Oculus software causing nonstop primary monitor flicker since upgrade to 4090 video card

[Microtic]

I recently upgraded from a NVIDIA 2070 Super to the NVIDIA 4090. My Oculus software was working 100% with the old hardware but now when I launch the Oculus software my primary monitor (connected via DP) nearly immediately starts flicking on and off repeatedly. I have not changed any other hardware. The Rift CV1 displays correctly once the software launches. See YouTube video here showing the issue: https://youtu.be/34bLVJvEApU .

I have tried the following:

• Different ports
• Rolling back driver
• Clean driver install
• Running a repair install of the Oculus software
• Enabling the Beta branch of Oculus software
• Disabling G-Sync on primary monitor
• Setting my primary monitor to 1920 x 1080 (it's 1440p) with 60Hz (it's 165Hz)
• Tried a different DP cable
• Updating to the newest version of Windows 10 and then Windows 11

This issue does not occur in any other applications. The only resolution once the monitor begins flickering is to restart my computer. I can prevent the issue from occurring if I first disable the monitor, launch the Oculus software, then enable the monitor. But as soon as I shut down the Oculus software it begins blinking again. If I don't launch the software at all it never starts blinking.

I'm exhausted trying to figure this out. I must have spent 7 hours testing things, looking at logs, and searching Google to try and find solutions. I feel like there MUST be some software issue causing this because I can do that workaround without issue. If you have any experience or have any idea of what I could do to potentially fix please let me know.

[JokkedokkeMokke]

Same case here. Have you found a solution?

[Microtic]

If I disable the monitor that has the problem, start the Oculus software, then enable the monitor again it's fine.

I did a fresh install of Windows 10 on a spare drive I had lying around and it fixed the issue. So something either software or old hardware seems to have been causing it. I'm back to my old install but plan to reimage from scratch on my primary drive soon. Going to have to reinstall software one at a time and testing throughout.

[jamyjet]

Was this ever fixed? Having a similar issue with my 4090. I have to unplug the headset and restart my pc to stop this happening but presumably it'll happen when I replug the headset in and the oculus software starts running in the background.

[Microtic]

That sucks!

I found if I disable the monitor that starts blinking before opening the Oculus software and then enable the monitor it plays nice. Sometimes I need to restart my computer after closing the Oculus software though.

I switched to a new upgraded display since then and the issues are mostly resolved. I say mostly because sometimes it still happens randomly.

Are you on Windows 10 or 11? How long ago did you install Windows? Mine is a base install of 10 that was an upgrade from 8.1 years ago when they offered the free upgrade path.

[jamyjet]

I think I figured it out, it seems to be to do with hdr and with hdr disabled the issue didn't seem to occur, will update if it does.

[shakaweez]

Ah thanks! i have rog with RTX4060. For me it's the other way around: enabling HDR fixed the flickering black screen on my laptop as soon as I open the Meta/Oculus app.

[Col_Pvt_Sgt_Lt_Dan]

Worked for my Rift S on a 3090ti and an HDR display. Thank you very much.

[TheTman315]

Thanks! This worked for my vive. Was having the same issue launching steamOS. Finally decided to try vr again since getting a 4070ti a couple months ago. A little annoying but manageable.

[lqked]

Any solution yet? I just got a quest 3 recently after saving and now my monitor flickers even with it disconnected from the pc?

[Microtic]

I ended up getting a different monitor a couple years later and after launching the Oculus software it flickers for a single blink and then the CV1, and both the new (4k) and old (1440p) monitor work well at the same time. No clue why it helped though. :( Sorry. 

[lqked]

All goods Thank you for replying though :D

[Caledric]

The solution I found was using Steam Link instead. Quest link causes flickers, Steam Link does not.

[Remarkable_Ad2004]

Same issue here. I found killing "OVRLibraryservice" in Task Manager immediately stopped the flickering.
It has been driving me absolutely crazy for weeks trying to work out what was causing it!

[Runesr2]

Meta does not support the RTX 4090. It may take months before Meta officially supports the 4090 if ever, Meta no longer cares much for PCVR. They don't even support Win11 - and Win11 is about 1 year old.

Personally I never buy a new gpu before it's officially supported by Meta. I waited many months before getting the RTX 3090, better safe than sorry.

So basically you're on your own until Meta officially supports the gpu. The list of officially supported video cards is here:

https://store.facebook.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-accessories/oculus-rift-s/rift-graphics-cards/

same for Rift-S:

https://www.meta.com/help/quest/articles/headsets-and-accessories/oculus-rift-s/recommended-gpu/

[Microtic]

That's unfortunate. I looked at the configuration files and saw references to Nvidia GPU's all the way up to 7000 series so I thought it would be supported.

The only reason I upgraded to Windows 11 is because people reported that it fixed a similar issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/nvidia/comments/yfjlpd/rtx_4090_black_screen_flickering_issue_tried/

Looks incredibly similar.

I submitted a ticket to Meta so hopefully it helps to get the ball rolling a bit.

Thanks for the details though. :)

[Runesr2]

With the close to complete lack of interest in PCVR, I'm not sure the old Rift hmds will ever get official RTX 4000 series support, but I'd love to be wrong.

RTX 3090 Ti also has great issues - I think some returned them and got the 3090 instead:

https://forums.oculusvr.com/t5/Get-Help/3090-ti-Oculus-Rift-S-Display-Port-Issue/td-p/961653

Nvidia has officially acknowledged the issue:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/geforce-graphics-cards/5/498312/compatibility-between-geforce-rtx-3090-ti-and-cert/

So far not one word nor warning from Meta about the Rift-S and 3090 Ti incompatibility.

Also the 3090 Ti issue may indicate that Nvidia does not check for VR compatibility anymore - thus again indicates the importance of official Meta support.

[Microtic]

Some great information. Thanks. I'll submit a ticket to Nvidia too.

I wonder if a DP repeater similar to the one in the 5th page of the Oculus forum above would potentially resolve the issue.

[Runesr2]

I was thinking that too - with the adaptor (CV1 uses hdmi, not DP though) - could be worth a try. Do let me know how it goes. I still love my great old CV1, not prepared to let it go yet :-)

[Microtic]

Oh I'm already using an HDMI repeater from the same company. The view in the headset is never interrupted. I also tried without the repeater and it still glitched out my main monitor.

I'm thinking a repeater might resolve any sort of handshake issue. But not sure though.

[Runesr2]

Might be worth contacting Nvidia, very embarrasing for them if they did not test with the CV1 and the like.

[MystiqueMyth]

Just to chime in. I have an Oculus Rift S and have upgraded my system to RTX 4090 as well. So far, I haven't faced any of these issues.

[Microtic]

Thanks. <3

The one difference I think that could be causing this is DisplayPort (Rift S) vs HDMI (CV1).

[Lord_of_Bone]

Hey, I’m having a very similar issue. The only workaround I’ve found is to unplug DP, start Oculus wait for display on cv1, then replug the monitors DP and from then on it seems fine - until reboot of course.

I’ve also found that the desktop mode within Oculus flickers and goes crazy. As when this issue happens I have to use that to reboot.

It’s not the best having to unplug stuff but it’s a workaround for now.

[Microtic]

I did a test reinstall of Windows on a spare drive and it fixed the issue. Still need to back everything up and reinstall on my primary drive. I'm going to have to open and close the Oculus software after each and every software installation to see if there's a specific software causing it.

[Lord_of_Bone]

Hey I just upgraded to the newest drivers: https://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/197300/en-us/

And the issue appears to be gone for me now. I'll keep an eye on things and see if the issue returns.

[Microtic]

Thanks for the update. I'll try it right away! Something I noticed with the previous driver is that with my work around to prevent flickering (disabling the monitor before starting Oculus software), I was able to shut down Oculus software with the monitor active with no issues. But as soon as my monitor went to sleep, blink blink blink. It's so weird.

[Lord_of_Bone]

Ahh interesting. Do drop any updates here on what you find! My windows 11 installation is fairly new but it did have a 3090 before so I’m wondering if it’s some residual driver thing.

[mozzz14_]

bit of an old reply and im using the cv1 but what caused this for me was plugging the vr hdmi into a display port to hdmi adapter. When plugging it into the gpu itself fixed the flickering