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G-SYNC 101: Control Panel

Published Jun 20, 2017 by in: G-SYNC

G-SYNC Module

The G-SYNC module is a small chip that replaces the display’s standard internal scaler, and contains enough onboard memory to hold and process a single frame at a time.

The module exploits the vertical blanking interval (the span between the previous and next frame scan) to manipulate the display’s internal timings; performing G2G (gray to gray) overdrive calculations to prevent ghosting, and synchronizing the display’s refresh rate to the GPU’s render rate to eliminate tearing, along with the delayed frame delivery and adjoining stutter caused by traditional syncing methods.

G-SYNC Demo

The below Blur Busters Test UFO motion test pattern uses motion interpolation techniques to simulate the seamless framerate transitions G-SYNC provides within the refresh rate, when directly compared to standalone V-SYNC.

G-SYNC Activation

“Enable for full screen mode” (exclusive fullscreen functionality only) will automatically engage when a supported display is connected to the GPU. If G-SYNC behavior is suspect or non-functioning, untick the “Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible” box, apply, re-tick, and apply.

Blur Buster's G-SYNC 101: Control Panel

G-SYNC Windowed Mode

“Enable for windowed and full screen mode” allows G-SYNC support for windowed and borderless windowed mode. This option was introduced in a 2015 driver update, and by manipulating the DWM (Desktop Windows Manager) framebuffer, enables G-SYNC’s VRR (variable refresh rate) to synchronize to the focused window’s render rate; unfocused windows remain at the desktop’s fixed refresh rate until focused on.

G-SYNC only functions on one window at a time, and thus any unfocused window that contains moving content will appear to stutter or slow down, a reason why a variety of non-gaming applications (popular web browsers among them) include predefined Nvidia profiles that disable G-SYNC support.

Note: this setting may require a game or system restart after application; the “G-SYNC Indicator” (Nvidia Control Panel > Display > G-SYNC Indicator) can be enabled to verify it is working as intended.

G-SYNC Preferred Refresh Rate

“Highest available” automatically engages when G-SYNC is enabled, and overrides the in-game refresh rate selector (if present), defaulting to the highest supported refresh rate of the display. This is useful for games that don’t include a selector, and ensures the display’s native refresh rate is utilized.

“Application-controlled” adheres to the desktop’s current refresh rate, or defers control to games that contain a refresh rate selector.

Note: this setting only applies to games being run in exclusive fullscreen mode. For games being run in borderless or windowed mode, the desktop dictates the refresh rate.

G-SYNC & V-SYNC

G-SYNC (GPU Synchronization) works on the same principle as double buffer V-SYNC; buffer A begins to render frame A, and upon completion, scans it to the display. Meanwhile, as buffer A finishes scanning its first frame, buffer B begins to render frame B, and upon completion, scans it to the display, repeat.

The primary difference between G-SYNC and V-SYNC is the method in which rendered frames are synchronized. With V-SYNC, the GPU’s render rate is synchronized to the fixed refresh rate of the display. With G-SYNC, the display’s VRR (variable refresh rate) is synchronized to the GPU’s render rate.

Upon its release, G-SYNC’s ability to fall back on fixed refresh rate V-SYNC behavior when exceeding the maximum refresh rate of the display was built-in and non-optional. A 2015 driver update later exposed the option.

This update led to recurring confusion, creating a misconception that G-SYNC and V-SYNC are entirely separate options. However, with G-SYNC enabled, the “Vertical sync” option in the control panel no longer acts as V-SYNC, and actually dictates whether, one, the G-SYNC module compensates for frametime variances output by the system (which prevents tearing at all times. G-SYNC + V-SYNC “Off” disables this behavior; see G-SYNC 101: Range), and two, whether G-SYNC falls back on fixed refresh rate V-SYNC behavior; if V-SYNC is “On,” G-SYNC will revert to V-SYNC behavior above its range, if V-SYNC is “Off,” G-SYNC will disable above its range, and tearing will begin display wide.

Within its range, G-SYNC is the only syncing method active, no matter the V-SYNC “On” or “Off” setting.

Currently, when G-SYNC is enabled, the control panel’s “Vertical sync” entry is automatically engaged to “Use the 3D application setting,” which defers V-SYNC fallback behavior and frametime compensation control to the in-game V-SYNC option. This can be manually overridden by changing the “Vertical sync” entry in the control panel to “Off,” “On,” or “Fast.”

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3751 Comments For “G-SYNC 101”

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Rbk_3
Member
Rbk_3

Is this -3 the same for Gsync Compatible monitors? I notice on Battlenonense video he was capping to 138fps in a 144hz monitor while when he was doing input lag tests on a Gsync compatible monitor while on a Gsync monitor he was capping at 142fps.

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5 years 17 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

It’s a minimum -3 FPS limit recommendation, and yes, it is applicable to official G-SYNC Compatible monitors as well.

As for why Battle(non)sense opted for a lower 138 FPS limit, he’s just being super safe.

It can also depend on the limiter in use and its frametime performance; limiters such as RTSS can typically safely be capped to as little as -2 FPS without exceeding the G-SYNC range, whereas some in-game limiters may need below -3 to achieve the same.

Regardless, the blanket minimum -3 FPS limit should be safe enough for most situations, but anything below that is perfectly acceptable as well, and may depend on the given system, game, and user preferences.

Like2Vote Down 
5 years 17 days ago
NoobChester
Member
NoobChester

Since RTSS introduces 1 frame of delay compared to an in-game frame cap, does the delay still appear if I set the in-game cap 1 frame below RTSS.
For example, RTSS @141 and In-game @140
Thanks!

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5 years 19 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

That depends on the in-game limiter’s frametime performance; if it’s like most in-game limiters, then at only 1 FPS below the RTSS limit, the in-game limiter’s frametime performance will likely cause it to rapidly bounce between the two solutions.

For that (and similar reasons), it is generally recommended to set one limiting method at a time.

Like1Vote Down 
5 years 19 days ago
nikoisconfused
Member
nikoisconfused

Hello! I have a pretty strange question i guess. Let’s say im playing a more demanding game and im not able to reach those 144FPS , maybe it’s in the 60-80 range, (The game looks and feels so jittery that it feels like playing at 30 fps instead of 60, even with G-sync enabled). Is it normal to see that much of a difference between 144 and 80FPS?, because i do :D. I may’ve understood the functionality of g-sync wrong at first. It’s going to prevent tears but it can’t make lower framerates feel smoother, is that right?

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5 years 20 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

Correct, G-SYNC prevents V-SYNC-induced stutter and tearing, and can, to a point, smooth frame delivery within its range by avoiding framerate/refresh rate mismatch, but it cannot make 40Hz feel like 80Hz, or 80Hz feel like 144Hz, and so on.

Like1Vote Down 
5 years 19 days ago
BlackStorm82
Member
BlackStorm82

First of all, thank you. God of knowledge.

I got a lot of knowledge here first.
I also learned that the only difference between nvidia LLM ultra and on is the frame limit.

But I have a question.

Why did nvidia announce in the official presentation that if LLM mode is used as ultra, inputlag will be less than on?
Did you announce the result including frame restriction?

And I haven’t quite understood that it works best between 60-100 frames.

Like0Vote Down 
5 years 22 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

Why did nvidia announce in the official presentation that if LLM mode is used as ultra, inputlag will be less than on?

I believe Nvidia’s original results were in non-G-SYNC scenarios at lower refresh rates. There’s less of a difference with G-SYNC + higher refresh rates when using LLM.

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5 years 21 days ago
BlackStorm82
Member
BlackStorm82

Is it correct to think that the test results presented in the presentation are materials for presentation that do not properly disclose the experimental process?

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5 years 18 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

This is the original article announcing ULLM:
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/news/gamescom-2019-game-ready-driver/

With the release of our Gamescom Game Ready Driver, we’re introducing a new Ultra-Low Latency Mode that enables ‘just in time’ frame scheduling, submitting frames to be rendered just before the GPU needs them. This further reduces latency by up to 33%:

comment image

Part of the fine print in that graph states “Resolution at 3840×2160, at typical 60FPS settings.”

Nvidia goes on to say:

Low Latency modes have the most impact when your game is GPU bound, and framerates are between 60 and 100 FPS, enabling you to get the responsiveness of high-framerate gaming without having to decrease graphical fidelity.

To select a Low Latency mode, open the NVIDIA Control Panel, head to “Manage 3D Settings”, and scroll down to “Low Latency Mode”. Three options are available:

– Off: The game’s engine will automatically queue 1-3 frames for maximum render throughput
– On: Limits the number of queued frames to 1. This is the same setting as “Max_Prerendered_Frames = 1” from prior drivers
– Ultra: Submits the frame just in time for the GPU to pick it up and start rendering

To sum-up, LLM primarily only works to reduce input lag in supported games that are GPU-bound. As for why “Ultra” has lower input lag than “On” in those scenarios, it’s because it submits frames “just-in-time.”

However, as far as is know, this only applies to non-G-SYNC scenarios, as G-SYNC already delivers frames “just-in-time.”

As such, but for the auto FPS limit, “Ultra” and “On” are functionally the same when used with G-SYNC.

Like2Vote Down 
5 years 17 days ago
BlackStorm82
Member
BlackStorm82

For non-G-SYNC monitors, LLM ON is “1” and LLM ULTRA is “just-in-time”.

if so
Is it correct that ULTRA is slightly faster than ON which is “1” on a NON GSYNC monitor?
80FPS – GPU 99% – LLM ON
80FPS – GPU 99% – LLM ULTRA

In this situation, is ULTRA better? I’m sorry it’s not a G-Sync Monitor question.

Like0Vote Down 
5 years 15 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

Have you seen this video?
https://youtu.be/7CKnJ5ujL_Q

Like1Vote Down 
5 years 15 days ago
BlackStorm82
Member
BlackStorm82

Oh, thank you. I saw it, but I needed a solid knowledge.LLM은 Even if you don’t have a G-Sync monitor, you need 99%!That’s right.

Thanks once again.

Like1Vote Down 
5 years 12 days ago
crudo
Member
crudo

Hey, since my PC is not strong enough for more than 60 stable fps in warzone, I limited the FPS to 60.
Is that the right way or should i disable FPS limiter because it would’t ever reach the 144 fps anyway?

Like0Vote Down 
5 years 23 days ago
jorimt
Author
jorimt

As long as your framerate is at least ~3 FPS within your current max refresh rate, your system will remain within the G-SYNC range.

But even if your system can’t reach over 60 FPS in gameplay at 144Hz, it doesn’t mean the framerate won’t exceed the refresh rate in certain menus, or in less demanding scenes (such as looking up into the sky, into the ground, etc), so a ~60 FPS limit can still be potentially beneficial in preventing the framerate from exceeding the refresh rate in such instances.

But ultimately, yes, it is optional in your particular scenario.

Like2Vote Down 
5 years 23 days ago
wpDiscuz

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