Is G-sync necessary for my PC?

[Umbrella_Corp74]

I heard some people say G-sync isn't necessary to use if your PC is powerful enough to run games smoothly already. Is this true?

I have a pretty solid build. Gtx 1080ti, 32 gb ram, ryzen 7 1700.

[Electric Cupcake]

It's unfree trash. Use AMD Freesync.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Most FreeSync Monitors can be used as GSync, due to driver changes in the past year which allows this.

[Umbrella_Corp74]

Originally posted by Hugsie Muffinball:

It's unfree trash. Use AMD Freesync.

What are the benefits of amd free sync over G-sync?

[Azza ☠]

A G-SYNC module is highly recommended, depending on your graphics card vs monitor resolution and refresh rate.

If you have a very high refresh rate or resolution, a Nvidia graphics card can't max out, then it will give you a much better future proofing and smoother experience. So don't bother with G-SYNC on a 60Hz monitor, but rather get G-SYNC for 120Hz, 144Hz or 165Hz, etc. It will then support 30 up to the max refresh rate and everything in between.

Compared to Free Sync, G-SYNC is a lot better. Free Sync is based upon a cable two-way transfer. On the other hand, G-SYNC is a chipset inside the monitor which syncs the monitor's refresh rate to that of what the graphics card FPS outputs.

FreeSYNC isn't AMD, but rather free for anyone to use. Nvidia just didn't bother with it early on, because the module was deemed better. Only downside is the price tag costs more. A real G-SYNC module (not just compatible) can add up to $500 extra on the monitor cost (that's for the G-SYNC HDR also known as G-SYNC Ultimate - which supports butter smooth 4K HDR).

Keeping the sync, prevents screen tearing (multiple frames attempting to be displayed at the same time) or stuttering (delays waiting on the next frame).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT8f_1oRsLU

[Grimy_RIck]

Originally posted by Umbrella_Corp74:

Originally posted by Hugsie Muffinball:

It's unfree trash. Use AMD Freesync.

What are the benefits of amd free sync over G-sync?

There is no benefit, unless you count price as a benefit rather than a barrier.

[_I_]

they do the same thing slightly different methods
lower refresh rate to match gpu output

if the gpu and cpu can hold fps higher than refresh rate, gsync and freesync are both pointless

they were designed for lower performing cpu/gpu or high refresh rate displays

[nullable]

Originally posted by Umbrella_Corp74:

Originally posted by Hugsie Muffinball:

It's unfree trash. Use AMD Freesync.

What are the benefits of amd free sync over G-sync?

AMD FreeSync is not actually an AMD technology, it's just their branding for VESA Adaptive Sync which is an open standard any monitor manufacturer can support and AMD has supported in their drivers for years.

For reasons Nvidia elected to implement a proprietary adaptive sync technology they called Gsync, and not support VESA AdaptiveSync. G-Sync involved the manufacturer building in a extra bit of G-Sync hardware into the monitor. This typically increased the cost of the monitor by $100.

Now Nvidia supports VESA AdaptiveSync just like AMD does. AMD called their support FreeSync, and Nvidia confusingly decide to call their support G-Sync, which has a bit of an issue because it's already being used to represent the previous proprietary technology.

So if we're talking proprietary original recipe G-Sync vs FreeSync, FreeSync is typically cheaper because it just entails driver support to utilize a standard monitor feature.

If we're talking G-Sync vs FreeSync where both are just implementations of VESA AdaptiveSync, there isn't a difference unless you can demonstrate some differences in driver support that is better.

[Stead]

since buying a gsync monitor I haven't looked back, as long as its over 40fps it always 'feels' smooth

Can't say if free sync is the same as I haven't used it personally, but there is a difference with gsync on or off, like most things once you've tried it, you really miss it when you don't have it!

[nullable]

I don't think adaptive sync kicks in until you hit 60FPS. Because you don't want the refresh rate of the monitor to be in the 30's or 40's after all... that's where vsync comes in I believe.

[_I_]

adaptive turns vsync on/off
on at or above refresh rate
off when below

[Snow]

Originally posted by Brockenstein:

I don't think adaptive sync kicks in until you hit 60FPS. Because you don't want the refresh rate of the monitor to be in the 30's or 40's after all... that's where vsync comes in I believe.

G-Sync definitely can work at 30s and 40s, it will just run twice the refresh rate if the monitor can't go that low. Not sure why you mentioned VSync - it works at any fps, but results in stutters if fps and refresh rate are mismatched, which is the exact reason of G-Sync existence.

[vadim]

Originally posted by Umbrella_Corp74:

What are the benefits of amd free sync over G-sync?

G-Sync is more advanced technology. It implemented on hardware level instead of software Freesync.

[h_LordEC[no-VC]]

Dang some of you didn't do your homework.

AMD worked with scaler manufacturers to implement adaptive sync and other advanced features into the scaler, aka hardware. This is why it took a bit longer for Freesync compatible monitors to hit the market, but the outcome is Freesync is much more widespread and typically much cheaper than a similar G-sync monitor.

On the flipside, Nvidia went the proprietary route which entails the G-sync module which contains a FPGA. These need to be hand tuned for each display, which is why it takes so long to create a new monitor and why it is so much more expensive.

The conclusion is both are very similar to each other overall, with possibly some very slight differences in feature-set..

The higher end Nvidia stuff is almost always a very good option while a basic "Freesync" display has a bit more variance, depending on the specific implementation/display used, but it you did your research you could easily find a comparable or better Freesync display for $200-$400 less than a G-Sync display.

Now AMD has a certification process, much like G-Sync, that makes it much easier to figure out what features are available on a specific display.

[AustrAlien2010]

No software requires it. It´s not needed.