[AT]NVIDIA G-Sync Review

[AnandThenMan]

Who said the sky is falling? I made a basic statement that is you want a G-Sync monitor, you are forced into one choice currently, and that's not for me.

Pretty simple. And yes a TN panel is terrible, no thanks.

 

[smackababy]

But now you're just focusing on one spec to try and make the difference between TN and IPS seem insignificant. It's the full combination of IPS' superiority such as viewing angles, colour depth, brightness, contrast, 8/10bit support etc. that all combined deliver the premium and superior experience. You put one of each side by side with the same image and the IPS just crushes the TN, you can't miss the stark inferiority of the TN panel.

I've had both, and while IPS has it's merits in certain aspects (to which the vast majority of users will never touch), TN is still superior in fast paced gaming. At what point in anyone's life will they require 10bit support?

Going from TN to a great IPS is like going from a mechanical hard drive to an SSD; you just don't go back. It's like going from a car back to a horse and buggy. IPS/VA was a game changer when I did that upgrade and then 2560x1600 from 1200p was doubly so.

It's a superior experience.

Now, you're just exaggerating. I'm sure being forced to use a TN after using IPS for an extended period of time is akin to the Holocaust; the reality is hyperbole really isn't effective.

The only reason I advocate waiting for IPS is due to larger resolutions, and if 4K was something announced as coming soon, I'd say skip IPS altogether.

 

[Erenhardt]

Who is the target?
I mean G-sync module will be about $100 when the price settle. Most GPU sales are below $200. That is 50% of GPU price. What should someone on the market with $200 do: Get cheaper $100 card and G-sync module, or get $200.
To give it perspective:
Oups, There are no $100 GPUs that support G-sync. For a moment lets say most people buy $250 cards.
1. Buy $150 GTX660 and $100 G-sync module for his compatible display
2. Buy $250 GTX670
Which one would give better experience?

 

[BallaTheFeared]

G-Sync is the best thing since sliced bread and I plan to butter my toast.

Gamers are the target for this technology.

 

[Grooveriding]

No exaggeration, I can see that is your opinion though. IPS and high resolutions open up a whole new level of IQ for gaming. I don't even see the big deal and why anyone gets so up in arms about discussions on the lack of any concrete IPS+gsync announcements being disappointing. Gsync is in its infancy and you can't even buy a single monitor SKU with it yet. No one is knocking the technology, just that right now it is not ready for prime time and presents literally no options for consumers...like not one single monitor you can buy, with just one single option coming at some point next year in the form of a 1080p TN low-budget screen.

I agree on 4K being where gsync really makes the most sense. 1080p is an easy affair to run at 60fps with the glut of GPU power we have today and your money is better spent buying lots of GPU power to run 1080p at 60fps+ negating most of gsync's benefit, but 4K is a whole other beast where we lack the GPU power to run high settings at 60fps. So gsync could make a big splash there. Probably its best usage case.

We'll see how it shakes out by 2015 or so when we start to see more than a single 1080p TN screen supporting it.

 

[Silverforce11]

Why compare with vsync on versus off, why not compare with adaptive vsync on versus off?

Thats the fix for stutter frames when fps drop below 60, adaptive vsync disables vsync for those situations, so there's no stutter or screen tear when its below 60, and when its above 60, no stutter or screen tear.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Which one would give better experience?

The one that virtually every reviewer has said delivers a "substantially better gaming experience"?


If I had to guess, that would be my guess.

A monitor is an investment, which can generally span several GPU generations, much like a quality PSU.

 

[AnandThenMan]

I wonder if Nvidia has gone about this backwards. Instead of mitigating the cost of G-Sync by putting it in a low rent monitor initially, maybe they should have started with a high end one? After all at high resolutions G-Sync is where it has the most use.

And people looking at a high end monitor won't balk at another $100 so much as someone looking for an inexpensive display. Just a thought.

A monitor is an investment, which can generally span several GPU generations, much like a quality PSU.

Exactly, which is why I said I don't want a cheapo monitor with G-Sync, and feathers were ruffled for no reason.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

A $200 TN isn't cheap, and considering it will do things like 3D, 120Hz+, Lightboost, and more it really isn't a fair assessment.

Aside from that Nvidia is a business, and they're putting it in the most popular panel market for gamers... Which is where they'll see the most sales, and the most adoption.

 

[Silverforce11]

In the long term it doesnt matter what monitor they put it in, as long as if the technology works and provides a real benefit.

Why is there no such comparisons made between the benefits of ADAPTIVE vsync vs G-sync?

 

[OCGuy]

AMD will have to follow suit on this. The reviews are resoundingly positive.

 

[Paul98]

I wonder if Nvidia has gone about this backwards. Instead of mitigating the cost of G-Sync by putting it in a low rent monitor initially, maybe they should have started with a high end one? After all at high resolutions G-Sync is where it has the most use.

And people looking at a high end monitor won't balk at another $100 so much as someone looking for an inexpensive display. Just a thought.


Exactly, which is why I said I don't want a cheapo monitor with G-Sync, and feathers were ruffled for no reason.

This is what I was thinking, if you are putting a new tech in a monitor seems you would want to put it in some good quality monitor.

 

[Childs]

Any word on when the standalone Gsync module will be available?

 

[blackened23]

Any word on when the standalone Gsync module will be available?

Kinda not really. Q1/H1 2014 is the best date given so far, nothing specific.

 

[96Firebird]

You know exactly what I mean (not to mention read exactly what I posted), don't argue just for the sake of arguing. If I want G-Sync now, that is my choice.

I am not trying to argue for the sake of arguing, I am truly trying to figure out what you mean.

So you're not happy that the technology is taking so long to get into better monitors? Ok, you can either wait, or... Well, nothing I guess. Wait.

 

[Shivansps]

Standalone ALTERA FPGAs? people are gona buy those for mining...

 

[AnandThenMan]

So you're not happy that the technology is taking so long to get into better monitors?

Pretty much, and I'd much rather see it vendor neutral. But that's unlikely to happen so if I get a G-Sync monitor, I'm going to get a good one that will still be very nice even if I don't use the feature.

Also I really fail to get why people spend $1000's on GPUs but connect them to $200 monitors. Discussion for another thread.

 

[96Firebird]

Seems like you agree with Scribby over at Overlord, I'll re-quote what Final8ty posted on page 2 of this thread...

It will take some time to get G-Sync expanded out even beyond the ASUS unit.

There are several issues here - one is that each G-Sync module must be tuned to the specific panel and PCBs used for that panel. As of now, the OEM makers - ASUS, BENQ, etc have the tech from Nvidia and are implementing them the best way they see fit (read: in whatever way makes them the most money). This goes to my point that people claiming exclusivity have no idea what they are talking about. The tech has been released to OEM makers already. The second issue is that of development. Since the tech must be tuned for each application it means it will take time for the modules to make their way into a bunch of different panel formats since R&D and production is pricey.

We here at Overlord are small potatoes and have not been given such worldly access to the OEM specs for G-Sync. We couldn't do much with it anyway since we don't have a large R&D department to make custom PCBs with the modules properly tuned to our panel (IPS) and TCONs.

After a conversation with Nvidia last week the whole expansion to IPS - and more importantly as far as we here at Overlord are concerned - to IPS/1440 panels is in the works. I am waiting to hear back on where in the R&D timeline the 1440/IPS G-Sync module is. Until then I continue to hammer home with Nvidia that the holy grail, short of a real 4k at 60hz or above, not the hybrids out now, is a 1440/120Hz selectable/G-Sync model. TN at 1080 is ok if you run 3 panels, but a single panel? Please. With GPUs ramping up each quarter it seems, soon 3 x 1440/120/GSYNC will be attainable and price effective compared to the upcoming 4K models.

Bottom line I think people don't understand that you cannot take the module and just plug it into a different setup. The module must be engineered to each specific application making it more time consuming and ultimately more expensive.

The bolded part tells me that time and cost are now out of Nvidia's hands and in the hands of the monitor manufacturers. They have the tech from Nvidia, it is up to them to get everything working right. I'm guessing the ASUS panel that is near complete is the one that Nvidia initially worked with to develop the technology...

 

[DarkKnightDude]

Certainly looks interesting. I'll be keeping an eye on this.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Standalone ALTERA FPGAs? people are gona buy those for mining...

LOL, it does seem interesting if some interface could be made up.

 

[5150Joker]

In the long term it doesnt matter what monitor they put it in, as long as if the technology works and provides a real benefit.

Why is there no such comparisons made between the benefits of ADAPTIVE vsync vs G-sync?

Adaptive vsync still suffers from input lag. How is this not computing for you?

 

[SolMiester]

Is it they are too hard to please or others are too easy?

Id say the former when they are obviously bitter its proprietary NV tech.

 

[5150Joker]

Buddy of mine was getting a 290X until he read this article. He knew about G-SYNC but wanted to see a review of it first from a credible source. He's now switched over to a 780 Ti as his preferred GPU for his new build. So there you go, a G-SYNC sale. So why is it proprietary? Because it nets nvidia sales.

 

[Silverforce11]

Adaptive vsync still suffers from input lag. How is this not computing for you?

People have been gaming with vsync and tripple buffering for a long time. Adaptive vsync was handy, it solves the tearing/stutter issue.

If the only thing Gsync bring to the table is less input lag..

That would benefit a tiny faction of people who are bothered with input lag? Compared to most everyone who are bothered by screen tearing or stutter.

 

[AnandThenMan]

So why is it proprietary? Because it nets nvidia sales.

No way. Moving picture reel at 11.

Flip side, Nvidia licenses the tech and gets royalty for every display sold. Which is better? Unknown, but Nvidia thinks they have the answer.

Id say the former when they are obviously bitter its proprietary NV tech.

Why does this make you happy?