PG48UQ firmware v29 awful HDR

[Doctor_Headlock]

Posting this here as well as in the PG/XG series monitors forum, just in case one is the wrong area

I saw earlier today that there was a new firmware available for the PG48UQ addressing supposed HDR issues, but upon updating the HDR now looks worse than ever. I was unaware of any HDR issues with the existing firmware, only the problems with screen flickering, sometimes it won't wake from sleep and brightness flickering when g-sync is enabled. Now HDR content is completely washed out, dark areas are too bright, the screen turns grey when an all black screen is displayed, shades of blue are now grey, and everything is just completely wrong. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @Doctor_Headlock ,

based on your issue, may I ask after you update the firmware to V29, have you encounter screen flickering and color display issue?

Whether you can provide a video demonstate the monitor color issue (dark areas are too bright, the screen turns grey when an all black screen is displayed, shades of blue are now grey)? 

If you roll back to the previous firmware version, whether the flicker and color issue occur?

ROG Swift OLED PG48UQ | Gaming monitors｜ROG - Republic of Gamers｜ROG Global (asus.com)

Thank you.

[Doctor_Headlock]

Hi, the flickering issue is a long standing one and has been present from launch firmware up until the latest v029. If I roll back to v028, the colour issues are fixed but the flickering still persists. You can see the colour problems in the video linked here:

https://youtu.be/y5CxJ-uVgAQ?si=xhj6UcNbrOQ_m7sr 

You can clearly see the screen go grey when fading to black, and the blue background of the pre-title screen text is showing as grey, along with many of the shades of Nero's arm.

[Aureliannn_ROG]

Hi @Doctor_Headlock ,

have you tried using a different display port or HDMI cable to see if the flickering issue improves? 

Regarding the HDR display problem, our internal team received user feedback about color distortion when enabling HDR in version 208. 

To address this issue, version 209 was released. If you find that version 209 does not meet your expectations for color display, we recommend choosing a firmware version that you believe provides the desired color display. Thank you.

[GENAB108]

I woke up to a majority pink screen this morning. Turning off HDR fixed it and playing with Nvidia control panel colour depth (using 6bit colour) fixed it. Updated to 029 and now its fixed but getting this same washed out grey's everywhere, particularly in Diablo IV. Frustrating.

[Marcinprv]

DO NOT INSTALL V029 FIRMWARE - all HDR content will be unwatchable!
The colors will be so unnatural that I think some colorblind person approved this update!
Fortunately, I downgraded to V028 and I'm staying with it.

I am so disappointed in you (ASUS), is there anyone competent still working in this company?
This is my last product that I bought from you!

[GENAB108]

I rolled back to 028 - everything is perfect again. I'm using the ICC colour profile for PG42UQ from rtings, and in nvidia control panel YBR 4:4:4, 12bpc colour on display port 1.4 with DSC. Hopefully, I don't see the pink screen again.

Separately, as part of trying to find a fix, I did change my G-SYNC settings from "enable for full-screen mode" to "enable for windowed and full screen mode", and that's stopped a long black screen delay when alt-tabbing out of a full-screen game - now it's instant.   

[Marcinprv]

I promised myself I wouldn't swear (because it's not worth it).
I BET £1000 THAT NO ONE FROM ASUS HAS TESTED THE NEW V029 FIRMWARE ON ANY HDR VIDEO!!!

The HDR on the latest firmware looks terrible regardless of the settings in Windows or the monitor settings.
Below I used the same settings: 4K OC 138Hz / 12bit / RGB444 / HDR On / G-Sync On / DisplayPort 1.4 / DSC On.



Update #1
Official PG48UQ support page on the ASUS website.

Update #2
If you have installed the V029 firmware and want to downgrade to previous V028 and do not have the installer (because the support page disappeared), you can download it here: ASUS_PG48UQ_FW_V028_and_update_SOP.zip

[GENAB108]

This was my exact experience which applied across all apps, but particularly noticeable when playing Diablo IV. Thanks for putting this all together.

[Silent_Scone]

Have you rerun Windows HDR calibration since updating?

FYI not to take aim away from your feedback, I've amended your profile as advertising or referral links (within signatures included) are not allowed on the forum 👍