Keyword highlights: HDR, Windows 10, fullscreen, multiple monitors
Keyword highlights: HDR, Windows 10, fullscreen, multiple monitors
I've been fighting this issue for more than a year now, and it's really exhausting. I'm growing increasingly frustrated with Microsoft and how none of their products have ever performed reliably over the past decade. Please accept my apologies for the tone here. The situation is clear: I use Windows 10 on a powerful machine (2080ti, 9900k, 32GB RAM, two 980pro SSDs, GPU and CPU sharing a custom loop with the 9900k capped at 69*[nice] under stress). My setup includes two monitors—one from Asus and one from LG. Both are HDR (VA HDR600, 4K, high refresh rate) displays with 144Hz rates. They’re connected via DP to the card. I also have a dedicated power strip for the valve index, but I leave it off when not in use, so the system rarely detects it.
The problem appears only when launching games in fullscreen. Exiting, pressing ALT-TAB, or losing focus causes severe instability: one screen switches to desktop or black, Explorer crashes repeatedly, monitors freeze or stop, fan speeds drop drastically, and color patterns freeze or reset. Sometimes the whole thing stays black. YouTube videos and audio pause or buffer. When it finally restarts, it can take over five minutes. Occasionally one monitor recovers while the other doesn’t, and even then, power cycling doesn’t help.
This issue isn’t happening with borderless windows or regular windows—it only shows up in fullscreen mode. My guesses are: 1) Windows struggles with HDR monitors and fullscreen games; 2) Nvidia drivers (including fresh installs) might be involved; 3) The problem is tied to how Windows manages HDR and fullscreen applications; 4) It’s not related to borderless mode itself; 5) I don’t notice any other instability beyond this.
I’ve stress-tested RAM, CPU, and GPU without issues. The Explorer crashes visibly when it freezes, and I’m certain the root cause lies in Microsoft’s operating system handling these specific settings. I don’t want to compromise on HDR quality, so I won’t disable it. I also refuse to switch to Linux or use a VM for gaming, as those options aren’t viable for me.
If I ever need a workaround, I’ll stick with fullscreen and keep my monitors powered on.
It seems you're facing a situation where your motherboard only has a TPM port, not an actual TPM chip. This is preventing Microsoft from allowing you to upgrade to Windows 11. The current policy states that without the required module, you can't proceed. It's frustrating to be stuck in this scenario, especially with such a high-end system. You might want to explore alternative solutions or contact support for clarification.
According to what I’ve discovered, you can only turn on TPM when your motherboard includes a dedicated TPM chip. My board doesn’t have one; it only has a connector for a module. This is why it’s referred to as a module.
MOBO model reference? You're likely familiar with PTT. On Gigabyte Z390 boards, you can find it here: https://www.thurrott.com/forums/microsof...390-boards
I haven't reviewed the bios yet, mainly due to problems with monitors failing to restart properly or only one showing up. My notes came from gigabyte's spec sheet, which only references TPM under internal IO as "1 x Trusted Platform Module (TPM) header (2x6 pin, for the GC-TPM2.0_S module only)"
I recognize the need for clearer communication from manufacturers about these technologies and how they affect users. It seems TPM, Intel PTT, and AMD fTPM all serve similar purposes, so choosing any of them should help meet Win11 requirements. Since I’m unsure about your specific motherboard model, here’s a screenshot from the Gigabyte Z390 Aorus PRO manual: the average user isn’t usually aware of PTT, and Gigabyte’s description—“Enables or disables Intel PTT Technology”—offers little useful detail. The Intel website suggests this information should be included in the manual. If you wish to install Win11, you can proceed without additional hardware, just by turning on secure boot and enabling Intel PTT in your BIOS. This approach carries a good chance of resolving the issue, though it’s not a guaranteed fix. If you decide to go ahead, consider a clean installation instead of upgrading.
You can perform a free Windows 11 upgrade by using the built-in Windows Update feature or the official Microsoft upgrade tool. Simply download and install the latest Windows 11 version, then follow the prompts to upgrade from Windows 10. This process won’t cost anything unless you need additional software or services.