Best G Sync Gaming Monitor

There are high-resolution (4K) screens available, but they are expensive and require powerful graphics hardware. To your relief, we provide a wide variety of top-notch alternatives to your aging display.
Whether you're a weekend warrior or the next esports champion, PC gamers everywhere have to deal with annoyances like stutter, input latency, and screen tearing. When your graphics card's performance falls short of your desired frame rate, even the most robust configuration can cause animations to look less than fluid. In order to get the most out of your Nvidia graphics card, you need choose a display that is compatible with G-Sync. G-Sync is featured on some of the top gaming monitors on the market, like the 4K LGN950-B and the ultrawide Samsung Odyssey G9. However, it can make monitors more expensive. The best G-Sync displays will eliminate screen tearing and tearing altogether from your PC gaming experience.
 

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What is Nvidia G-Sync?

 

While the name may conjure up images of an elderly rip-off of N-Sync, Nvidia's G-Sync technology, which debuted in 2013, is one of two capabilities available in monitors that handle changing refresh rate. In order to provide gamers with a fluid, quick experience, G-Sync (and AMD's rival technology, FreeSync) synchronizes a monitor's refresh rate to the best frame rate your GPU can manage at that moment. By minimizing the gap between your graphics card's frame rate output and your monitor's target frame rate, the technique theoretically reduces issues like stutter, input lag, and screen tearing.

The original G-Sync was a hardware-based approach. In order to synchronize with an Nvidia graphics processing unit, G-Sync displays feature an Nvidia-made CPU incorporated right in, which regulates the refresh rate. FreeSync, an alternative technique developed by AMD, is entirely software-based. Due to this, G-Sync monitors are not as widely available as FreeSync monitors and cost more money.

Nvidia has recently introduced two new variants of G-Sync, which further blur the boundaries between them. Nvidia has certified some FreeSync displays as "G-Sync Compatible," meaning they have tested the display's variable refresh rate and verified it works well with the G-Sync software.

In addition, G-Sync displays that meet specific criteria have been given a new name: G-Sync Ultimate. These monitors must have a refresh rate of 144 Hz or higher, a color gamut of P3 or above, and a high dynamic range that is "best-in-class" (HDR). According to our research, this value isn't set in stone but does generally translate to a VESA DisplayHDR 600 grade or higher.

A monitor designed specifically for gaming, with a built-in G-Sync engine, offers several benefits. By increasing the range of the variable refresh rate, you can decrease input lag and provide support for variable overdrive, which can lessen the appearance of ghosting in fast-moving scenes. The vertical refresh rate (VRR) range of a 144Hz G-Sync display is 30Hz to 144Hz, while the range of a G-Sync Compatible monitor is commonly 48Hz to 144Hz. It's possible to see screen tearing if your frame rate falls below the minimum required by your G-Sync Compatible display.

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Choosing the Best Gaming Monitor for You

 

What makes Tom's Hardware so reliable In order to help you make the best decision possible, our experienced reviewers put in many hours of research, testing, and comparison. Learn more about our testing procedures.

Different panel types, such as IPS, compete for your attention when looking for the best gaming monitor for your rig. Screen size and aspect ratio should also be taken into mind because they have an effect on the user's field of view, the amount of space required on the user's desk, and the user's wallet. Extras like speakers, RGB, and port customization haven't even been mentioned yet. With so many possibilities, how is a player supposed to pick?

For a thorough dive into how to buy the best monitor—gaming or otherwise—check out our PC Monitor Buying Guide. Following on our own experiments, we have compiled a list of the top gaming monitors currently available.
 

Quick Shopping Tips

 

When trying to buy the best gaming monitor for your PC, consider the following:

 

• Which one, G-Sync or FreeSync? G-Sync is only compatible with personal computers that use Nvidia graphics cards, whilst FreeSync can only be used on computers that have AMD graphics cards. Technically speaking, G-Sync can be used with a display that only supports FreeSync, but the performance will not be assured. FreeSync monitors are typically more affordable, but their performance is on par with other models. Check out our Nvidia G-Sync vs. AMD FreeSync comparison article for a comprehensive look at how the two display technologies stack up against one another in terms of performance.

• In terms of image quality, TN is superior to IPS and VA. To speak more generally. TN monitors are typically the most affordable option, but their limited viewing angles make them the slowest. The response times of IPS displays are slightly lower than those of VA monitors, but the color is superior. VA monitors have the highest contrast of any gaming monitors, but their response speeds are also the slowest.

• Refresh rates: greater is better. This figure, expressed in hertz (Hz), illustrates the number of times that your monitor refreshes with new information each second. As a result, it also indicates the maximum number of frames per second (fps) that the monitor is capable of displaying. The larger the number, the smoother the image. It is very crucial for gamers to have a high refresh rate, so you should look for a monitor that has a minimum of 75 hertz (the majority of gaming displays give at least 144 hertz), in addition to the quickest response time you can find.

• Resolution: Full HD, QHD, 4K. Full HD (1920 x 1080), Quad HD (2560 x 1440), and 4K are the screen resolutions that are now the most widely used for gaming displays (3840 x 2160). The more pixels that a screen has, the more detailed and crisp the image should appear to be. Therefore, a 4K monitor will be able to display a picture that is clearer and has more detail than a Full HD panel, which has a lesser resolution. In most cases, the displays with the lowest resolution may achieve the highest refresh rates, which can go as high as 360 Hz. A maximum refresh rate of 144 hertz is typical for 4K monitors; this is due to the increased number of pixels that need to be displayed.

 

What to consider when picking the best G-Sync monitors

 

It’s great to start your monitor search knowing you want a G-Sync or G-Sync Compatible monitor, but that’s just one small facet of a display. It’ll narrow things down, but you still want to look at the core specs that make or break any gaming monitor. Even for the most seasoned professional, making sense of a monitor’s specs can be confusing. We’re here to help you understand what’s what, so you can make an informed choice.

Resolution and size

A screen’s resolution refers to the number of pixels your monitor uses to create an image. There are three typical screen resolutions found in today’s monitors: 1920 x 1080, also called 1080p or Full HD; 2560 x 1440 pixels, which usually gets shortened down to 1440p or Quad HD (QHD); and, lastly, 4K UHD (3840×2160)—still a luxury among PC monitors reserved for high-end gaming and creative production displays.

Due to the fact that it is the standard for high-definition monitors, 1080p may seem obsolete in today's technological landscape. Having said that, a really high resolution screen isn't necessary for a lot of PC games. In addition, gaming monitors with a resolution of 1080p are more reasonably priced and place less burden on your computer, which enables you to accomplish smoother animation and push more frames per second.

A 1440p monitor is a nice middle ground that gives a sharp, detailed picture. If you crave a greater resolution and high frame rate, a 1440p monitor is an excellent choice for you. For gamers who want to test the capabilities of their systems while still taking pleasure in a high level of visual fidelity, Quad HD is an ideal choice. Even though 4K can make certain games look better than ever before, 4K monitors typically cost a lot more money and have lower maximum frame rates. They are recommended by us most strongly to creative professionals who have an interest in either photography or video editing.

When shopping for a display, it is important to keep in mind that the size of your screen will have an impact on how sharp your display appears at any particular resolution. A display with 24 inches of 4K resolution and a display with 32 inches of 4K resolution both show the same number of pixels, but the larger screen spreads them out more thinly.

At the moment, the most common sizes for normal 16:9 displays are 24 inches, 27 inches, and 32 inches. In general, we believe that it makes sense to scale the resolution of a monitor up or down based on the size of the screen in order to provide the sharpest picture possible without paying an excessive amount of money. Maintain the 1080p resolution on a 24-inch screen. If you have a 27-inch screen, you should shoot for 1440p if you can. And if you want a display that is 32 inches, go for 4K resolution. These guidelines are not etched in stone, but they can assist you in locating the correct collection of features and in establishing reasonable expectations for the amount of money that will be required to acquire the characteristics that you like.

Refresh rate

The refresh rate of a monitor, measured in Hertz (Hz), refers to how many times your display updates what’s on screen each second. The higher the refresh rate, the smoother and more fluid animations will look. Refresh is especially important for gaming monitors, as your maximum refresh rate sets a game’s maximum framerate. It’s not all that important for basic tasks like word processing and web browsing.

The refresh rate of displays has traditionally been set at 60 hertz (Hz), which is more than sufficient for activities such as watching movies and utilizing computer programs. The requirements for a gaming display are far more stringent. We recommend displays with 144Hz refresh rates for the majority of PC gamers; however, competitive players may be interested in a monitor with 240Hz or even higher refresh rates. The fastest gaming monitor you can buy right now has a maximum refresh rate of 360 hertz, but a gaming display with a 500 Hz refresh rate is already in development.

The frame rate of a game is not determined by the refresh rate of your display, as we discussed in the section where we discussed the G-Sync technology. You need a strong gaming computer with a high-end graphics processing unit (GPU) in order to truly attain a high frame rate.

Connectivity

Today, most monitors receive video and audio through an HDMI, DisplayPort, or USB-C connection. They have become essential in modern computing and offer different strengths and weaknesses. In most cases, G-Sync requires DisplayPort 1.2 or higher, so we’re going to focus on DisplayPort here.

DisplayPort is ubiquitous in PCs and monitors but much less common in TVs. Like HDMI, there are multiple iterations on the connection–including 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 2.0. Each version supports a different maximum resolution and refresh rates. We recommend looking for monitors that support DisplayPort 1.4 (and above), which can handle up to 8K with HDR at 60Hz. However, most players should be able to get by with DisplayPort 1.2 or 1.3.

It is important to point out that more recent Nvidia GPUs, such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 16/RTX 20-Series [Turing] and upwards, are able to use G-Sync when connected over HDMI 2.1. This won't be an option for the vast majority of people because it requires locating a new graphics card as well as a display with HDMI 2.1, both of which are still uncommon and expensive.

Panel type

Most monitors, barring special technology, feature LED-backlit liquid crystal displays. The screen panels themselves come in three different varieties, which can impact your monitor’s performance. Our picks focus on two more common options: Vertical alignment (VA) and in-plane switching (IPS). The third type, twisted nematic (TN), is most commonly found in monitors with very high refresh rates.

IPS panels offer excellent color reproduction, often providing 95% or higher of the Digital Cinema Initiatives – Protocol 3 (DCI-P3) standard, a more expansive color space used by the film industry. If you’re a creative whose work needs to be color-accurate, an IPS display should be your No. 1 choice. Although IPS panels offer a strong color balance, they struggle with poor contrast, so you may not get the darkest possible blacks.

VA panels offer comparatively excellent contrast ratios so that black levels will look rich and detailed. They also provide exceptional image quality, color reproduction, and refresh rate. However, VA panels broadly trend towards higher response times, which make them more prone to motion blur and ghosting. Motion blur isn’t ideal for gaming, particularly when playing something fast-paced.

High dynamic range (HDR)

High dynamic range, or HDR, is a display technology that enables a monitor to show varying brightness levels on different parts of a screen at once. It is particularly good at providing viewers with greater detail and color depth in challenging lighting. Imagine peering into a dark cave from the outside: With HDR, you can show both the bright space outside the cave and very dimly lit space inside at the same time.

While HDR support has become ubiquitous in TVs, it is considered a gaming-focused luxury feature in monitors. PC monitors feature their own standard for measuring HDR, the VESA DisplayHDR rating system, which directly correlates to the screen’s maximum brightness, measured in nits. When picking out a gaming monitor, we generally recommend looking for VESA DisplayHDR 600 rating or higher. The lowest rating HDR 400 is a nice value add, but doesn’t fully enable HDR in games, so it isn’t a dealbreaker one way or the other.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that G-Sync requires you to use a DisplayPort connection, so you will need a monitor with a DisplayPort 1.4 port to take advantage of both technologies.

 

FAQs

Q: What are the system requirements for G-Sync?

You will get the most out of your experience if you combine an Nvidia graphics processing unit with a display that has G-Sync hardware. As we have seen, there are some instances in which a monitor is G-Sync Compatible; nevertheless, this does not mean that it is capable of doing everything. The following is a list of prerequisites provided by Nvidia for using G-Sync with a personal computer or laptop.

Desktop PC connected to a G-Sync monitor:

*Graphics Cards Supported: G-SYNC features require an NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 650 Ti Boost GPU or higher.

*Driver: R340.52 or higher

*Operating Systems:

-Windows 10

-Windows 8.1

-Windows 7

*Must support DisplayPort 1.2 or higher directly from the GPU.

Laptop PC connected to a G-Sync monitor:

*Graphics Cards Supported: NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 980M, GTX 970M or GTX 965M GPU or higher.

*Driver: R340.52 or higher

*Operating Systems:

-Windows 10

-Windows 8.1

-Windows 7

*Must support DisplayPort 1.2 or higher directly driven from the GPU.

Laptop PC with G-Sync on the laptop display:

*Graphics Cards Supported: NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 980M, GTX 970M or GTX 965M GPU or higher. SLI configurations are also supported.

*Driver: R352.06 or higher

*Operating Systems:

-Windows 10

-Windows 8.1

-Windows 7

*Must support DisplayPort 1.2 directly driven from the GPU.

Q: What are the downsides of G-Sync?

G-Sync monitors are generally more expensive due to the proprietary hardware needed to support the technology. Meanwhile, hardware-based G-Sync only works when paired with an Nvidia GPU. Lastly, G-Sync only works when you connect your PC to your monitor using a DisplayPort connection unless you’re using a G-Sync Compatible TV, which supports HDMI.

Q: Is a G-Sync monitor worth buying?

If you already use a system with an Nvidia GPU, we think it is usually worth it to buy a G-Sync monitor to optimize your in-game performance. Hardware-based G-Sync monitors trend more expensive than FreeSync monitors, but you’re rarely paying a high premium just for G-Sync—you’re also getting a high-quality monitor with great specs. If you’re on a tight budget, pairing an Nvidia GPU with a G-Sync Compatible monitor also works well and often costs less.

 

IN CONCLUSION

 

G-Sync is a great purchase that can improve your experience by removing stutter, lag, and tearing. Whether you're playing visually captivating games like Elden Ring and Halo Infinite or going competitive in titles like Counter-Strike: GO and Valorant, G-Sync can make your experience better. If you still want smooth animations but don't want to spend a premium, you could be better off looking for a monitor that is compatible with G-Sync. This can help you limit the drawbacks of current gaming while keeping the cost of your setup manageable.

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