Jimbo66 Now i´m using a MSI RTX 2070 Super Ventus and it´s much better when it comes to eye strain, best since the MSI GTX 970.

Hi, could you please describe your configuration in more detail: motherboard/ OS(version_build)/ possibly registry tweaks?/ GPU driver version/ interface(DP_DVI_HDMI)/ monitor ?

2 years later

Accidentally install AMD Adrenalin Pro for my rx560 on win11 and i feel like fonts are so sharp and look like that enterprise driver fit's for me, instead of amd adrenalin software.

    i think AMD is the way to go - NVIDIA's business model is to disable settings in their radeon line so people with advanced visual requirements will buy quadro

    • JTL replied to this.

      reaganry My findings are inconclusive but some AMD cards seem to have dithering on by default and others do not, so its kind of similar to the situation with recent Nvidia cards. So I think purely recommending "anything by AMD" is a mistake.

      Fortunately my work computer has one of the "good" cards.

      At least the siler lining is faster cards than the "trusted" older Nvidia GPUs do exist.

        4 days later

        WeinTrust

        Accidentally install AMD Adrenalin Pro for my rx560 on win11 and i feel like fonts are so sharp

        Do I need extra steps to use Adrenalin Pro on my regular desktop graphics card? which PCI\VEN&DEV your rx560?

        Is there an GUI option in the pro version of the driver(similar to the NV quadro) to explicitly control dithering?

        PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_67FF asus

        I didn't perform any other steps. For me it looks the same as common version and i didn't find anything related to dithering.

        Driver Version 22.10.20-220524a-380149C-AMD-Software-PRO-Edition

        AMD Windows Driver Version 30.0.21020.2

        7 days later

        it does feel like the adrenalin pro is a little different. there's no 'dithering' option, but there is generally an option to choose 6 vs 8 bit, which you're not going to get with nvidia.

        Anyone using Virtual Super Resolution? it's a completely different look. basically a different take on anti-aliasing/dithering? makes my screen usable without headaches, though probably not perfect.

        JTL keep us filled in on latest good GPUs for you. you mentioned kepler cards?

        • JTL replied to this.

          reaganry To be clear, by my work computer having one of the "good" cards I meant this. Better options than hoarding old Keplar's out there.

            a month later

            Quick question: How do you disable dithering on a AMD integrated card? I have a laptop with one of those and Linux.

            I first started having these eye strain issues about 9 years ago when I got a new nvidia 750ti gpu. Had never experienced anything like it before. I was used to being able to stare at my computer screen for hours a day without problems on my previous geforce 8800GT. Suddenly I could hardly stand it for 15 minutes. And the worst part of it, the eyestrain would make my eyes sensitive to everything else. After using my computer, I could barely look at my tv my eyes were so fatigued. Just going shopping would give me headaches from all the visual scanning required. I tried various brightness settings, etc. I tried different monitors new and old (relative to 2014), but the eye problems persisted. Went to eye doctor, nothing wrong with my eyes.

            I ended up getting a used pc with an amd a8 apu. No eyestrain, things were back to normal for that time. 3 years later, I get a new pc with an i7 and gtx 1060. Eye problems returned. Got some expensive gaming glasses to reduce headache and eyestrain, and those helped somewhat. My next machine was a ryzen3 laptop w/ vega 3 mobile graphics. Whenever I used the laptop, I experienced no eyestrain. Whenever I used my desktop pc (gtx1060), I experienced eyestrain. Fast forward to the present, I recently picked up a new desktop pc with a ryzen 5 and nvidia 3060ti. Eyestrain!

            Can't really draw any conclusion yet since my nvidia cards that caused issues were comparatively much more powerful than the amd graphics which didn't. I guess my next step will be to switch my gpu for an rx 6000 series one and see.

              a month later

              In 2014 i had an HP monitor with PWM and became sensitive to any digital screen for a 1 year or something. Then i bought an ACER NP515 nitro Touch notebook with Nvidia 1050 dedicated card ( around 2018). No eye strain/pain at all with that laptop ( running win 10 all updates and latest Nvidia drivers). Could use it for hours gaming/movies all was fine. Then i decided to upgrade to my current setup and the pain in my eyes is back ( also headaches, neck pain, etc ).

              My current setup :

              - i5 12400F paired withAMD GPU Mesh 6500XT 4GB connected via HDMI.The monitor itself is an 6 bit ( don't know if is FRC or not). This setup causes eyestrain to me. Maybe i should take a look to change color depth or some options in AMD software to test it again

                Allekss I am using nearly the same setup, same processor and a 6600xt. I am using it on 6bit colors, but i can do this only with an DP cable(driver otherwise doesnt let me change it). I had an ATI card before, i didnt get the eye pain, perhaps something changed with this generation of graphic cards. Tell us when you find sth that helps.

                  hayder1983 I am considering an RX6600 so that 6bit switch is possible. This removed eye strain for you that was there before I infer?

                    karut It didnt remove my eye strain, but it was a big part of making it better(like 20% better). I still think i got sth wrong in my settings and my monitor is not the best for my symptoms(looking for an TN Panel with low contrast and okayish blacks).

                    Perhaps its better to be a used ATI just to try it? What card are you using now?

                    I have a very good test when you want to test whether dithering is really your problem. LG TVs have an setting to directly turn on and off dithering, and it works with your normal TV signal. It is called "Color Gamut" and anything else than "wide" is with dithering/FRC on. It kills my eyes within seconds.

                      hayder1983 I use an Nvidia 1050 Ti on Windows with no eye strain (on Linux I experience strain with the card) and a HD4000 on Linux with no strain. I havent found any Macbooks yet that I tolerate. I am pretty sure dithering is the culprit for me.

                        Can someone try to choose at Display tab in AMD adrenalin settings Vivid in Display Color Enhancement in AMD adrenalin settings. I'm not sure if this helped right now, fonts are sharper, white is so good as a minus is black crush, but since lower gamma make me feel a bit better it's good for me. Actually i like an image. Interesting notice, that white is brighter than before but strange that it doesn't burn eye's. Something related to black/gray or gamma causing bad symptom's probably for me. I should add, that brightness of my display is set on 0, gamma is 1, sharpness at lowest.

                          WeinTrust That is interesting. Did you try raising contrast to 125 instead of vivid colors? I think has a very similar effect without the oversaturation. Raising contrast in the display driver is somehow different than raising it on your monitor, whites will be crushed, but i have seen some people do it on purpose. Not sure i like it, but perhaps it helps.

                          I dont use brightness 0. I use contrast 0 and adjust only brightness to 35 on my benq and 65 on my eizo(this is darker than the benq). If you have a problem with peak brightness try this.

                          What helped me was deinstalling adrenalin drivers and taking AMD Pro drivers. Text is very clear and sharp with that driver. Gaming perfomance is the same i think.

                          I get more Eyepain, with too much green in my white point(for example Benq monitor R/G/B=97/87/94 is much better for me, than perfect white). Dont know why, tried it with various monitors. And RGB limited on monitor and display drivers is essential to make HDR watchable.

                            karut Well, then you can try ATI 6bit. Use the AMD Pro drivers instead of adrenalin drivers. (see post above)

                            If you want to play video games on 1080p 6600xt is ok, i can play cyberpunk on medium details, Witcher3 & Borderlands 3 on high-highest. Will be ok for the next 4 years i think. If you are using more than 1080p think about a higher think about the 6700xt or 6800xt. Just saying 😉

                            I wanted to try my wifes Macbook, but hadnt the time for it till now.

                            So basically, to change the AMD GPU output color depth ( to 6 bit in my case ) , we need to connect via Display Port or HDMI is working too?

                              dev