You must have come across the term “G-Sync” many times if you are a gamer. It correlates to one of the properties of a monitor, especially monitors that have 144+ refresh rates. Indeed, you’ll only stumble upon this feature if your monitor is beyond mundane technology. It has to be the latest with all the escalated features. G-Sync is only available with Nvidia Cards. For instance, if you are an AMD fanboy, then you possibly can’t turn on the G-sync feature but have to revert to FreeSync of AMD.
In this article, we will be answering the most popular question, “is g sync worth it?” So, without any delay, let’s begin!
What’s the concept behind the use of G-sync?
Before understanding what exactly is G-sync, you need to educate yourself on V-sync. I’ll save you from the hassle of searching online. Vertical synchronization is a process that helps in aligning the refresh rate of the monitor with the GPU. The feature is mostly available in games, where you can sync all the extra FPS with the maximum potential generation of the monitor. If there are extra FPS on the screen, they will be put down to reduce stutters, freezing, and tearing.
The concept of G-sync entails the same foresight. But there’s a difference between the two. V-sync makes use of a double-buffer solution to lock the frame rate at half the monitor’s refresh rate, thus increasing the latency. On the contrary, G-sync adjusts the refresh rate with the framerate at the same time, eliminating latency.
The use of V-sync is probable on refresh rates of 60-70 Hz because the change in latency/input lag is minuscule. But when you approach monitors that use refresh rates in the range 144-240 Hz, that’s where V-sync creates horrendous problems (high latency, input lags, forceful locking down of frame rates). That’s the reason why Nvidia proposed G-sync technology.
The best possible solution was to bring in G-sync, which uses adaptive synching technology. The Adaptive sync keeps the refresh rate in sync with the inevitable framerate fluctuations. Surprisingly, the outcome didn’t have any locked away FPS. Everything was smooth and tear-free-no wonder why G-Sync monitors are taking a toll on traditional monitors. But there’s a controversy that subsides most of the advantages of having a G-sync monitor.
Let’s shed light on what’s exactly going on!
What’s the backlash with the G-sync monitors?
Expensive
For the most part, G-sync monitors are hell-bent on selling themselves away at a low cost. They are costly and usually take a toll on your budget, unlike FreeSync (another adaptive synching technology). Nvidia’s G-sync is indeed a hardware-based solution, which means that the technology relies on the GPU rather than the software itself. It allows the monitor to use VRR (variable refresh rate). Consequently, to implement such chipsets in the monitor, manufactures have to cram to produce high-end gaming monitors.
Although, when comparing a traditional monitor with the G-synch monitor, you might not come across any distinguishable features. They both look alike, but since one has G-sync enabled, it will relatively be expensive, maybe twice or thrice. Who knows!
Some G-sync monitors to look into:
- Acer predator 27-inch IPS monitor
- ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q 34-inch
- ASUS ROG Swift PG258Q 24.5-inch Gaming LED Backlit
- OMEN X Emperium 65-inch
- Acer 27-inch LCD Monitor
G-sync does not work with AMD GPU
Most of the backlash comes from here. If you have an AMD GPU and plan to use the G-sync technology with your monitor, then I’m sorry to say it’s not possible. You can only put G-sync to use if you have the Nvidia card with you.
Surprisingly, AMD’s FreeSync is more open to customization. Since it’s an open-source software-based solution, you can rely on FreeSync monitors to do the job. They are cheaper and compatible with the G-sync system as well.
In short, you can have the same high-end experience with the FreeSync monitors at a subsidized cost, as what you get on G-sync monitors.
What solution did Nvidia come up with to tackle the backlash?
People started boycotting G-sync because of the price tags and a need to upgrade from AMD to Nvidia just for the sake of using it. Nvidia had to come with a solution that possibly fixed a lot of problems. In January 2019, Nvidia made a public announcement that it would release a driver update that would make any Nvidia’s GPU compatible with the FreeSync technology. In short, now you have the option to use Nvidia cards with the AMD FreeSync monitors, without spending hundreds of dollars on G-Sync monitors.
It’s good news because the difference between G-sync and FreeSync monitors are negligible. Now without spending huge sums of money on buying G-sync monitors, you can root for cheap AMD’s FreeSync monitors to use the feature.
When are you in a dire need for G-sync technology?
The process of diagnostics is somewhat intimidating. At times, you don’t know when exactly to replace your monitor. The steps are simple, and all you have to do is follow them.
- Launch a game title (It could be any game!)
- When you are on the startup, navigate to the settings, and disable the V-sync option.
- Start the campaign mode
- If there is any visible tearing, or splicing on the screen (due to un-sync frame rates-horizontal and vertical), it means that your monitor is not auto-tuning the synchronization option.
- Exit the campaign mode, and turn yourself back to the settings.
- Turn on the V-Sync option again and notice the changes.
- If there is still tearing or splicing, you need to get a new monitor. It possibly shows that there’s something wrong with your monitor.
- If you don’t experience any stuttering after enabling the V-sync option, then perhaps you don’t need to change to G-sync or FreeSync at all. Why waste money when you can play games at a constant refresh rate!
Final words- Is NVIDIA G-Sync Worth It?
There’s no concrete answer to it. It entirely depends on the user. I can’t force you to choose your poison, because both the options (Yes and No) have their effects. For example, if you can have a seamless gaming environment with whatever monitor you have, what’s the rush to buy another! The same rules apply to the contrary option. If you are unable to handle frame rates perfectly, then yes, you need to change it.
Wait! There’s another problem.
Not many GPUs, especially Nvidia’s, can handle the G-sync option. For instance, if you consider the GTX-10 series, possibly GTX 970, you might not be able to run the G-sync option on the monitor. Since these monitors are humongous, they need a powerful card to render the graphics at a variable refresh rate. Surprisingly, the notion was brought into consideration, and now in 2021, you somewhat can render graphics at a variable refresh rate. But again, it’s not that powerful. Don’t expect a miracle to happen. There are pros and cons for using G-sync, especially on low-end GPUs.
If you have the budget for upgrading your card, you better go ahead with the plan; otherwise, stick with whatever you have if V-sync is doing its job perfectly.
Last but not least, if you are an AMD fanboy, you might consider having FreeSync more than the G-sync, which is a rational decision. No arguments!
I hope this article finds you well and helps in explaining all the minor details regarding the G-sync! If you have any queries regarding the G-sync, pitch in your comments. We will try our utmost best to help you out!
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Hey, I’m Muhammad Bilal. I’m a tech fanatic (also read: Gamer), who loves scrutinizing fine details. I aim to strive hard in my respective fields (as a writer and software programmer). Before pursuing my majors in a university (right now in A-levels), I want to spend time exploring and reviewing the latest technology.