Nvidia G-Sync

G-Sync is a proprietary adaptive sync technology developed by Nvidia aimed primarily at eliminating screen tearing and the need for software alternatives such as Vsync.[1] G-Sync eliminates screen tearing by allowing a video display's refresh rate to adapt to the frame rate of the outputting device (graphics card/integrated graphics) rather than the outputting device adapting to the display, which could traditionally be refreshed halfway through the process of a frame being output by the device, resulting in screen tearing, or two or more frames being shown at once.[2] In order for a device to use G-Sync, it must contain a proprietary G-Sync module sold by Nvidia. AMD has released a similar technology for displays, called FreeSync, which has the same function as G-Sync yet is royalty-free.

Nvidia built a special collision avoidance feature to avoid the eventuality of a new frame being ready while a duplicate is being drawn on screen (something that could generate lag and/or stutter) in which case the module anticipates the refresh and waits for the next frame to be completed.[3] Overdriving pixels also becomes tricky in a non-fixed refresh scenario and solutions predicting when the next refresh is going to happen and accordingly adjusting the overdrive value must be implemented and tuned for each panel in order to avoid ghosting.[4]

Hardware

The module carries all the functional parts. It is based around an Altera Arria V GX family FPGA featuring 156K logic elements, 396 DSP blocks and 67 LVDS channels. It's produced on the TSMC 28LP process and paired with three DDR3L DRAM chips to attain a certain bandwidth, for an aggregate 768 MB capacity. The employed FPGA also features a LVDS interface to drive the monitor panel. It's meant to replace common scalers and be easily integrated by monitor manufacturers, who only have to take care of the power delivery circuit board and input connections.

GPU and system requirements

  • GPU: G-Sync features require an Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost GPU or higher.
  • Driver: R340.52 or higher.
  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris.[5]
  • System Requirement: Must support DisplayPort 1.2 directly from the GPU.[6]

Criticism

G-Sync faces some criticism due to its proprietary nature, and the fact that it's still being promoted when free alternatives exist, such as the VESA standard Adaptive-Sync which is an optional feature of DisplayPort version 1.2a.[7] While AMD's FreeSync relies on the above-mentioned optional component of DisplayPort 1.2a, G-Sync requires an Nvidia-made module in place of the usual scaler in the display in order for it to function properly with select Nvidia GeForce graphics cards, such as the ones from the Kepler microarchitecture (GTX 650 Ti Boost and later).

List of G-Sync-enabled monitors

BrandModel numberRelease yearResolutionSizeRefresh rate at native resolutionPanel Technology
Acer X34 Predator 2015 3440x1440 34 100 Hz IPS
AcerXB270H20141920x108027"144 HzTN
AcerXB270HA20141920x108027"144 HzTN
AcerXB280HK20143840x216028"60 HzTN
AcerXB281HK20153840x216028"60 HzTN
AcerXB271HK20163840x216027"60 HzIPS
AcerXB321HK20163840x216032"60 HzIPS
AcerXB240HA20151920x108024"144 HzTN
AcerXB241H20161920x108024"144 Hz (180 Hz overclocked)TN
AcerXB241YU20162560x144023.8"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)TN
AcerXB252Q20171920x108024.5"240 HzTN
AcerXB270HU20152560x144027"144 HzIPS (AHVA)
AcerXB271HU20162560x144027"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)IPS (AHVA)
AcerXB271HUA20162560x144027"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)TN
AcerXB27220171920x108027"240 HzTN
AcerX3420153440x144034"60 Hz (100 Hz overclocked)IPS
AcerZ27120161920x108027"144 HzVA
AcerZ301C20162560x108029.5"144 Hz (200 Hz overclocked)VA
AcerZ3520162560x108035"144~200 HzVA
AOCG2460PG20141920x108024"144 HzTN
AOCAG271QG20162560x144027"165 HzIPS (AHVA)
AOCAG271UG20173840x216027"60 HzIPS
AOCAG352UCG20173440x144035"100 HzVA
AsusPG348Q20163440x144034"100 HzIPS
AsusPG278Q20142560x144027"144 HzTN
AsusPG278QR20162560x144027"165 HzTN
AsusPG279Q20152560x144027"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)IPS (AHVA)
AsusPG27AQ20153840x216027"60 HzIPS
AsusPG27UQ20183840x216027"144 HzIPS (HDR)
AsusPG248Q20161920x108024"144 Hz (180 Hz overclocked)TN
AsusPG258Q20161920x108024.5"240 HzTN
BenQXL2420G20151920x108024"144 HzTN
DellAW3418DW20173440x144034"100 Hz (120 Hz overclocked)IPS
DellAW3418HW20172560x108034"144 Hz (160 Hz overclocked)IPS
DellS2716DG20162560x144027"144 HzTN
DellS2417DG20162560x144024"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)TN
HPOmen X 3520173440x144035"100 HzVA
Philips272G5DYEB20141920x108027"144 HzTN
LG32GK850G-B20172560x144032"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)VA
LG34UC89G-B20172560x108034"144 Hz (166 Hz overclocked)IPS
ViewSonicXG2703-GS20162560x144027"144 Hz (165 Hz overclocked)IPS (AHVA)

[8]

List of upcoming G-Sync-enabled monitors

BrandModel numberResolutionSizeRefresh rate at native resolutionHDRPanel Technology
AcerXB272-HDR3840x216027"144 HzYesIPS
AcerX353440×144035"200 Hz overclockedYesVA
AcerPredator BFGD3840×216065"120 Hz overclockedYes?
AOCAG273UG3840x216027"144 HzYesIPS
AOCAG273QCG2560x144027"165 HzNoTN
AOCAG353UCG3440×144035"200 Hz overclockedYesVA
AsusPG35VQ3440x144035"200 HzYesAMVA?
AsusPG653840×216065"120 Hz overclockedYes?
HPOMEN X 653840×216065"120 Hz overclockedYes?

List of G-Sync enabled desktop GPUs

Architecture
Kepler Kepler (refresh) Maxwell Pascal Volta Turing
GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost GeForce GTX 760 GeForce GTX 745 GeForce GT 1030[9] Titan V GeForce GTX 1650
GeForce GTX 660 GeForce GTX 770 GeForce GTX 750 GeForce GTX 1050 GeForce GTX 1660
GeForce GTX 660 Ti GeForce GTX 780 GeForce GTX 750 Ti GeForce GTX 1050 Ti GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
GeForce GTX 670 GeForce GTX 780 Ti GeForce GTX 950 GeForce GTX 1060 GeForce RTX 2060
GeForce GTX 680 GeForce GTX Titan GeForce GTX 960 GeForce GTX 1070 GeForce RTX 2060 Super
GeForce GTX 690 GeForce GTX Titan Black GeForce GTX 965M GeForce GTX 1070 Ti GeForce RTX 2070
GeForce GTX Titan Z GeForce GTX 970 GeForce GTX 1080 GeForce RTX 2070 Super
GeForce GTX 970M GeForce GTX 1080 Ti GeForce RTX 2080
GeForce GTX 980 Titan X GeForce RTX 2080 Super
GeForce GTX 980M Titan Xp GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
GeForce GTX 980 Ti RTX Titan
GeForce GTX Titan X

G-Sync notebook

Nvidia announced that G-Sync will be available to notebook manufacturers and that in this case, it would not require a special module since the GPU is directly connected to the display without a scaler in between. According to Nvidia, fine tuning is still possible given the fact that all notebooks of the same model will have the same LCD panel, variable overdrive will be calculated by a shader running on the GPU, and a form of frame collision avoidance will also be implemented.[4]

"Big Format" gaming displays

At CES 2018 Nvidia announced a line of large gaming monitors built by HP, Asus and Acer with 65-inch panels, 4K, HDR, as well as G-Sync support. The inclusion of G-Sync modules make the monitors among the first TV-sized displays to feature variable refresh-rates.[10]

G-Sync Compatible displays

At CES 2019 Nvidia announced that they will support variable refresh rate monitors with FreeSync technology under a new standard named G-Sync Compatible. All monitors under this new standard have been tested by Nvidia to meet their baseline requirements for variable refresh rate and will enable G-Sync automatically when used with an Nvidia GPU.[11] However, users with any Freesync monitor, including those that are not officially certified may choose to enable the G-Sync option in the Nvidia Control Panel.[12]

See also

References

  1. "Nvidia G-Sync is a smooth move for PC games". CNET. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  2. "Review: Nvidia G-Sync Makes Your PC Games Look Amazing". GameSpot. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. Scott Wasson (13 April 2015). "Trouble brewing? What happens at the edges?". The Tech Report. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  4. Mark Walton (1 Jun 2015). "Nvidia announces G-Sync for laptops, reveals low-level tech details". Arstechnica. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  5. Aaron Plattner (9 June 2014). "Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD driver 340.17 (beta)". devtalk.nvidia.com. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  6. Nvidia. "G-SYNC System Requirements". geforce.com. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  7. Scott Wasson (12 May 2014). "Adaptive-Sync added to DisplayPort spec". The Tech Report. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  8. NVIDIA. "G-SYNC-ready Monitors". geforce.com. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  9. Feb 8th, btarunr; Discuss, 2018 03:22. "NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 Sneakily Gets G-SYNC Support". TechPowerUp. Retrieved 2019-08-29.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. "The best smart TV at CES is this giant Nvidia gaming display". TechHive. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  11. "Announcing G-SYNC Compatible Monitors and BFGD Pre-Orders". www.nvidia.com. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  12. Castle, Katharine (2020-06-15). "Here's a list of all the Nvidia G-Sync Compatible monitors confirmed so far". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
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