Display stutters

[iguillen]

I haven't seen this reported in issues or discussions so forgive me if it has and I'm just missing it. I'm using a 14" M1 Max and a Dell 40" 5K2K and the display is stuttering, sometimes pretty badly. It seems to have started in the last couple of weeks because I didn't notice it when I first started using the program about a month ago. Disconnecting the dummy, disconnecting the display, and rebooting the computer don't seem to resolve the issue or only resolve for a short period of time.

I've attached a video as it's a little difficult to describe, although the video doesn't show how bad it can get (like as I'm typing this the cursor is constantly going back and forth after almost every character

IMG_5649.mp4

[waydabber]

Hi, I am not sure if this is a BD related issue. I experienced something similar recently (irrespective of BD), but I was running the Monterey 12.3 beta - the solution was to reset the display preferences by com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist from under /Library/Preferences and your user's Library/Preferences/ByHost folder (there might be multiple files like this with some UUID-s attached to the filename - clear them all) + reboot.

Hope this helps and fixes the issue!

[iguillen]

Hi. This does not appear to have fixed the issue. I performed a search for all files with that name, deleted them, and rebooted. It resolved the issue for a short period but then it started back up again. I'm actually typing this on the other monitor you see in the video because the one mirroring BD is virtually unusable.

Funny thing is, my work laptop, a 16" M1 Pro, is running in the same configuration but I'm not see the issue there. Or if it is, it's not really noticeable.

I'm running Monterey 12.2.1 if that helps any. Thanks.

[waydabber]

An other tip is that it might be an issue with mismatching refresh rates. The dummy runs at 60Hz, maybe your display uses a different refresh rate that is not a nice multiple of 30 and things just don't work out?

[iguillen]

I'd considered that but confirmed though the system profiler that the display is running at 60Hz. It's odd because like I mentioned, I don't see the issue on the 16" connected through DisplayPort, only on the 14" connected though thunderbolt.

[waydabber]

Well @iguillen to be honest it's a mystery to me as well, I have no idea what's causing it. :( Do you experience the same if you do not use Thunderbolt on the 14"?

[JokerQueue]

Similar to my issue #347. I think there is something wrong between the new MacBook and the macOS, but Apple support couldn't give me any effective solution.

[iguillen]

At the risk of speaking too early, I think I've figured out the issue, or at least resolved it, for now.

I was trying to figure out why I was seeing the issue on my personal 14" but not my work 16". I got to thinking that the only difference between them, aside from the obvious, was the software running on them. After quitting everything display related, which was basically just Wallpaper Wizard and TopNotch, I think the issue is with TopNotch. Not sure how it works but it must be interfering with the mirroring somehow.

I've since stopped using it and haven't notice any further stuttering.

So, when all else fails, start quitting apps!

[tibbus]

I think it is a bit too early for me to say, but seems like for me it was because of Flux app.
Thanks a lot for the suggestion.

[tibbus]

This happens to me as well on mac studio M1 max.
I have dual monitors: 34" @3440x1440 and 27" @2560x1440 and it is happening on both only when I use Better Dummy:
The 34" one has 100hz refresh, but I think dummy will change it to 60hz.

Screen.Recording.2022-03-25.at.21.26.31.mov

I have also other weird issues, for example, sometimes my cursor can remain on a monitor, see video:

IMG_0177.MOV

[waydabber]

Thanks for the info everybody!

So to summarize findings for others who have similar issues while mirroring a dummy:

• Check for interfering software (f.lux, TopNotch etc).
• Check for refresh rate issues (BetterDummy runs at 60Hz and preferrably the mirror target display should run at this rate).
• Try resetting macOS display configuration (Display stutters #373 (comment))