Problems with screen brightness when on dGPU (plugged in)

[GibStorm]

Describe the bug
If I run with GHelper instead of Armory Crate (all Armory Crate/ASUS services disabled) and plug in to have the Optimized/Auto settings switch as intended to high performance modes, the brightness of my display is not adjustable and stuck in a very low brightness state. If I use GHelper to switch to "Eco" mode and thus using the iGPU (Radeon) the brightness works fine.

In order to be able to use my dGPU (RTX 4070) on full brightness, I have to switch to using Armory Crate again (start all services etc) and closing GHelper.
Using the Windows brightness slider also does nothing. Twinke Tray app is not able to change the brightness either.

Clear scenario to Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Run GHelper with Armory Crate uninstalled or all services disabled.
2. Switch everything to optimal power saving in GHelper (auto/optimized).
3. Increase screen brightness to 100%.
4. Plug in the charger.
5. Everything switches to performance mode as inteded, but screen brightness drops.
6. Unable to adjust screen brightness in this state.

Expected behavior
I would expect that in addition to GHelper switching everything to performance mode as intended, the screen brightness would either automatically go to max or stay at the previous brightness level. It would be expected to be able to adjust the levels as well.

App Logs
Logs attached.

Screenshots or screencasts
Would not illustrate the problem.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Windows 11 (version 22H2, build 22621.1848)
• Laptop model: ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023) GA402NI (IPS display, 165 hz)

Asus software

• Armoury Crate: Yes, but services disabled when having issue.
• MyASUS installed: Yes, but services disabled when having issue.
• Other Asus services running in background: No, all disabled when having issue.

Additional context
Brand new laptop. Basically everything works fine using Armory Crate, but not with GHelper. I love this app, and would like to assist in fixing this issue since it is the one thing preventing me from replacing Armory Crate with it.

log.txt

[seerge]

@GibStorm hello,

I have also noticed your message on reddit, but thanks for posting it here, it's way more convenient.

I'm keen to think that this is due to NVidia optimus (as someone else mentioned on reddit). It creates 2 screens in system configuration (1 real and 1 virtual) in order to do it's own switches of what GPU will drive screen each moment.

And when when dGPU gets enabled without restart (i.e. when you plug in on Optimized) windows just gets confused and tries to set brightness on a wrong screen.

Can you reach the state where brightness is not controllable (i.e. disable/enable GPU?) and try following things one by one, and see if it helps (then i will be able to "implement" that in g-helper too):

1. Change display refresh rate to 60Hz and back
2. Change display resolution
3. Press Win+P (project settings) and try to switch things there back and forward (i.e. set single display)
4. Manually run NVidia control panel
5. Open windows Services -> and try to restart each nvidia service

Thanks for cooperation :)

[seerge]

@GibStorm also try this build that uses alternative method to control brightness from FN+F7/F8 hotkeys (to see if it makes difference?)

GHelper.zip

[GibStorm]

@GibStorm hello,

I have also noticed your message on reddit, but thanks for posting it here, it's way more convenient.

I'm keen to think that this is due to NVidia optimus (as someone else mentioned on reddit). It creates 2 screens in system configuration (1 real and 1 virtual) in order to do it's own switches of what GPU will drive screen each moment.

And when when dGPU gets enabled without restart (i.e. when you plug in on Optimized) windows just gets confused and tries to set brightness on a wrong screen.

Can you reach the state where brightness is not controllable (i.e. disable/enable GPU?) and try following things one by one, and see if it helps (then i will be able to "implement" that in g-helper too):

1. Change display refresh rate to 60Hz and back
2. Change display resolution
3. Press Win+P (project settings) and try to switch things there back and forward (i.e. set single display)
4. Manually run NVidia control panel
5. Open windows Services -> and try to restart each nvidia service

Thanks for cooperation :)

I've tried all 5 things, without it changing anything in relation to the problem. Only thing I had problems with, was running NVIDIA Control Panel. I could not do that, because it states that I am "not using a monitor connected to an NVIDIA GPU. I've tried forcing the app to run on the other GPU using the Windows graphics settings, but that changes nothing.

[GibStorm]

@GibStorm also try this build that uses alternative method to control brightness from FN+F7/F8 hotkeys (to see if it makes difference?)

GHelper.zip

The new version still doesn't enable me to change screen brightness. The Windows brightness slider changes, but visually there is no difference.

[seerge]

@GibStorm ok, thanks for trying :)

I assume that in System -> Display settings you have 2 diplays (correct?) Each of them has a brightness slider, can you switch between displays and try to drag them and see if both have no effect on birghtness?

And just to confirm - does rebooting (in a state where brightness is locked) unlock brightness?

[GibStorm]

@GibStorm ok, thanks for trying :)

I assume that in System -> Display settings you have 2 diplays (correct?) Each of them has a brightness slider, can you switch between displays and try to drag them and see if both have no effect on birghtness?

And just to confirm - does rebooting (in a state where brightness is locked) unlock brightness?

I actually don't see that overview at all. It shows no displays there at all.

[seerge]

@GibStorm ok, what about my second question :

And just to confirm - does rebooting (in a state where brightness is locked) unlock brightness?

And can you try this build with a bit more verbose logging and post a log here again ? It won't fix brightness, i just want to see what is display configuration windows has :)

GHelper.zip

[seerge]

P.S. And can you post a screenshot of your device manager with display adapters and monitors ? (like this one)

[GibStorm]

@GibStorm ok, what about my second question :

And just to confirm - does rebooting (in a state where brightness is locked) unlock brightness?

And can you try this build with a bit more verbose logging and post a log here again ? It won't fix brightness, i just want to see what is display configuration windows has :)

GHelper.zip

I've just made a "clean" NVIDIA driver reinstall, just to make sure. Then I wanted to test this, but oddly it all now works just fine when I switch between charger and not.

I'm running with the new debug build, and have attached the log.

log.txt

[seerge]

@GibStorm May be nvidia driver was the reason then?

You are not the only one reporting this, but from reddit i also see that people had same locked brightness also using armoury (sometimes). So that's why i think it's nvidia / optimus related issue.

What I also remember from AC behavior, it won't let you turn Eco unless optimus switch is literally set to "optimus" (i.e. not Auto and not NVidia only) in nvidia control panel. G-helper doesn't check / require that. May be the reason of locked brightness was that Eco mode was turned on with a different optimus setting in a first place? (just guessing)

P.S. From new log it's clear that it's only one display, and it's called DISPLAY1 in windows now :) so it's all good (but it's also probably the reason why brightness works)

[GibStorm]

I don't know, but maybe you should see if you could log stuff like that? I'm runding your debug version now, in case something pops up again 🙂

[seerge]

@GibStorm you can try to "re-create" issue now.

SCENARIO 1 (all good)

1. Start with GPU set to Standard (i.e. enabled)
2. Set Nvidia control panel display mode to - "Optimus" (2nd option)
   
3. Set GPU to Eco -> check brightness controls
4. Set GPU to Standard again -> check brightness controls

SCENARIO 2 (trying to break it)

1. Start with GPU set to Standard (i.e. enabled)
2. Set Nvidia control panel display mode to - "Nvidia GPU only" (3nd option)
3. Set GPU to Eco -> check brightness controls
4. Set GPU to Standard again -> check brightness controls (should be broken?)

[GibStorm]

I'll take a look at it later tonight and will get back to you. Thank you for your help so far :)

[GibStorm]

Adjusting brightness stopped working again. This time it was stuck at max brightness though.

So,

SCENARIO 1 (started while brightness adjustment didn't work while plugged in)

1. GPU mode was already "Standard" due to "Optimized" setting and being plugged in
2. Changed Display Mode in NVIDIA Control Panel from "Auto Select" to "Optimus" - Brightness adjustments still don't work
3. Set GPU Mode to "Eco" - Adjustments still don't work
4. Set GPU Mode to "Standard" - Adjustments still don't work

SCENARIO 2

1. Set GPU Mode to "Standard"
2. Changed Display Mode to "NVIDIA GPU Mode Only" - Brightness adjustments still don't work
3. Set GPU Mode to "Eco". Screen went black and hen came back, NVIDIA Control Panel closed itself. Brightness controls now work. (cannot open NVIDIA Control Panel in this state)
4. Set GPU Mode to "Standard" again. Brightness controls stopped working yet again,

Through all of this, your second 0.89.0.0 debug version was used. Log attached.
log.txt