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Nvidia G-Sync support for FreeSync monitors: better performance for less

Nvidia G-Sync support for FreeSync monitors: better performance for less

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These displays provide a smooth gaming experience

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BenQ’s XL2740 FreeSync monitor is G-Sync compatible
BenQ’s XL2740 FreeSync monitor is G-Sync compatible
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Nvidia’s G-Sync variable refresh rate tech takes the leash off of your graphics card, letting it push as many frames per second as it possibly can, while eliminating input lag and visual artifacts (like motion blur and screen tearing) on your monitor. If you buy a monitor equipped with G-Sync, you can expect a smoother gaming experience with fluid animations. But such a monitor is costly, with a baseline price of around $350 for a 1080p display, and hundreds more for one that can output at 1440p or 4K. If that’s too expensive for you (you’re not alone), there are alternatives.

Nvidia has brought aftermarket G-Sync support to 28 gaming monitors equipped with AMD FreeSync, widening the pool of G-Sync-capable displays; prices start as low as $189. If you own one of these monitors, and your system is equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series or RTX 20-series GPU, then G-Sync will activate automatically once you install the latest driver. In terms of what makes these models different from the hundreds of FreeSync monitors on the market, Nvidia shared the following criteria that decides which monitors get a pass:

G-SYNC Compatible testing validates that the monitor does not show blanking, pulsing, flickering, ghosting or other artifacts during VRR gaming. They also validate that the monitor can operate in VRR at any game frame rate by supporting a VRR range of at least 2.4:1 (e.g. 60Hz-144Hz), and offer the gamer a seamless experience by enabling VRR by default.

Here’s the list of supported displays from least to most expensive at the time of publication:

G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors

MonitorPriceScreen sizeResolutionRefresh rateResponse timePanel type
Dell S2419HGF$16924 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
AOC G2590FX$18925 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
Acer XFA240$19924 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
Acer ED273 Abidpx$27327 inches1080p144Hz4msVA
Asus VG278Q$29527 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
Acer XF250Q$29924.5 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
AOC Agon AG241QX$30924 inches1440p144Hz1msTN
LG 27GK750FB$32927 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
Asus XG248Q$34824 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
Acer XG270HU$37527 inches1440p144Hz1msTN
HP Omen X 25f$37924.5 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
Asus XG258Q$44924.5 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
BenQ XL2540$44724.5 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
Asus MG278Q$54927 inches1440p144Hz1msTN
Acer XZ321Q$57031.5 inches1440p144Hz1msVA
BenQ XL2740$59927 inches1080p240Hz1msTN
Acer XV273K$89927 inches4K144Hz1msIPS
Asus VG258QNot readily available in the US24.5 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
HP 25x$27924.5 inches1080p144Hz1msTN
HP 25mxNot readily available in the US24.5 inches1080p144Hz1msTN

We tested the BenQ ZOWIE XL2740 (pictured above), one of the listed monitors with Nvidia G-Sync support. It’s a 27-inch 1080p FreeSync monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate. As you’d hope, the setup process is easy. The Nvidia RTX 2080 graphics card in our test rig was already updated, so G-Sync switched on automatically, and there were no noticeable instances of screen tearing or image ghosting during our time with the unit.

After spending some time playing Forza Horizon 4 and Metro: Exodus, and running through Nvidia’s G-Sync benchmark, the results were great. It’s easy to see whom this sort of monitor is for: those who want G-Sync without too much fuss or expense.

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