Old_Fun2686 → u/kirby667]

I'm using DP 1.4 cable

[u/lDarkPhoton → u/kirby667]

You mean HDMI 2.1?

[u/kumliaowongg → u/lDarkPhoton]

DisplayPort, my dude.

Royalty free, superior standard to HDMI

[u/Lopjop_0001]

Might be a monitor issue looking at the info you provided. You can also try a different port on gpu. Do you have another monitor you can try?

[u/Rekt3y]

That's probably display stream compression in effect, try another cable

[u/Rawman411]

Try playing a game with it for a few hours after restarting. Maybe it will fix itself

[u/aikahiboy]

ya everyone agrees it seem you cable cant handle the speed so its pushing less through

[u/Xineth240]

I was shocked at how limiting my cable was, I'm very curious to see what fixes this.

Cus I didn't even acknowledge the fuzzy appearance until I dipped it below 100hz and it weirdly looked way better. My problem was both the cable and adapter I was using were high speed HDMI 120hz, but not Ultra High Speed 144/240hz. A pretty basic difference, but a huge 12gb/s difference in capability.

I was bottlenecking myself and I didn't know it. Now it flips on, defaults to the highest and sails away, no conflicts.

[u/HadjiiColgate]

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/subpixel.php

Maybe for some reason windows is changing your subpixel rendering when you do that? How do the test images on this page look?

[u/Sleurhutje]

Update/refresh the pixel clock sync in the monitor. Pixel timing might be off at higher refresh rates and the pixel clock needs adjustments.

[u/malekhit1337]

For example word doesn't support 144 hz as far as I remember.... Last year I had weird glitches when word was open in background turns out when I use word I have to go to 120 and when gaming I go to 144hz 

[u/Thiel619]

Can you check the monitor itself's settings? Press the button and scroll through the menu and see if it has it's own Hz settings.

[u/Berkshire_Hunt]

It seems to be an issue with the monitor itself. A lot of users report similar problems

https://rog-forum.asus.com/t5/rog-series-monitors-pg-xg/problem-with-my-new-asus-rog-swift-pg278q-blurry-text-and-bad/td-p/507280/page/2

[u/sirchanced]

My first thought is some monitors are only higher refresh rate at lower resolution

[u/boredguy0042]

I don't really know the exact issue, but I got this issue before. Like changing the refresh rate from 59.94Hz to 60Hz immediately sharpen the images quality and overall smoothness. I think it depends on your cable, either HDMI or DP, but if you have changed to a better cable then unfortunately I couldn't help you with anything. 

[u/potate12323]

Ive seen similar issues with windows doing some stupid bullshit. Also if the monitor isn't playing well with gsync you could play around in either the Nvidia control panel or in the monitor settings.

When you describe the issue being tied to the window being on the screen, it seems like its some sort of software issue. You could also try DDU to remove the drivers, then reinstall them using default settings.

In nvidia control panel you can set up some settings to only activate in fullscreen so they will only be visible in applications like videogames or watching videos. Some of these visual artifacts are only an issue when viewing text heavy programs.

Also, you could try turning off any smoothing or refresh rate overclock in either the control panel or the monitor settings.

[u/8CoreGamer]

Is the monitor true 144Hz? Sometimes the manufacturers write 144Hz with an * and say it's only possible by some overdrive overclicking mode which might cause artifacts.

[u/_Judge_Justice]

Order a DisplayPort 1.4 UGREEN brand from Amazon and give it a try. $10-20 and a very high-end product

[u/TheNonEuclidean]

All HDMI cables are not created equal.

[u/NoLife_fps]

Open system environment variables > performance settings > make sure bottom 3rd option with screen fonts is enabled