Gsynch, freesynch or neither?

Drewb

Drewb

Drewb

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9 Jan 2007
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188
I'm going to build myself a gaming PC. It's over 7 years since I last used a PC for games having switched to consoles.
It's so much more complicated now:(
I won't be getting a new monitor until later in the new year but have just realized my choice of GPU will force me down either the gsynch or freesynch road. I have a 980Ti on my provisional build list thinking that would last for a few years.
So which should I go for, gsynch or freesynch? Or should I not worry about it at all?
 
Both GSYNC and freesync are game changers as far as FPS fluidity is concerned. I would recommend using one of them. It's just a shame that there is no monitor that supports both, and that Nvidia doesn't support freesync.
 
I suppose it depends if you plan to keep the monitor for any length of time, but just considering the prices of monitors, I would go with FreeSync. For the same price of the Nvidia graphics card and the Gsync screen I was considering, I bought an equivalent FreeSync screen and saved enough money to buy a pair of graphics cards with almost twice the performance.

I think a Fury card and FreeSync screen would be the way to go, as it looks very likely that new API's will leverage a lot more performance from the Fury chip, and unless Nvidia give Gsync monitors away for free, I can't see a place in the market or point for Gsync when we have an industry standard doing the same job for hundreds of pounds less.
 
Jigger, the reason freesync monitors are so cheap and on special offer is because no one is buying them.
Scare mongering about DX12 is completely unfounded as the 980ti is still wiping the floor even in the AMD sponsored AotS.

OP, yes gsync is well worth it, which you get really depends on your future plans, if you are sticking with a single 980ti for a while then you'll be best off with a 1080p 144hz one... If you want to future proof your Monitor purchase and plan on upgrading your GPU more regularly then get a 1440p one.
 
andybird123 said:
the reason freesync monitors are so cheap and on special offer is because no one is buying them.
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Except people are buying them..... especially the benq 27" 1440p screen (even the pre-order prices were far cheaper than any of the equivalent gsync monitors)

The reason they are cheaper/don't cost a premium is because they don't need to have an additional £150+ module in order to be able to use the sync tech.
 
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I tried out gsync and it did nothing for me. There are a lot of people who think otherwise but I'm certainly not blind and I could hardly tell the difference.

OP - If you're not a hardcore fan of fast paced shooters, check out the Phillips 40" 4k monitor, which produces a beautiful picture. If you like twitch shooters, don't buy a monitor until one comes out that's 27" 1440p 144hz with gsync or freesync. There's an Acer one that ticks these boxes but has awful QC. Asus have one coming out but it'll make your wallet bleed.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.
It still seems a difficult choice to make, looking at monitors listed on OCUK it's 14 freesynch to 9 gsynch and none of the gsynch are superwide. I'm not saying I want superwide but who knows when the time comes to buy.
My choice of GPU is not fixed in stone and jiggers choice of Fury + freesynch monitor does look relatively good value for money.
 
For me before i purchased GSYNC i was under the impression when i dipped under 60FPS it would be ultra smooth (My ignorance) this isn't the case, i dare say it is smoother than without it but i see the dip instantly.

Where it really shines for me and a big reason i couldn't return to a screen without the module is screen tearing, Games have never felt so smooth in that respect.
 
Freesynch is supposed to prevent screen tearing too isn't it?
It is looking like 'neither' is not an option and I need to decide before buying a GPU which way to go.
 
Gsync all the way, its a far better experience.

If someone says they can't tell when it's on or off, as 1 posted above, then you need to get to an optician
 
Drewb said:
Freesynch is supposed to prevent screen tearing too isn't it?
It is looking like 'neither' is not an option and I need to decide before buying a GPU which way to go.
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Both stop screen tearing. I've had both systems and they work both as well. Just be careful with the Freesync ranges on monitors.
 
Drewb said:
Yes I remember reading something about this - they can be quite low sometimes can't they?
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Yeah they have weird ranges, some unacceptable imo. I had the FREESYNC BENQ monitor which was okay if i remember rightly other than the ghosting issue. I've only ever owned the ASUS ROG on the G-Sync front but that is a good range
 
Either I've had both now and both are good I wouldn't buy one with out now biggest advancement since ssds
 
Either I've had both now and both are good I wouldn't buy one with out now biggest advancement since ssds
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Yes this is what I'm thinking now. Time to go and read up about AMD GPUs as I have only been looking at Nvidia until I realized about the freesynch/gsynch issue.
 
Drewb said:
Yes this is what I'm thinking now. Time to go and read up about AMD GPUs as I have only been looking at Nvidia until I realized about the freesynch/gsynch issue.
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It is worth doing a LOT of reading if going that route, freesync monitors are a bit of a minefield, and NVIDIA top end GPU's are currently miles ahead of AMD even in the two DX12 demos that are out.

You have to decide if it is worth giving up a 25-30% performance advantage for the sake of saving a bit on a monitor (when the monitor is the bit you wont be changing for much longer, so a bit of a price difference for a better product should be easier to justify)

There is also the fact that you could buy a freesync screen and just not make use of freesync, you get the cheaper monitor and hope that NVIDIA support freesync. Or you buy an AMD card and hope they sort out their performance issues.

If you're going for a 1440p 144hz monitor just because the freesync version is that much cheaper, you'll end up wanting two GPU's to make the most of it anyway, so its not going to end up cheaper
 
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In what way are the freesync monitors a bit of a "minefield"?

Any issues they had, which was only 1 problem i.e. the response time overdrive setting not working was fixed long ago by AMD and the monitor manufacturers.

The only thing he needs to be aware of is the refresh rate ranges, they vary and aren't advertised but with a quick google, you can easily find that out, generally:

  • LG ultrawides iirc were 48-75 but are now supposedly 40-75
  • asus IPS freesync is 35-90
  • 144HZ 1440 TN 27" are 40-144HZ
  • aoc 24" 1080 TN is 30-160HZ

If freesync monitors are a bit of a minefield then you could say the same for gsync monitors especially when you only really have asus and acer to choose from who's QC and CS isn't exactly good....
 
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Nexus18 said:
In what way are the freesync monitors a bit of a "minefield"?

Any issues they had, which was only 1 problem i.e. the response time overdrive setting not working was fixed long ago by AMD and the monitor manufacturers.

The only thing he needs to be aware of is the refresh rate ranges, they vary and aren't advertised but with a quick google, you can easily find that out, generally:

  • LG ultrawides iirc were 48-75 but are now supposedly 40-75
  • asus IPS freesync is 35-90
  • 144HZ 1440 TN 27" are 40-144HZ
  • aoc 24" 1080 TN is 30-160HZ

If freesync monitors are a bit of a minefield then you could say the same for gsync monitors especially when you only really have asus and acer to choose from who's QC and CS isn't exactly good....
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The AOC range is wrong and been stated in other threads 48-144hz
 
Watlinguk said:
The AOC range is wrong and been stated in other threads 48-144hz
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I've also pushed AOC to clarify this on their website, and they have - http://aoc-europe.com/en/products/g2460pf (see description). It's technically 48 - 146Hz, but no big deal. They should also be providing some clarity on the 'overdrive issue', or at least what users with existing monitors and a greyed out overdrive option >60Hz should do.
 
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