[Main thread] Nvidia 460.xx driver flickering

Could easily be something was changed that either requires a new setting to be altered or doesn’t have an associated setting at all. Unfortunately there’s an awful lot of undocumented settings in those driver profiles and changing them at random (or even simply to their “Shadow of the Tomb Raider” presets) feels like a very long, very tedious process that’s unlikely to yield useful results.

Curiously, did you do a check to see if there’s any other differences between the Studio profile, the new one, and the one I posted? I can check myself if you paste it here - just put triple back-ticks (`) before and after to use the code box like I did.

All the same except yours has the following lines mine doesn’t:

<ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
	30	
        </ProfileSetting>
	31	
        <ProfileSetting>
        32	
        <SettingNameInfo />
	33	
        <SettingID>7168407</SettingID>
	34	
      <SettingValue>2729785185</SettingValue>

Here’s a full dump:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?>
<ArrayOfProfile>
  <Profile>
    <ProfileName>World Of Warcraft - Retail</ProfileName>
    <Executeables>
      <string>_retail_/wow.exe</string>
      <string>_retail_/wowt.exe</string>
      <string>_retail_/wow-64.exe</string>
      <string>_retail_/wow64.exe</string>
      <string>_retail_/wowb-64.exe</string>
      <string>_retail_/wowb.exe</string>
    </Executeables>
    <Settings>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>2916165</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA Predefined Ambient Occlusion Usage</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>6701881</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>7069001</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>4229428752</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>10512710</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>704714229</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>15369157</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>4229428752</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA predefined SLI mode</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>271830721</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>3</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA predefined SLI mode on DirectX 10</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>271830722</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>2</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA predefined number of GPUs to use on SLI rendering mode</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>271834322</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>4</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA predefined number of GPUs to use on SLI rendering mode on DirectX 10</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>271834323</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>4</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>NVIDIA Predefined FXAA Usage</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>271895433</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>0</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>274606621</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>4</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>Do not display this profile in the Control Panel</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>275602687</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>0</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>278257400</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>37749765</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>279618412</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>283591713</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>Antialiasing - Behavior Flags</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>283958146</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>Enable application for Optimus</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>284810369</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>17</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo>Shim Rendering Mode Options per application for Optimus</SettingNameInfo>
        <SettingID>284810372</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>16777216</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>540674073</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>AQAAAAAAAAA=</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Binary</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1881060439</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1881294007</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>236</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1883883500</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1.0</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1884112238</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>System&gt;Graphics&gt;Liquid Detail=Fair, Shadow Quality=Low</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1884415477</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1885319148</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>2004-01-01 00:00:00</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1886154800</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>Blizzard</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1888336069</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1069680317</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1889148383</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1889322464</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>Action/Fantasy</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>1889616154</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>0</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
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      <ProfileSetting>
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        <SettingValue>D3D</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>String</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
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        <SettingValue>35</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
      <ProfileSetting>
        <SettingNameInfo />
        <SettingID>2156231208</SettingID>
        <SettingValue>1</SettingValue>
        <ValueType>Dword</ValueType>
      </ProfileSetting>
    </Settings>
  </Profile>
</ArrayOfProfile>

The 461.09 driver appears to be particularly problematic, and not just with WoW.

Nvidia 461.09 Driver May Cause Crashes/Reduced Performance | eTeknix

I made a video of the editing the 0x006d6197 bit so those that don’t do well with text instructions can see it in action.

https://youtu.be/3MyDIv5GQic

2 Likes

I’d argue most of the recent drivers are problematic in their own ways. One such example being there has been a performance bug concerning SteamVR, and another with Firefox and YouTube videos stuttering - both have been known issues for months now.

But yes this particular one has problems with WoW without the fix. Reverting to an older driver such as 456.71 will do the trick as well.

457.51 is the only stable driver for WoW right now.

I have sent Blizzard CS at least 6 messages on twitter that went unanswered, this thread is growing by the day, the last blue response was nearly a month ago and we are starting up on the 3rd month of this issue.

I can appreciate that this might be a multi company issue but Blizzard needs to give some sort of update, the lack of communication is not ok for a subscription based game.

1 Like

Cool. Looks to be identical to the regular driver, then, so any differences are either at the global level or simply not accessible to the profiles. Shame about the flicker that does still exist, but I’ll take the dressing room over the game world any day of the week.

I wonder if the rest of you’re seeing is at all related to an older thread on the NVidia forums complaining about banding in general? I can’t say I’ve ever paid much attention to it, but then I started back when 16-bit rendering was a thing (especially for performance) so maybe I’m just not sensitive to it.

461.09 drivers - still flickering.

1080ti, 461.09 driver, DX12, I get flickering but I also get a brief Black screen about once or twice a day, lasts about a second, sometimes half a screen depending on where I am standing in game. Hasn’t happened in any other games so far. I play cyberpunk as well but I might just go ahead and roll back drivers to see if it stops it. Happens in Retail and Classic.

I’m getting a similar issue on my gtx1060 in all zones, but primarily in Maldarxxus and Revendreth.

Issue is apparent while moving and while remaining stationary.

Issue is less prevalent in Castle Nathria and several other instances (De Other Side, Mists of TS, and Halls. Have not been in other instances since the issue appeared.

Decreasing shadow quality does not solve the issue, however swapping from DX12 to DX11 does (albeit at a noticeable drop in FPS, from ~60 to ~24).

Tried reinstalling current drivers, issue still persists. Have not tried a rollback yet, will update once that is done.

Yes because my machine is just for WoW and no other game right?
Cyberpunk 2077 has glitches that make it nigh unplayable with the 457.51 drivers. And the list of games that will just not work or work poorly with that old driver is just gonna keep increasing over time.

Besides is this really your long term solution? Just keep using an old driver forever or buy an AMD card if you want less glitches? Just because the wow devs can’t be bothered to get in contact with NVIDIA to work together on fix for a bug that was caused by the new drivers?

3 Likes

At least I have a solution all you’re doing is moaning and complaining about the devs.

Spoiler alert - that’s not going to get you anywhere.

I just want a response, something, tell me you’re still working on it but to not have a single response in over a month on a issue that requires you to use a older driver to fix is unacceptable for a game we are all paying monthly to play.

This isn’t a FTP game, my big issue right now is the lack of communication on this issue from Blizzard. You can make all the excuses for them you want but the point still remains that it’s extremely unprofessional to leave paying customers waiting with zero response in over a month.

I’ve tried reaching out via Twitter, I’ve posted about the lack of response here, at this point if they just said “we’re working on it” it would be better than what we are getting right now from Blizzard, which is absolutely nothing.

2 Likes

Maybe you’ve heard of the unprecedented times we’re in with a GLOBAL PANDEMIC going on??? Businesses have taken a hit. Resources have shifted. Everyones in crisis mode to navigate this new way of working from home.

Chill.

Yeah, because you HAVE to be in the office to Code. Clanckaa

2 Likes

Jambrix, can we please get a update on this? Your last post was over a month ago and this would have been submitted to NVidia a week before then according to your message.

Asking paying players to keep drivers that are now fairly outdated isn’t really a reasonable option for future continuity of the game client.

Really at this point all I’m asking for is something, anything, some sort of response on what is going on with this issue…

1 Like

It’s also now a security issue as 461.09 has some critical vulnerability fixes in it, but we can’t run them.

5 Likes

anyone try the 461.33 drivers that came out today?

Just checked the release patch notes; did a quick search for World of Warcraft, but nothing about bug fixes in it. I’ll have to try it out later today when I get a moment to install it. Hoping it does fix the issue…

As a person who works in tech, no one I know at work has ever used this as an excuse for delivering something slowly. Tech jobs are some of the easiest to transition to WFH as a lot of them you were already working with remote things whether it is data centers halfway around the world or servers in other offices.

I would say other excuses like, VR support being horrendous in recent drivers and other games being unplayable due to crashes have taken higher priority and that is more likely the cause of the time gap to get this flickering fixed.

Edit: I know there is probably a hardware aspect to this also with cards and different system configurations but I would be astounded if a company of Nvidia’s size hasn’t figured this out in almost a year since having to transition to home.

3 Likes