I played a bit more with MSI afterburner this weekend. After installing a counter-strike game, the MSI afterburner starts to work once I launch the game. It shows that my nvidia graphics card can render 75 frames per second (FPS) which matches the refresh rate of my BenQ monitor (75hz) under 1024 X 768 resolution. If I minimize the game window and let it run in the background, FPS drops down to 45-50. If I exit the game, then MSI burner can not pick up the performance of graphic card and shows 0 FPS. It seems that the graphics card does not render frames at a constant rate despite the fact that the refresh rate of a monitor is fixed at a constant. Launching the game somehow makes the graphics card work more effectively. I tried to actually play the game for a few minutes, did not feel uncomfortable.

I also tried the same thing on the integrated intel card (after disabling the nvidia card), almost instant headaches. MSI burner cannot pick up any FPS in the game. Intel graphics card is definitely one of the headache causes if it is not the only cause.

    Jerry FPS will vary by how much work the video card has to do. Play a 3d game and look up at the sky, with no motion on the screen, and you can top 150 FPS. Start running around with other characters and weapons firing and death animations and you will drop below 30.

    Have you checked that you have the manufacturer ICC profile installed under Windows color management?

        ensete what confuses me is that the FPS drops after I minimize the game window. I thought the FPS should increase because of the 3D game is more demanding than probably anything else in terms of graphics.

        I checked the ICC profile. Not sure if it is install correctly. P
        image icc-png
        icture attached here.

            Jerry That is a picture of all the profiles installed on the system. Click the "Devices" tab next to it, select your monitor from the list of devices, and see what ICC profile is listed as default. If it is not one from the manufacturer, download it from the manufacturer and add it as default

            what confuses me is that the FPS drops after I minimize the game window

            With the game maximized, the video card is only working on the game, not windows. When it is minimized the game is likely still consuming some video card resources, AND it needs to draw Windows too. Just a hypothesis.

                ensete I just checked the default ICC profile for the monitor, it is from BenQ. Not sure if that is making a difference for me. I can test it later by switching it to Dell.

                Regarding the FPS, I just find out that older versions of chrome has a built in FPS counter. So I installed an old version chrome and turned on the FPS counter, most time it shows less than 10 FPS. Very often it is less than 5 (see attached picture). For watching online video, it is 24-30 FPS. What is more confusing is that these numbers are very different than what MSI afterburner gives me. MSI afterburner shows a stable number ranging from 45-50 while chrome FPS counter shows <10 at the same time.
                image chromefps-png

                  I would suspect the Chrome Frame Rate counter is counting how many frames needs to get drawn. It's only drawing a new frame when something changes, hence low FPS when you are just looking at text and flat images

                  I can test it later by switching it to Dell.

                  Try switching it to the Windows default (I think it is sRG😎 and see if that matters

                  • JTL replied to this.

                    ensete I would suspect the Chrome Frame Rate counter is counting how many frames needs to get drawn. It's only drawing a new frame when something changes, hence low FPS when you are just looking at text and flat images

                    ensete Same thing with Windows aero display as well.

                          JTL Not sure if I get this. So chrome FPS counter is counting the number of frames needed to generate chrome contents. What about the FPS from MSI afterburner? Both are on at the same time with the counter-strike game window minimized. Is the total number of frames rendered by the graphics card equal to the sum of FPS from chrome and MSI afterburner? Thanks.

                          • JTL replied to this.

                              Jerry Pretty much, but Chrome and Windows aero are only rendering frames when needed, while the game is rendering frames constantly.

                                  JTL I see. I noticed that in the game, the FPS is very stable ranging from 73-75. Even when I don't move in the game, the scene is still, nothing moves, the FPS is also between 73-75. The graphics card is constantly rendering frames even though it is not needed in the game. Not sure if there is a way to make the graphics render frames constantly in chrome or windows aero.

                                      Jerry Like I said, it's PWM + response/image retention/etc i.e. motion. PWM is only half the equation.

                                      I just picked up another Dell S2415H. 25% brightness and in a pitch black room my eyes feel as good as CCFL LCD monitor. Static text and motion. Intel graphics. You may want to look into the Dell S2715H if you need that size.

                                          train44 Glad to hear that you find a solution. I may try the Dell monitors later. Looks like you are ok with intel graphics card. I found that integrated cards are no good for me. My HP desktop arrived a few days ago with AMD integrated graphics (the discrete NVidia has not been installed yet). It gave me instant headaches, the same feeling I had with intel graphics card. MUCH worse than my current XPS8910 desktop with discrete NVidia card. Now I tend to believe that my XPS8910 desktop with nvidia card and BenQ monitor is working well for me. The headaches I am getting is probably due to other reasons because I have to look at coworker's laptops during meetings from time to time and look at TV at home when my kids are watching. It is really difficult to control those things. I need more time to confirm that.

                                            To come back to the topic...

                                            Just came home from sinuses and nasal septum surgery. I'll give you all an update after my recovering process.

                                              22 days later

                                              Monie

                                              hey. I think its to early at the moment to give any feedback to you. I'm not fully revored yet. It will take some time till the mucosa will totrally heal.

                                                  Harrison

                                                  Hey, to give you an short update to come back to my theory. During the nasal septum surgery a chronical sinusitis was found and also removed. So this fact is maybe really a thing, cause some of you also mentionend problems in this area.

                                                    I've had bad TMJ problems for years. There isn't much I can eat. After MRI last year it was found that my left TMJ is locked and the disc is slipped in the right TMJ. It needs surgery.

                                                    When I open my mouth my mandible moves diagonally and deviates heavily to one side. It's pretty messed up. Caused me a lot of ear problems too.

                                                    a month later

                                                    Hello again. Nearly two months ago I had my nasal septum surgery with additional removal of a chronical sinusitis. I'm still no fully recovered yet und moreover another small surgery is necessary to remove a synechia (Gewbebrücke?) in my right nose.
                                                    Yesterday I've tested Samsung 4k 40 inch 6079. Still eyestrain (but not so heavy) and dizzyness. Didn't know if acclimatisation process or same problem as before.

                                                    a month later

                                                    what's TMJ? I grind my teeth all the time. Dentist told me I was losing the sharp part of my fangs when I was a teenager.

                                                      ctsai89 You're TMJ is the joint where your jaw meets your skull. Everyone has one (well, two actually)

                                                      TMJ disorder is when the nerves in that area become pinched/inflamed and cause issues such as bruxism (grinindg teeth), referred facial pain, and other issues.

                                                        dev