NVIDIA announces G-SYNC technology for smoother gaming experience

If you’re a PC gamer (or just a geek in general), you may have heard of the term V-sync. It works by delaying the image frame update until the vertical blanking interval of the display, so that there is no overlapping of frames that leads to screen tearing. While this does eliminate screen tearing, it causes performance issues with low framerate and a jerky mouse response. This leads to most people choosing to keep it disabled to get higher framerate and response at reduced visual quality.

The problem today is that LCD monitors usually have a fixed panel refresh rate of 60Hz and unless the GPU is attaining anything other than 60fps, the result is less than ideal performance. Current V-sync technology makes the GPU run through hoops to match its speed with the display’s refresh rate. This is where NVIDIA’s G-SYNC comes in.

Unlike V-Sync, G-SYNC works by having a variable display refresh rate. Here, instead of delaying frames to match the display’s refresh rate, the display itself alters its refresh rate to whatever the GPU is sending (there is obviously a lower and higher limit to what the refresh rate can be for any given monitor). This means that the display is always in lockstep with the GPU, refreshing only when a new frame is sent. This perfect synchronization results in extremely smooth graphics, even if you are not exactly playing at insane framerates, with no visual artifacts.

For G-SYNC to work, first of all you need a monitor with variable refresh rate. Secondly, you need the dedicated G-SYNC module connected to the monitor that works in tandem with your GPU. And lastly, you need a Kepler based GPU (GTX 650 Ti Boost and above). Currently, only the ASUS VG248QE monitor supports the G-SYNC module. The module would be available later this year for around $175. The module will eventually be available other for other monitors and you will also be able to purchase monitors with it built-in.

The cost of a special monitor, the module and a fairly powerful GPU will likely be quite steep so only the most hardcore gamers with deep pockets would want to consider this initially. But from what I’ve read so far the technology actually works, and works brilliantly. If you’re the sort of gamer who’d pay top dollar for the best visual experience, G-SYNC should be on top of your Christmas list.

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