Lag with NVIDIA Driver 461.40

[PhatMonkey]

Hi there, I noticed a lag when zooming or moving the mouse using NVIDIA DRIVER 461.40 (also affects designer), the lag is gone using DRIVER 460.89

I have tried to raise this issue with NVIDIA but we are now on the 2nd driver since (inc previous hotfix driver) and nothing has been done.

I wonder if any of you are having similar issues and if so maybe Affinity should raise this issue with NVIDIA themselves...?

Cheers

Ryan

[Chris B]

Hey Ryan,

We saw a few reports of this last week. I believe we are still looking into it. What GPU do you have? The reports we saw were for the 10 series cards or older. I am using a 3080 and don't get the lag.

[PhatMonkey]

9 minutes ago, Chris B said:

Hey Ryan,

We saw a few reports of this last week. I believe we are still looking into it. What GPU do you have? The reports we saw were for the 10 series cards or older. I am using a 3080 and don't get the lag.

Hi there, yes I searched the forum and noticed a few other users with the problem so I re-installed the latest driver for an experiment with G-SYNC, HOWEVER, when disabling G-Sync for me the application flashes when performing an action and although the zoom lag is eliminated there is still lag when dragging objects, also tried disabling per application than global.
It is a strange one for sure, gone back to 460.89 few mins ago, no problems.
OS Name    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
Version    10.0.19042 Build 19042
System Manufacturer: ASUS
System Type: x64-based PC
System SKU: ASUS_MB_CNL
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-9900K CPU @ 3.60GHz, 3600 Mhz, 8 Core(s), 16 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date: American Megatrends Inc. 1802, 01/12/2020
BIOS Mode: UEFI
BaseBoard Product: ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WI-FI)
Installed Physical Memory (RAM): 64.0 GB
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (MSI Gaming X Trio)
GSYNC: ACER Z35

[Chris B]

Thanks! Ah yes I forgot about the flashing. I couldn't reproduce that either. I suspect this will be ironed out and I'll remind dev about it—cheers : ) 

[Move Along People]

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[PhatMonkey]

Hi again, do we know if this new 1.9 addresses the lag issue, just wondering whether or not to go ahead and update the driver or no lol

[LinguaOccultus]

Hello,

i also can confirm having several strange issues since a few minor versions. Since Affinity programs are heavily relying on GPU and therefore GPU drivers, i am quite not sure if it is a issue in the programs or in the drivers.

• I bought all threee Affinity versions some month ago around version 1.5 or something like that and all was fine
• It all started some minor versions later that i had more and more issues that are directly related to the rendering of the programs, it seems
• First thing i saw was a strange flickering of the lines of text boxes and other lines in Publisher whenever i was scrolling the open document (support told me they cannot reproduce and this is "normal" - was not before)
• Next thing that happened was what is explained above as a "delay" maybe; editing or undoing stuff in an open Photo document are not shown in the main view immediately but on the Navigator panel; switching back and forth or waiting some time somewhen fixes the main view also (support told me they cannot reproduce)
• Both was not the case a few month ago

Some specs on my end:

• Microsoft Windows 10 Pro x64 20H2 (all updates including drivers and optionals -> Build 19042.789)
• AMD Ryzen 3500
• NVIDIA GeForce 1660 Super (latest driver 461.40, DCH)

And, no, version 1.9 which came out just today did not fix any of those issues.

Aside from the general stuff to try i also reset all the GPU driver settings to see if this is a mere settings issue maybe but it did not make any difference.

My whole system does not shows these problems generally or in any other program.

Greetings!

[PhatMonkey]

UPDATE: I went ahead to update the driver and its the same, I am now using the Warp or Wrap thing in performance, no problems with that, cant be asked to go back to the previous driver again, hope nvidia get their act together soon....

[LinguaOccultus]

Forgot to mention the third and latest issue:

• Selected the brush tool for example and while doing nothing at all, the brush tool tip preview is going on, off, on, off, on, off (it is kind of "blinking") all the time
• This last issues appeared just lately and i am quite sure this is "somehow" related to one (or more than one) of the latest NVidia drivers

To me it seems that many of those "live" features or previews (tool tips, font settings, effects, what not ...) which Affinity already shows even before you use them so you know the outcome before are already affected by now.

Since this "builds up" quite some time now and is not seen anywhere else on the systems in question (can confirm for at least a second computer with same specs) there is a longer standing bug in the driver, the Affinity programs or an incompatibility between both currently. It is already extremely annoying and time consuming working this way but if it gets worse, many things will be useless until fixed.

[LinguaOccultus]

Update: NVidia released a hotfix driver fixing several issues and version 461.51; yet, it is all still the same with the Affinity programs.

I am using the DCH variant of the "Game Ready" driver package by the way, not the "Studio" ones.

[PhatMonkey]

Hi there, NVIDIA have now got back to me, they are aware of some of these issues and a new Driver addressing them should be available by the end of this month, they also gave me this link for a reg fix for the flicker after disabling GSYNC https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5157/track/AvNKvQrCDv8S~bUtGmwe~yJl4uEqeC75Mv~Q~zj~PP8Z

[LinguaOccultus]

Will test the new driver also then. Yet, it seems my issues are somewhat different. When not fixed in the end but PhatMonkeys are, i will start a new thread specific for those then.

I am going to report the outcome of the new drivers on my side here aswell in any case.

[Mark Ingram]

We recommend that you use the Studio drivers, not the Game Ready drivers from NVIDIA.

[LinguaOccultus]

Would make sense; however, this is private use and i also play on this machine. Therefore, this is no option since the Game Ready drivers have a much greater impact on this shared intent machine than the Studio drivers. I also never heard that those are faulty or found any case like mine by now. It is more likely that there is an open issue wether with Affinity or the drivers currently.

Also, the system requirements of the programs did not mention that this is needed nor was this the case with the Adobe programs before. If, i would have not bought the Affinity programs at all because of the about dilemma.

On top of that, everything was fine a few month before, even with the Game Ready drivers and it did NOT started with 1.9 and OpenCL does not affect it wether on nor off.

[PhatMonkey]

6 minutes ago, Mark Ingram said:

We recommend that you use the Studio drivers, not the Game Ready drivers from NVIDIA.

The Studio driver is 461.40, the problems began after 460.89, the only fix right now for me is to either use 460.89 or as I am currently doing using the hotfix latest driver but disabling GSYNC in the SET UP GSYNC panel. Note disabling gsync per application or globally in the 3D settings causes flickering in some apps, Affinity Photo for one, but that link gives a reg fix for it but I have not tried it yet as everything is now working fine as long as the steps above are taken

[Mark Ingram]

Just now, LinguaOccultus said:

Would make sense; however, this is private use and i also play on this machine. Therefore, this is no option since the Game Ready drivers have a much greater impact on this shared intent machine than the Studio drivers. I also never heard that those are faulty or found any case like mine by now. It is more likely that there is an open issue wether with Affinity or the drivers currently.

Also, the system requirements of the programs did not mention that this is needed nor was this the case with the Adobe programs before. If, i would have not bought the Affinity programs at all because of the about dilemma.

On top of that, everything was fine a few month before, even with the Game Ready drivers and it did NOT started with 1.9 and OpenCL does not affect it wether on nor off.

I was mainly referring to @PhatMonkey, but if you could provide a video demonstrating your problems, that may be of use.

Side note: I also use the Studio Drivers for gaming, and they're fine.

[Move Along People]

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[Mark Ingram]

1 minute ago, haakoo said:

You have time for that? 🤪

Rarely 😞

[LinguaOccultus]

Quote

 

I was mainly referring to @PhatMonkey, but if you could provide a video demonstrating your problems, that may be of use.

Side note: I also use the Studio Drivers for gaming, and they're fine.

 

Yep, just expanded the thread since it seemed to be the only one about NVidia driver issues. Can do a separate one for sure.

That is what i meant, they do not differ that much (currently). But the Game Ready drivers always receive game-related optimizations the other do not as far as it was explained to me by NVidia (maybe wrong?).

Will do videos when i find the time; maybe later/tomorrow ...

 

[Mark Ingram]

Just now, LinguaOccultus said:

Yep, just expanded the thread since it seemed to be the only one about NVidia driver issues. Can do a separate one for sure.

That is what i meant, they do not differ that much (currently). But the Game Ready drivers always receive game-related optimizations the other do not as far as it was explained to me by NVidia (maybe wrong?).

Will do videos when i find the time; maybe later/tomorrow ...

 

RE: Drivers, the Game Ready variants are updated more frequently, to take advantage of game releases, so they may have last minute fixes in them. The Studio Drivers are more stable, only updated once a month, and will have the same optimisations as the Game Ready version, just later. They also optimise Studio Drivers for creative applications, such as Affinity apps.

A video would be excellent to help us understand the issues you're seeing.

[LinguaOccultus]

Quote

 

RE: Drivers, the Game Ready variants are updated more frequently, to take advantage of game releases, so they may have last minute fixes in them. The Studio Drivers are more stable, only updated once a month, and will have the same optimisations as the Game Ready version, just later. They also optimise Studio Drivers for creative applications, such as Affinity apps.

A video would be excellent to help us understand the issues you're seeing.

 

Okay, thanks for the explanation. Maybe i do both then: Studio drivers test (haven not done so far since Game Ready worked before) and videos. Should be possible within this week. Will report back when finished.

[PhatMonkey]

It is also worth noting to dispel the myth that STUDIO drivers are the exact same driver as GAME DRIVERS, no difference at all, the only difference is the rate in which the driver comes out, for example a STUDIO driver may come out every month or so while a game ready driver might have two versions and a hotfix within a month. To simplify if a studio driver was labelled 407.99 (made it up) and a game driver was labelled 407.99 then they are the exact same driver, nothing different. You can search more on this via YouTube, people rightfully get confused thinking they are different drivers they are not, its just that the Studio drivers are paused.

[LinguaOccultus]

Regarding the drivers: i found the very same informations that both drivers are exactly the same, just more or less frequently updated as PhatMonkey explained already. NVidias support confirmed this meanwhile also.

I was able to at least record two of the issues i described. I was not able to record the issue with the lag on updating the image with the results of editing. Will try to get this on record, too.

There are two GIFs attached to this post:

"Affinity Publisher": Just started the application, created a new A4 file with default settings and created three text boxes, then scrolled the document up and down. As you can see, there is an EXTREMELY annoying flickering going on with the lines of the boxes which happens with all those type of boxes and lines. This is what support told me is "normal" and "as it is", but i am quite sure this was not the case back a few application and/or GPU driver versions (whatever is the cause).

"Affinity Photo": Just started the application, created a new A4 file with default settings and selected the brush tool. A line was drawn next and then i simply do nothing. But as you can see, the brush tip live preview is starting a strange "blinking" or very slow "flickering" also. And this time i am perfectly sure this was NOT the case a few application/driver version back!

I am quite sure that there is some kind of issue with the live preview features of the applications. Since i set the driver settings back to default, this is most likely no simple setting. I also tried OpenCL on/off which makes no difference, but the issues already were there long before version 1.9.

Any help or tips to try would be appreciated! If this is getting worse, it makes working with the applications very hard ...

[LinguaOccultus]

While waiting for any suggestions, i found a interesting detail by chance that MIGHT be interesting:

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5159

However, the only application i found affected by VSync settings in windows mode on my system was my browser (Vivaldi, a Chromium-based one) which shows tearing when scrolling since some time now when VSync is set to "fast" setting it to "on" instead immediately solves the issue.

Unfortunately, whatever setting is used, the issues in the Affinity applications stay the same. But since they seems to have changed some long standing defaults even affecting applications in windows mode, maybe someone with more insight should check if there maybe is a connection to the latest display issues in Affinity?

[PhatMonkey]

51 minutes ago, LinguaOccultus said:

While waiting for any suggestions, i found a interesting detail by chance that MIGHT be interesting:

https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5159

However, the only application i found affected by VSync settings in windows mode on my system was my browser (Vivaldi, a Chromium-based one) which shows tearing when scrolling since some time now when VSync is set to "fast" setting it to "on" instead immediately solves the issue.

Unfortunately, whatever setting is used, the issues in the Affinity applications stay the same. But since they seems to have changed some long standing defaults even affecting applications in windows mode, maybe someone with more insight should check if there maybe is a connection to the latest display issues in Affinity?

That is an interesting article, I personally have never messed with V-Sync global settings, I do turn it off in-Game settings due to G-Sync, hopefully this new driver coming any day should squish some bugs...