Nvidia GeForce 460 SE v2 odd visual tearing.

CampisGrinder

Honorable
Feb 6, 2013
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Hello,

I have been experiencing an odd occourance with a computer that I put together, where while playing games (Any of them) this computer has some rather odd visual tearing-like issues.

Vertical sync fixes this issue, but I rather it didnt have the issue to begin with.

Specifications:
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2 Ghz Triple Core Processor.
GPU: MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX 460 SE v2 with Nvidia 320.00 Drivers.
Motherboard: ASRock 760GM Micro-ATX motherboard.
HDD: Seagate Barricuda 500GB 7200RPM HDD.
RAM: PNY DDR3 1333Mhz 4x4 8GB total in Dual-channel mode.
Case: Rosewill Ranger Micro-ATX Case.
PSU: APower 750 Watt PSU.
OS: Windows 7 home Premium 64-bit.

Problem:
Well, it runs games as well as an entry-level gaming computer would, but it has a horrible visual tearing-like issue where in games (from what I have concluded) with overlays and some without overlays, it will display these grey bars that have a black center to them, along with visual tearing. It goes away with vertical-sync on, but the input lag is too horrible to deal with.

Solutions Tried:

About every similar problem that I can find in about a year's worth of looking is that people experiencing this issue just didnt know to turn V-Sync on.
The solution for my issue lies elseware. I have tried a complete whipe of the Operating System, and completely removing the GPU drivers, to no avail. I have tested and concluded that the monitor that it is associated with is not faulty, as this does this with my actual gaming monitor, which with any other computer tied to it, runs flawlessly. I have done almost every BIOS-related setting that has to do with the GPU and CPU, so the motherboard BIOS is fine. Also, I have the latest BIOS from the ASRock website and the newest motherboad drivers, nothing fixes it, and I do not wish to simply "Hide it" with vertical sync. The CPU and GPU are WAY out of RMA deadline, so that's out. MSI Kombuster tests reveal that the GPU stays at 59C and about 98% usage under the heaviest stres tests that I have been able to run it on. I have tried using MSI Afterburner to underclock/overclock the GPU to see if there are any changes to the visual output of the card. There are no differences in the artifacts. I have also tried using all available ports on the card in terms of output (DVI-both and the mini-HDMI port). CPU runs ice cold under 100% load at about 45C. I have tried multiple types and frequencies of RAM (Ones that the motherboard will accept). GPU idles at 29C and CPU idles at 24-26C.

I would really appreciate any imput on this issue.
 
vsync-on is your only option, that is the problem, nothing else will fix it, the screen tears because the frames your video card outputs do not synchronize with the refresh rate of your monitor, so when your monitor refreshes, it can end up with part of one frame and part of another on the screen at the same time, causing your screen tearing. http://www.anandtech.com/show/2794/2 <there's a good read about it.

Input lag is probably because when vsync is on it can lower your fps, decrease game details to increase fps, or increase sensitivity of your mouse will help. Also what games are you trying to play, your pc is just probably not powerful enough to run them.
 

splinter007

Honorable
Mar 8, 2013
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10,690
The guy above is correct. The only way to fix it and not use v-sync and still retain full graphics is to buy a 120hz monitor. I also own a 60HZ monitor and the screen tear is painful, forcing me to use v-sync. A 60Hz monitor displays 60fps max - anything more causes tear.
 

CampisGrinder

Honorable
Feb 6, 2013
28
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10,530


I am aware of what v-sync does and what causes it to be needed to be enabled. My problem is that now in certian games I get rather poor FPS, I will be testing the GPU in another system soon to see if it is actually the GPU causing this odd event. Like I said, it isnt really giving actual screen tear as much as the odd grey and black bars across the screen. The visual tearing dosnt bother me, as at 100+fps, the screen tearing is not really an issue for me. What bothers me is the grey and black bars that it presents. I'll try to get a picture of what they look like.

The most recent games that I have played are:
Dead Island Riptide
Left 4 Dead 1 / Left 4 Dead 2
Dead Island
Garrys Mod

The above games are geared around a low-end gaming PC, as I didnt put this thing together with a triple core CPU and a mid-range GPU expecting it to max FarCry 3 and Crysis1/2/3 out on.