Nvidia G-Sync
Proprietary Nvidia adaptive sync technology using a dedicated hardware module.
Nvidia's G-Sync is a proprietary technology that synchronizes a monitor's refresh rate with the frame rate of the graphics card or integrated graphics, rather than forcing the output device to match a fixed display refresh. This approach prevents screen tearing, where a monitor refreshes mid-frame and shows parts of two or more frames at once, and eliminates the need for software fixes like V-Sync. To use G-Sync, a display must include a special module sold by Nvidia. AMD offers a similar, royalty-free alternative called FreeSync.
The G-Sync module includes a collision avoidance feature to prevent lag or stutter when a new frame is ready while a duplicate is still being drawn. In that case, the module anticipates the refresh and waits for the next complete frame. Because the refresh rate is not fixed, pixel overdrive must be predicted and adjusted for each panel to avoid ghosting.
The module itself is built around an Altera Arria V GX family FPGA with 156K logic elements, 396 DSP blocks, and 67 LVDS channels, manufactured on TSMC's 28LP process. It uses three DDR3L DRAM chips for a total of 768 MB of memory. The FPGA's LVDS interface drives the monitor panel, replacing common scalers. Monitor manufacturers only need to supply the power delivery board and input connections.
Supported hardware includes Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost or higher for G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate, and GeForce 10 series (Pascal) and above for G-Sync Compatible. Drivers must be R340.52 or higher for G-Sync, and R417.71 or higher for G-Sync Compatible. The technology works on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, as well as Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris. The GPU must support DisplayPort 1.2 directly, and the monitor must connect natively via DisplayPort 1.2 or higher (1.2a for G-Sync Compatible).
Criticism focuses on G-Sync's proprietary nature, especially since free alternatives exist, such as the VESA standard Adaptive-Sync, an optional feature of DisplayPort 1.2a. While AMD's FreeSync uses that open standard, G-Sync requires Nvidia's module in place of the usual scaler. Some G-Sync Compatible monitors also work with FreeSync. The module itself has been criticized for drawing power even when the monitor is off, unlike comparable technologies.
For notebooks, Nvidia announced that G-Sync does not require a special module because the GPU connects directly to the display without a scaler.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Nvidia
- Released
- 2013-10-18
- Latest Release Version
- G-Sync Compatible (ongoing)
- Latest Release Date
- 2020-01-06
- Operating System
- BSD, Linux, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows
- Platform
- DisplayPort, HDMI
- License
- Proprietary
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
G-Sync was developed by Nvidia to eliminate screen tearing by allowing a display's refresh rate to adapt to the frame rate of the outputting device. The technology requires a proprietary G-Sync module sold by Nvidia, which replaces the common scaler in the monitor. The module is based around an Altera Arria V GX family FPGA featuring 156K logic elements, 396 DSP blocks and 67 LVDS channels, produced on the TSMC 28LP process and paired with three DDR3L DRAM chips for an aggregate 768 MB capacity. Nvidia built a special collision avoidance feature to avoid the eventuality of a new frame being ready while a duplicate is being drawn, in which case the module anticipates the refresh and waits for the next frame. Overdriving pixels also becomes tricky in a non-fixed refresh scenario, and solutions predicting when the next refresh is going to happen and accordingly adjusting the overdrive value must be implemented and tuned for each panel to avoid ghosting.
G-Sync faces criticism due to its proprietary nature and the fact that it is still being promoted when free alternatives exist, such as the VESA standard Adaptive-Sync. While AMD's FreeSync relies on the optional component of DisplayPort 1.2a, G-Sync requires an Nvidia-made module. The G-Sync module itself has also been criticized for drawing power when the monitor is switched off. At CES 2019, Nvidia announced support for variable refresh rate monitors with FreeSync technology under a new standard named G-Sync Compatible, which requires testing by Nvidia to meet baseline requirements. Unlike G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible displays are only compatible with the GTX 10-series and onwards.
Reader's Guide
G-Sync is notable as a proprietary adaptive sync technology that introduced hardware-based variable refresh rate to eliminate screen tearing, using a dedicated Nvidia module that replaces the monitor's scaler. Its significance lies in its collision avoidance feature and per-panel overdrive tuning, which aim to reduce lag and ghosting. The technology has been criticized for its proprietary nature and power draw when the monitor is off, especially compared to royalty-free alternatives like AMD's FreeSync and the VESA Adaptive-Sync standard. Nvidia later introduced G-Sync Compatible, which allows certain FreeSync monitors to work with Nvidia GPUs after testing, though this standard is limited to GeForce 10-series and newer hardware. The module's hardware, based on an Altera Arria V GX FPGA with 768 MB of DDR3L DRAM, is designed for easy integration by monitor manufacturers. G-Sync has also been extended to notebooks without requiring a special module, and to large-format gaming displays at 65 inches with 4K and HDR support. Its legacy includes both enabling smoother gaming experiences and sparking debate over proprietary vs. open standards in display technology.
Did You Know?
- The G-Sync module is based on an Altera Arria V GX family FPGA with 156K logic elements and 768 MB of DDR3L DRAM.
- G-Sync requires a DisplayPort 1.2 connection directly from the GPU, while G-Sync Compatible requires DisplayPort 1.2a.
- Nvidia announced G-Sync for notebooks without requiring a special module, using shaders on the GPU for variable overdrive.
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