If you are looking to purchase a new monitor, then the question of which one is better – FreeSync vs G-Sync – needs to be answered. Both variable refresh technologies have their pros and cons, but what does that mean for your experience?
We will go over some of the key differences between these two technologies so that you can make an informed decision.
What is FreeSync?
FreeSync is a technology that improves the fluidity of gameplay by reducing the screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag that occur during gaming.
It’s been around for a few years now, but it is only currently available in laptops as a discrete graphics card. Freesync on an Intel chip became possible with new driver updates from AMD and Microsoft when Windows Central reported about this discovery earlier this month.
Ideally, FreeSync should work seamlessly across all devices: desktop monitors, notebooks, and even tablets running either Windows or Android OS where games will have access to your hardware without needing any additional software support from developers to make them compatible with freesync technology. This is not the case yet though because there are still some hurdles that need to be tackled before freesync becomes a ubiquitous standard.
The first problem is that FreeSync will only work for the most part on AMD-based hardware, which means you’ll either need to invest in an Xbox One X or a newer console from Sony and Microsoft if you want free sync without getting into PC gaming territory too much.
The second issue is with video content: while Netflix supports adaptive refresh rates (though not specifically freesync) it doesn't currently support all of them--including Freesync's low framerate compensation feature that fixes juddering footage when your monitor can no longer keep up with high frame rates.
What is G-sync?
G Sync is a built-in feature in many recent Nvidia graphics cards.
It synchronizes frame rates with refresh rates of your monitor to provide smoother gameplay and prevent screen tearing or stuttering without adding input lag, which is the amount of time it takes for a game controller's input to show up on the TV or computer monitor you're using.
This technology requires that both your PC and display are compatible, which can be difficult if your display doesn't have a DisplayPort connector — most new displays use HDMI instead. However, even when this is the case, there are adapters available for purchase that will allow you to connect an HDMI cable from an NVIDIA Geforce GTX 600 series card (or higher) into a DVI port on your monitor - just be sure to research the specifications of your monitor first.
What are the benefits of FreeSync?
There are a lot of benefits of freesync. Here are some of them:
Freesync is compatible with all monitors and graphics cards, so it doesn't require any extra investment.
FreeSync will work on a wide range of devices running Windows or Linux operating systems providing you have an AMD GPU that supports the freesync standard.
It provides an adaptive refresh rate for both full-screen applications and in games giving smoother gameplay. These benefits come at no cost to other system resources like CPU usage, frame rates, or frames per second which maintains maximum performance while using freesync. There's also virtually no input lag between mouse movements and onscreen response time because of the monitor's ability to sync its refresh rate with the game engine eliminating juddering as well.
The more you use freesync, the less input lag will be experienced on your screen which is important for competitive gamers as they'll feel a greater sense of control with their game character and have smoother response times to any action taken by the player.
FreeSync monitors are also made using high-quality components like Samsung's SVA panels that produce stunning visuals at minimal power usage because it only requires an HDMI or DisplayPort connection and no extra hardware investments such as NVIDIA G-SYNC modules and other monitors and graphics cards, so it doesn't require any extra investment.
There's virtually no input lag between mouse movements in games due to freesync - eliminating juddering too while maintaining maximum performance across a wide range of game genres.
The freesync monitor will also not suffer from screen tearing which many gamers find distracting and annoying to say the least, so you can play games with a more immersive experience than before without any distractions whatsoever while playing on your freesync monitor that doesn't cost as much or requires an expensive hardware investment like G-SYNC monitors do.
Disadvantages Of FreeSync
The major disadvantage of FreeSync is that the display must support it. Without freesync, gamers may experience tearing or stuttering in their games.
Another disadvantage is that FreeSync only supports a specific range of frame rates: typically 48 to 75 Hz (though this varies by model). There are also reports of artifacts when displaying high brightness content on darker backgrounds and vice versa.
Some people find Freesync more difficult to use than G sync because there’s no visible indication that you have engaged the technology – simply turning your monitor off and back on won't reconnect them like with G Sync. The low signal latency can cause problems for some monitors with certain features such as audio passthrough or HDR mode.
The last major downside is cost - as FreeSync is a monitor-level technology, you need to buy an AMD graphics card and FreeSync compatible display separately.
Freesync requires both the monitors as well as your video card to support it for its features to work properly. This can be more costly than G Sync which only needs one of those things (an Nvidia GPU). If you have an old or expensive graphics card that doesn't support freesync, then it won’t work at all.
Disadvantages Of FreeSync also include tearing and stuttering in games caused by varying frame rates between what's being sent from your computer screen versus what the monitor can handle during gameplay. Some people find this jarring and distracting.
What are the benefits of G-sync?
Some of the benefits that G-sync has are:
Reduced input lag, which is a delay between when you do something with your mouse or keyboard and the corresponding action on-screen happening; this makes gaming more realistic because it feels like what's happening in real life. This also means there will be fewer cases where gamers can't respond to an event in time because they didn't notice it happen quickly enough due to their hardware being too slow.
Better quality images since refresh rates match monitor frame rate for smoother animations without tearing or stuttering (unlike Vsync). What this essentially translates into is no longer having choppy gameplay videos from playing at high framerates such as 120Hz+. It also supports higher resolution screens, such as 1440p or higher.
Blur reduction mode lets you use the G-sync monitor for other programs (non-gaming) and still get a clear image without screen tearing in video editing applications like Adobe Premiere Pro. This is also known as ULMB for short, which stands for Ultra Low Motion Blur; it's an improved version of the old LightBoost technology used by CRT monitors back in the day when gaming was done on them exclusively.
Reduced input lag from using VSync off with G-sync enabled to prevent any micro stuttering caused by not updating 60 times per second at all times - this can happen because framerates sometimes drop below 60 FPS while playing some games depending on the game engine.
G-sync is able to dynamically lower a monitor's refresh rate when your framerate drops below 60, and increase again as soon as it surpasses that threshold - you don't need to enable VSync on or off in games anymore for optimum performance with no tearing! This means smoother gameplay without any micro stuttering at all; even if your GPU can't keep up with demand and causes dips into the 30 FPS territory during intense scenes like explosions, combat sequences, etc., G-sync won't let you down.
You're getting more than just an overclocked monitor here: this technology gives gamers access to NVIDIA GameStream which lets them stream PC games from their own computer onto a connected TV wire benefits of G-sync.
G sync also has some nifty "eye care" features; for example, if there are still frames being rendered during faster scenes (e.g., explosions), only one frame will be shown at a time so as not to introduce additional strain on.
Types of G-Sync
G-Sync Compatible
G-Sync Compatible Monitors are monitors that have a Display Port or HDMI input and work in conjunction with NVIDIA graphics cards.
G-Sync technology synchronizes the monitoring refresh to the computer's rendering output. The result is ultra-smooth gameplay without screen tearing or stutter for a more immersive experience.
G-Sync Compatible Monitors allow you to enjoy games at higher framerates as well, including those over 144Hz!
G-Sync Ultimate
G - Sync Ultimate is compatible with all your current hardware needs as well as future ones too.
G - Sync Ultimate will also provide power savings on some displays thanks to its ability to turn off unused backlight zones when they're not needed. This can lead to 30% less energy consumption.
G-sync synchronizes the monitor's refresh rate with a VRAM card's render rate. The result is ultra-smooth gameplay without screen tearing or stutter for a more immersive experience. G-Sync Compatible Monitors allow you to enjoy games at higher frame rates as well, including those over 144Hz! G-Sync Ultimate has one USB Type C Display Port input and works in conjunction with NVIDIA graphics cards. It also features an HDMI port so it can be used on any device with either of these ports--even laptops!
G - Sync Ultimate will also provide power savings on some displays thanks to its ability to turn off unused backlight zones when they're not needed. This can result in lower energy consumption, and it will enable the monitor to use less power when in a low-power idle mode.
G - Sync Ultimate monitors are an excellent choice for gamers, PC builders, and anyone that cares about display quality!
Types Of FreeSync
FreeSync Premium
FreeSync Premium: These are the latest, most advanced monitors available. They offer a wide range of features and deliver an unrivaled gaming experience with incredibly fast refresh rates (144hz) for smoother gameplay and minimizing stuttering.
FreeSync Premium: This is a more affordable option that still delivers benefits like reduced input lag as well as no screen tearing or jittering during in-game movement. You get all these amazing visuals at a reasonable price point without sacrificing any key performance aspects."
FreeSync Premium offers Reduced input lag
No screen tearing or jittering during in-game movement.
FreeSync Premium adjust monitor refresh rate in real-time to correspond with the frame rate of your game
FreeSync Premium monitors are quality assured for crisp visuals and a smooth, tear-free experience.
Reduced input lag as well as no screen tearing or jittering during in-game movement; FreeSync Premium adjust monitor refresh rate in real-time to correspond with the frame rate of your game; Quality Assured for crisp visuals and a smooth, tear-free experience
Premium features include 144hz refresh rates (the fastest available) which eliminate motion blur and judder when playing games on computers that can output at this high framerate, plus support for HDR color technology--enabling brighter colors on these premium screens than would be possible traditionally. This also means FreeSync Premium can deliver more vibrant colors and richer, deeper blacks than a standard display.
The Radeon FreeSync™ technology synchronizes your monitor's refresh rate to the gameplay frame-rate of compatible AMD graphics cards via an open industry standard; this minimizes stuttering and input lag for fluid gameplay with no tearing.
FreeSync Premium Pro
FreeSync Premium Pro is a FreeSync monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and VA panel.
FreeSync Premium Pro has an AHVA screen, which is made up of IPS-type panels that offer wide viewing angles and exceptional color reproduction thanks to its In-Plane Switching technology.
It’s the best solution for competitive gamers looking for not only superior performance but also quality visuals - perfect for our professional players in CS: GO or Fortnite!
The oscillation frequency range enables it to display colors from deep blacks to bright whites without hurting your eyes while switching between dark and light images on the screen resulting in a significant improvement over traditional LCD displays.
This, combined with a dynamic contrast ratio delivers unparalleled picture detail even when playing games like PUBG in the dark.
FreeSync Vs G-Sync Which One Is Better?
G-sync monitors have been on the market for a much longer time than FreeSync displays, so there are simply more years of experience with G-sync technology.
The decision between G-sync and FreeSync is subjective based on what you care about: input latency or tearing?
If it doesn't bother you to see screen tears occasionally when playing games then go ahead and get a FreeSync monitor; they're cheaper because they don't need expensive hardware (a display scaler) built-in.
But if tearless gameplay is important to you, then by all means buy the latest generation Nvidia GPU and pair it with an NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ monitor!
It's a close call, but if you have an Nvidia GPU then NVIDIA G-sync is the best choice.
If your monitor supports AMD FreeSync technology and you are playing games that don't involve heavy use of the microprocessor (think about how much processing power it takes to play Crysis), then go ahead and get one.
They're cheaper than their NVIDIA counterparts because they work with existing hardware in monitors rather than requiring new hardware like display scalers; however, FreeSync can only operate over DisplayPort cables while G-SYNC works over both DisplayPort or HDMI.
If your computer doesn't come equipped with two video card connectors for dual graphics cards, then this might not matter at all to you anyway!
Frequently Asked Question
Question: Which is better, FreeSync or G-Sync?
Answer: It all depends on your monitor specs and what you want to use the technology for. For most consumers, it won't make much of a difference in their experience which one they choose because both are viable options that deliver similar performance levels at substantially different price points (FreeSync being cheaper). If you're looking for a happy medium between affordability and quality then we recommend going with FreeSync instead of G-sync.
Question: What is FreeSync?
Answer: AMD's FreeSync technology uses the Adaptive-Sync protocol to synchronize display refresh rates with a user’s graphics card, which helps reduce screen tearing and stuttering from happening in games. With input lag being virtually non-existent as well, it is an overall more responsive experience that gamers can appreciate.
Question: What is G-sync?
Answer: NVIDIA's proprietary G-sync technology operates by setting up a monitor and GPU combination specifically for this type of operation at the time of purchase or adoption (similar to how one would get VA panels instead). As such, G-sync monitors are generally quite expensive when you compare them against their counterparts with FreeSync capabilities.
Question: What monitors are compatible with G-sync or FreeSync?
Answer: To enjoy either of these technologies on your monitor (whether you have NVIDIA or AMD GPU), make sure they support them; not all monitors do! If you're buying a new monitor for use with either one of these technologies, consult the manufacturer before purchase so that you know whether your monitor will support it.
Conclusion
FreeSync is a better option than G-Sync because it's cheaper. It doesn't have the same limitations as G-sync and offers more flexibility with how you use your monitor, like for gaming or adding two different monitors together to create one larger display.
