Until December I could use my private PC (Win 10 Pro, 21H1) with a VGA->DVI cable without eye strain. Since December this no longer works (although nothing was changed at that time, but I had a lot of stress).

My work laptop (win 10 education, 21H1) is still somewhat comfortable (at least significantly better than the private pc). I have yet to find out if this is due to the Intel GPU/drivers, the special enterprise image, or Win 10 Education. When I boot Linux (on a USB stick) on the work laptop, I have eye strain again.

10 months later

Yesterday I completed the assembly of the new PC. I decided to keep the monitor and GPU and change everything else. I switched from a ryzen 1700 to a 7900X.

I installed W11 with updated drivers and after two hours of use I was very sick. Disorientation, headache, etc., the same thing had happened to me with the old PC and W10 2004.

I have an ISO of the old SSD so I will try to restore the image and go back to W10 21H1 and hopefully be able to use the PC.

I am really sad 🙁

mmm i am not sure to be able to go back with W10 21H1… the ryzen 7000 is not official support! Let's hope it works anyway...

Small update:

I was able to clone the old SSD so now I have the exact same software as the old PC, same GPU, same hdmi cable, and same monitor.

After an hour I am in terrible condition so something is not working.

The NZXT X73 liquid cooling pump is making a noise that is driving me crazy, tomorrow I get the corsair H150i! I would like to hope that the problem was related to that noise but I doubt it....

The alternative is that the motherboard is doing something different in the PCI-E slot! But it's a gen 4 like my old motherboard....

I feel like I threw away 2000 euro, so sad!

    Lauda89

    Is the gpu driver the same as before ?

    You have the same os version as before right ? I suspect then it's indeed the motherboard. Not necessarily the mobo is "bad" but probably you have to find the right os version that is "compatible" with your new mobo. I have a hunch windows 10 versions are not necessarily good or bad per se but could be good or bad according to what mobo you have.

    Personally, on my current laptop, windows 10 2004 is very bad but 20h2 is better and older versions are also better. I suggest you try older versions.

        Lauda89 Hi there,

        Just to clarify - you’re running the same software, same GPU, same cable and monitor and only a different processor & motherboard.

        In my mind there’s only three things that could be up here:

        1. your HDMI is plugged into the motherboard HDMI and not the dGPU, meaning you’re using the Ryzen GPU. I’m guessing this is not the case but worth mentioning. To be sure, disable onboard graphics for your motherboard in the BIOS.
        2. Your GPU drivers have updated in the change. If it’s an Nvidia GPU, open control centre and make sure your resolution / bit depth / full or limited range colours settings are the same as previously.
        3. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I often experience a) a lag in my symptoms - they take days to ‘reset’ b) a negative version of the placebo effect when I change something and c) an exacerbation of symptoms due to stress. It could be worth trying to stay away from the machine for a few days and let your brain reset before trying again.

        I know how frustrating this is!

        But really it sounds like if you have the same crucial hardware and same software, there’s not really any way there can be a change in symptoms, which is actually a positive thing.

        Fingers crossed for you.

            Liberator005

            Yes all is the same, GPU driver and OS.

            Of course when I booted the PC, windows noticed that the MB and CPU are different so some driver updated it (like PCI).

            With the old PC I started having problems with 1909 and 2004, then 21H1 was fine.

            I honestly thought I could be safe by keeping the same GPU, monitor and software but apparently something is not working as it should.

            With the microscope and 240FPS recording I see no difference in pixels between the two PCs.

              si_edgey
              Yes, different processor, motherboard, RAM (DDR5), PSU and case.

              1. No i am using the HDMI port of the dedicated GPU. Obvious that in the device manager I see two GPUs right now but the integrated one has "windows basic" as drivers. I might try disabling it (the integrated one) from the bios and see if it changes anything but I doubt it....

              2. No, the GPU driver is the same (AMD 21.10.02) but windows told me that something related to the pci interface was updated and a restart was needed. So something happen..

              3. I absolutely agree. These days I am still sick from the first attempt so I will have to rest a week and then make a second attempt.

                If I don't find the solution with software I will have to try an nvidia GPU. I don't see it as a problem because by now my RX 480 is old and should be changed but there is the usual problem--I can't know if I will be able to use that GPU.

              I will keep you updated.

              Thanks for the help 🙂

                  Lauda89 windows told me that something related to the pci interface was updated and a restart was needed. So something happen..

                  I would retry the cloning and use it offline and use an update blocker

                    If it doesnt work, try Win 11 without activating it. Perhaps it is some driver problem.

                    a year later

                    Lauda89 I know it's a old post but I have the same thing with it being a brain thing. What Windows version is good for you now ?

                        jordan I reinstalled 1809 and subsequently updated to 21H1.
                        But I no longer have that PC.. with my new PC (13700K + 4070)i have migrane with every version of windows, i think the problem is related to the MB BIOS. I have to use the PC with eyepatch.

                            Lauda89 oh interesting. It does seem Mb bios plays a role here. Going to try a few different motherboards myself.

                              jordan Right now, a lenovo legion 15 ICH laptop. CPU : i5 8300hq. iGPU : intel uhd 630. dGPU : nvidia gtx 1050.

                                On My Zephyrus G15 I can't find any os safe for eyes.
                                What's for you the best between:
                                21H2 LTSC
                                20H2
                                2004 ?

                                Thx a lot

                                  dev