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Álvaro Viñals
Participant
December 28, 2019
Answered

Background flickers when GPU Performance is turned on in Illustrator 2020 on Windows 10 machine

  • December 28, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 6910 views

Hi, 

I am having an issue with Illustrator (and other Adobe apps, or even Adobe XD coded applications) where my screen brightness flickers like crazy when either is open. Disabling GPU acceleration makes it go away but then performance degrades substantially. The screen also flickers if I use other applications with an Adobe app open; closing it makes the problem disappear. 

 

I have seen several posts with similar issues but no solution, so it seems to be a widespread thing and it happens in different machines for what I have seen.

 

Specifications (Laptop): 

 

Clevo P775 DM1-G

Display: http://www.panelook.com/LP173WF4-SPF1_LG%20Display_17.3_LCM_overview_21056.html

I7 6700 (disabled integrated graphics due to G-sync; they don´t even show on Device Manager)

GTX 980 (laptop chip, not M)

SSD Evo Pro 970, 1 TB

64  gb DDR4 RAM 

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10.0.18363 (latest)

NVIDIA drivers: 26.21.14.4166 (latest)

OEM software: fan control curve, driver update tool, peripheral controls (touchpad/keyboard macros)

Illustrator 24.0.1, 64-bit (latest available from my CC)

 

 

{Renamed by MOD}

    Correct answer defaultye75hs7dgn0j

    I have the same problem. In the Mac OS preferences I changed the UI scaling settings and it seems to be fixed for now. Go to System Preferences > Displays and then change from default to scaled. It doesnt seem to matter what the setting ends up being. Just changing this and then changing it back seems to work... for me at least. 

     

    Good luck.

    3 replies

    D
    defaultye75hs7dgn0jCorrect answer
    Participant
    December 8, 2022

    I have the same problem. In the Mac OS preferences I changed the UI scaling settings and it seems to be fixed for now. Go to System Preferences > Displays and then change from default to scaled. It doesnt seem to matter what the setting ends up being. Just changing this and then changing it back seems to work... for me at least. 

     

    Good luck.

      Srishti Bali
      Community Manager
      Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      January 4, 2020

      H Álvaro,

       

      So sorry to hear about this issue. I agree with Jacob, this definitely sounds like a display issue. Reinstalling an updated graphics card driver should fix this issue. I would suggest if you can remove and reinstall NVIDIA drivers from https://www.nvidia.in/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-in.

       

      Let us know if this helps or if you have any further questions.

       

      Regards,

      Srishti

      B
      Bwazz
      Participant
      December 30, 2020

      So I've experienced the same issue for a while, and it seems I've finally managed to figure out what's causing the problem. 

       

      It seems the problem is G-Sync related. With my current 2 displays, on of them supports G-Sync, and when this feature is enabled, the flickering occurs with GPU Performance enabled in Illustrator (or other Adobe software for that matter).

       

      To be specific, the flickering is limited to the main GUI components. Pop-up windows, such as preferences, are unaffected by this flickering. After remaining idle (i.e. not interacting with the software) for a few seconds, the flickering stops, but immediately appears again when doing anything within the application. 

       

      All related drivers are updated, and the problem has been occuring throughout many years for me. 

       

      Seeing as the original poster also ran have G-Sync enabled, it seems probable that this is the common cause. 

       

      A temporary fix for people with similar issue is simply either disabling GPU Performance in Illustrator or disabling G-Sync in Nvidia Control Panel. Can't have both. 

       

      My current specifications:

      Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 18363) (18362.19h1_release.190318-1202)

      Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080

      Monitor Model: ROG PG278QR

      Current Mode: 2560 x 1440 (32 bit) (144Hz)

      Display Driver Version: 27.21.14.6089

      Illustrator Version: 25.0.1

       

       

       

       

        J
        julianr28003679
        Participant
        February 24, 2021

        These are the worst options. I've experiencing this issue as well, and it is way too complicated. I'm so frustrated with all of these applications having so many problems with no or terrible solutions.

          Jacob Bugge
          Community Expert
          Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          December 28, 2019

          Alvaro,

           

          Some of this is undoubtedly known to you; most likely, the lack of recognition by the computer is more relevant than most.

           

          This is what GPU is about:
          https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/gpu-performance-preview-improvements.html

           

          Graphics cards are included in the system requirements:
          https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/system-requirements.html

           

          Apart from an inadequate card, the issue can be caused by lack of driver updating, lack of proper recognition of the card by the computer, and whatnot (including rifts in the space time, moon, weather, and the fact that Illy sometimes moves in mysterious ways).

           

          Here are a few more pages about GPU troubleshooting:

          https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/gpu-performance-errors-troubleshooting-workarounds.html
          https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/illustrator-gpu-performance-driver-update.html

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