Screen tearing/vsync issues in Premiere timeline

[Joel@Menara]

I am editing using the latest version of Premiere CC (13.0.3) using a Surface Book 2. Although my projects run smoothly in terms of general performance - media playback and scrubbing, rendering etc, I've noticed that there is a lot of screen tearing going on.

If I force on Vsync in the Nvidia control panel, then this eliminates tearing the program and source monitors, and it doesn't seem to be a problem in other panels. However, the tearing in the timeline is quite terrible. It's worst when scrolling left to right, but is visible pretty much anytime the timeline is manipulated in any way. Together with the tearing, I get the impression that the timeline has a very slow refresh rate - it's as though its operating at 10hz (if that's even possible)

I've opened the same projects on another windows machine and experienced the same thing.  On a Mac however, there is no issue whatsoever. Note that this happens even on a new project, with only one clip in the timeline. I'll try and post a video to clarify the issue when I get a chance.

[Joel@Menara]

Just to confirm this is still an issue with the latest version of Premiere (13.1)

Things I have tried:

1. installing previous versions of premiere

2. installing previous versions of graphics card driver

3. installing other versions of internal graphics driver

4. disabling the the on board Intel graphics.

4. complete reinstall of windows and update to the most recent drivers

5.  tech support over the phone/remote assistance with Adobe and Microsoft

6. forcing Vsync in the nvidia control panel (seems to affect only the program and source monitors)

7. disabling the nvidia card and just using the intel graphics

8. using software only rendering and Opel CL.

Things I can confirm:

1. the NVIDIA graphics are working fine and are properly enabled in premiere (Exports are fast, and the relevent effects are accelerated, I can see this from the performace panel in task manager)

2. This occurs regardless of project size, or the media that is in it It happens even if I open a new project and import one item of media into the timeline.

3. I have opened the same projects on three other machines with the same version of permiere. A 2018 Macbook pro, no problems. A dell laptop with a similar graphics setup had similar issues. A new windows desktop had no issues.

4. there appear to be no sound conflicts or problems.

From this, I would assume that there is some kind of conflict between premiere, and the graphics hardware in my system, specifically the way that the premiere GUI is rendered. Like I mentioned before, it seems that the timeline in particular is being displayed at below 10hz.

Performance within Premiere is acceptable enough, but due to this the whole experience feels really sluggish. I regularly edit on other machines which do not have this problem, and it is a much better experience. On the whole very disappointed that an expensive laptop, with (on paper) great hardware - which is marketed as a tool for creators -  does not play well with premiere.

[ikecomp22]

I found a workaround to the tearing but you will not like it. I'm not sure if this is an adobe issue, a microsoft issue or nvidia but it's definitely some combination of the 3. I have a surface book 2 13" with GTX 1050.

Microsoft currently has issues with their surface book 2's that have dGPU's. I've linked that below in case anyone wants more details

Microsoft blocks major Windows 10 update for $1,700 flagship Surface Book 2 after bug makes GPU vani...

At any rate, I found the workaround (which IMHO is not real workaround) by trying to avoid the disappearing GPU issue above. As you can imagine, having your GPU disappear during editing which causes Adobe to crash instantly makes it very difficult to get through a full edit. So I went into device manager and disabled the GTX 1050 and rebooted the machine. This allowed 2 things

1) It got rid of the screen tearing (which was unexpected) as everything plays and renders through the Intel UHD 620 integrated graphics so somehow nvidia GPU had a role in the tearing.

2) It prevents adobe from crashing since it doesn't attempt to use the dGPU

Now obviously, this is a terrible option because things will render and export slower without the dGPU. However, this atleast allows me to get through a mobile edit  and save my project which I can then finish the export with on my desktop when I get home.

One thing I can't figure out is why this didn't work for you as you mentioned you tried this in #7 from above.

[jossa49370330]

I recommend this 100% to anyone still having issues after trying the recommended fix. To get to it, go into a project and click CTRL+F12, then click on Console Options and look for DS.ForceEnableVsync and set it to true.   grantv85747955  Fixed my problem on a Dell XPS 15 with an i7 and a GTX 1650. by grantv85747955  

[jossa49370330]

   I recommend this 100% to anyone still having issues after trying the recommended fix. To get to it, go into a project and click CTRL+F12, then click on Console Options and look for DS.ForceEnableVsync and set it to true.   Fixed my problem on a Dell XPS 15 with an i7 and a GTX 1650   by grantv85747955

[grantv85747955]

I had this exact same issue and the fix for me was to go into Nvidia Control Panel > Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > Adobe Premiere Pro > Vertical Sync and change this setting from 'Use the 3D application Settings' to 'On'. After that I relaunched Premiere and the issue was immediately resolved. Hope that helps for anyone else with the same problem.

[Cwtenmen · Accepted solution]

5.27.21

@grantv85747955 This worked for me in the lastest version of 2021 PrPro.

[StefanSiebert]

that did the trick for me too. Thanks!

[parkesproductions]

Just wanted to add that I tried this and it worked as well. I had screen tearing on a second grading monitor and tried several fixes, but this is the one that worked. Many thanks!

[Terrador89]

Thank you very much!! It worked 😉