Not so much about dithering, but Linux eye strain in general: I found this 3 years old post in the MacBook thread: https://discussions.apple.com/message/24447115#message24447115

User mvanier believes DRI (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Rendering_Infrastructure) could possibly be a source of eye strain in Linux. I think he may be right. Since I get eye strain not only inside Xorg but with some (all?) KMS drivers also in tty consoles, the Kernel module drm (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_Rendering_Manager) which also interacts with DRI might play a part, too. I don't know how to disable any of them. Some drivers, like nvidia, have options to disable GPU acceleration, but even then DRI is still being used. If anyone knows how to work around this, please share.

By the way, did anyone notice any relief after turning off NVIDIA or nouveau dithering? I didn't feel a change...

5 days later

ooh, look what i just found here http://www.root6.com/broadcast-engineering/temporal-dithering-good-for-colour-depth-bad-for-extending/
"WIndows: search the registry for the 2D driver settings;
Inside the registry location, create a DWORD value called DP_DisableDither and set it to 1"
- there's a section for linux too, but sounds like you have that already. havent been able to get this to work... may just be for radeon cards

  • KM replied to this.
    6 months later

    With the Nvidia 750Ti, I noticed effects when updating the driver to nvidia-384 (linux)
    This is despite marking dithering to disabled in the nvidia-settings..

    Reverting back to Nvidia 370 resolved the issue.

    I'm wondering when it starts being a issue (trying 375.82) and whether this is why newer Nvidia cards (like 1080) are a issue as they require a higher version.
    I think this has already been noticed but I couldn't find the thread.

      Slacor Yeah. Something looked a bit odd to me with recent Linux drivers and 1070, using a TN panel monitor though.

      Will downgrade.

          JTL Watch the kernel version if you revert. I had issues with the 4.8 and 4.10 kernel versions with graphics when using the nvidia 370 drivers, so had to revert to the 4.4 kernel.

          • JTL replied to this.

              Slacor Thanks.

              I don't really use my desktop right now with the 1070 because I'm looking for a new IPS monitor. TN viewing angles and colors aren't very good

              Want something beyond 1080p though.

              Hmm

                JTL Slacor If it works for you, too, you might want to try the alternative open source driver, nouveau. It doesn't have a lot of energy saving features but at least the dithering options should still work (and chances are by default it won't enable dithering).

                Did both of you get eye strain or what exactly are the latest issues?

                • JTL replied to this.
                      9 days later

                      Slacor Motivated by your post, I reverted to 2014 drivers for my nvidia GeForce cards (730, 750TI) in windows 7 and I have to say it made a noticeable difference. Now I am looking for the oldest nvidia card that can work in 64 bit windows 7 and will try it. Currently looking at nvidia Quadro FX 4400 with 512 MB memory. Not sure if there are any other better options.

                          Jerry I was never ever unhappy with my 670SC+, it was a beast of a card and will even now play the latest games in pretty high resolution. I may very well order another one at some point.

                              Gurm Nice. Looks like I need to get one. Thanks.

                                a month later

                                KM Just an update.

                                i reverted to Debian 8 and tried the older nVidia driver (367 I think) and still get some strain there.
                                To be honest I never really used this card much except for GPU accelerated computing (think password cracking and stuff) so I never really used it's display outputs until recently, just briefly to install an OS.

                                I am using an EVGA GTX 1070 reference edition purchased in July 2016.

                                I switched to a BenQ GW60HS (27" VA) to rule out monitor dithering as well.
                                I have a 560 i can swap with so i will try that tonight.

                                I could also a) Contact EVGA and warranty the card (Warranty is until 2019) or b) I noticed on NewEgg that some Nvidia Quadro cards from ~2015 are still being manufactured. Should figure out what generation they are from.

                                  There is definitely something that changed in the output of the 10x0 series. It happened, actually, midway through the 9x0 generation. I had no problem at all with an MSI GTX970 which was introduced in 2015 I suspect... whereas the Zotac and EVGA models (which were the "lower power consumption" variety which only needed one power header) were instantly problematic. The display actually LOOKED FLICKERY, leading me to suspect that Temporal Dithering is on by default in hardware for those chips.

                                    Gurm Yeah. I can see the pixels shifting on a static image :/

                                    Not really any harm in trying to RMA the card, since it was $600 might as well?

                                    Could also be a VBios thing.

                                    For reference, here is the model of 1070 I have.

                                    http://secure1.ncix.com/products/?sku=131857

                                      Dithering is actually really obvious to see once you know what to look for. Glad that others see it too.

                                      • JTL replied to this.

                                        degen Speaking of Nvidia drivers, this isn't related to dithering, but I remember on WIndows Nvidia had a bug where with the GTX 5xx and most 6xx cards, any driver newer than 314.22 until 337 (I think) would cause the system to completely freeze so bad even the power button stopped working.

                                        Lost a couple WIndows installs to it a few years ago 🙁

                                        Just thought it was an interesting anecdote regarding Nvidia driver quality.

                                          Trying a manually focused, manual camera settings up to a monitor to see what results I get.

                                          Camera: Canon 80D
                                          GPU: EVGA GTX 560 (released in late 2010, purchased in May 2012)
                                          Monitor: BenQ GW2760HS using DisplayPort

                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV_qadkkRio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Fu6fgTsI8

                                          I wonder how much of it is possible dithering and the other is moiré interference patterns?

                                            Gurm There is definitely something that changed in the output of the 10x0 series. It happened, actually, midway through the 9x0 generation. I had no problem at all with an MSI GTX970 which was introduced in 2015 I suspect... whereas the Zotac and EVGA models (which were the "lower power consumption" variety which only needed one power header) were instantly problematic.

                                            Pretty much matches my findings.

                                              Idea I had

                                              if we can find a GTX 970 submodel (as in MSI/EVGA/Gigabyte/Whatever GTX 970) that doesn't seem to have dithering and another that does, we might be able to dump the VBios to see what changed, if any. Might even be possible to downgrade it as well.

                                              For what it's worth, my 'good' 970 is a Gigabyte G1 Gaming edition:
                                              GPU: GM204-200-A1
                                              BIOS reported as: 84.04.2F.00.80

                                              EDIT: I'm running the latest Nvidia drivers without any hassles.

                                              dev