Screen tearing / black stripes on high GPU load

[kronerm]

Describe the Bug

Screen tearing happens in the upper bit of the screen.
Sometimes black stripes appear randomly across the screen.

Expected Behavior

The screen doesn't tear at any moment and no black stripes appear.

Additional Context

Only seems to happen when the GPU is under heavy load (more demanding games, where the framerate may not be so stable / may drop below vsync). From the games I tried, it seems to be most prevalent in The Witcher 3.

Doesn't seem to happen in games, where the framerate is way above vsync.

It may be good to mention, that my setup is a bit special. I'm running sunshine on a headless machine with nvidia-drm.modeset=1 kernel parameter and a fake monitor emulated with a EDID file.

My client laptop (using moonlight) has a 120hz screen as opposed to the emulated display's 60hz, but I don't think that could cause the issue.

Host Operating System

Linux

Operating System Version

5.19.7-arch1-1

Architecture

64 bit

Sunshine Version

0.14.1

GPU Type

Nvidia

GPU Model

GeForce GTX 1060 6GB

GPU Driver/Mesa Version

515.65.01-12

Capture Method (Linux Only)

X11

Relevant log output

[vt_software] -- [auto]
[amd_quality] -- [default]
[origin_web_ui_allowed] -- [lan]
[min_log_level] -- [2]
[origin_pin_allowed] -- [pc]
[resolutions] -- [[
    352x240,
    480x360,
    858x480,
    1280x720,
    1920x1080,
    2560x1080,
    3440x1440,
    1920x1200,
    3860x2160,
    3840x1600
]]
[nv_coder] -- [cabac]
[key_rightalt_to_key_win] -- [disabled]
[vt_realtime] -- [enabled]
[vt_coder] -- [auto]
[fps] -- [[10,30,60,90,120]]
[gamepad] -- [x360]
[nv_preset] -- [hq]
[upnp] -- [disabled]
[amd_coder] -- [auto]
[dwmflush] -- [enabled]
[nv_rc] -- [cbr]
[hevc_mode] -- [0]
[encoder] -- [nvenc]
[amd_rc] -- [auto]
[2022:09:06:23:56:10]: Error: Failed to gain CAP_SYS_ADMIN
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Error: Environment variable WAYLAND_DISPLAY has not been defined
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Detecting connected monitors
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //                                                              //
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //   Testing for available encoders, this may generate errors.  //
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //   You can safely ignore those errors.                        //
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //                                                              //
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Trying encoder [nvenc]
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Error: Could not open codec [h264_nvenc]: Function not implemented
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:11]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Error: Could not open codec [hevc_nvenc]: Function not implemented
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 709]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Error: Could not open codec [h264_nvenc]: Function not implemented
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 709]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Color range: [JPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Warning: nvenc: hevc: replacing nalu prefix data
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info:
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: //                                                          //
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: // Ignore any errors mentioned above, they are not relevant //
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: //                                                          //
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info:
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Found encoder nvenc: [h264_nvenc, hevc_nvenc]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Configuration UI available at [https://localhost:47990]
[2022:09:06:23:56:12]: Info: Adding avahi service Sunshine
[2022:09:06:23:56:13]: Info: Avahi service Sunshine successfully established.
[2022:09:06:23:56:20]: Error: Couldn't discover any UPNP devices
[2022:09:06:23:56:26]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:56:26]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:56:29]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: CLIENT CONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Detecting connected monitors
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Configuring selected monitor (0) to stream
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Streaming display: HDMI-1 with res 1920x1080 offset by 0x0
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:56:32]: Info: Color range: [MPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:56:33]: Info: Setting default sink to: [sink-sunshine-stereo]
[2022:09:06:23:56:33]: Info: Found default monitor by name: sink-sunshine-stereo.monitor
[2022:09:06:23:58:03]: Info: CLIENT DISCONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:58:03]: Info: Setting default sink to: [auto_null]
[2022:09:06:23:58:03]: Error: Couldn't set default-sink [auto_null]: No such entity
[2022:09:06:23:58:03]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:03]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:06]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:09]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:12]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:12]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:13]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:13]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:13]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: CLIENT CONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Detecting connected monitors
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Configuring selected monitor (0) to stream
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Streaming display: HDMI-1 with res 1920x1080 offset by 0x0
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:58:15]: Info: Color range: [MPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:58:16]: Info: Setting default sink to: [sink-sunshine-stereo]
[2022:09:06:23:58:16]: Info: Found default monitor by name: sink-sunshine-stereo.monitor
[2022:09:06:23:58:18]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:21]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:24]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:27]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:30]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:30]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:31]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:31]: Info: CLIENT DISCONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:58:31]: Info: Setting default sink to: [auto_null]
[2022:09:06:23:58:31]: Error: Couldn't set default-sink [auto_null]: No such entity
[2022:09:06:23:58:32]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:32]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:33]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:34]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:37]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: CLIENT CONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Detecting connected monitors
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Screencasting with X11
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Configuring selected monitor (0) to stream
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Streaming display: HDMI-1 with res 1920x1080 offset by 0x0
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Color coding [Rec. 601]
[2022:09:06:23:58:38]: Info: Color range: [MPEG]
[2022:09:06:23:58:39]: Info: Setting default sink to: [sink-sunshine-stereo]
[2022:09:06:23:58:39]: Info: Found default monitor by name: sink-sunshine-stereo.monitor
[2022:09:06:23:58:46]: Info: CLIENT DISCONNECTED
[2022:09:06:23:58:46]: Info: Setting default sink to: [auto_null]
[2022:09:06:23:58:46]: Error: Couldn't set default-sink [auto_null]: No such entity
[2022:09:06:23:58:49]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:52]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:55]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:58:58]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:02]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:05]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:08]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:11]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:14]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:17]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:17]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:20]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:23]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:26]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:29]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified
[2022:09:06:23:59:32]: Info: /CN=NVIDIA GameStream Client -- verified

[ReenigneArcher]

This is not a bug in Sunshine... Lower your graphic settings in games where this happens. Or invest in a stronger GPU.

Sunshine needs to be able to utilize some of the GPU resources as well. If there's no resources available, how do you expect Sunshine as if they are available?

[kronerm]

Oh that's a bummer. But thank you, at least now I know where the issue is. I suppose there isn't a way to reserve enough resources for sunshine, so that this doesn't happen? Or maybe use a different GPU (UHD 630) exclusively for sunshine?

[ReenigneArcher]

Since you are on Linux, yes Sunshine can use a different GPU. https://docs.lizardbyte.dev/projects/sunshine/en/latest/about/advanced_usage.html#adapter-name

[kronerm]

Oh, that's great! Unfortunately, it doesn't help that much (black stripes still pretty obnoxious), and even makes some games crash when starting them (presumably due to the iGPU even being present). I suppose that, for now, I'll just have to play games I can reliably run at a stable framerate without the GPU maxing out. Nevertheless, thank you for your time!

[ageisen2000]

I have a 3090 on kubuntu and I get this issue. On windows I had 0 problem, on a fresh kubuntu install it became a problem.

Is there a fix?

[KuleRucket]

You are screencasting with X11. You could considerably reduce the load on your encoder and on your CPU thread running sunshine by patching nvidia drivers (install nvidia-utils-nvlax from AUR in place of nvidia-utils). Make sure cuda is available before building sunshine

If working your log will say:
screencasting with NvFBC

See also https://github.com/LizardByte/Sunshine/discussions/99#discussioncomment-2368858

[kronerm]

This just single-handedly solved all problems I had! No more artifacts, no matter how much GPU is used. THANK YOU!

[spencerwi]

I see the same top-of-screen tearing on my setup, and haven't figured out how to fix it.

My host machine is Windows 10, with a Ryzen 5 5600 and an RX 6900xt. This top-of-screen tearing happens even when the CPU and GPU are comfortably far from maxed out, when the GPU is in like 60% usage range or less, even (and CPU <40%).

My client machine is running moonlight on Ubuntu with an admittedly-weak i5-4590 and RX 480; would that be the root cause of the issue?