Secondary monitor goes black for a few seconds, then comes back

Ever since the July 2023 Manjaro updates, my system has been unstable. When I use Timeshift to revert back before July 10, the problems disappear. I’m having multiple issues but let’s start with one…

I have a dual monitor setup with my primary monitor on the left and secondary on the right. The secondary monitor goes black for a few seconds, then comes back on its own. It is mostly triggered by opening any app, or even clicking on the whisker menu. But it also does it randomly (it JUST did it as I’m typing).

Here’s my info:

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.120-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 13.1.1
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.15-x86_64
    root=UUID=7f43684f-af68-4b29-a9b3-e5b81a7ddf9d rw quiet intel_iommu=on
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm
    v: 4.18.0 vt: 7 dm: 1: GDM v: 44.1 note: stopped 2: LightDM v: 1.32.0
    Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG MAXIMUS XI HERO (WI-FI) v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: 0602
    date: 10/19/2018
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech G305 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming
    Mouse serial: <filter> charge: 100% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes
    status: discharging
Memory:
  System RAM: total: 64 GiB note: est. available: 62.71 GiB
    used: 2.32 GiB (3.7%)
  RAM Report: permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required.
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i9-9900KF bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Coffee Lake
    gen: core 9 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
    model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 0xC (12) microcode: 0xF2
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 8 tpc: 2 threads: 16 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 2 MiB desc: 8x256 KiB L3: 16 MiB
    desc: 1x16 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2117 high: 4897 min/max: 800/5000 scaling:
    driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave cores: 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 1433
    5: 1516 6: 4211 7: 3322 8: 4897 9: 4478 10: 3390 11: 800 12: 801 13: 800
    14: 4230 15: 800 16: 800 bogomips: 115232
  Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm acpi adx aes aperfmperf apic arat
    arch_capabilities arch_perfmon art avx avx2 bmi1 bmi2 bts clflush
    clflushopt cmov constant_tsc cpuid cpuid_fault cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64
    dtherm dts epb ept ept_ad erms est f16c flexpriority flush_l1d fma fpu
    fsgsbase fxsr ht hwp hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_notify ibpb ibrs ida
    intel_pt invpcid invpcid_single lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx monitor
    movbe mpx msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl nx pae pat pbe pcid pclmulqdq pdcm
    pdpe1gb pebs pge pln pni popcnt pse pse36 pts rdrand rdseed rdtscp
    rep_good sdbg sep smap smep ss ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 stibp
    syscall tm tm2 tpr_shadow tsc tsc_adjust tsc_deadline_timer vme vmx vnmi
    vpid x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveopt xsaves xtopology xtpr
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: retbleed mitigation: IBRS
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl and seccomp
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: IBRS, IBPB: conditional, STIBP: conditional,
    RSB filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected
  Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
  Type: tsx_async_abort mitigation: TSX disabled
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GA104 [GeForce RTX 3070 Lite Hash Rate] vendor: eVga.com.
    driver: nvidia v: 535.54.03 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 535.xx+
    status: current (as of 2023-07) arch: Ampere code: GAxxx
    process: TSMC n7 (7nm) built: 2020-22 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.0
    chip-ID: 10de:2488 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Logitech C920 PRO HD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 5-2.2:3
    chip-ID: 046d:08e5 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.8 with: Xwayland v: 23.1.2
    compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X: loaded: nvidia gpu: nvidia
    display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 5120x1440 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1355x381mm (53.35x15.00")
    s-diag: 1408mm (55.42")
  Monitor-1: DP-2 pos: primary,left res: 2560x1440 dpi: 109
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (26.97") modes: N/A
  Monitor-2: DP-4 pos: right res: 2560x1440 dpi: 109
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (26.97") modes: N/A
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.54.03 renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX
    3070/PCIe/SSE2 direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_skl,snd_sof_pci_intel_cnl bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:a348 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GA104 High Definition Audio vendor: eVga.com.
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:228b
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Logitech Yeti X driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-7:3
    chip-ID: 046d:0aaf class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Device-4: Logitech C920 PRO HD Webcam driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 5-2.2:3
    chip-ID: 046d:08e5 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k5.15.120-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.74 status: off with: pipewire-media-session
    status: active tools: pw-cli
  Server-4: PulseAudio v: 16.1 status: active with: 1: pulseaudio-alsa
    type: plugin 2: pulseaudio-jack type: module tools: pacat,pactl,pavucontrol
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH CNVi WiFi driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:14.3 chip-ID: 8086:a370 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  Device-2: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15bc class-ID: 0200
  IF: eno2 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  IF-ID-1: vmnet1 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
  Message: Output throttled. IPs: 2; Limit: 10; Override: --limit [1-x;-1
    all]
  IF-ID-2: vmnet8 state: unknown speed: N/A duplex: N/A mac: <filter>
  Message: Output throttled. IPs: 2; Limit: 10; Override: --limit [1-x;-1
    all]
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth 9460/9560 Jefferson Peak (JfP) driver: btusb v: 0.8
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-14:6
    chip-ID: 8087:0aaa class-ID: e001
  Report: rfkill ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: see --recommends
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel SATA Controller [RAID mode] driver: ahci v: 3.0 port: 4020
    bus-ID: 00:17.0 chip-ID: 8086:2822 rev: N/A class-ID: 0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 10.92 TiB used: 3.79 TiB (34.7%)
  SMART Message: Required tool smartctl not installed. Check --recommends
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung
    model: SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 1B2QEXM7 temp: 41.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD40EFZX-68AWUN0
    size: 3.64 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter> fw-rev: 0B81 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 870 EVO 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 1B6Q scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WD40EFRX-68N32N0 size: 3.64 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
    logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 0A82 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 870 EVO 2TB
    size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 2B6Q scheme: GPT
  Optical-1: /dev/sr0 vendor: HL-DT-ST model: BD-RE WH16NS40 rev: 1.03
    dev-links: cdrom
  Features: speed: 48 multisession: yes audio: yes dvd: yes
    rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram state: running
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 931.22 GiB size: 915.53 GiB (98.32%)
    used: 621.29 GiB (67.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
    label: N/A uuid: 7f43684f-af68-4b29-a9b3-e5b81a7ddf9d
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 284 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1 label: N/A
    uuid: 0739-7E33
  ID-3: /run/media/design215/data2 raw-size: 931.51 GiB
    size: 915.82 GiB (98.32%) used: 334.89 GiB (36.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
    maj-min: 8:17 label: data2 uuid: 9bc0c66f-4f38-4e10-a50c-052478c7331e
  ID-4: /run/media/design215/data3 raw-size: 1.82 TiB size: 1.79 TiB (98.37%)
    used: 639.8 GiB (34.9%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdd1 maj-min: 8:49 label: data3
    uuid: 0c1661fd-d134-493a-985b-092801bdfbd2
  ID-5: /run/media/design215/video1 raw-size: 3.64 TiB
    size: 3.58 TiB (98.40%) used: 2.23 TiB (62.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1 label: video1 uuid: 77652b64-5d40-48ff-bdb6-71205b6e50f1
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Unmounted:
  Message: No unmounted partitions found.
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 16 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-1:2 info: ASUSTek AURA MOTHERBOARD type: HID
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s)
    lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 100mA chip-ID: 0b05:18a3 class-ID: 0300
    serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 1-7:3 info: Logitech Yeti X type: audio,HID
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 046d:0aaf class-ID: 0300 serial: <filter>
  Device-3: 1-8:4 info: Microdia Backlit Gaming Keyboard type: keyboard,mouse
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s)
    lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 400mA chip-ID: 0c45:652f class-ID: 0301
  Hub-2: 1-13:5 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 05e3:0610 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-14:6 info: Intel Bluetooth 9460/9560 Jefferson Peak (JfP)
    type: bluetooth driver: btusb interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 8087:0aaa class-ID: e001
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 10 rev: 3.1
    speed: 10 Gb/s (1.16 GiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-2x1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 3-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 4-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1
    speed: 10 Gb/s (1.16 GiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-2x1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-6: 5-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-7: 5-2:2 info: Hitachi ports: 4 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s)
    lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 045b:0209 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 5-2.2:3 info: Logitech C920 PRO HD Webcam type: video,audio
    driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo interfaces: 4 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 power: 500mA
    chip-ID: 046d:08e5 class-ID: 0102 serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 5-2.4:4 info: Logitech USB Receiver type: keyboard,mouse,HID
    driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid interfaces: 3 rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 98mA
    chip-ID: 046d:c53f class-ID: 0300
  Hub-8: 6-0:1 info: super-speed hub ports: 2 rev: 3.1
    speed: 10 Gb/s (1.16 GiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-2x1 chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-9: 6-2:2 info: Hitachi ports: 4 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s (596.0 MiB/s)
    lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1 chip-ID: 045b:0210 class-ID: 0900
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 31.0 C mobo: N/A gpu: nvidia temp: 47 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 0%
Info:
  Processes: 347 Uptime: 24m wakeups: 2 Init: systemd v: 253 default: graphical
  tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 13.1.1 alt: 12 clang: 15.0.7 Packages: 1809
  pm: pacman pkgs: 1805 libs: 519 tools: pamac pm: flatpak pkgs: 4 Shell: Bash
  v: 5.1.16 running-in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.3.28

Just to confirm- I’ve used timeshift to revert TWICE and I’ve played games in Steam for HOURS and not once did my second monitor go black. Maybe this is a simple fix? Maybe there’s a config file conflict somewhere?

But I don’t even know where to begin. All help and suggestions are appreciated!

After doing various tests and reading about people having this problem on Windows, I lowered both monitor refresh rates from 144hz to 120hz. Then I played some Forza on Steam for about an hour and the secondary monitor is no longer going black.

So I realize my NVIDIA drivers were one of the many things that got updated but is that the cause? Is the new driver worse? I’ve been running my monitors at 144hz for over a YEAR with no issues.

Now I have to work on my software problems that didn’t exist before the updates.

SIDE NOTE: If I sound a little salty its just because I have multiple problems to deal with at the same time. This is my main PC that I use for work, live streaming, editing, and gaming when I’m not working. I realize the issues are all coming from separate sources but it’s just frustrating. I love Manjaro and I love this community.

I’m gonna continue testing over the next couple of days and if the 120hz setting fixes it, I’ll return and mark this as solved.

It looks like reducing my monitor refresh rates from 144hz to 120hz has solved the problem. I’ve been testing my system all day and I haven’t seen a black screen on my second monitor.

I think this is an issue with the latest NVIDIA driver, v535.54.03. This driver was updated along with the rest of the July 2023 Manjaro updates.

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