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.”



3195 Comments For “G-SYNC 101”

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User
Member
User

Hello,

I’ll provide my settings and I’ll explain why I use these settings, then you’ll let me know what you think.

So..

Control Panel (Global):
GSYNC tab: Use for fullscreen
3D tab:
Low Latency Mode: On (reduces input latency especially if you have to play on a lower refresh rate eg. GTA 5 (60HZ) + reduces render queue)
Preferred Refresh Rate (*monitor*): Application-controlled (reduces VRR flickering, Highest available has issues, causing stutter in games,)

In-Game:

API:
for Vulkan:

VSync: Off (tested in emulation (RPCS3), RDR2 and in other games)
Reflex and FPS limit depends on the game and how it runs..

for DirectX:

VSync: On (tested in Witcher 3, Battlefield 1, Last of Us Part 1 and in other games)
Reflex and FPS limit applies as above (how the game is and how it runs..)

Power settings: Should remain on default for both CPU and GPU (only need to install the drivers (eg. AMD power plan from AMD chipset driver)

Lastly, If you set an FPS limiter, you shouldn’t do it Globally, cause its causing slowdown/stutter in stream or video playback when played in fullscreen (eg. Twitch stream being watched in fullscreen), therefore set it only for the game or app.

shakey1981
Member
shakey1981

getting a 4070 ti need some advice

do i leave setting as they are which as as follows

gysnc enabled

use the frame limter in nvidia control panel with inside monitors refresh rate of 144hz currently have it set to 140hz (global limit)
all ingame litmters set to unlimted (thinking that unlimted means there is no in game limiter)

prefered refresh highest availble

Potemkin
Member
Potemkin

Hello, I encountered this problem while playing World of Warcraft. The game does not have a full-screen mode, only a full-screen window. The mouse cursor in the game moves at the same refresh rate as the game itself (this was not the case on the old monitor with the built-in g-sync processor). While moving in the game, some kind of grid appears on the game textures (I guess you can call it an artifact). It feels like this effect appears at a frequency below 100 fps (usually below 100 fps in the city). On the old monitor with the chip, I did not enable the g-sync function in the nvidia panel, and when I did, the same artifacts appeared only in the entire range and everywhere. In my nvidia settings, the frame limit is set to -3, v-sync is enabled, g-sync is enabled in full-screen and windowed mode. Reflex is enabled in the game without boost, triple buffering and v-sync are disabled, the frame limit is disabled. High performance is set in Windows. Is it possible to achieve that I can play with a smooth mouse cursor (177 fps) and without grid artifacts? This really annoys me, I think the problem is that the game does not have a true fullscreen mode. I don’t think there is any way to get rid of it. In other games everything is fine. Sorry for my google translate.

gangz
Member
gangz

hi, so i have a problem in which my monitor (144hz, G-sync compatible and freesync) gets stuck, my taskbar disappears and i can only open smth on my 2nd monitor(60Hz) in this case task manager and bring on the 1st monitor and pray it will come back, i am using msi afterburner and rivatuner to cap frames (141) to be in the range of the g-sync and also i’ve switched from v-sync on to fast and since then i think it started doing this but my games run smoother with it on fast cause if i have it on my game no matter which one will feel choppy under 100-90fps like i would have 30 fps and i dont know why is that, can i get some help please?

BanTheRobot
Member
BanTheRobot

Did something recently change? I have a 240hz 4K monitor, when I set V-Sync on inside NCP with V-Sync off in game, my FPS gets capped at 120hz. Any ideas? I dont have anything else capping it, if I disable V-Sync in NCP my FPS returns to normal.

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