How to Set Up Nvidia G-Sync for Smooth, Tear-Free PC Gaming

Because PCs are essentially piles of mismatched components—from CPUs and GPUs to monitors, and even peripherals—some miscommunication is inevitable. This can make it difficult to sync the frame rates between the hardware producing the images and the refresh rate of the displays showing those images. In the chasm between those two numbers lies some of the most noisome graphical issues in PC gaming.

When the frame rate spikes above the refresh rate your monitor can handle, you’re likely to get nasty tearing and artifacting—your monitor is caught trying to display multiple frames at the same time, so you end up with pieces of each frame overlapping each other. When the frame rate drops suddenly into the gutter, you get stuttering and slowdown. It’s an issue that has plagued PC gaming since its inception.

What Is V-Sync?

These sync problems aren’t a new phenomenon, and neither are the attempts to solve them. The most common solution is called v-sync, which effectively caps the frame rate of your games to the refresh rate of your display. This ensures that a frame is fully displayed and the refresh cycle is concluded before the next frame is displayed, which effectively eliminates tearing.

However, v-sync comes with some downsides. The most notable one is that it can increase input lag, which can be hugely problematic in games that require twitch reactions like first-person shooters and fighting games. V-sync still also permits some tearing to occur when frame rates jump quickly between rates below a monitor’s refresh rate, like those between 25 and 50fps on a 60Hz monitor.

What Is G-Sync?

(Credit: Nvidia)

Luckily, modern solutions have shored up some of v-sync’s failings. Variable refresh rate (VRR) is designed to eliminate tearing at all frame rates without increasing input lag. It manages this by dynamically syncing your display’s refresh rate to the frame rate your hardware is producing (assuming it’s at or below the display’s native refresh rate). This ensures that even when frame rate changes rapidly, your TV or monitor will always finish displaying one complete frame before drawing in the next.

G-Sync is Nvidia’s proprietary version of VRR. The best and most efficient implementation is achieved by including specific hardware, a processor module, in the monitor itself that handles the heavy lifting of adjusting the refresh rate on the fly. However, even some monitors that lack that dedicated G-Sync processor have been certified as G-Sync-compatible by Nvidia, and even some monitors that haven’t been certified will still work with G-Sync (albeit with mixed results).

AMD has its own VRR solution called FreeSync, which is based on an open standard called VESA Adaptive-Sync. Since 2019, Nvidia has also started supporting VESA Adaptive-Sync under the label “G-Sync compatible.”

Check Your Monitor’s Compatibility

(Credit: Nvidia)

The first step in setting up G-Sync on your display is figuring out its level of compatibility and capabilities. If your display has a dedicated G-Sync processor, your options will likely be much broader, particularly in terms of the range of supported refresh rates. The best way to get a sense of your monitor’s compatibility is to check Nvidia’s (frequently updated) list of G-Sync gaming monitors(Opens in a new window).

The list is arranged by default according to Nvidia’s three-tier classification system: G-Sync Ultimate and G-Sync monitors include dedicated processors to deliver the best experience, while G-Sync-compatible monitors lack the onboard hardware but have still been validated by Nvidia’s engineers to deliver solid VRR.

It also includes handy information like what type of panel your monitor is (VA, IPS, OLED, etc.) and whether or not it supports Variable Overdrive, Nvidia’s solution for ghosting/motion blur. It will also list which inputs G-Sync is available on (some monitors will only allow G-Sync to be enabled if connected via DisplayPort, for example).

How to Enable G-Sync

(Credit: Alan Bradley)

The next step is to turn on and test G-Sync itself. After you have ensured your monitor is connected via the appropriate port, right-click the Nvidia icon in your System Tray and open Nvidia Control Panel. You can also right-click on the desktop and open it from there.

In the Nvidia Control Panel, locate the Display header on the left and click on the Set up G-Sync entry in the sub-menu. Click the box next to Enable G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible and then choose whether you want it enabled for full-screen mode alone or for both full screen and windowed modes.

If you have multiple displays, you must select the one you want to enable G-Sync on. Depending on your specific monitor, you may also have the option to turn specific settings on or off for the selected display. Click Apply at the bottom and close Control Panel.

Test and Improve Your Graphics

Call of Duty: Warzone
(Credit: Whitson Gordon)

To test if G-Sync is working properly, you can grab the Pendulum demo(Opens in a new window) from Nvidia. For the best results, you may want to tweak settings in individual games, including running them in exclusive full screen where possible. Your primary goal is to ensure that your frame rate remains inside the refresh rate range your monitor supports for G-Sync compatibility.

If you’re frequently getting above the maximum limit, consider limiting the maximum frames output in your game’s graphics/display menu. If, on the other hand, you find you’re frequently dipping below the lowest threshold of supported refresh rates, you may want to drop some of the graphics settings in your game to consistently yield higher FPS.