Fixing Artifacting Issues in Chrome: A Guide for NVIDIA Users

Experiencing strange visual glitches or artifacting only when using Google Chrome and other Chromium-based applications like Steam and Discord can be incredibly frustrating. You might even suspect your graphics card is failing! However, before you rush to return your hardware, it's worth exploring a simple software-level fix.

This article delves into a common cause of artifacting in Chrome specifically related to NVIDIA drivers and provides a step-by-step solution to resolve this annoying issue.

The NVIDIA Driver and Chrome Compatibility Problem

Many users have reported that recent NVIDIA driver updates sometimes clash with Chrome and other Chromium-based apps. This incompatibility manifests as visual artifacting, which can include:

• Flickering textures
• Distorted images
• Strange color patterns
• Other visual anomalies

The good news is, these issues can often be resolved without having to replace any hardware.

The OpenGL Solution: Changing Chrome's Rendering Settings

One effective workaround involves changing the graphics rendering backend that Chrome utilizes. By default, Chrome automatically selects the rendering backend, but you can manually override this setting. Here's how to switch to OpenGL:

1. Open Chrome Flags: In your Chrome address bar, type chrome://flags and press Enter. This will take you to Chrome's experimental features page.
2. Search for ANGLE: In the search bar at the top of the chrome://flags page, type "ANGLE graphics backend."
3. Change the Setting: You'll see a dropdown menu next to "Choose ANGLE graphics backend." Click the dropdown and select "OpenGL."
4. Restart Chrome: At the bottom of the page, a prompt will appear asking you to relaunch Chrome. Click the "Relaunch" button to apply the changes.
5. Test: Open Chrome and check that you're not seeing any more artifacting.

By default, Chrome uses Direct X for rendering the contents of what you are seeing. Switching over to OpenGL can resolve any rendering issues you may be experiencing.

What if OpenGL Doesn't Work?

While OpenGL works for many users, some have reported better results with other rendering options. If OpenGL doesn't solve the artifacting issue, return to the chrome://flags page and try the following alternatives:

• D3D9: This forces Chrome to use Direct3D 9 for rendering.
• D3D11: This option utilizes Direct3D 11.
• D3D11on12: This is another DirectX-based renderer; the newest of the DirectX options.
• Vulkan: A cross-platform API for 3D graphics, this option may also be useful.

Remember to relaunch Chrome after each change to test the results.

Rolling Back NVIDIA Drivers

If changing the rendering backend doesn't resolve the artifacting, another solution is to revert to an older version of your NVIDIA drivers. Driver issues often cause problems with specific applications, and rolling back to a previously stable version can eliminate those issues.

1. Identify Driver Version: Determine the version of the NVIDIA driver currently installed on your system.
2. Download Older Driver: Visit the NVIDIA Driver Downloads page and search for a driver version that was released a few months prior to when you started experiencing the artifacting.
3. Install the Driver: Follow the on-screen prompts to install the older driver. It's recommended to perform a "clean installation" to ensure that all components of the previous driver are removed.

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

If you're still experiencing artifacting after trying these solutions, consider the following:

• Check for Chrome Updates: Ensure you're running the latest version of Chrome. Outdated versions can sometimes have compatibility issues.
• Disable Hardware Acceleration: In Chrome settings, search for "hardware acceleration" and disable it. While this can reduce performance, it can also eliminate artifacting caused by GPU-related issues.
• Monitor GPU Temperatures: Use monitoring software to check your GPU temperature. Overheating can cause artifacting.
• Check your GPU Drivers: Ensure that your GPU drivers are up to date.
• Test Other Browsers: See if the artifacting occurs in other browsers (e.g., Firefox, Edge). If it doesn't, the issue is likely specific to Chrome.
• Contact NVIDIA Support: If all else fails, contact NVIDIA support for further assistance.

Conclusion

Artifacting in Chrome can be a distressing issue, but it's often caused by driver incompatibilities rather than hardware failure. By adjusting Chrome's rendering settings or rolling back your NVIDIA drivers, you can often resolve the problem and get back to smooth, artifact-free browsing. Remember to test different solutions and consult online resources if you're still experiencing issues.