8Kx at 90Hz was strobing, reflash semi-bricks it

[Tijgert]

I’m having an issue with my 8Kx SMAS regarding 90Hz operation, maybe I can find some help here.

I bought my HMD from a friend, 2075 serial, still in warranty and it came with Fw M299 installed.
PiTool 277 is what I use, with the .86 Experience Beta.
I’m playing on an MSI GE76 laptop with an RTX3080 GPU inside on 517.48 drivers through a Mini DP → DP dongle.
It works fine at 75Hz native and 110Hz upscaled though there’s some jitter sometimes for unknown reason. (using 2 Vive 2.0 base stations in opposite high corners, 4m apart)
I was unable to use it properly at 90Hz, it was a strobe fest with 1 sec intervals (very slow strobe…).

So, I scoured the nets and found some people who suffered the same problem and what they tried to fix it. I read they tried a number of firmwares and for most that worked, but not for me.

I eventually tried all of these below, but not in this order.
P2_8KX_M298_EngineerTest.dfu
P2_DEBUG_8KX_M299_t20210922093913_r6066b70.dfu
P2_DEBUG_8KX_M299_t20211101115020_r85cdd55_forEnableHDCP.dfu
P2_DEBUG_8KX_N7_0_M299_t20211203180915_rc879f9b_90only.dfu
P2_DEBUG_M271_t20210517163238_r3adb83c.dfu
P2_RELEASE_8KX_90HZ_Beta.dfu
P2_RELEASE_8KX_M295_t20201124172637_r0cf81b2.dfu
P2_RELEASE_8KX_M296.dfu
P2_RELEASE_8KX_M299_20211011.dfu
P2_RELEASE_8KX_M299_t20210922093742_r6066b70.dfu

None of them fixed my problem but instead made it even worse. Now I have no 90Hz at all because the HMD led turns white (or yellow) when I select 90Hz and it is stuck there permanently until I flash the savior Fw M296 that just takes away the 90Hz option and forces the HMD in 75Hz mode.

With each firmware that I flash after M296 it works on 75Hz initially, but as soon as I select 90Hz the HMD led turns white and stays that way and PiTool gives error 10934 which means it can’t see the HMD, removes the settings for the HMD and thus I can’t switch off 90Hz. Resetting doesn’t work. The only way out is to flash M296 again to force it in 75Hz mode and make it work again. I did not try to remove PiTool and reinstall, though it too might reset it to 75Hz, but the problem remains.
So I went from strobing at 90Hz to HMD not detected at 90Hz and non functional until I reflash. Decidingly worse. I’m now running M296, at least it gives me 75Hz and 114Hz upscale.

I did not try any other PiTool versions, though I found up to 281 (not sure what that is really, beta?).
Obviously there are hundreds of driver, PiTool and firmware combo’s to be made, but I have only so many hours in my lifetime.
I haven’t contacted Pimax Support yet, thought I’d try my luck here first.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

[MeinFroschtrinkt]

sounds a little stupid, but after flashing the firmware sucessful , disconnect your hmd and restart your computer, start pitool into guide after that it usually finds the device.

if 75 hz is no problem and 90 Hz is this may be your hardware.
Did you try it on a Desktop pc ? laptop gpus are more limitied in basically anything, compared to a desktop cards with the same number.
You may already know that, but this is something, i just do not know.You seem to be knowing the device.

Are you using the copper or fibre cable ?
On my end it helped a lot in quality to change the cable to a fibre cable.

i suggest to use pitool.
It is more reliable atm or at least on my end.

do you own fpsvr ? this also helps to see a little more in setting up stuff

[hammerhead_gal]

Hello,

You may first try to tips provided from the community.
If it doesn’t resolve the issue, we suggest you to log a ticket at our helpdesk.
Our technician is ready to provide assistance to you.

Sincerely.