Strange thin vertical lines in video games even when the game is running smoothly and has a good FPS

[Uri_Fede]

Hi,

I have a question. For a while now, I've noticed that the game's fluidity is going very well, but I'm seeing some thin vertical lines, as if they were interference, since everything is running smoothly and with over 100 fps. It doesn't happen to me with all games.

One of the games that I experience this problem with doesn't have DLSS technology. V-sync is enabled, and the monitor is G-Sync compatible.

It doesn't happen with games that have DLSS.

When I rotate the camera in-game, it's very fluid, but I see some thin vertical lines as the camera rotates. These lines don't seem to cut into the image; they look like interference or something.

What could it be?

My PC is an i7 12700k
RTX 4070ti super
32GB 6000HZ
Asus roig strix monkeys 180 hz 1440p
Source RM850x corsair.

Thank you so much.

[Uri_Fede]

I've tried recording several videos with the Nvidia app, but these lines don't appear in the video. Perhaps it's due to something else related to my monitor or display port cable? It's version 1.4.

[Uri_Fede]

It's true that in the same game, there are times when it does and times when it doesn't make these fine vertical lines. It's as if at some point it needs more resources from the PC and does this. The strange thing is that it runs just as smoothly and has the same frame rate when it doesn't make these lines as when it does in the same game.

[AlHill]

Perhaps you should check the cable connection to the monitor, or try a different cable.

Doc (not an Intel employee or contractor)
[AI is the same as snake-oil]

[Uri_Fede]

I've changed the cable, and it does the same thing.

The weird thing is, if it were a problem with the monitor, the DisplayPort port, or the cable, it would do this constantly with every game, but it doesn't do it with every game. And in the same game, there are times when it does and times when it doesn't.

[Uri_Fede]

I also tried it via HDMI, it wasn't as smooth but it also made these weird lines.

[Uri_Fede]

I just tried it, and if I move the camera slowly with the mouse (the in-game camera), it doesn't make these lines. But from the same spot, without moving, I move the camera quickly and it makes these strange lines.

As I said, there are areas of the game, different places, that don't make these lines even if I move quickly.

It's always when I turn the camera from left to right or the other way around.

Thanks.

[DeancR_Intel]

Hi Uri_Fede,

Thank you for contacting Intel Customer Support regarding the thin vertical lines you're experiencing during camera movement in certain games. I understand how concerning this visual artifact must be, especially when it occurs inconsistently and only affects specific games or situations.

From your detailed description, it sounds like you're experiencing some form of visual interference that appears during fast camera movements but doesn't affect overall game performance or frame rates. The fact that it doesn't appear in recorded videos and varies between different games and locations suggests this could be related to display synchronization or rendering pipeline issues.

To better understand your situation, I need to ask a few questions. Have you tested whether this issue occurs when using your Intel integrated graphics instead of your RTX 4070ti Super? Also, have you tried connecting to a different monitor to see if the problem persists? Additionally, was your system working normally before without these lines, and if so, when did you first notice this issue starting?

Given the complexity of this display issue and the specific nature of your hardware configuration, I believe a phone call would be the most efficient way to troubleshoot this problem. During our conversation, I can guide you through some diagnostic steps in real-time and help identify whether this is related to your Intel components, display settings, or other factors.

Best regards, 

Dean R. 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[harie]

Hi, Those thin vertical lines are likely a minor artifact, not a performance issue, since your FPS is high. It can happen with some games without DLSS when using V-Sync + G-Sync. Try: Toggle V-Sync / G-Sync settings. Cap FPS slightly below your monitor’s refresh rate. Update GPU drivers and check your cable/monitor connection. Usually harmless, just a rendering quirk in that game.

[Uri_Fede]

Hello,

Thanks for the reply. In the game's video options, I lowered the frequency from 180Hz to 100Hz, and it's improved quite a bit. It practically doesn't produce those lines. Sometimes they appear a little, but they're not as noticeable as before, and the game still runs smoothly.

In some games, when the FPS drops to 80 or below, these lines also appear, as if instead of stuttering, it's trying to smooth them out by creating these lines.

[DeancR_Intel]

Hi Uri_Fede,

Thank you for your detailed follow-up and for sharing your troubleshooting progress. I'm glad to hear that reducing your monitor frequency from 180Hz to 100Hz has significantly improved the situation and made those thin vertical lines much less noticeable while maintaining smooth gameplay.

Your observation that the lines appear when FPS drops to 80 or below, and that they seem to act as a smoothing mechanism instead of traditional stuttering, provides valuable insight into the nature of this issue. This behavior, combined with the fact that lowering your refresh rate helped, suggests there may be a synchronization issue between your display output and rendering pipeline.

Since you have an Intel i7-12700K processor with integrated graphics that works alongside your RTX 4070ti Super, I strongly recommend updating your Intel graphics drivers to the latest version. Even though you're primarily using your dedicated GPU for gaming, Intel integrated graphics drivers can affect overall system display behavior and synchronization.

Please download and install the latest Intel graphics driver version 32.0.101.7029 from: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/785597/intel-arc-iris-xe-graphics-windows.html

If possible, I recommend performing a clean installation of both your Intel and NVIDIA drivers using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller) to eliminate any potential driver conflicts or corruption that might be contributing to these visual artifacts.

For the clean installation process, please follow Intel's official guide: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000057389/graphics.html

Based on your successful frequency adjustment, you might also try capping your FPS slightly below your monitor's refresh rate (for example, if using 100Hz, cap FPS at 95-98) to maintain better synchronization and potentially eliminate the remaining occasional lines.

After updating your Intel graphics drivers and performing the clean installation, please test your games at both 100Hz and 180Hz to see if the driver update resolves the synchronization issues that were causing the vertical lines at higher refresh rates.

Please let me know the results after updating your Intel graphics drivers. If the issue persists, we can explore additional troubleshooting options or discuss further optimization settings.

Best regards, 

Dean R. 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[Uri_Fede]

Hi,

I've tried what you mentioned, and it's improved, but it still works.

I've also noticed that in some games, textures sometimes don't load properly. I've attached a photo.

I don't know if this tells you anything more.

Thanks.

[DeancR_Intel]

Thank you for your follow-up and for testing the Intel graphics driver update. I'm glad to hear that there has been some improvement with the thin vertical lines issue, even though it still persists to some degree.

I also notice from your latest message and the attached screenshot that you're now experiencing texture loading issues in some games where textures don't load properly. This additional symptom, combined with the persistent vertical lines, suggests there may be underlying graphics system issues that require more detailed investigation.

To help me investigate these issues more thoroughly, I need to gather some comprehensive system information:

1. Please download and run the Intel System Support Utility to generate a detailed system report. This will provide me with complete information about your hardware configuration, driver versions, and system status.

Download SSU from: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005511/processors.html

2. Specific Game and Location Details: For the texture loading issues you're experiencing:

• Which specific game is shown in the screenshot you provided?
• Exact location or level where this texture loading problem occurs
• Does this happen consistently in the same location, or randomly throughout the game?

3. Vertical Lines Issue Specifics:

• Which specific games still show the vertical lines after the driver update?
• Exact in-game locations or scenarios where the lines appear most frequently
• Current monitor settings you're using (refresh rate, resolution, G-Sync/V-Sync status)

Current Status Summary:

• Vertical lines: Improved but still present after Intel driver update and refresh rate adjustment
• New issue: Texture loading problems in multiple games
• System: i7-12700K + RTX 4070ti Super + Intel integrated graphics

Please provide the SSU report and the specific game/location details when convenient, and I'll conduct a thorough analysis of your system configuration and these graphics issues.

Thank you for your patience and detailed reporting of these issues.

Best regards, 

Dean R. 

Intel Customer Support Technician 

[Uri_Fede]

Hello,

The texture issue doesn't worry me as much since it's been happening to me since day one, and there are more cases with the RTX 40 series, and it seems to be something with the game's LOD engine when using very high graphics.

The performance issue does worry me.

It all started when I switched from the i7 10700k to the i7 12700k. Everything was running perfectly, but sometimes it stuttered (turns out it was an issue with the new 24H2 version; the stuttering was fixed with 23H2). To run some tests, I disabled hardware acceleration in Windows, and that's when the performance issues started: a lot of stuttering, strange vertical lines, etc.

I don't know if this helps with the diagnosis.

I tried to re-enable hardware acceleration, but the GPU didn't perform as well as before. I'm noticing that some games are no longer reaching the FPS they used to, and the lines are strange even with a good FPS.

I reassembled the i7 10700k, changed the power supply, etc., and it still doesn't perform well. I also tried Windows 10, reformatting for Windows 11 23H2, and nothing.

Before disabling Windows hardware acceleration, I didn't have any of these issues.

Now I'm back to the i7 12700k, and I still notice that the GPU isn't working as well as it used to.

I don't know if the BIOS has been corrupted or damaged, if there's a way to get the GPU back to its previous state, or if I need to update the BIOS, or if it needs to be checked.

Looking forward to your response.

Best regards.

[Uri_Fede]

I attach the test