Terminal: Entire screen randomly tearing and flickering during normal usage

Created on 6 Oct 2019 · 26Comments · Source: microsoft/terminal

Environment

Windows build number: [Environment]::OSVersion
Windows Terminal version: Version: 0.5.2762.0
LG Ultra HD (3840x2160@60Hz), 150% scale in windows
3072MB ATI AMD Radeon R9 200 Series (Sapphire/PCPartner)
AMD Ryzen 5 1600

No background image set in windows terminal. Removed my profiles.json recently to start fresh.

Steps to reproduce

Just happens after using the terminal for some amount of time. I am not sure what other information may be helpful in tracking this down.

Expected behavior

Screen doesnt flicker/tear

Actual behavior

When the Windows Terminal is focused it will randomly start to cause the entire screen (not just the Windows Terminal) to flicker and tear. I see the windows terminal window flickering in random parts of the screen. The tears show up as individual lines of pixels just randomly tearing/flickering across random parts of the screen.

Area-Rendering Issue-Bug Needs-Repro Priority-3 Product-Terminal v1-Scrubbed

Source

giulianob

👍10

Most helpful comment

I have faced this error and It was because G-SYNC was enabled in Fulllscreen and Windowed mode.

To reproduce:

Enable G-SYNC windowed and fullscreen mode
Open Terminal
Open a video in youtube with picture in picture

Everything will be flickering.

maborak on 15 Nov 2019

👍5

All 26 comments

Do you happen to have a G*SYNC or FreeSync monitor?

DHowett-MSFT on 6 Oct 2019

My monitor supports Freesync but my video card does not so I don't think it's using it.

giulianob on 6 Oct 2019

@DHowett-MSFT Here's a video of it happening: https://photos.app.goo.gl/B3jVZUd6wyPvAWJXA

I tried a different cable (hdmi vs displayport). I played around with as many settings as I could on both my video card and monitor. It might be something wrong with my setup but it seems to only happen on Windows Terminal app and nothing else flickers like this.

giulianob on 27 Oct 2019

_This is fascinating._ Do other windowed 3D applications not cause the same issue? Are you on the latest stable or latest "bleeding edge" AMD drivers?

DHowett-MSFT on 29 Oct 2019

I'll do some more tests if you can recommend something that runs in a similar mode but I actually do game development which runs with OpenGL and it doesn't cause these issues. I am just running the latest AMD but not bleeding edge.

giulianob on 29 Oct 2019

No idea how to reproduce this here, but I'm taking all the "we haven't looked at this one yet" tags off and slapping Needs-Repro on. Thanks!

DHowett-MSFT on 4 Nov 2019

I have faced this error and It was because G-SYNC was enabled in Fulllscreen and Windowed mode.

To reproduce:

Enable G-SYNC windowed and fullscreen mode
Open Terminal
Open a video in youtube with picture in picture

Everything will be flickering.

maborak on 15 Nov 2019

👍5

I have faced this error and It was because G-SYNC was enabled in Fulllscreen and Windowed mode.

To reproduce:

Enable G-SYNC windowed and fullscreen mode

Open Terminal

Open a video in youtube with picture in picture

Everything will be flickering.

@DHowett-MSFT This also resolved the issue for me as well. Definitely seems to be related to G-SYNC compatibility.

nkasco on 28 Nov 2019

I can confirm that the same is happening for me when G-SYNC is enabled in Fullscreen and Windowed mode.

When starting the terminal, the screen goes black for 2 seconds and then restores. The terminal flickers noticeably.

HW:
GTX 1080
MSI Optix MAG271

driesvb on 11 Dec 2019

I also have this happening. Whenever the Terminal is in focus, it causes both my Freesync monitors (Samsung C49RG90 @ 120 Hz) to flicker on the sides, and moving the mouse makes it clear that the update frequency has lowered from 120 Hz to somewhere below 60 Hz (ballpark). Is that the Terminal composition/update frequency, I wonder? I'm guessing the Terminal is triggering the variable refresh rate somehow whenever it is in focus.

649 appears to be the same issue. The workaround posted there worked for me (as I have an NVIDIA card).

jstaro on 13 Dec 2019

I have the same issue, also a very similar setup as OP:

Windows build number: 10.0.18363.0
Windows Terminal version: Version: 0.7.3451.0
LG Ultra HD (3840x2160@60Hz), 150% scale in windows
2048MB Sapphire Radeon R9 270
Ryzen 3700X

oerpli on 3 Jan 2020

Same issue for me, only using Terminal with 144Hz, everything fine using 60Hz refresh

Windows build number: 10.0.18363.592
Windows Terminal version: Version: 0.8.10091.0
DELL S2719DGF (2560*1440@144Hz), 100% scale in windows
Sapphire Radeon HD 7950

Cncmra on 20 Jan 2020

I upgraded my video card and all seems well now. Same monitor and nothing else changed so probably related to that video card.

giulianob on 21 Jan 2020

I upgraded my video card and all seems well now. Same monitor and nothing else changed so probably related to that video card.

Are you sure the upgrade didn't reset your settings (especially those regarding G-Sync)?

driesvb on 21 Jan 2020

Can confirm.

If running G-Sync with windowed mode enabled: Terminal will slow refresh rate down to 34hz (monitor FPS counter), when focused. Mouse is choppy. If you happen to have something driving a faster FPS it doesn't occur.

Repro: (most noticeable when running high refresh rates 120hz+)

Enable G-SYNC windowed and fullscreen mode
Open Terminal
With Terminal focused move mouse, observe choppiness (34fps)
Change focus to browser, observe smoothness
Open YouTube video and play, observe smoothness while focused in Terminal

My setup. Dual monitors, both high refresh (165hz).

shayne on 28 Jan 2020

I've since replaced my 2048MB Sapphire Radeon R9 270 with a RTX 2060 and the problem seems to be gone.
Screen is the same as before (60Hz, no free sync due to lack of GPU support).

oerpli on 28 Jan 2020

Reproducible on:

Windows 10 (build 18363.657)
GTX 1070 with G-Sync enabled in fullscreen + windowed mode
Optix MAG341CQ with FreeSync enabled

michaelkourlas on 28 Feb 2020

👍1

Reproducible on also

Windows 10 18363.657
GTX 1070 with G-Sync on Fullscreen+windowed
AOC AG241QX (G-Sync)

supakorn-ras on 1 Mar 2020

I've since replaced my 2048MB Sapphire Radeon R9 270 with a RTX 2060 and the problem seems to be gone.
Screen is the same as before (60Hz, no free sync due to lack of GPU support).

I had a very vague feeling my random, but frequent screen flickering/tearing was only happening when using Terminal. It seems my hunch was right!
I also have a Radeon R9 270, but as far as I know, FreeSync is off

GregWoods on 2 Mar 2020

Same problem but without any g-sync/free-sync devices.

Win 10 pro 18363.657
AMD Radeon HD 7950, latest stable driver 20.2.2
single screen 4k @ 60Hz, 100% scaling
Windows Terminal version: 0.9.433.0

vbruder on 5 Mar 2020

Same problem, although at the moment i am using Gsync/Freesync - i did try disabling it, restarting windows, did not help.

windows 10 pro 18363.693
using Nvidia gtx 1080ti
single 1440p 144hz screen,

just installed windows yesterday, relevant programs today, had not had such issues on laptop with integrated graphics.

Edit: Problem only occurs when application is in focus.

N-ninja on 7 Mar 2020

Same problem here.

Windows 10 version 19041.113
Nvidia GTX 1660Ti
Asus ROG PG348 3440x1440@60GHz G-SYNC enabled

once I disable G-SYNC, flickering stops.
Flickering affects only top of the screen, only when Windows Terminal is in focus.

Trying to play with these settings did not affect flickering:

sinapis on 15 Mar 2020

Sam problem here. Win 10 , nvidia 1070 card and LG Gsync monitor.
I hate to have to disable GSYNC.

mdalacu on 18 Mar 2020

Sam problem here. Win 10 , nvidia 1070 card and LG Gsync monitor.
I hate to have to disable GSYNC.

Just disable GSYNC in WINDOWED MODE.

maborak on 21 Mar 2020

Changing your G-Sync settings and thus affecting the refresh rate of every other application on your system seems a bit unreasonable.

https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/issues/649#issuecomment-491288003 Describes a way to work around the frame rate issue for the terminal application only.