Are you concerned and unsure of how to correcting HDMI colour on Nvidia and AMD GPUs? So don’t worry, in this post, we try to explain an overview of the typical issues that arise when connecting an HDMI device to an AMD or NVIDIA GPU and how to resolve them?

It is advised that a specific resolution be selected using CRU for smartphone GPUs or other graphical options, including those from Intel (Custom Resolution Utility).

Check the Nvidia section on this, in particular the second part under “Second solution: choosing a unique pixel,” where the use of CRU is described. Making ensuring the Quantization Range option in the Intel Graphics Control Panel is set to “Full Range” is another option for users of Intel graphics chipsets.

Correcting HDMI Colour On Nvidia And AMD GPUs

HDMI is a special audio/video interface with a different design from DVI (Digital Visual Interface) and Display Port. Both the DVI and the DP were created specifically to be display interfaces. On the other hand, an HDMI is designed to be a global signal connector.

Contrary to popular belief, these three’s visual quality is not equal. You may have heard statements that the antiquated DVI (Digital Visual Interface), DP (Display Port), and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) have the same image quality.

Digital signals are either “working” so the monitor shows a picture or “not working” so it doesn’t Select a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and display connection that can accommodate the monitor’s highest resolution and frame rate while also meeting the monitor’s connectivity needs.

Unfortunately, there is some ambiguity in the middle, making things less clear-cut. Due to how PC graphics cards normally handle HDMI, many users will become mired in this muck in the center. In contrast to DVI and Display Port, which were made specifically as computer monitor connectors, HDMI is intended to be a universal signal that is extensively used by TVs and entertainment devices.

Processing Of The HDMI Data By Nvidia GPUs

Problem

The NVIDIA GPUs‘ handling of the HDMI stream is the cause of the issue. The GPU registers a 1920×1080 (common with HDTVs) monitor connected through a DVI-HDMI or HDMI cable as an HDTV rather than a monitor. The NVIDIA Display resolution choice lists it as “1080p, 1920 x 1080 (native)” under “Ultra HD, HD, SD.”

Now, full HD displays frequently exhibit this recognizing behavior. However, when a gaming monitor, such as the Dell U2414H, is connected using a Display Port—a PC connection not used by TV screens—it is labeled in the same way. There is no problem with the resolution being published on the incorrect list. The impact this has on the colour signal is what causes the issue.

An RGB color signal with a full range (0–255) can be processed by the display. However, this classification of the connection causes the GPU to emit a Limited Range RGB color signal (16-235). When carefully scrutinized, the outcome of this mismatch is evident.

The monitor now has a “washed out” appearance, lacking the proper depth and diversity of color. Dark Grey seems to be Black if you look closely. Many hues appear lighter than they should because the Gamma curve is altered. As a result, the photographs’ color quality appears to be drastically off.

The AOC i2473Pwy, which can be linked through HDMI and is configured to select a Fixed Ranges RGB, a Complete Range RGB, and YCbCr444 colours, provides the necessary measurements (another signal type that is commonly used).

The previously mentioned set-up, which included a Konica-Minolta CS-200 and a Spyder4Elite (for gamma and white point measurements), was used to conduct the test. There were some modest color channel tweaks and a decrease in brightness. The Limited Range Signal has a significantly negative impact on both the Pixel Density and Gamma compared to what it should.

As a result, it is a serious problem when the display is misclassified when the NVIDIA GPU is linked to the monitor through HDMI. Let’s quickly get into the solutions now that the origin and nature of the issue are evident.

Solutions
Four Approaches Have Succeeded In Solving This Issue.

1. Utilizing The YCbCr444 Colour Space

In Nvidia color correction, if you wish to change the photographs’ washed-out appearance, this is a simple and efficient strategy. To set up the graphics card to use this format, you only need to go. Nvidia Control Panel > Display allows you to modify the screen color options.

Selecting ‘YCbCr444’ from the ‘Digital color format’ drop-down is required once you are in the desktop color settings.

Brief Information About The Solution:

The Full Range RGB (0–255) approach is relatively superior to the YCbCr444 method in tests, making it the least preferred option. This is due to the variances on the colorimeter, which were evident when a comparison was made between the two as seen below:

It is obvious that there are a few little variations here and there, but nothing noteworthy. As a result, the YCbCr444 does not outperform the Full range RGB because there may occasionally be minor color defects (even depending on the monitor).

2. Customizing The Resolution

If your Display Port or HDMI isn’t working properly, you can specify a custom resolution so that it will be handled like the monitor’s native 60Hz resolution, with the color signal adjusted. The ‘HDMI Black Level’ option should be avoided in specific circumstances, though. It must be properly set if it is displayed on the monitor.

Navigate to the Nvidia Control Panel, Display, Change Resolution, and Customize. When you click the “Customize” button, a pop-up appears. Select “Create Custom Resolution” from the menu. The “Standard” option under “Timing” should be adjusted to “Manual.”

When you look down, you can change the “Refresh Rate” (in Hz). Click “Test” after setting the value to “59.999.” Following the procedure, the system will show you the updated resolution and ask you via pop-up whether you want to keep the changes. Choose “Yes.” In the Nvidia Control Panel, the new resolution is now shown under “Custom,” as seen below.

Brief Information About The Solution:

Most applications can be solved using this method. Some games, though, automatically switch to using the original resolution of your monitor and disregard modified resolutions. If you choose a refresh rate other than 60Hz for games that do this, the custom resolution will be used.

Most monitors can operate at 65Hz without experiencing any problems.

Using ToastyX’s “Custom Resolution Utility” is an excellent substitute for custom resolution settings made in the NCP. The setup is simple to understand and looks like this:

You must choose the option “Automatic – LCD standard” from the “Timing” drop-down menu in the “Detailed Resolution” setup box, which is displayed to the right.

3. The NVIDIA Display Driver’s New Drop-Down Menu

You may quickly enforce the proper Full Range RGB signal by selecting the appropriate option from a small drop-down menu in the NCP (Nvidia Control Panel), which was added by NVIDIA in Driver versions 347.09 and higher. Click Change resolution in the Nvidia Control Panel’s Display menu.

The choice “Output dynamic range” will be found in a drop-down box. Apply the modifications and set it to “Full.” There may not always be a need to adjust it if it is set to “Full.”
Brief Information about the Solution:

Make careful to select “Normal,” “Full,” “High,” or “RGB (0255)” as opposed to “Low,” “Limited,” or “RGB (16235)” if your display has an “HDMI Black Level” or an “HDMI RGB PC Range.”

The adjustments take effect immediately; a restart is not necessary.

4. Making Use Of Third-Party Tools

Before Nvidia added a setting to their driver allowing users to modify the resolution and set it to the full range, third-party programs were used to solve the issue. An easy remedy would be something akin to the useful program “Nvidia Full/Limited Range Toggler” from the programming blog “metaclass.”

Simply download the executable file, unzip it, and execute it (the file in the .exe format). To set the whole range (0-255), click the “Set Full Range (0-255)” button in the pop-upper up’s right corner.

Brief Information About The Solution:

The modifications won’t take effect until you restart the machine.
By doing this, a few entries in the graphics registry are altered.
These are responsible for regulating and modifying RGB color behavior.
Only one use of this utility is necessary. All the settings will be returned to their defaults when a new graphics driver is installed from scratch.
Quick Fix

> The Catalyst Control Center, which is replaced by AMD Radeon settings in newer versions of the driver, must be opened to use older versions of the driver.
> Click Preferences>Radeon Additional Settings>My Digital Flat Screens, and select Adjustment Alternatives once there.
> The slider must now be completely moved to the right or set to 0% Overscan.

An Overview Of The Solution:

The option “Scaling Options” is still present in the more recent driver versions, but not all of the tabs that used to be next to it. Radeon Additional Settings is selected in place of Catalyst Control Center. For this problem, this is a quick, easy, and long-lasting solution.

The second issue that arises in this situation has to do with the pixel format. An AMD GPU can be connected using HDMI far more easily than an Nvidia GPU can, with much less concern for the color signal.

This is because an AMD GPU will often use a YCbCr444 color signal rather than a Limited Range RGB color signal. But for a few reasons, the Full range RGB signal—also known as the RGB 4:4:4 by the AMD GPU—is preferable to the YCbCr444 signal.

The AMD GPU was connected to an AOC i2473Pwy to do a test. The results for the White Point, White Luminance, and Contrast Ratio all have a slight value variance. There is a higher difference in color accuracy on an AMD GPU than there was on an Nvidia GPU, as can be shown by comparing the color tables for the two color signals utilized on that GPU.

The lesson learned is that switching to a Full Range RGB, or an RGB 4:4:4 color signal type, will allow us to display some colors with a little bit more accuracy in terms of shade. To help improve the color accuracy and fix this problem, there are two straightforward methods.

Pixel Style Modification

If you want to use the updated drivers, go to AMD Radeon Settings; if you want to use the older drivers, go to Catalyst Control Centre. Radon Additional Settings > Preferences > Pixel Format in My Digital Flat-Panels. You must change the default pixel format from “YCbCr 4:4:4” to “RGB 4:4:4”, as seen in the following figure (Full RGB).

Brief Information About the Solution:

• This must be done again if a new graphics driver is installed because the settings are reset to the factory values. You need only complete this process once, aside from that situation.

• The “Black Level” and “HDMI Range” settings of the display should be set to “Normal,” “High,” “Full,” or “RGB (0255”), respectively, rather than “Limited,” “Low,” or “RGB (16235).

Using A DVI To HDMI Cable

An AMD GPU defaults to using the Full Range RGB color signal when connected to it via a DVI to HDMI cable, just like it would with a DVI connection. Purchase and use this cable. You won’t have to deal with the issue because it is automatically resolved.

An Overview of the Solution:

If your display has a “Black Level” or “HDMI Range” setting, make sure it is set to “Normal,” “High,” “Full,” or “RGB (0255)” rather than “Limited,” “Low,” or “RGB (16235)”. Even when utilizing a DVI to HDMI cable, this is still the case.

FAQs

Is There A 4-HDMI Video Card Nvidia?

The ASUS GeForce® GT 710 Xtreme GPUs seem like 4 HDMI video cards Nvidia. If you didn’t already know, the Nvidia RTX 30 series of products increased the power needs of the company’s high-end gaming range, which increased the cooling needs for the upcoming generation of high-end graphics cards.

How Do I Change My NVIDIA Card’s Color Saturation?

Under How do you change colors, choose With the NVIDIA setting. To change the color saturation of your video image, click the Color tab and then drag the Saturation slider. When finished, click Apply.

Conclusion

The only connection that the AMD and NVIDIA GPUs can handle flawlessly is the DVI connection. However, many displays have abandoned the DVI due to advancements in usefulness and technology.

The two technologies most frequently used today are HDMI and Display Port, both of which are rapidly evolving. The most recent version of HDMI is 2.0, and DP 3.0 is soon to be available.

As we can see, an NVIDIA GPU operates like an HDTV and uses settings for a colour display that monitors are steadily moving away from when it is connected to a monitor through an HDMI cable.

Correcting HDMI Colour on Nvidia and AMD GPUs, this article shows how easily AMD’s strange “scaling” problem for older drivers can be fixed, as well as any color signal difficulties you may encounter while utilizing HDMI or Display Port.

But many consumers won’t ever read this post and won’t know how to address these problems, so they’ll just scream at their monitors and possibly return them to the store instead. Nvidia has added a “Dynamic range” drop-down menu option to the driver.

Additionally, AMD typically always treats the signal appropriately as “Full Range RGB” in their more recent drivers. Although it’s encouraging to see things becoming better, there are still instances where the default behavior isn’t the best choice.

This could make better sense for the Processor to always use this preferred signal type by default given that many recent TVs can readily accept a “Full Range” RGB stream. As for the GPUs, we can only hope that, as they develop over time and understand that they must move past HDMI being a “TV-only connection,” they will soon be able to permanently fix these issues.

Mehtab Ayyub

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