G-SYNC 101: Control Panel


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.”



3032 Comments For “G-SYNC 101”

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ZaDDy StEvO
Member
ZaDDy StEvO

For the best system latency performance using GSYNC for no screen tears with Reflex, should the setup be GSYNC + VSYNC + Reflex + No FPS Cap, or add an FPS Cap under what Reflex auto caps under monitors refresh rate?

IAm2Epic4This
Member
IAm2Epic4This

Is this advice for specific programs using the “Program Settings” or for the entire system using the “Global Settings” tab of the NVCP? Is there a downside to setting this up using the optimal g-sync settings section system wide? Sorry if it is a dumb question but I don’t know if it has any impact one way or the other and it wasn’t clear to me. Appreciate the guide, it is really helpful!

CG2X
Member
CG2X

Say I have a 144hz GSYNC monitor, gsync and vsync are enabled in nvcp, and I can only reach 80 fps consistently in this game, should I set the maximum fps to 141 or to 80 to get the best tear-free experience with minimum input lag?

Glarbstintenford
Member
Glarbstintenford

In NVCPL it suggests that using Ultra low latency mode minimizes input latency when both G-Sync + V-Sync is enabled.

I was curious if they mean having NVCPL V-sync set to “on” or the in-game V-sync set to “on” or both set to “on”?

Also curious how ‘minimal’ the input latency is compared to using G-Sync on + in-game V-Sync set to “off” + NVCPL V-Sync set to “on”?

Achilles68
Member
Achilles68

Hi!

I switched out my HDMI cable for a USB-C to DP cable to enable gsync on the 144hz screen connected to my laptop.
This also revealed all the other NVCP features laptops usually don’t have. Immediately I went to enable vsync + low latency mode.

However I could only choose between ‘off’ and ‘ultra’ for the latter. I put it on ultra and went ingame to see if things work. I got a big stutter every few seconds, it was really unplayable.

Therefore my question: Do I leave it off and set an ingame fps limiter at 141fps? Will this have the same results as LLM ‘on’ + vsync?

Bonus: Is there any way to make ‘on’ appear again?

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