Monday, February 15th 2021
NVIDIA Stops Recommending "V-Sync OFF" As a Global Setting Since v461.09 Drivers
NVIDIA has stopped recommending "V-Sync OFF" as a global setting, starting with its GeForce 461.09 WHQL drivers. The NVIDIA Control Panel utility, which lets users configure global- and application-specific 3D settings, uses a tiny NVIDIA logo to denote recommended settings. Its V-Sync settings let you select between "Use 3D Application Settings," global Off, global On, and "Adaptive V-Sync."
NVIDIA explains that it changed this recommendation as the GeForce drivers since 461.09 support MPO (multiple plane overlay). Prior to 461.09, the Windows 10 DWM (desktop windows manager) would composit the contents of all windows into a single plane and presented at display refresh-rate cadence, so tearing was avoided even with V-Sync globally off. With MPO, applications are allowed to present their contents independently, each with their own V-Sync setting. The OS, outside of driver control, decides which apps get promoted to their own MPO plane. This would lead to screen-tearing if V-Sync is globally off, even in Windowed or Windowed-Maximized (pseudo-fullscreen) modes.
Source:
NVIDIA
NVIDIA explains that it changed this recommendation as the GeForce drivers since 461.09 support MPO (multiple plane overlay). Prior to 461.09, the Windows 10 DWM (desktop windows manager) would composit the contents of all windows into a single plane and presented at display refresh-rate cadence, so tearing was avoided even with V-Sync globally off. With MPO, applications are allowed to present their contents independently, each with their own V-Sync setting. The OS, outside of driver control, decides which apps get promoted to their own MPO plane. This would lead to screen-tearing if V-Sync is globally off, even in Windowed or Windowed-Maximized (pseudo-fullscreen) modes.
10 Comments on NVIDIA Stops Recommending "V-Sync OFF" As a Global Setting Since v461.09 Drivers
That said, this change wasn't -afaik- mandatory to adopt. It did take nvidia years to do so. So it was partially Nvidia's choice to make that change... What is an Electron app?
Things were running rock solid until I installed 461.09 AND a pending Windows update. Big mistake doing both things at once, as I started having the Windows desktop randomly flicker on me. Of course, I blamed the nVidia drivers and was almost about to install 461.40 when I read about the problems that driver version had with LG CX monitors and Gsync, so I didn't.
Then patch Tuesday came with a ton of security fixes for Windows. Well, guess what, despite 'random flicker' not being listed anywhere as something MS had fixed in the latest updates, the fact is that the random flicker is now gone (and I am still running 461.09)
At least now I know what was causing it.
If umlb didn't darken the screen so much I would be alternating with that, it's a pity.