Difference between G-Sync and Borderless window?

[Hans Power]

Hello!

 

I play a lot of games in borderless window mode and the end result - if implemented properly in a game (good example is Lichdom: Battlemage) - pretty much fits the describtion of G-Sync. No Input lag, no matter the framerate, no screen tearing and with a framerate above 40FPS it appears really smooth - much smoother then with normal fullscreen and v-sync activated. So is the G-Sync experience like that or is there a major difference like even more smoothness or something else? I'd be interested to know from people who experienced both.

 

Edit: I rephrase the question: Is the visual experience of G-sync the same or similar to the visible experience with Borderless window mode on?

[AlwaysFSX]

G-Sync are two completely different things. G-Sync is an adaptive refresh rate on your monitor. Borderless windowed mode means you're not running a game at full screen but you don't have borders like this:

[D2ultima]

Uhh.... G-sync has nothing to do with borderless windowed. G-sync forces the monitor to only refresh when there is a new frame, up to 144fps. I do not know what their minimum is; it probably will not refresh slower than 30fps.

 

Borderless windowed is simply a windowed mode setting that (usually) matches the native monitor resolution and does not include a border around the window for minimizing/maximizing/closing/etc actions, or to be able to drag it around.

 

If you get the best experience in Borderless Windowed, congratulations for you. Keep using it =D. But they're not related.

[Hans Power]

Uhh.... G-sync has nothing to do with borderless windowed. G-sync forces the monitor to only refresh when there is a new frame, up to 144fps. I do not know what their minimum is; it probably will not refresh slower than 30fps.

 

Borderless windowed is simply a windowed mode setting that (usually) matches the native monitor resolution and does not include a border around the window for minimizing/maximizing/closing/etc actions, or to be able to drag it around.

 

If you get the best experience in Borderless Windowed, congratulations for you. Keep using it =D. But they're not related.

 

Yes, I know that they're not related technically - I just want to know if the end result is maybe similar or even the same.

[Un4tural]

end result is not similar or has anything to do with one another... as borderless window and gsync are completely different things.

 

some games crash in full screen mode and running in borderless window saves you from that, for example when alt+tab'ing out of it... its same as windowed mode but as name implies without the borders around it...g sync controls refresh rate of MONITOR, to only refresh once a new frame is ready as explained. look up what is g sync video from linus.

[Tacitus]

He's not asking about the technical details of it, he's asking if the end result, what the eye sees, is similar in effect.

 

He knows that the two are not the same thing...

[Hans Power]

He's not asking about the technical details of it, he's asking if the end result, what the eye sees, is similar in effect.

 

He knows that the two are not the same thing...

 

Thank you! I already rephrased the question and I really don't know how to make this any more clear!

[79wjd]

he's asking if the end result, what the eye sees, is similar in effect.

 

No. not at all. 

[Hans Power]

No. not at all. 

 

Elaborate, please. I described the visual experience with borderless window - so how does it compare to your experience with G-Sync?

 

Edit: Or, even better, try G-Sync and then borderless Window mode in a game which supports it and describe the visual difference.

[79wjd]

Elaborate, please. I described the visual experience with borderless window - so how does it compare to your experience with G-Sync?

 

Edit: Or, even better, try G-Sync and then borderless Window mode in a game which supports it and describe the visual difference.

One runs exactly the same as full screen just with fewer issues when trying to multitask. And the other refreshes EXACTLY when the gpu is ready. 

[Hans Power]

One runs exactly the same as full screen just with fewer issues when trying to multitask. And the other refreshes EXACTLY when the gpu is ready. 

 

No, it's not the same as fullscreen - because with borderless window it runs without screentearing and without V-Sync AND as I mentioned above it stutters a lot less and has no input lag when frames drop below your monitor's refresh rate. And exactly that is supposed to be the visual and haptic end result of G-Sync. And I doubt that you see that your monitor refreshes exactly when the GPU is ready - you're describing the technology, not what you see on the monitor. And by now I doubt that you have the experience and knowledge to understand what I'm talking about and I also doubt that you have a G-Sync Monitor - you seem to be able to use google for a technical describtion of G-Sync but that's not what I'm asking for.

[nokiddingboss]

i am terribly sorry if i'm necroing this thread. i just want to share my thoughts about g-sync and borderless window mode. as the op said, he knows that these two are very different things - but in terms of eliminating tearing without having to deal with input lag and eliminate stutters, then yes they technically do the same thing visually. one other thing - if the end result is exactly the same thing, then the process in which it was created does not matter in this particular subject. which is why i say borderless window = g-sync, only better coz you don't need to buy a g-sync enabled monitor and an nvidia gpu and that its more reasonable and did i mention its free? and yes i googled g-sync too so i know about its technobabble but who cares? end results are still end results and the end results are the same. end of story.

[Icefire555]

Yep border-less windowed is very different from G-sync.

[Samfisher]

G-Sync not only eliminates tearing, it controls the refresh rate of the monitor giving you an experience of 60+ FPS even though in reality you are playing at 45FPS for example.