Recent NVIDIA GeForce drivers and G-Sync - WTF?

Lately I`m having a hard times with my P870DM-G and 980M SLI setup. It seems that NVIDIA is really clueless with their drivers - more and more.I tested few the most recent drivers and all of them have issues with G-Sync.

When G-Sync is enabled and V-Sync is off, max frame rate equals half of the screen refresh rate. So if I`m running my screen at stock refresh rate (75Hz), max fps fluctuates between 35-37. When I overclock screen to 100Hz, max fps goes up to 50 and then is hard locked. So G-Sync is working as some kind of V-Sync. When is even weirder, when I`m changing to G-Sync on and V-Sync on/fast, max fps equals screen refresh rate, so it`s 75 fps max (with stock 75Hz) or 100 fps max (with 100Hz overclock). Turn G-Sync off and problem solved - cards are running at 100% again, reaching 150+ fps rates.

What`s more, some of the drivers introduces screen flickering at some conditions (i.e. static screen at loading next 3dmark benchmark, benchmark itself is ok; but GTA5 is flickering mess as a whole: loading screens, menus and during actual game play). I believe that the cause is the same - problem with G-Sync, as it can introduce screen flicker at some low fps states, which occurs during mentioned above 3dmark loading screens (fps dips below 10 fps then) or hard locked fps GTA5 gameplay. Looks like they are two effects of the same cause - messed up G-Sync.

What I tested:
375.86 - BAD, fps locked when G-Sync on, no flickering
375.76 - BAD fps locked when G-Sync on, no flickering
375.70 - BAD, fps locked when G-Sync on, flickering

The most recent version, that is working correctly is 375.63 - everything works perfectly. G-Sync on and cards are not blocked in any way, running at 99-100% load and reaching 150+ fps again without any cock block. When fps are below screen refresh rate G-Sync is doing its job (you can clearly see it), above screen refresh rate I can see tearing/broken frames (with V-Sync off) or not (Vsync on/fast) - all as it should be.

I can stay with 375.63 longer (but COD MW Remaster is complaining about too old drivers during startup already) as the last driver version that utilizes G-Sync properly on my computer but should not stay on it forever.

What are your findings fellow G-Sync user?

BTW - SLI profile for COD Infinite Warfare is another WTF from me. Single 980M = x fps; SLI 980M = x/2 fps.
WFT indeed, but it`s another issue altogether.

 

Just tried 375.95 hotfix:
375.95 - BAD, fps locked when G-Sync on, flickering

 

You are aware how refresh rate caps work...? If your GPU can render at 150fps and gsync/vsync locks it to 75 your GPUs will show only 50% usage... (This is why benchmark scores can be inappropriately low if gsync is left on). Otherwise your GPUs are just running at full capacity rendering useless frames that don't get sent to the display.

I noticed flickering on civ:beyond earth over the last couple of days. I have the same hardware. Gsync enabled, 75hz, SLI on, everything maxed still GPUs only running at half load. I turned vsync on in the game settings and it went away. It was the combo of gsync on + vsync off that caused it for me.

But yeah, Nvidia are doing a good job in the last couple of years of ruining their decade long reputation for reliable drivers... I'm on 375.80 I tend to not install their latest for a couple of weeks.

 

I've had this problem with the fps randomly locking to strange fps.
Use 373.06 or just disable gsync for the time being if you need newer driver profiles.

 

Yes, of course - G-Sync should not lock your max fps rate, at any conditions, like never ever. I`m not talking about G-Sync on/V-Sync on configurations (which you mentions) but strictly G-Sync on/V-Sync off.
Cards should go at full blast, and they do with 375.63. But in recent NVidia drivers (375.86, 375.76, 375.70, 375.95) G-Sync locks fps to some imposed value, strictly related to your max screen refresh rate, which is utterly broken. You ending with some low fps values/cards almost idling/G-Sync working or with high fps values/cards fully utilized/without G-Sync - again, it`s messed and not proper.

Install one of those newer broken drivers and try 3dMark11 performance benchmark for yourself, see how G-Sync is locking your GPU(s). I`m not talking about some single digits fps drop (which is normal for G-Sync, when you are below screen refresh rate and G-Sync is effectively working), I`m talking about massive fps degradation, for example here are first benchmark scene values:
- G-Sync off/V-Sync off: 150-140 fps
- G-Sync on/V-Sync off: 35-37 fps

Roll back to "golden" 375.63 and
- G-Sync off/V-Sync off: 150-140 fps
- G-Sync on/V-Sync off: 150-140 fps

Yeah, great job NVidia!

 

Try 375.63, they are somewhat newer and still works great for me.
I`m wondering how much longer will it take NVidia to fix it - if they are aware of this issue at all that is.

 

The problem with lodging complaints in the Nvidia Forums is they always claim they can never reproduce the problem and leave the onus one you to prove their drivers suck. They suck.

 

Well, new drivers aaaaaaaannnnnnndddddddd......
stil the same.
376.09 - BAD, fps locked when G-Sync on; 3DMark 11 G-Sync on/V-Sync off: 35-37 fps locked (roughly half screen refresh rate).

375.63 here I come (again).

 

375.63 is my current driver and it works fairly well for me.

 

Here's my experience with the upgrade to the new release from T|I

Nope won't cut it, Go the non fast bootup no hiberfile.sys way or get shrekted every bootup with fastboot & corrupted file.

So the new drivers break the win8.1 hiberfile.sys great !! Nvidia's WORST record EVER, FK them, Micro$lop and Ngreedia are the abominations for this PC market.

Edit - Posted this at Nvidia Driver forums.