G-SYNC 101: Control Panel


G-SYNC Module

The G-SYNC module is a small chip that replaces the display’s standard internal scaler, and contains enough onboard memory to hold and process a single frame at a time.

The module exploits the vertical blanking interval (the span between the previous and next frame scan) to manipulate the display’s internal timings; performing G2G (gray to gray) overdrive calculations to prevent ghosting, and synchronizing the display’s refresh rate to the GPU’s render rate to eliminate tearing, along with the delayed frame delivery and adjoining stutter caused by traditional syncing methods.

G-SYNC Demo

The below Blur Busters Test UFO motion test pattern uses motion interpolation techniques to simulate the seamless framerate transitions G-SYNC provides within the refresh rate, when directly compared to standalone V-SYNC.

G-SYNC Activation

“Enable for full screen mode” (exclusive fullscreen functionality only) will automatically engage when a supported display is connected to the GPU. If G-SYNC behavior is suspect or non-functioning, untick the “Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible” box, apply, re-tick, and apply.

Blur Buster's G-SYNC 101: Control Panel

G-SYNC Windowed Mode

“Enable for windowed and full screen mode” allows G-SYNC support for windowed and borderless windowed mode. This option was introduced in a 2015 driver update, and by manipulating the DWM (Desktop Windows Manager) framebuffer, enables G-SYNC’s VRR (variable refresh rate) to synchronize to the focused window’s render rate; unfocused windows remain at the desktop’s fixed refresh rate until focused on.

G-SYNC only functions on one window at a time, and thus any unfocused window that contains moving content will appear to stutter or slow down, a reason why a variety of non-gaming applications (popular web browsers among them) include predefined Nvidia profiles that disable G-SYNC support.

Note: this setting may require a game or system restart after application; the “G-SYNC Indicator” (Nvidia Control Panel > Display > G-SYNC Indicator) can be enabled to verify it is working as intended.

G-SYNC Preferred Refresh Rate

“Highest available” automatically engages when G-SYNC is enabled, and overrides the in-game refresh rate selector (if present), defaulting to the highest supported refresh rate of the display. This is useful for games that don’t include a selector, and ensures the display’s native refresh rate is utilized.

“Application-controlled” adheres to the desktop’s current refresh rate, or defers control to games that contain a refresh rate selector.

Note: this setting only applies to games being run in exclusive fullscreen mode. For games being run in borderless or windowed mode, the desktop dictates the refresh rate.

G-SYNC & V-SYNC

G-SYNC (GPU Synchronization) works on the same principle as double buffer V-SYNC; buffer A begins to render frame A, and upon completion, scans it to the display. Meanwhile, as buffer A finishes scanning its first frame, buffer B begins to render frame B, and upon completion, scans it to the display, repeat.

The primary difference between G-SYNC and V-SYNC is the method in which rendered frames are synchronized. With V-SYNC, the GPU’s render rate is synchronized to the fixed refresh rate of the display. With G-SYNC, the display’s VRR (variable refresh rate) is synchronized to the GPU’s render rate.

Upon its release, G-SYNC’s ability to fall back on fixed refresh rate V-SYNC behavior when exceeding the maximum refresh rate of the display was built-in and non-optional. A 2015 driver update later exposed the option.

This update led to recurring confusion, creating a misconception that G-SYNC and V-SYNC are entirely separate options. However, with G-SYNC enabled, the “Vertical sync” option in the control panel no longer acts as V-SYNC, and actually dictates whether, one, the G-SYNC module compensates for frametime variances output by the system (which prevents tearing at all times. G-SYNC + V-SYNC “Off” disables this behavior; see G-SYNC 101: Range), and two, whether G-SYNC falls back on fixed refresh rate V-SYNC behavior; if V-SYNC is “On,” G-SYNC will revert to V-SYNC behavior above its range, if V-SYNC is “Off,” G-SYNC will disable above its range, and tearing will begin display wide.

Within its range, G-SYNC is the only syncing method active, no matter the V-SYNC “On” or “Off” setting.

Currently, when G-SYNC is enabled, the control panel’s “Vertical sync” entry is automatically engaged to “Use the 3D application setting,” which defers V-SYNC fallback behavior and frametime compensation control to the in-game V-SYNC option. This can be manually overridden by changing the “Vertical sync” entry in the control panel to “Off,” “On,” or “Fast.”



3032 Comments For “G-SYNC 101”

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bcbuse
Member
bcbuse

First, this is the best Gsync/Vsync information on the internet. I appreciate the effort you put into this, well done.

I read a comment you posted somewhere that ‘technically’ the absolute least input lag would be with Gsync Off + Vsync Off + Framerate upcapped(getting at least 2x the monitor refresh rate). Can you approximate how much less input lag that would be versus Gsync On + Vsync On(NVCP) + Framerate capped 2 below monitor refresh rate?

vityapapa
Member
vityapapa

Hi,
on the 9th pages of the CSGo test, V-sync off+288fps limit
the G-sync was turn on or turn off?
thnx

Epicbeardman
Member
Epicbeardman

Thanks for this excellent guide. I now know that the most optimal configuration for my 60hz G-Sync monitor is G-Sync ON + V-Sync ON (NVCP) + V-Sync OFF (in-game) + 57 FPS limit. However, there are some games which utilize V-Sync but don’t provide an option to disable it, either in-game or via an external config file. As stated in section 14 of the guide:

“…some in-game V-SYNC solutions may introduce their own frame buffer or frame pacing behaviors, enable triple buffer V-SYNC automatically (not optimal for the native double buffer of G-SYNC)…”

In this scenario, should I still use the optimal configuration as outlined above, or should I instead use G-Sync ON + V-Sync OFF (NVCP) + 57 FPS limit, in an attempt to force V-Sync off and avoid this potential conflict between G-Sync and V-Sync in-game? If this solution works, I know that the G-Sync module would no longer compensate for frametime variances due to V-Sync being set to off, but this is something I can put up with if it stops this conflict.

Chaps
Member
Chaps

The question is how do you run CS:GO at 2000 fps?
I got a GTX 1080 Ti and a 144Hz 1080p panel and it never goes beyong 600, most of the time around 200 to 300.

ViTosS
Member
ViTosS

Hello, just one question about the Optimal G-SYNC Settings, if I have already enabled V-Sync in NVCP, why do I need to put 141fps limit in RivaTuner (144hz) if the V-Sync on option from NVCP is already capping my framerate in-game to 144fps?

Thank you, excelent guide!

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