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.”



3028 Comments For “G-SYNC 101”

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fowteen
Member
fowteen

So I am pretty new to all of this adaptive sync stuff so I would appreciate if you could help me figure some things out. So do you recommend to have both vsync and freesync on at the same time so when the fps goes under the freesync range in rare occasions, vsync kicks in so you don’t have any screen tearing at all because when freesync is active vsync is not active as I understand so that is the only reason for using vsync alongside freesync correct? Sorry if I don’t understand something correctly, just trying to figure all of this out a bit at a time.

Roy4423
Member
Roy4423

So I have a RTX 2080 ti and a i9 9900K on a Alienware AW3418WD 34 inch 120 hz moitor. Only a few games I play I feel is a smooth experience. My monitor is overclocked to 120 hz (100 native). I’ve tried all these settings and constantly get lag spikes. Is there something I’m doing wrong? I have RTSS capped at 117 fps. My framerate jumps up and down constantly.

Thanks

Boga
Member
Boga

So I’ve read everything. I just got a G-Sync compatible monitor (AOC 24G2u) that has G-Sync range from 60hz to 144hz.

I would know what settings you recommend for:
– 60 FPS games (console emulation or indie games);
– Games that my average fps are around 180-240 fps (higher than max refresh rate, but less than the double of refresh rate; I believe that it will be G-Sync + VSync from what I read);
– Games that I reach more the double of my monitor refresh rate (like osu! and CS:GO; I believe it will be no sync).

Thanks for your support!

BlackStorm82
Member
BlackStorm82

Thank you. God of knowledge.

Even at the same 144fps, is the screen 240Hz smoother than the 144hz monitor?

Even at the same 144fps, is the screen 240Hz lower in input than the 144hz monitor?

Nsnake771
Member
Nsnake771

If the game I’m playing never reach or exceeds the maximum refresh rate of my monitor (144hz), should I still lock the frame rate to 141fps ? For example when playing the division 2 the highest fps i get is around 120, is there still some latency benefits by locking the fps to minus 3 under the limit ?

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