Crashes entire system due to G-Sync issues
Crashes entire system due to G-Sync issues
Second and final update: After careful testing, I've verified this stems from a software problem with Nvidia, which unfortunately isn’t within our control. The only solution found is to disable "Extend these displays" and switch to "Show only on X" (where X is your G-Sync monitor’s number) while gaming with G-Sync active. This has fully eliminated all crashes and freezes for me. I understand this isn’t the answer you were hoping for, particularly if you use your secondary screen for tasks like chatting while gaming. It’s better than leaving your secondary display unplugged entirely, allowing you to keep using it as long as you don’t play games. Multi-monitor G-Sync only fails when games are running, so you won’t need to toggle G-Sync constantly during other activities (e.g., browsing or working). You’ll just have to turn off display extension while gaming. This fix is mainly targeted at users who rely on their G-Sync monitor for gaming and don’t use it for secondary purposes. If you’re an artist with a pen display connected, this approach works well. Of course, you can always disable G-Sync completely and enjoy all your screens without issues. For competitive games like Valorant, turning it off is recommended to minimize latency. Hope this helps!
Merry Christmas to everyone and a happy new year.
Update for all G-Sync users experiencing this (read the detailed note below):
After numerous tests, I discovered that having G-Sync active with a second non-G-Sync monitor connected sometimes triggered random Windows 10 crashes or freezes. I’m still conducting further checks to clarify why G-Sync was the sole culprit when another monitor was present. If you’re facing the same issue, ensure only your G-Sync display is plugged in and no other monitors are connected. This should resolve any freezing or crash problems (though there’s no guarantee).
It appears this isn’t a new Nvidia problem, as similar discussions exist for other monitors and system configurations from years ago—mostly involving G-Sync compatibility. It seems the issue might also occur with native G-Sync displays. I’ll revise this post later if more information emerges or a fix becomes available.
Best wishes for a smooth holiday season and a great new year!
You're still having trouble. Let me know how I can assist you further.
It would be wise to replace the monitor, as there appears to be a clear issue (it might be freezing rather than the computer itself).
Hi. As discussed, everything freezes. All external devices cease functioning and the audio from speakers or headphones also disappears. This suggests the issue isn't limited to the monitor itself. Clearly, Windows 10 stops working fully and fails to communicate with connected gadgets. The problem seems tied to G-Sync activation. It could be a flaw in either Nvidia or Microsoft that causes G-Sync to crash Windows 10. My PSU might also be defective, struggling with power fluctuations when G-Sync is active. It's even conceivable the second monitor was the culprit—others reported similar failures after connecting a monitor previously. I'm still checking all possibilities but seeking insights from others who've faced the same situation.
Sure, I understand. It's likely the monitor is still a concern. If you could test a different GSSYN monitor, that might clarify things. It seems the problem could be related to GSSYN itself. Alternatively, you might want to try using DDU with an older driver—just in case. Hope this helps and good luck!
It seems the problem isn't tied to the monitor itself, especially since it only occurs with G-Sync during game pauses or loading, and the crash is purely software—Windows freezes but the system remains functional. The panel I got was a lucky win; there was no backlight bleed, just a minor IPS glow, consistent colors, and no defects. Sending it back would be problematic because it's hard to get in stock, and even ASUS can't test it reliably due to its random nature. It might be a driver issue rather than hardware, as similar crashes happened with other users using Samsung G9s and Nvidia GPUs. I'm still checking without the second monitor, and so far no crashes have occurred. I'll update this post if anything changes. Thanks for your help.
Yeah, we've known this for years—dual monitors don't work well with NV drivers, no worries, just stating the fact. This isn't limited to GSync either; it's a broader issue that even NVIDIA hasn't resolved despite having time. I hope your comment helps others, though it doesn't fully capture what you're saying. +1 for the green text... -1 for the small font and missing enter key.
Hello again Mark, I see. Thank you for the information that this isn't exclusive to G-Sync, but I never said that it is exclusive to it. I assume that's what you meant by my post not being entirely correct. I only said that to me it only happens when G-Sync is enabled with a second monitor plugged in and that it might help other people with similar issues too. Also, I didn't mean to make this update appear as a revelation at all. I only highlighted it in big letters so that people will see it immediately. It's just a discovery I made for my own specs and through my own testing. It's also a new post, so people will know that it's still a thing in 2022 as opposed to having doubts about threads from years ago. Especially people who don't have prior knowledge of the issue like you do. People with the same specs as mine will also have this post to help them check some boxes off their troubleshooting list. Alas, like you said, Nvidia hasn't done anything after so long so they are unlikely to fix anything now. And, also no offense, but if you already knew about the G-Sync dual monitor issue "since years" you could have suggested unplugging my second monitor the first time. All the other info I found on the net was indeed from years ago but only for G-Sync Compatible monitors, which are notorious for having issues. Mine is a Native G-Sync one, but clearly it doesn't matter. Seems Nvidia doesn't care either way. I am glad that you noticed my Nvidia green detail though, hehehe. I made the size big and the format like that so that it was more concentrated, but I've edited the format a bit now. I was going to make some adjustments anyway so that it's not so rough on the eyes since I also thought it looked bad. As you can tell, I, too, am an Enter key enthusiast. Gimme that additional +1. P.S: Just out of curiosity, what other factors besides G-Sync have contributed to other people experiencing issues with dual monitor setups? Are you referring to only Nvidia or Windows as well?