Lag/Laggy animations with multiple displays (Extend desktop)

[Iamazn]

I have three of these monitors all connected to a single GTX 680. The center monitor is connected via HDMI and the two side monitors are connected via DVI. With only a single monitor enabled, there is no lag. When I enable a secondary or third monitor in Control Panel>Display>Extend desktop to this display, I get lag. FireFox scrolls unsmoothly and animations throughout Windows are sluggish. I have Minecraft opened on the center monitor. The ingame FPS counter always stays above 80 but "feels" like 40 FPS (it's not smooth). Any suggestions on what to do?

Enabling the secondary and third monitors with NVIDIA's Control Panel (Surround) doesn't give any lag but breaks window snapping so I'd really like to control the monitors with Windows Control Panel.

 

[BrightCandle]

When I switched to a 120Hz benq 2411T I saw the exact same problem. My secondary monitor (at the time 60Hz) had the same problem. Then I tried a 120Hz monitor and it too had the same issue. So I have believed this bug was related to 120hz screens and also SLI. Its interesting you have this issue with 60hz screens and a single card, that largely invalidates my initial view that it was due to the relatively obscure setup I was using.

I have raised a bug with NVidia but no where in the last 6 months with it. I haven't managed to find a workaround but it sounds like you have, use NVidias control panel to set the secondary monitors. If you search anandtech's forums you'll find I posted about this bug a while back (more details about what I tested in there). I didn't know of a workaround but if you do find anything further out please let me know, PM or just post back here. I really really want a fix and I haven't worked out how to get NVidia to take it seriously, but if you fill out a bug report against the latest beta (http://surveys.nvidia.com/index.jsp?pi=6e7ea6bb4a02641fa8f07694a40f8ac6) then hopefully they will start looking at the multiple reports and start to narrow it down.

 

[Iamazn]

When I switched to a 120Hz benq 2411T I saw the exact same problem. My secondary monitor (at the time 60Hz) had the same problem. Then I tried a 120Hz monitor and it too had the same issue. So I have believed this bug was related to 120hz screens and also SLI. Its interesting you have this issue with 60hz screens and a single card, that largely invalidates my initial view that it was due to the relatively obscure setup I was using.

I have raised a bug with NVidia but no where in the last 6 months with it. I haven't managed to find a workaround but it sounds like you have, use NVidias control panel to set the secondary monitors. If you search anandtech's forums you'll find I posted about this bug a while back (more details about what I tested in there). I didn't know of a workaround but if you do find anything further out please let me know, PM or just post back here. I really really want a fix and I haven't worked out how to get NVidia to take it seriously, but if you fill out a bug report against the latest beta (http://surveys.nvidia.com/index.jsp?pi=6e7ea6bb4a02641fa8f07694a40f8ac6) then hopefully they will start looking at the multiple reports and start to narrow it down.

Using NVIDIA Control Panel changes the way WindowKey + Up/Right/Down/Left work, which is a very big inconvenience for me. With Windows Control Panel, WindowKey+Up will maximize the current window across the screen that the window is on. With NVIDIA Control Panel, WindowKey + Up will maximize the current window across all three screens.

 

[BrightCandle]

Using NVIDIA Control Panel changes the way WindowKey + Up/Right/Down/Left work, which is a very big inconvenience for me. With Windows Control Panel, WindowKey+Up will maximize the current window across the screen that the window is on. With NVIDIA Control Panel, WindowKey + Up will maximize the current window across all three screens.

But it doesn't change the normal maximise/minimise functionality only the shortcut keys? That is really weird but a lot more specific than the bug report I gave. I am going to go grab a second monitor and test all this out, if I can narrow the bug down for NVidia there is a much better chance of getting it fixed.

 

[Iamazn]

I reverted to 320.49 drivers and:
Using Windows Control Panel to control monitors still cause lag.
Using NVIDIA Control Panel to control monitors doesn't break Window snapping, but WindowsKey+Left/Right maximize the current window in the left/right monitors instead of just moving them over. Maximized windows are also not "fully maximized". When I maximize a window, it's stretched out across the current screen (what I want) but has a border around it (what I don't want).
Any suggestions? I'm been Googling multiple monitor lag for hours and have found nothing even remotely useful...

 

[BrightCandle]

You got further than I did as you at least have some form of workaround for the serious issue of the lag. I am awaiting a monitor and I will test your approach and look into the possible options more once I have it. But it does sound to me like its acting very much like surround is running from that description, which I didn't think worked on two monitors.

It might be worth trying to set it up in NVidia and then seeing what it shows you in the Windows panel. I suspect you will see a 1 | 2 combined monitor (just post a screenshot) based on your description.

 

[Iamazn]

Disabling Aero transparency/using a basic theme fixed the lag. I'm going to try to keep looking for solutions because I actually like the aero effect. :/

 

[BrightCandle]

I also saw the same problem within Windows 8 as well, which doesn't have aero. Its the use of the 3D acceleration that causes the latency, it appears to be a performance problem. Its not a regression, I have seen the problem in many drivers and for me it only appeared when I changed monitor and stopped using surround and instead moved to 2 monitors (well 1 now since the effect was so bad I sent the second monitor back).

 

[BrightCandle]

I have connected a second monitor and attempted to set the extend mechanism inside of NVidia control panel instead of the usual Windows way but I can't reproduce your effect. I am getting the exact same thing I do when its done using Windows screen resolution - poor performance on my mouse movements and within Windows in general. I can't make surround kick in.

Can you provide exact reproduction steps please, precisely how and when you plug the monitor in, what buttons you click etc to get surround working across 2 monitors?