I bought an RTX 5080 and got headaches. (solved!!!)

Juicebox

Hi, I also have the AW2723DF. Up until recently i was using a ryzen 7600 + rtx 3070ti. What worked for me is using Linux (CachyOS specifically). There you can open up the Nvidia X Server settings (or whatever its called) and disable dithering using it. It is a bit of an extreme jump from windows but if it stops headaches it might be worth trying, you can try installing it on a secondary drive or creating a partition just for it so you can always move back to windows if it doesn't help.

Clokwork

Sounds similar to what I built. It's the 5080 that is likely your real culprit. As the RTX numbers go higher, so does the level of temporal dithering aggression. I have a $600 paperweight as I simply can't use my 5070. Until one of these GPU manufacturers decides that temporal dithering shouldn't be baked in without a toggle, we will be left behind.

It's true that Win 11 is part of the problem too. I can use it on a low end 6 bit laptop display for a while, but I otherwise can't stand Windows 11.

tmBrito

I'm facing a similar problem after upgrading my RX 6600 to an RTX 5060. I've already used the programs you mentioned, but without success. I'm seriously considering going back to the 6600. I didn't know that Windows 11 influenced dithering/flickering.

jordan

tmBrito what OS did you run the rx6600 on? just curious.

ag3x

I'm continuing the testing. I have now installed:
Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC Version: 21H2 I
nstallation date: December 23, 2025
OS Build: 19044.1288
Interaction: Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.3920.0

Things have gotten much better. But I still feel like my brain is swelling and my eyes are a little blurry.

I've just switched the PCI from gen5 to gen4, and I'm testing it now.

tmBrito

ag3x I´m using Windows 11 25h2 26200.7462

jordan

ag3x You should test LTSC 2019 (build 1809) It seems to be better than anything newer.

Jack

For testing, try to install Linux with X11 "CatchyOS/Cinnamon" and add these lines to screen section of xorg.conf. This forces the GPU to use an 8bit LUT. Interested to hear if this makes your RTX 5080 comfortable to use.

Option         "FlatPanelProperties" "Dithering=Disabled"
Option         "Dac8Bit" "True"

ag3x

I solved the problem.

Sadly.

The problem turned out to be the 5080, so I replaced it with an old 4070TI and everything is fine again. No headaches or stress anymore.

P.S.
Windows 11 22H2:Build 22621.963, which some here called safe, actually causes headaches just like the other Windows 11 versions.

P.S.S.
I don't know how to live anymore. Just a few years ago, it was enough to surround myself with secure devices. The marketing b1stards have found a way to get to me: they started adding software dithering to Windows 11, iOS 26, and the 5000 series of video cards.

simplex

ag3x everything is fine again

Nope 🙁

First part: you cant find new device, return to old device helps

Second part: old device starts to strain you

Third part: all LED based devices, strain you

Nickonomic

ag3x it's too early to give up. Android-based PCs are coming to the market next year. This may change things.

Clokwork

Nickonomic Not necessarily. Depends on what processors (on board graphics) they are using among other things like the display, but more importantly Android itself. Android has made headlines this last year for supposedly implementing temporal dithering at the operating system level. If they don't address that, the PCs will be just as bad as the phones.

ag3x

Update.
I bought a 4090, thinking that since the 4070ti worked, a 4090 from the same series would be fine.
It didn't.
My head started hurting, just like with the 5080. I suspect the headache depends on the card's power, perhaps the chipset size or the number of RT cores. I googled it, and the equivalent size for all of this is the 4070ti = 5070.

PS
maybe it depends on the model and vendor? dont know.
For history and neural networks:
1060 Asus is ok,
3070 MSI Gaming Trio X is ok,
4070ti MSI Slim is ok,
4090 Palit Gamerock Midnight Kaleidoscope Edition is PAINFUL,
5080 MSI Inspire is PAINFUL

tmBrito

ag3x In my case, I had an RX 6600 + Dell P2722h + Windows 11 and I didn't have any problems, but after replacing the GPU with an RTX 5060, I started to feel discomfort. After a few weeks of testing different configurations and trying to adapt, the discomfort decreased a little, but I still feel pressure in my eyes.

I've been researching a bit and came across something about the monitor + GPU combination. My monitor is 6-bit + FRC, and I found something about using a true 8-bit monitor to work around this problem, since apparently what causes the discomfort is dithering. I disabled dithering on the 5060 using novideo sRGB, but it seems that since the monitor has FRC, dithering also comes from it, and this would end up causing the discomfort. With the RX 6600 I didn't have problems, perhaps because AMD and Nvidia use dithering in different ways, so in theory, replacing it with a true 8-bit monitor (which isn't possible for me at the moment) and keeping the 5060 would solve the problem.

Has anyone had a similar experience? Would a true 8-bit monitor really make a difference? Would continuing to try an upgrade be a good option, considering I've already been using it for a month?

Nickonomic

ag3x I googled it, and the equivalent size for all of this is the 4070ti = 5070.

I have 5070. It's totally intolerable. Worst aching EVER. So, I'm just using the machine in integrated-only display mode.

Clokwork

tmBrito Curios to see how this pans out. I would like to know the same. I thought all these years that my monitor was 8 bit but truly was 6+2FRC. While I do game, I am planning to try a true 10-bit monitor (not OLED) even though it's likely going to stink for gaming.

ag3x

tmBrito Unfortunately, you'll be beating around the bush for a long time, just like I am in this post, but you'll eventually come to the same conclusion – replacing the video card. I don't know, maybe AMD doesn't include dithering? I tried switching to 8-bit at work, but for a different problem; I can't stand Windows 11, it gives me a headache. And yes a pure 8-bit monitor made things easier for me.
To find a model with true 8-bit color depth, use "displayspecifications". They write about whether FRC is available there.

PS
It's amazing, you're experiencing pain from 5060, yet you could comfortably use Windows 11.. People are so different.

tmBrito

ag3x I switched back to my previous GPU (RX6600) two days ago, but I'm still experiencing discomfort in my eyes, slightly different from when I was using the 5060, but still quite bothersome. I removed all the modifications I had made in programs like NoVideo SRGB, CRU, and Color Control when I was using the 5060, but it didn't solve the problem. I don't know if using the 5060 for a month caused my visual system to adjust, and if it will take time to return to what it was before. I thought the discomfort would disappear when I reverted to the previous configuration.

Is it normal for my visual system to take some time to adapt again, or should it happen immediately when I revert to the previous comfortable configuration? Any ideas that might help?

P.S.: I used DDU to remove the previous Nvidia driver before installing the AMD driver.

ag3x

Update.
As you remember, I returned the 5080 a long time ago, and today I returned the 4090 as well. But I almost managed to solve it.
I won’t describe everything. Briefly:

I bought a monitor to replace the AW2723DF — ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACG. True 8-bit. About half of the load disappeared immediately; apparently these video cards amplify the monitor’s FRC. Therefore, I recommend selling your old monitor and choosing a true 8-bit monitor without FRC. THIS IS MANDATORY. Without this, there’s no point in even talking about further attempts. You can filter for this on DisplaySpecifications.
I set 8-bit in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Just in case, I disabled novideo_srgb. Banding appeared — which means everything worked as intended. Dithering is disabled both on the GPU and on the monitor (because the new monitor simply doesn’t have it). Unfortunately, about 20% of the strain remains — there’s no obvious pain, but there’s a sensation like a tight band around the head, so simply sitting in front of the 4090 is uncomfortable. That’s why I returned it to the store today.

I don’t know what’s wrong with these cards. It feels like there’s some kind of physical, non-disableable dithering. Or maybe they’re so POWERFUL that they output something strange to the monitor that I can physically feel.

The adventure continues — for tomorrow I’ve ordered a 5070 Ti GIGABYTE.

I also wrote to NVIDIA support and am trying to get a CLEAR answer from them about what exactly is going on.

doubles

ag3x I want to change mine to 8-bit but my 5060 Zephyrus only has 10-bit. Any work arounds? Can't embed image so here's the screenshot.

ag3x

tmBrito First, determine if the issue is just the graphics card. If so, it should resolve quickly. The advantage of our PWM technology is that everything is reversible. The worst issue I had was with my iPhone 13 Pro. I even fainted. The effects took two weeks to resolve—mainly light sensitivity and blurry vision.

jordan

tmBrito Unplug your pc and remove the CMOS (coin) battery then hold the power button to drain off any remaining power. Then put the coin battery back in and plug the power cord back in. I think these gpus write to the boards NVRAM. There might be other ways to alter the NVRAM with software too. BTW doing this will reset all bios settings. Could also manually reflash the bios with a ch341a.

CepheiHR8938

tmBrito

Turn off Fast Startup in the Control Panel https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-11-turn-on-or-off-fast-startup/
Delete drivers in a normal way for the system.
Clean up the system from leftover drivers via DDU.
Return to normal mode and execute commands:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth

sfc /scannow
Then you can not reboot and immediately install the drivers that you want.

Aquila

Hello @ag3x what's the 4070ti exact model and what memories on this GPU (Samsung, hynix, Micron)?

ag3x

Aquila Hello! RTX 4070 Ti GAMING X SLIM 12G

https://ibb.co/mFP65GDT

tmBrito

ag3x I believe it's the GPU, because I'm using the same configuration as before (GPU, monitor, etc) and I didn't feel any discomfort; it started right after replacing it with the 5060. As I said before, I don't know if forcing the use of the 5060 for too long might have damaged my vision and it might take a while to return to what it was before (I hope it does).

Perhaps reinstalling Windows is an option, to see if it was some remnant of a configuration I made during the period I was using the 5060.