G-sync flickering on the XG309CM

[Yuuyatails]

Hello Asus.

There's an issue where the second replacement XG309CM monitor (Received a few days ago) exhibits weird flickering around the edges when the frame rate drops to around 30 to 42 frame-per-second while G-sync/Adaptive Sync is turned on. I tried reinstalling the graphics driver, but the issue persists.

Note that it seems to be only happens with the RTX 3060 12GB graphics card my PC currently has; When I swap it out for the (very old) GTX 1050 Ti (which is another graphics card capable of adaptive sync via DisplayPort), the issue doesn't happen when G-Sync/ Adaptive Sync is turned on. This makes me think if either the entire RTX 30 series cards, or the card I have is having a problem with the monitor.

The old VG249Q monitor doesn't exhibit such behavior when connected to the RTX 3060 12GB graphics card, but it does (aibelt rarely) shows some weird colors at the split millisecond in some game.

Because I can't replace the graphics card (because of money issues), I can't be sure if either the monitor or the graphics card is at fault, hence I made the thread in the Gaming Monitor section until the root of the problem can be found.

Video of the issue (tested with the G-Sync Nvidia Pendulum Demo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=derTQ9qYw8I

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @Yuuyatails ,

Thank you for contacting us regarding the flickering issue you're experiencing with your XG309CM monitor when using it with an RTX 3060 12GB graphics card and G-sync/Adaptive Sync enabled.

To better assist you, please confirm the following:

• Refresh Rate Adjustment: Have you tried lowering the refresh rate of your monitor? Sometimes, setting the refresh rate slightly below the maximum supported refresh rate can help resolve flickering issues.
• Driver Updates: Please ensure that you have installed the latest driver. Additionally, it is recommended to update your Windows system to the latest version and try disabling fast startup to see if it makes any difference.
• Cable Check: For G-sync to work properly, it is recommended to use a DisplayPort cable. Please confirm that you are using a DisplayPort cable and try swapping it with another DisplayPort cable to rule out cable issues.
• Hardware Compatibility: Since you mentioned that the issue disappears when using a different graphics card, we suspect that it might be a hardware compatibility issue. We suggest you:

1. Check NVIDIA Website: Please visit the NVIDIA website to check if your graphics card model meets the hardware requirements for enabling G-sync.
2. Contact NVIDIA Support: If you are still unable to resolve the issue, we recommend contacting NVIDIA support for more specialized technical assistance.

• Additional Tips:

1. Monitor Settings: Please check your monitor's OSD menu to ensure that G-sync/Adaptive Sync is enabled correctly and other settings are appropriate.
2. In-Game Settings: Some games may have additional display settings. Please check the in-game display settings to ensure they are compatible with G-sync.

Thank you.

[Yuuyatails]

The issue still persists even with the maximum refresh rate lowered. The graphics driver is 560.70 (latest as of July 30). The issue also happens with other DisplayPort cables.

The RTX 3060 12GB graphics card had already meet the requirement to enabling G-Sync on DisplayPort (since it requires Pascal-based GPU (GTX 10 series) and later).

The issue only happens with the RTX 3060 12GB card I have, in which the monitor's edges flickers when the game drops to around 30 to 42 fps while G-Sync is enabled on the PC and have G-Sync/Adaptive Sync enabled in the monitor's OSD menu.

Additionally, there is no additional in-game setting related to G-Sync in games that I plays (such as Forza Horizon 5).

System spec is as follows:
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU
- Asus ROG Strix B550-A Gaming motherboard (Bios verison 3607)
- Corsair Vengeance RGB RS 32 GB 3200MT DDR4 RAM.
- Zotac RTX 3060 12GB Twin Edge OC (Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 12GB)
- Corsair RM850x SHIFT PSU
- Windows 11 23H2 (64-bit), OS build 22631.3958
- Graphics driver version: 560.70

[Yuuyatails]

So far, I heard nothing but excuses from the local customer service.

This is what I got from the email:
"My name is (name removed) and it is my pleasure to assist you with your enquiry.

Hope this mail finds you well. Based on the feedback we have received, kindly be advise on the following information. 

1. The XG309CM panel specifications only support refresh rates above 48hz. If the refresh rate is set between 30-42 by tools such as the pendulum test, it exceeds the lower limit of the Panel Min.V.Rate.

2. The refresh rate is defined in the EDID of XG309CM. When VRR/G-SYNC is turned on, the graphics card will not send a refresh rate lower than 48hz to the monitor, that is, you will not encounter this flicker problem during normal use.

This is not hardware issue, is the setting support limitation issue. Hence, we would suggest to set up the rate not lower than 48hz.

Hope the above clarifies your concern."

To me, the customer service is horrible, for two reasons:
- Local customer service team failed to realize that the XG309CM has the low framerate compensation (LFC) which doubles the refresh rate when the fps is dropped below 48fps.
- Local customer service team seems to forgot the fact that the issue only occurs with the RTX 3060 12GB graphics card, not with the older (weaker and now unused) GTX 1050Ti graphics card.

It is so horrible to the point that I want to demand refund.