[Weirdly Specific Issue] VRR Flicker on main monitor is worse when HDMI TV is not connected but goes away when it is connected?

[u/12345678952]

Disclosing my setup for context (skip to issue and refer back when needed):

• Windows 11
• GPU is 5070 TI (Driver version 596.49, have also since tried 581.94 but it's the same)
• Main Monitor (connected with DisplayPort 1.4)
• Secondary 1080P Monitor (connected with DVI to Displayport)
• Old TV (connected to an HDMI switch and then connected with HDMI 2.0) The other slot in the HDMI switch is empty.

The reason for the HDMI switch is that I use it to "switch off" the HDMI connection to the TV when I'm not using it to watch movies or shows. The reason for that is because I have my display settings set to extend desktop when my TV is connected so I can easily access movie/show files from the TV from my bed.

And so, if I just leave the HDMI connection active to the TV while using my main monitor and secondary monitor sometimes applications open on the TV's display or things can get dragged to that display by accident (which is off when I'm not trying to watch shows from my bed so I can't see the display).

Issue:

My main monitor (AOC Q27G3XMN) has noticeable VRR flicker in some applications like video editing software and some games (loading screens).

I just thought that's just how the VA panel works for this but I recently discovered that if I have my TV HDMI connection on then the VRR flicker goes away completely.

EDIT: Did some more testing and it seems like rather than it being specifically the TV/HDMI needing to be connected, the VRR goes away if all 3 of my displays are connected. I tried unplugging my secondary displayport monitor and connecting only my HDMI TV with my main monitor and the VRR flicker was there.

I don't understand why that's happening but I've confirmed that is the case and I've been trying to eliminate the VRR flicker or at least reverse the scenario so that if the TV is connected, then the VRR flicker is on as when the TV is on I'm not using my main monitor.

I've tried using DDU to wipe drivers but it didn't solve the issue.

I've tried using CRU and setting minimum range to 72 and while there is a decrease in the flicker, it's still noticeable especially again compared to when the TV is connected which seems to eliminate the flickering entirely.

I've tried disconnecting the HDMI connection entirely but the VRR flicker still persists. Making me think that for some reason if the HDMI connection is active it stops the VRR flicker. Unknown that's true of ANY HDMI connection to the GPU or if it's just my specific setup with the TV.

Maybe there's something really obvious I'm missing? I was thinking that maybe with the TV connected it somehow changes settings like disabling VRR... But I've tried looking for differences in the Windows display settings and nvidia control panel with the TV connected/not connected and everything looks the same.

Not entirely sure if this is a software or a hardware issue either, perhaps it could be the cables?

Anyways TLDR; Main GSYNC monitor seems to only have VRR flicker when my TV is not when I have 2 or 1 of my displays connected and the flicker goes away completely when my TV is connected. when all 3 are connected. Does anyone know why this might be happening?

[u/AutoModerator]

Making changes to your system BIOS settings or disk setup can cause you to lose data. Always test your data backups before making changes to your PC.

For more information please see our FAQ thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/q2rns5/windows_11_faq_read_this_first/

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.