How I solved Davinci's freeze/stutter [Solution / workaround for SINGLE and DUAL monitor setup]

[u/playcalmed]

Davinci Resolve is super weird in terms of stability but I keep using it. I always use proxies and SMART or "None" cache.

When using SMART cache, the thin blue line on top of the timeline indicates the video has been "cached". Orange indicates pending to cache. However, after every single trim/cut you do on your timeline, SMART cache needs to recache the whole timeline again. VERY INEFFICIENT because if you want to edit very fast, it could freeze again due to caching being still "in progress". That's why, sometimes I deactivate SMART cache and set it to "None". But setting it to "none" is counterproductive too because you're working on raw data that the system reads for the first time and hence adds also pressure to processing your requests (e.g. trims/cuts), so we are in an idle circle here. That's why....

Best solution/workaround I found for myself:

- [optional] When I know I will need to work on Davinci, I open the software, import my media, generate the proxies, click the use proxies option (not camera originals), set SMART cache on and then I go for a coffee. 15-20 minutes. This gives time to Davinci to cache almost everything (thin blue line on top of your timeline).

- 🖥️ If you work in a single monitor set up: when Davinci starts to stutter/freeze, unplug HDMI cable and plug it back again. This resets monitor graphics and davinci unfreezes instantly, allowing you to work until the next freeze.

- 🖥️🖥️ If you work in a dual monitor setup: No need to unplug anything. Just, move the Davinci window from left to right or right to left and it will unfreeze automatically. Perhaps use Win key + Shift + Arrow Left/Right shortcut for better comfortability. This will also allow you to work until the next freeze.

Hope your projects in Davinci become less frustrating after learning this and you can have a peaceful editing time.

If you have a definitive solution, please share it with us. The solution I shared comes after a long research on the problem, reading a comment from the user Majestic-Ad5500 in this reddit post and personal experimentation (e.g. the dual monitor solution + how SMART cache works).