- Sep 28, 2001
- 8,464
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I discovered a weird issue and can confirm what I read on the web about it.
So, in Nvidia control panel, under "change resolution", at the bottom you find the setting "output dynamic range".
There are two options, "Limited", and "Full". In simple terms, "Full" makes your blacks "blacker" and your whites "whiter", and "limited" can give you a washed-out look.
When you have a monitor that is connected via HDMI (like most newer monitors), this setting still doesn't correctly work. (I just ran into hours adjusting my gamma settings and calibrating and simply couldn't get my black levels right)
The reason is that when you connect your monitor via HDMI, your resolution is then in NV control panel listed as "Ultra HD, HD or SD", but this seems to apply the wrong dynamic range no matter what you set it at.
Solution: Create a CUSTOM RESOLUTION in Nvidia control panel and activate it. Eg. you can create with with the same settings +1HZ and use this. Say, if you are at 60hz make one 61Hz.
I created one at 75Hz (which works), although my monitor is only specced to 60Hz.
When your resolution is NOT listed under "Ultra HD, HD, SD" but instead under "CUSTOM", the "limited" and "full" range now works properly.
Edit: There also seems some patch flying around on the net (Google "nvidia limited color range" and you will get some hits, also from Geforce forum etc. Since the custom resolution however works I didn't see a need for the patch).
TLDR: It may be that your black/white and colors levels are "capped" due to a bug (?) with Nvidia when you have a normal monitor connected via HDMI.
Edit: I can only explain this as if Nvidia assumes that a monitor connected via HDMI is a TV which (often) need a "limited" range. This however is not the case with a normal monitor, you want a full dynamic range with black blacks and white whites. It can make A HELL of a difference how your picture looks, try it out! As said, there is a setting in NV control panel, but this does NOT work unless you make a custom resolution.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2p3xs7/nvidia_users_using_hdmi_output_youre_most_likely/
https://forums.geforce.com/default/...using-hdmi-and-getting-accurate-color-format/
Edit: People claim this has been resolved with later drivers, but I cannot confirm this. I use the very latest 372.90. There is a difference in dynamic range when I use the "CUSTOM" resolution or the default one. "Out of the box", with the 372.90 drivers and no custom resolution and normal Gamma etc. settings, Gamma is WAAAAYYY too low and you need to set it to "limited" to see details in dark scenes. With the custom resolution, you can activate "Full" and can have Gamma at 1.0 in NV control panel and everything is right.
So, in Nvidia control panel, under "change resolution", at the bottom you find the setting "output dynamic range".
There are two options, "Limited", and "Full". In simple terms, "Full" makes your blacks "blacker" and your whites "whiter", and "limited" can give you a washed-out look.
When you have a monitor that is connected via HDMI (like most newer monitors), this setting still doesn't correctly work. (I just ran into hours adjusting my gamma settings and calibrating and simply couldn't get my black levels right)
The reason is that when you connect your monitor via HDMI, your resolution is then in NV control panel listed as "Ultra HD, HD or SD", but this seems to apply the wrong dynamic range no matter what you set it at.
Solution: Create a CUSTOM RESOLUTION in Nvidia control panel and activate it. Eg. you can create with with the same settings +1HZ and use this. Say, if you are at 60hz make one 61Hz.
I created one at 75Hz (which works), although my monitor is only specced to 60Hz.
When your resolution is NOT listed under "Ultra HD, HD, SD" but instead under "CUSTOM", the "limited" and "full" range now works properly.
Edit: There also seems some patch flying around on the net (Google "nvidia limited color range" and you will get some hits, also from Geforce forum etc. Since the custom resolution however works I didn't see a need for the patch).
TLDR: It may be that your black/white and colors levels are "capped" due to a bug (?) with Nvidia when you have a normal monitor connected via HDMI.
Edit: I can only explain this as if Nvidia assumes that a monitor connected via HDMI is a TV which (often) need a "limited" range. This however is not the case with a normal monitor, you want a full dynamic range with black blacks and white whites. It can make A HELL of a difference how your picture looks, try it out! As said, there is a setting in NV control panel, but this does NOT work unless you make a custom resolution.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/2p3xs7/nvidia_users_using_hdmi_output_youre_most_likely/
https://forums.geforce.com/default/...using-hdmi-and-getting-accurate-color-format/
Edit: People claim this has been resolved with later drivers, but I cannot confirm this. I use the very latest 372.90. There is a difference in dynamic range when I use the "CUSTOM" resolution or the default one. "Out of the box", with the 372.90 drivers and no custom resolution and normal Gamma etc. settings, Gamma is WAAAAYYY too low and you need to set it to "limited" to see details in dark scenes. With the custom resolution, you can activate "Full" and can have Gamma at 1.0 in NV control panel and everything is right.
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