Hi All,
I have been facing this issue for several weeks, the monitor was perfect for the first 2 weeks of owning it. but after 2 weeks, the screen would start flicking black during use ONLY on Displayport.
The issue would happen regardless of overclock or 'gaming settings' and regardless of whether G-Sync was enabled or not.
So the initail issue was after about 30 minutes or so of use, the screen would flash black, it would gradually start happening more and more until the screen was more black that disply output. It would then go to no signal.
When this occours, I could still use HDMI without issue.
unplugging the monitor from power for a few hours would seem to reset the symptoms and I could then use it for half an hour or so again.
This began to get worse and even unplugging didn't work after a while, the display would just continiously flicker begining at 1 second intervals and gettting more frequent until boom, 'No Signal'
This is no longer the issue, but I will get back to that
Here is my config:
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Intel 4790 Processor & Asus Maximus Ranger VII mobo (If these are relevant, I don't know)
2x Asus Strix GTX 970's in SLI
Acer Predator X34a Manufactured in August 2016
Initial Troubleshooting:
So when the issue first presented itself I:
Reset the display settings to default from OSD
Loaded optimised defaults in BIOS
Updated EVERY driver available
Tested DP cable on both GPU's
Disabled SLI and ran a single card
Updated vBIOS on both cards (Now currently running version: 84.04.84.00.2C)
Disabled overclock and ran everything at stock settings
Tested second DP cable (was a cheap one)
The issue still persisited
I then decided to get a new, good quality DP cable, I also needed a longish cable, so I got a 5 Metre cable, (the longest within VESA complaince I believe) - This may be a cause, but I'm not 100% sure
So now I am faced with a new issue, the display will output fine, no flickering, no black screens, no 'No Signal'
My issue now is that whenever I set an overclock value (even the lowest of 75Hz all the way to 100Hz) the options for any value above 60Hz are not available within both NVidia Control Panel and 'Advanced Display Settings > Display Adaptor Properties'. Both of these have a max of 60Hz.
G-Sync and all other features have no issues and after an 'Apply and Reboot', the settings reflect correctly in the OSD.
SO to troubleshoot this furthur, I purchased a BRAND NEW SSD, performed a clean install of Windows 10 and installed ONLY:
All Windows 10 updates
Current manufacturer motherboard drivers
NVIDIA GeForce Experience
ASUS GPU Tweak (Manufacturer GPU software - I would usually run MSI Afterburner)
Anyway, I had seen that a few weeks after my X34a was manufacturered there was a Firmware update for the Display and by this point I am convinced that this is a hardware fault.
I called Acer Support this evening and I explained everything above to him, he advised me to "reset the display settings to default, check for any new driver and Windows updates and call back"
I did so, just in case, and then called back and got THE SAME GUY!
He advised me that since 'All the troubleshooting had been done', that it was a software issue, working in tech support in the past, this made no sense to me.
I was given another number (I am located in New Zealand) - ************ (an Australian number)
The tech told me this number is 'Acers Software Engineers' and if they resolve the issue, there will be a fee. I wasn't ready to pay a fee when this monitor is the price it is and there are so many documented (unoffical, albeit) issues.
Anyway I would appreciate some input from the community here, I have done all the troubleshooting I believe needs to be done to isoalte this issue.
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Actually! Hold on here a second!
I have come to this point and while writing this I thought it might be worthwhile testing the original Acer DP cable on the fresh W10 install. With this cable, the original issue has returned, the flickering. However, when I was able to briefly see the display output, I CAN set 100Hz, however, the monitor is un-usable with this cable.
Just while writing this I MAY have isolated my issue!
I will park this one for now and purchase a cable shorter than 5 Metres and report back.
[edited for privacy-please do not post personal or unique information such as but not limited to full names, email addresses, phone numbers, full serial numbers, etc.]
