G-sync or not?

[Grishnaackh]

Hi!

I was planning on getting a new computer able to run 4k this autumn. However, my situation has changed and I will probably not be able to buy an extremely high-end machine anymore. Instead I'm looking at building a computer purposed for 1080p gaming instead.

 

I'm not a competitive gamer and usually play games where I can enjoy the graphics, lovely environments, colours etc. and therefore I think a IPS-panel would be the best choice for me. It struck me that there are no 1080p IPS monitors with G-Sync on the market. I've never really had any experience with G-sync but it seems like a necessity when buying a new monitor for long term use.

 

If  I decide to buy a monitor without G-sync, how much will my experience differ from using a (let's say 1440p) monitor with G-sync? If it makes a noticeable difference, is it worth going with a 1440p monitor to play 1080p on (it feels like downscaling from 1440p is less optimal than downscaling from 2160p) or would you guys recommend going for a TN panel? 

 

Since I started planning on upgrading my rig about a year ago it's been obvious for me to go for a 4k rig with a IPS G-sync monitor but now when the situation has changed I don't really know what to do.

 

TL;DR

Is G-sync really so important and what would be best?:

1. A 1080p IPS-monitor without G-sync

2. A 1080 TN-monitor with G-sync

3. Playing 1080p on a 1440p IPS-monitor with G-sync

4. Something completely different?

 

Just to make it clear, I am going with an Nvidia GPU and therefore it's not an option for me to buy a Freesync monitor.

 

[Cela1]

I wouldn't bother with G-sync, it is an overpriced feature with not a big enough effect IMO. Just go into nvidia control panel and enable 'fast-sync' as the vertical sync setting, you can thank me later.

[Grishnaackh]

8 minutes ago, Cela1 said:

I wouldn't bother with G-sync, it it an overpriced feature with not a big enough effect IMO. Just go into nvidia control panel and enable 'fast-sync', you can thank me later.

Sounds good. How about tearing and stuttering, then? Won't it have a negative impact on my experience if I choose not to go with G-sync?

[Cela1]

8 minutes ago, Grishnaackh said:

Sounds good. How about tearing and stuttering, then? Won't it have a negative impact on my experience if I choose not to go with G-sync?

Not really, I mean G-Sync exists mainly to make frame transitions smoother but only under the panel refresh rate (e.g. 60Hz), whereas fast sync just only renders complete frames so it eliminates tearing but not stuttering (but it crucially works above the panel's refresh rate (e.g. 200Hz)).

[Grishnaackh]

1 minute ago, Cela1 said:

Not really, I mean G-Sync exists mainly to make frame transitions smoother but only under the panel refresh rate (e.g. 60Hz), whereas fast sync just only renders complete frames so it eliminates tearing but not stuttering but it crucial works above the panel's refresh rate.

Ok, thank you very much for your input. In that case I'll perhaps (most likely, actually) skip the G-sync and go for a 1080p IPS.

[needlessly_weekday]

24 minutes ago, Grishnaackh said:

1. A 1080p IPS-monitor without G-sync

 

I would personally get something like this. I don't mind the slower response times and would prioritize colors. I don't really care about g-sync because v-sync works fine for me. Maybe choose a 1440p monitor if your pc can handle it.

[Grishnaackh]

7 minutes ago, spacemen13579 said:

I would personally get something like this. I don't mind the slower response times and would prioritize colors. I don't really care about g-sync because v-sync works fine for me. Maybe choose a 1440p monitor if your pc can handle it.

Do you think this would be able to power 1440p @ at least 60fps?

Sorry for not using PCPP, but you'll hopefully get an idea by looking at the components.

[needlessly_weekday]

Just now, Grishnaackh said:

Do you think this would be able to power 1440p @ at least 60fps?

Sorry for not using PCPP, but you'll hopefully get an idea by looking at the components.

Defintely

[treeroy]

I personally wouldn't bother with shelling out money for G-sync. 

[WereCat]

2 hours ago, Cela1 said:

I wouldn't bother with G-sync, it is an overpriced feature with not a big enough effect IMO. Just go into nvidia control panel and enable 'fast-sync' as the vertical sync setting, you can thank me later.

Fast-Sync has problems with stuttering though.

 

I got 165Hz QHD IPS G-Sync monitor 2 weeks ago.

 

Does it look really nice? -Yes!

Is it worth $200 extra? -Definitely not, put that money into better GPU and just get 144Hz monitor.

Are there problems with G-Sync when using multiple monitors and runing games in borderless/windowed mode? -Yes!

Will this affect your decision of buying GPU in future? -Yes!

 

Unless there is specific monitor that is IPS and there is no other variant without G-Sync like in my case then I cant really recommend it that much for the price extra. I got IPS+G-Sync with my AOC AG271QH and the other ones without G-Sync were only TN so I paid extra €200 for IPS and G-Sync which makes it worth it a bit more.

[Techicolors]

2 hours ago, Cela1 said:

I wouldn't bother with G-sync, it is an overpriced feature with not a big enough effect IMO. Just go into nvidia control panel and enable 'fast-sync' as the vertical sync setting, you can thank me later.

i thought fast-sync was meant for framerates higher than the refresh rate of your panel. 

[Cela1]

10 hours ago, Technicolors said:

i thought fast-sync was meant for framerates higher than the refresh rate of your panel. 

It is (and for under as well though).