These are newer builds and are the release candidate.
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What newer builds? I just tried the latest ones yesterday.
I also just asked and the ones i have are the latest builds. Nothing’s changed since.
fdca_Laptop_exclude = flashing at 90hz every 1 second
fdca_normal = still had flashing blackout screen but it happened only once when i tried in 45 minutes (still unstable in both)
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Appreciate your hard work Mike. As one of painful Pimax 8kx user who also experienced the blackout issue since the 1st 90Hz firmware upgrade ( never had a single problem before this for more than 6 months),I salute you for your patience.
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@Doman.Chen has already confirmed with me that they were able to replicate the flashes/blackouts themselves.
It seems to be an issue with 90hz only as they’re at the bandwith limit and any interference is causing a spike in the bandwith which causes the flashes or blackouts.
They are currently at work trying to figure it out. @PimaxUSA has also mentioned that because it’s happening on certain Nvidia GPU’s only, it seems to be possibly related to a weaker DP Signal also.
At least we got their attention finally as it’s been quite annoying.
Luckily the bigger issue i was having with the prolonged blackouts was fixed by moving the cable away from my motion rig too. The flashes were alleviated for me by not using 90hz at all - which im ok with but i do wish we had an option for at least 80 or 85hz maybe?!?
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Latest firmware beta public engineer test release
90hz = still has blackout flashes
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I’ve just registered here after finding this thread seaching Google for Pimax 8KX random blackouts.
My 8KX was purchased in April 2021, and the first two months of use were problem-free, no issues with blackouts. I use the 8KX 100% exclusively for iRacing.
About a month ago I experienced my first random blackout (sound and tracking unaffected, just the internal LCD panels go completely black with no backlight at all). Since the first blackout a month ago, they’re becoming more common. Currently, my headset blacks out for 3 to 10 seconds at a time every time I first start using it IE first 15 minutes in iRacing. Once it’s “warmed up” the issue no longer persists but that first 15mins is random blackouts every 1-2 minutes. I’ve not had a blackout once the headset has been running for 10-15 minutes or longer.
So frustrating to go from no blackouts for 2 months, and then progress from the 1st random blackout and now to every time I use the headset its blacking out multiple times during the first 15 minutes of use. No changes have happened at all during my 3 months of ownership - cables haven’t moved, hardware hasn’t changed, amount of use hasn’t changed, etc…
9700KF with Gigabyte 3090, using the original DP cable that comes with the Pimax 8KX. Hopefully Pimax sorts this out.
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Are you using 90hz? In my case the original prolonged blackouts that lasted 3-10 seconds were because my cable ran across the floor, across an aluminum profile motion rig platform that i have, which has EMI running through it.
Ever since i moved the cable overhead, not touching anything at all, it runs fine but only on 75hz - the moment i try 90hz, i get flashes (momentary blackouts). They’re manageable but highly annoying.
I got my 8kx back at the end of last year (i think october) and i also dont remember having this issue originally, but then i had 2 more 8kx models in my possession since then, and they all had the same issue - each one worse than the other lol.
But lately I’ve been on a 3 or 4 week run with zero flashes or blackouts, since using 75hz and having the cable run overhead - not touching my rig.
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Yes 90hz.
So after posting my message yesterday, I started looking around this site and found the updated 298 firmware for use with the latest nvidia drivers, and the firmware notes that it should resolve the 90hz blackout issues. I’ve been running the old nvidia drivers as per Pimax’s website notes re: 90hz firmware.
I flashed the headset with this latest 298 firmware, and then updated my nvidia drivers to the current version. After reboot, everything fired up normally with no issues. Just finished 20mins in iRacing with the headset having been off overnight, and no blackouts so I am very hopeful this may be it. Fingers crossed. Will continue testing this week.
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The new firmware notes do NOT say that the blackouts are fixed at 90hz - im not sure where you read this. I am still having the flashes at 90hz. Doman Chen actually told me in an email that they know it’s still there and they’re still working on it. The beta firmware says it “SHOULD” fix the brief blackouts. But i still have the flashes happening on that new firmware.
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I sent this reddit user here so he might post here, but i found another users with an 8k+ having blackouts… https://www.reddit.com/r/Pimax/comments/otkcfq/on_mitigating_the_blackoutissues_some_are/
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We also have a report of an AMD user that has blackouts now - in the comments here:
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Any news on the issue? As I to have this blackouts too. View seconds black and then back in the game. Unfortnately the sound output switches to my external speakers during the blackout, so I have to quit the app and restart in order to have the sound back in the hmd. Its not happening with my 8K Vision plus. Hope this gets sorted soon.
RTX 3090, X570 mobo, Ryzen 7 5800X, 32GB RAM @ 3600
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No updates still. Just using 75hz without any blackouts is the answer for me so far.
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Thats unfortunate. Im on 75 Hz too. Not using any beta, be it firmware or Pitool. Played a mission in Il2 and had some 4!!! blackouts. The fifth did not recover and I had to shut down the game. This is getting annoying to say the least. And even more since nobody seems to have a clue whats going on. Shame because when it works, its an amazing hmd.
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What is your system specs with pitool & firmware version. Not too many report blackouts on 75hz.
My Specs, all stock clocks and default settings:
Windows 10 Home / 21H1
Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra MoBo
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
RAM 32,0 GB @ 3600
Gaineard RTX 3090
Nvidia Driver 471.68
PiTool V1.0.1.271
FW V2.1.255.294
I use the hmd only for DCS, Il2, X-Plane, AMS2 and MSFS.
I have this hmd since one week. It started with one or two blackouts a day, but now its more like every 10 minutes. I noticed also the GPU goes like 78-80 Degrees Celsius @100 % workload. Whereas it was more like 68-72 Degrees @ 80% with the 8K+. It looks like the whole hmd gets disconnected and reconnects after a view seconds.The sound plays from my external speakers for this time. The sims just plays on. If a blackout is longer than a view seconds, then the sound refuses to initialise on the hmd. I can then play along with sound from the external speakers. This tells me, that the whole unit gets disconected for a view seconds. It also seems random. Or has to do with heat or temporary overload of the DP. I will try with upscaling and see what happen then. Since my 8K+ has no such issues. I hope this is just a firmware issue and not something more serious.
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I believe the last non beta firmware for 8kX was 296.
I moved my USB ports around and it fixed the blackouts at 90hz. I noticed that on the current beta version of pitool it comes back, so I’m only using the current official release. Worked for both stock cable and fiber.
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How do I a save update the firmware to 269? Pitool says Im on the latest with 264.
@Heliosurge can you link the last non-beta? But i assume it wont work with the new drivers? Unless you just downgraded pitool and not the firmware @BoxingPanda
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