GSync vs GSync compatible?

[Vibora]

Im currently not sure if I should go for a GSync or a GSync compatible monitor. I currently have a GSync one and its time to get a new one. Are there any visual differences? Will I feel any difference if I buy a GSync compatible one?

[porina]

G-sync compatible is technically a lower tier, but the differences shouldn't matter in normal use. The main difference is native G-sync could in theory work all the way down to 0fps, but you never want to be there. G-sync compatible needs a variable refresh range of 2.4x at least e.g. a 144 Hz display would need to go down to 60 Hz with working variable refresh. Both versions require the display to meet certain image quality requirements so may offer better experience than non-certified displays.

[Vibora]

9 minutes ago, porina said:

G-sync compatible is technically a lower tier, but the differences shouldn't matter in normal use. The main difference is native G-sync could in theory work all the way down to 0fps, but you never want to be there. G-sync compatible needs a variable refresh range of 2.4x at least e.g. a 144 Hz display would need to go down to 60 Hz with working variable refresh. Both versions require the display to meet certain image quality requirements so may offer better experience than non-certified displays.

What would you go with personally?

 

[porina]

1 minute ago, Vibora said:

What would you go with personally?

I'd want either, but don't care so much which. That comes down to other factors like the spec and price.

 

e.g. I have two G-sync displays, one is an older native G-sync 24" 1440p display 144 Hz which I used for gaming for a long time. Now I mostly use a 55" 4k 120 Hz G-sync compatible TV. It works well for me on both.

[Vibora]

26 minutes ago, porina said:

I'd want either, but don't care so much which. That comes down to other factors like the spec and price.

 

e.g. I have two G-sync displays, one is an older native G-sync 24" 1440p display 144 Hz which I used for gaming for a long time. Now I mostly use a 55" 4k 120 Hz G-sync compatible TV. It works well for me on both.

Did you notice any difference?

[porina]

8 minutes ago, Vibora said:

Did you notice any difference?

They are very different displays. If you mean specifically in terms of the G-sync functionality, they both work for me so I can't say there is a difference in that aspect.

[Stahlmann]

There isn't any "performance" difference between native G-Sync or just compatible displays that will be noticeable to the end-user. In fact i'd say native G-Sync introduces more drawbacks than advantages. For example introducing otherwise unnessecary fans that are by a long shot the most common point of failure in a product that has otherwise no moving parts. But alas the G-Sync module's heat output reqiures a fab in order to stay within operating temperature. Another example would be I/O limitations. G-Sync is not capable of HDMI 2.1 as of now. The only remaining advantage i could think of is the VRR range all the way to 0, but like @porina already mentioned, you don't want to be under 48 fps or so either way no matter if you have VRR or not. So this is a non issue imo. Other formerly G-Sync exclusive features like variable overdrive and the capabilities to control high-zone-count-backlights are also available for FreeSync displays nowadays.

 

So in the end i'd not really look out what type of VRR the monitor has. Pretty much every other spec would have more weight in my buying decision. (As long as it has SOME form of VRR)

 

I've had quite a lot of FreeSync and G-Sync monitors by now. And with one exception (Samsung G7) all the FreeSync monitors worked flawlessly with G-Sync enabled. Even the ones that weren't officially certified to be compatible.

[Vibora]

1 hour ago, Stahlmann said:

There isn't any "performance" difference between native G-Sync or just compatible displays that will be noticeable to the end-user. In fact i'd say native G-Sync introduces more drawbacks than advantages. For example introducing otherwise unnessecary fans that are by a long shot the most common point of failure in a product that has otherwise no moving parts. But alas the G-Sync module's heat output reqiures a fab in order to stay within operating temperature. Another example would be I/O limitations. G-Sync is not capable of HDMI 2.1 as of now. The only remaining advantage i could think of is the VRR range all the way to 0, but like @porina already mentioned, you don't want to be under 48 fps or so either way no matter if you have VRR or not. So this is a non issue imo. Other formerly G-Sync exclusive features like variable overdrive and the capabilities to control high-zone-count-backlights are also available for FreeSync displays nowadays.

 

So in the end i'd not really look out what type of VRR the monitor has. Pretty much every other spec would have more weight in my buying decision. (As long as it has SOME form of VRR)

 

I've had quite a lot of FreeSync and G-Sync monitors by now. And with one exception (Samsung G7) all the FreeSync monitors worked flawlessly with G-Sync enabled. Even the ones that weren't officially certified to be compatible.

What happened with G7? I might get one

[porina]

1 hour ago, Stahlmann said:

But alas the G-Sync module's heat output reqiures a fab in order to stay within operating temperature.

I only have one native G-sync monitor to go off, but mine doesn't have a fan. It might be display dependant and maybe even unrelated to the display. I have an early generation LCD TV which has a cooling fan on it. G-sync wasn't even invented when it was made.

[Stahlmann]

10 hours ago, Vibora said:

What happened with G7? I might get one

When using G-Sync it had flickering issues, which made it barely useable in the first place. There were many issues with this monitor when it launched, but some are resolved by now. Other still remain. I'd advise against the 1440p G7. But the 4K G7 is fine afaik.

 

10 hours ago, porina said:

I only have one native G-sync monitor to go off, but mine doesn't have a fan. It might be display dependant and maybe even unrelated to the display. I have an early generation LCD TV which has a cooling fan on it. G-sync wasn't even invented when it was made.

Which monitor is it? Every G-Sync monitor i know has at least one fan for the module.

[porina]

43 minutes ago, Stahlmann said:

Which monitor is it? Every G-Sync monitor i know has at least one fan for the module.

Acer Predator XB241YU. At least, if it does have a fan I've never noticed it.

[Stahlmann]

58 minutes ago, porina said:

Acer Predator XB241YU. At least, if it does have a fan I've never noticed it.

Afaik there is a fan in every native G-Sync monitor. Some brands manage to make it quiet, others not so much. Still i'd rather not have a fan that have one in my monitor. Even if it's not audible it can still fail, which will probably lead to other failures due to overheating.

[porina]

1 hour ago, Stahlmann said:

Afaik there is a fan in every native G-Sync monitor. Some brands manage to make it quiet, others not so much. Still i'd rather not have a fan that have one in my monitor. Even if it's not audible it can still fail, which will probably lead to other failures due to overheating.

I can't find any reference to this monitor having a fan. If I search more generically for G-sync and fans, information seems to be patchy at best and far from conclusive. I did find references to some Asus models using large heatsinks to go fanless, so it seems incorrect to state that all native G-sync displays have a fan. There are also theories that fans may be required for other reasons, such has HDR support leading to high brightness and high panel heat.

[Stahlmann]

36 minutes ago, porina said:

I can't find any reference to this monitor having a fan. If I search more generically for G-sync and fans, information seems to be patchy at best and far from conclusive. I did find references to some Asus models using large heatsinks to go fanless, so it seems incorrect to state that all native G-sync displays have a fan. There are also theories that fans may be required for other reasons, such has HDR support leading to high brightness and high panel heat.

Yeah i have to correct myself. I just recalled i also had a non-fan G-Sync monitor with the AOC AG352UCG6. It depends on what revision of the G-Sync module is built-in and older monitors didn't require fans. But nowadays all G-Sync monitors i know come with at least one fan on the module. My PG35VQ even has multiple fans because of what you said about high-brightness monitors.