Flashing display appears upon connecting to a PC
Flashing display appears upon connecting to a PC
I'm trying to connect my Sony XR-A90J to a PC. Initially, it worked perfectly: I purchased a HDMI 2.1 cable for 30 EUR from an unknown brand, linked my RTX 3090 with the latest drivers, and everything functioned smoothly—4K, 120 Hz, HDR. I was using Windows 11. After roughly 20 hours of use, the screen would suddenly flash black for 2-3 seconds during gameplay. I suspected the cable was faulty or low quality since it was a generic HDMI. I upgraded to a more expensive active optical HDMI cable from KabelDirekt, a reputable German supplier with an HDMI 2.1 certification. It should work reliably. Yet, even with this new cable, the screen flickers constantly, causing audio and video to stutter or disappear. I've experimented with different HDMI signal formats—Standard, Enhanced, and VRR—but in Standard mode, the display caps at 4K/60 Hz in Windows settings, though it remains stable. HDR and higher refresh rates aren't supported. I've noticed many discussions on Reddit and Nvidia forums about similar problems: cables, graphics cards, drivers, VRR, TV chips, firmware updates. The issue seems widespread across various configurations. Key details: RTX 3090, Windows 11, latest Nvidia drivers v531.79, Sony XR-A90J, newest firmware, KabelDirekt HDMI 2.1 cable (20m, active fiber), supposedly certified by HDMI.org.
The issue seems to stem from the cable itself. Reach out to the company for a return or replacement. Also, verify if the 80Eur optical cable on their website is actually 15 meters long.
Thanks for your prompt reply. I'm also reviewing my findings alongside yours and agree on the same point. From what I've read, the RMA process has already begun. The product consistently receives 17% one-star reviews on Amazon, with many users expressing frustration over the issue and questioning the validity of the HDMI certificate. There appears to be no legitimate certificate available. The cable length requirement is also problematic—my setup involves four monitors, and I'm already using all output ports on my GPU. Switching between devices often forces me to disconnect a monitor and plug in the TV, which isn't ideal. I was concerned about potential wear from repeated folding or unfolding, so I considered running the cable along the walls instead of managing it daily. That would reduce the risk of damage. If I were to handle it more frequently, I'd need roughly 10 meters of cable. It seems unlikely that a reputable HDMI manufacturer in Europe offers such products, and the only brand mentioned is Zeskit, which doesn't appear to be available in the EU market.
I’d opt for inexpensive 2.1 cables and try two. Test each one. If neither functions, return it. If both work, you’re in the clear with extra. There’s a lot of misleading info in this industry, and nobody seems reliable. Linus is interested in getting involved and actually testing cables. Plus, finding a good way to secure the cable long-term could let you use an HDMI 2.1 splitter—no more plugging and unplugging. This listing is for the US, but it’s from China, so it should be nearby.
They charge a fee to the HDMI consortium and receive a sticker for your products. You agree to meet the cable requirements. Quality control seems limited. The specifications state passive cables must not exceed 5M, while active ones can handle more but need compatible sources. Some cables include a USB plug at one end for power, which you use at the source. Other options exist, such as optical cables. Note: There are no solid figures on how far Cable Power cables can be used.
Ah, sure, thank you. Turns out the claims were marketing fluff. KabelDirekt appeared trustworthy at first, offering some shorter cables and only HDMI 2.1 models up to 5 meters—beyond that it switched to active tech. Still useful info, though. I’ll focus on active options moving forward. Six months later: Apologies for cluttering the old discussion, but I wanted to share how things turned out. It was a defective cable; I ended up buying a Highwings active HDMI cable, based on Amazon reviews (the one with the lowest 1-star percentage). It’s been working perfectly for six months now.