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  • Windows 11...can a video game actually make a screen MORE tolerable?

Hello everyone,

Is it possible that having a game running in the background on Windows 11 could be helping with OS-level strain?

In the last 24 hours I have been testing Windows 11 on an Intel Arc A750 and a 1080p monitor at 120hz. It seems that for me Intel Arc GPU + 1080p resolution monitor makes it somewhat bearable. I also am running Ditherig and I THINK it's helping on the external monitor. The monitor is Acer - Nitro Gaming 23.8” IPS FHD 1080P 180Hz 0.5ms FreeSync.

One thing that I find interesting is that I was testing out different games just to see how they felt on this GPU. For the most part, most games have been giving me all kinds of eyestrain, due to who knows what. However I installed and loaded up Warcraft Rumble via Battle.net launcher for the first time and when I looked at that game fullscreen…it felt completely calm and easy on my eyes. As soon as I went back to the desktop, I felt a bit of strain (possibly due to the lack of crispness in the text since I am used to 4k resolution and others.). Anyway one thing I noticed is that when I had that game actively running, I loaded some other games to quickly test them and one thing I started finding is that when I loaded World of Warcraft, it felt easier on my eyes to play WHILE Warcraft Rumble was running in the background. I thought this might be placebo (and it very well might be), but I've tried this with other games where without Warcraft Rumble running, I felt some strain, but once I started running Warcraft Rumble, the screen felt easier to look at while looking at the 2nd game.

So in the same way that a single application can cause the whole OS to create strain, is it possible that the opposite effect can happen? And if so, is there a way to investigate what's happening in a more detailed way to determine if there are specific registers being manipulated or something else is happening that can be recreated in another way?

The effect seems relatively small, but it's pretty noticeable when playing games. Again, could be placebo, but I thought I would make a post about it in case someone has run into a similar seemingly peculiar circumstance.

    moonpie This is so interesting and thankyou for responding about this. I haven't had a chance to look at anything in the BIOS yet but I will do that. For the Windows desktop effects, I did do that except for the font smoothing, which I do like (I can still try it out if necessary). For the 1080p screen at 60hz, I'll try that as well because though I do like 120hz, I get different feelings on 60hz vs 120hz. I also have a new prescription glasses to try out to see if the 1080p screen will be easier on my eyes, though I suspect that there will be an adaptation period for the new glasses that will end up with some eyestrain. I will look over this and mess around, but I'm glad that what I was noticing and experiencing was actually something real haha. Short term I can have the game active fullscreen in the background while I do other stuff haha. This is a great discovery/progress though 😃

      whystrainwhy once I started running Warcraft Rumble, the screen felt easier to look at while looking at the 2nd game

      If you launch Warcraft as second app, will it work "strain-free" as you start it primary?

          Yes, a video game can alter the resolution, refresh rate, color depth, ACM properties, as well as turn on/turn off/modifty DirectX 12 behavior.

            ensete Well I wish there was a way to know for certain what's happening. I guess I can just run the game all the time and see if I feel good after awhile haha

              simplex It seems to help, honestly. It's subtle, but maybe there's something to it

                  a month later

                  whystrainwhy
                  I think I am in the same situation as you. My gaming PC (13700K + 4070 + W11 23H2 + OLED 2K 240hz Monitor) always gave me migraines, and the only solution was eye patching.
                  In the last month or so, I have played 50 hours of Final Fantasy XVI, 60 hours of Enshrouded, and 4 hours of It Takes Two WITHOUT an eye patch. It is not perfect; however, I can do 3-hour sessions without being sick all day when I stop. So I was able to play 3 hours, rest one or two hours, and then play another 3 hours, etc.

                  If I stay on the desktop or play lighter games (league of legends and Magic) my autonomy is much shorter. I would say that I am able to be on the PC 1 hour before I have to stop for a couple of hours.

                  I wondered what was the difference between lol/magic and the other 3 games...one possible difference could be DirectX but it is not true because magic and lol use DirectX11 but theoretically It Takes Two as well. FFXVI DirectX 12 and Enshrouded Vulkan.

                  Definitely the 3 games I played this month are more resource intensive than lol/magic.

                  It may also be that I got carried away by the game more and thought less about the migraine while playing.

                    whystrainwhy can you confirm that this is still working as of today?

                    I mean here if they didn't find out that this is some sort of a bug and they didn't patch it?

                    I'll test this too and if it works, I'll somehow "freeze the game in" to prevent it from updating 🙂

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