PG34WCDM HDR Issue/Washed out colors

[Gh0stscript]

Hello,

I'm joining the ranks of several others that I've seen post on there in regards to issues with the HDR on their PG34WCDM not working correctly.

My monitor is working perfectly for all content in SDR, both in game and for desktop usage, no issues what so ever. However, when enabling HDR to use with games that support HDR, the colors become obviously incorrect and way washed out, and black is no longer actual black.

I've tried updating the monitor's firmware both to the MCM104 version available on ASUS's page for the monitor, as well as MCM201 which was shared in a thread here a while back as a solution which sounded like did resolve it for some people (https://www.asuswebstorage.com/navigate/a/#/s/D256D20709104F5FB501262C8F63CCF44). Unfortunately neither has worked in my case, and the issue still present, preventing HDR usage as it currently stands. However, seems like ASUS might have shared other firmware's with other users via DM's which sounds like it might have solved it? Without any of them or ASUS themselves having been wanting to share those firmware's publicly. So posting here in hopes that someone from ASUS or other fellow users might be able to aid.

Some high level PC specs in case it would be of any relevance:
Mobo: ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Extreme
GPU: ASUS TUF RTX 4090 OC
OS: Windows 11 24H2
GPU Drivers: 566.03 (Was also an issue on previous driver, and also tried reinstalling drivers to no avail).

[Recklessthor4]

You might need to calibrate color accuracy manually with a color calibrator. Photographers use them.

[Gh0stscript]

No, that's certainly not the issue at hand here.

And if against the odds that actually were to be the thing, and you're not just talking about the HDR calibration you can use in Windows (Which I assume not since you're referencing photographers), then that'd be completely unacceptable to expect people to acquire external hardware (Especially considering HDR is being used as a selling point for the monitor).

[Recklessthor4]

I am sorry that you feel that it is ridiculous but photographers have had to purchase this extra bit of hardware to properly calibrate their monitors for like 20 years now. you can always send it in and say that it isn't calibrated correctly.

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @Gh0stscript ,

We understand that you are experiencing issues with the HDR function on your PG34WCDM monitor. 

To better assist you, we would like to clarify a few points:

1. Firmware version impact: Have you tried updating or downgrading the monitor firmware to see if the issue changes?
2. Comparison image: To better understand the issue, could you please provide us with an image comparing the display with HDR enabled and disabled, showing the abnormal contrast? This will help us visualize the problem more clearly.
3. HDR mode: In which HDR mode do you currently have your monitor set? Do you experience similar anomalies in other modes besides the issue you mentioned?
4. Other anomalies: Besides the darkening of colors, have you encountered any other anomalies when HDR is enabled, such as overexposure, excessive saturation, or screen flickering?

Providing the above information will help us more quickly pinpoint the issue.

Thank you.

[aditisingh]

This HDR issue is common with some monitors and can often be traced to software or firmware inconsistencies. Given the troubleshooting you've already done, here are a few further steps that may help:

1. Check Windows HDR Settings:

• In Settings > System > Display, select Use HDR and scroll to HDR settings. Under SDR Content Appearance, adjust the slider to reduce washed-out colors.
• Toggle HDR off and on in Windows after launching an HDR-supported game to see if it corrects the issue.

2. Adjust NVIDIA Control Panel Settings:

• Open NVIDIA Control Panel, go to Display > Adjust desktop color settings, and ensure the color depth is set to 10 bpc and the output color format is set to RGB or YCbCr444.
• In Manage 3D settings, under Global Settings, ensure Preferred Refresh Rate is set to Highest Available.

3. Test Different HDR Modes in the Monitor’s OSD:

• Some users find different HDR presets (like HDR10 or Auto HDR) work better than others. Navigate through the monitor's on-screen display (OSD) menu to test available HDR options.

4. Check for Additional Firmware or Hotfixes from ASUS:

• Since some users report improvement with alternative firmware, it might be worth reaching out to ASUS support directly to see if they can provide the latest firmware for HDR. Include your specific model and issue details to request an update beyond what’s available on the support page.

5. Try Older GPU Driver Versions:

• Occasionally, HDR compatibility can improve with specific GPU drivers. Although you've tried reinstalling, consider reverting to a driver version known for HDR stability, like the 531.29 or 536.40 versions, which worked well for some HDR monitors.

[exxxt]

I have the Same Problems ITS the 24h2 Update so a Clean 23h2 Windows and IT will Work !! Just Stick t the 23h2 Version 24h2 ist Not rdy

[Gh0stscript]

I see I didn't specify it here, though I did mention it in the more detailed elaboration to ASUS directly, but it's not an issue with 24H2 in this case. It was also present in the same manner on 23H2, which was the reason I did upgrade to 24H2 already now to see if that would make any difference. 

I might do as aditisingh is also suggesting and try to revert back to even older GPU drivers to see if that makes any difference once I get some spare time to do so. 

For now though I'm awaiting further feedback from ASUS directly to see where that leads. If we do end up on a solution I'll be sure to share it here so anyone else that may run into an issue is aware.

[KadenRussel]

Any update?

[kamann907]

I just got this monitor yesterday and i've updated everything to the most current bios and am experiencing the same issues. Its disappointing really.