Microstutter borderless mode?

I get this weird microstutter when playing in borderless mode, the game is FFXIV and I kind of have to play it in borderless mode because I use 2 displays and alt tab out a lot too.

There's no issues with the actual frame numbers, it's just there's micro stutters and mostly noticeable when you look around with the camera,this issue doesn't exist whatsoever in fullscreen exclusive mode. G-Sync is enabled for both full and windowed mode in Nvidia's cpanel.


Here's what I tried so far:

- Reinstall gpu driver and try an older version.
- Disable win10 game mode/game bar..etc
- Boot PC with 1 monitor only, issue still remains.
- Kill dwm.exe and restart explorer.exe
- Checked the "disable full screen optimization" in the game's compatibility options
- Tried different types of Vsync/Gsync options, atm I'm running the recommended VSync on in nividia panel, Gsync on, RTSS frame limit at 141 and vsync is off in the game's settings.
- Disable fast boot from power options

I can't for the life of me fix this issue, specs are in signature and since it works fine in fullscreen mode I'm assuming this isn't a hardware related issue.

Any help would be so appreciated guys, this issue is driving me insane and I just want to enjoy my new setup without getting annoyed by the stutter.


ps: I wasn't sure if this is the right place to post this, mods please move it if it doesn't belong here.

During these stutters, what is the GPU usage and clock speeds for GPU and CPU?

sorry for shamelss plug btu

Try installing my project mercury and enable "No SMT conflicts"
Unless you know the game can take advantage of more than 8 logical cores

can't you just hit alt-enter after you alt tab back to return to full-screen?

Getting in and out of full screen is a hassle , there's a slight pause with it and it just doesn't work well if you alt tab often which you will do if you're playing an MMO.

I think I figured out what's the cause of the issue but I don't have a fix for it yet, I realized I can "refresh" the Hz in LG's OSD to see what's the monitor's current refresh rate, turns out in FFXIV fullscreen Gsync is working properly, however in borderless the refresh rate remains at 144Hz and doesn't adjust, so Gsync is basically not working there even though I have windowed option enabled for Gsync in Nvidia's cpanel. In some other games it's working in borderless too.

Is there any way so I can "force" Gsync somehow in those types of games in Nivida panel or inspector..etc? Gsync is completely ignoring this game while playing in windowed or borderless mode.

Try slightly lower Hz.

Try turning on Gsync Indicator in NVCP. I had issues with Elite Dangerous and Gsync not working correctly in Borderless; especially when I had a 2nd monitor connected.

I had to reboot, disconnect 2nd monitor, and launch the game to fix that.

The game in question had a bunch of windowed mode issues in the past unfortunately.

I play FFXIV in borderless as well. With the ingame vsync option (actually just a frame cap) off, there is microstutter aplenty. Turning it on eliminates it.