[TFTCentral - Review] Acer XB270HU - 27" 144Hz IPS G-Sync

[Black Octagon]

Once FreeSync monitors actually start selling, G-Sync will be subject to competition. Then it's up to the market (read: us) to give a verdict

 

[cmdrdredd]

What really needs to happen is a Displayport or HDMI standard that works like G-Sync in all displays that support the new standard going forward. So your next TV purchase can work with this technology as well as your standard monitor.

 

[DooKey]

I'm reading about G sync and trying to get excited, but if it's tied to only nvidia gpus it's going to be a failure.

I'd never buy a monitor for a feature that will tie me down to one graphics chip maker, it's stupid.

That Asus with adaptive sync is where the money is at, and that's where I expect the market to go.

G sync is already dead based on its proprietary chain to nvidia in a quickly evolving gaming market between AMD and nvidia and Intel.


We already saw this story with nvidia lousy gameworks results and physx. Time to stop attributing poor results to good intentions, it's the intentions that are misguided and the source of the poor results. NVidia G sync has to follow this outcome, as the intentions behind it haven't changed. Segment the market for one company is bad for us as gamers and bad for the future of gaming, I'm upset this crap from nvidia is still tolerated.

AMD = Freesnyc
NV = G-Sync

Pick your poison. However, NV controls 70% of the dGPU market and *sync isn't going to change it one way or the other. Those of you who only buy AMD will get Freesync and those of you who only buy NV will get G-Sync. Status quo.

 

[Creig]

AMD = Freesnyc
NV = G-Sync

Pick your poison. However, NV controls 70% of the dGPU market and *sync isn't going to change it one way or the other. Those of you who only buy AMD will get Freesync and those of you who only buy NV will get G-Sync. Status quo.

Unless Intel decides to support FreeSync as well. Don't forget that they adopted eDP a couple of years ago. It's entirely possible that they may have Adaptive-Sync capable hardware already on the market and just need to write the software for it.

Plus the fact that FreeSync is significantly less expensive than G-sync.

 

[tential]

I don't think G-Sync will die until Nvidia supports an open standard with their cards.

Which is why it's highly amusing to see the AMD fanboys say "I'm getting FreeSync because it's an open standard and doesn't tie me to one GPU maker!"
Nvidia doesn't have to support an open standard, they control the market, G-Sync will live on as long as Nvidia wants it to and has monitors to sell with it.

Unless AMD actually figures out how to market FreeSync(Anyone want to take bets on AMD's marketing team... I mean seriously?....) Gsync is here to stay for awhile.

 

[5150Joker]

Gsync isn't going anywhere and has a bigger chance of success considering nvidia owns the desktop and laptop discrete markets.

 

[metalliax]

Gsync isn't going anywhere and has a bigger chance of success considering nvidia owns the desktop and laptop discrete markets.

The main problem with G-Sync, and why it will struggle to remain relevant 12-24 months from now, is that it only works with DisplayPort, and any monitor that is built for GSync can't have HDMI or DVI inputs, and requires an additional $50-100 of components. Monitor manufacturers have to build and market separate hardware for the small % of the market that wants a G-Sync specific monitor. This will keep GSync monitors a niche product.

With AdaptiveSync on the other hand, monitors can be sold to both people that want AdaptiveSync, and also to those who have no idea what AdaptiveSync is. There is no additional hardware required. In fact, by next year, I bet >90% of high-end monitors will have AdaptiveSync built in by default. It will simply be an additional feature supported.

 

[Jumpem]

The main problem with G-Sync, and why it will struggle to remain relevant 12-24 months from now, is that it only works with DisplayPort, and any monitor that is built for GSync can't have HDMI or DVI inputs, and requires an additional $50-100 of components. Monitor manufacturers have to build and market separate hardware for the small % of the market that wants a G-Sync specific monitor. This will keep GSync monitors a niche product.

With AdaptiveSync on the other hand, monitors can be sold to both people that want AdaptiveSync, and also to those who have no idea what AdaptiveSync is. There is no additional hardware required. In fact, by next year, I bet >90% of high-end monitors will have AdaptiveSync built in by default. It will simply be an additional feature supported.

Acer's new IPS G-Sync monitor will have both DP and HDMI.

 

[5150Joker]

The main problem with G-Sync, and why it will struggle to remain relevant 12-24 months from now, is that it only works with DisplayPort, and any monitor that is built for GSync can't have HDMI or DVI inputs, and requires an additional $50-100 of components. Monitor manufacturers have to build and market separate hardware for the small % of the market that wants a G-Sync specific monitor. This will keep GSync monitors a niche product.

With AdaptiveSync on the other hand, monitors can be sold to both people that want AdaptiveSync, and also to those who have no idea what AdaptiveSync is. There is no additional hardware required. In fact, by next year, I bet >90% of high-end monitors will have AdaptiveSync built in by default. It will simply be an additional feature supported.

G-Sync requires DP, doesn't mean the monitor makers can't integrate additional inputs AFAIK. Furthermore, your predictions of 90% of monitors having Adaptive Sync support is really stretching it...by a lot. There's still extra money the vendors have to spend on integrating it and many will not bother. Also, and I'll reiterate, AMD is a small time player now in the overall market and they don't have the influence to set any kind of standard in the discrete market. Why do people keep talking about Intel? It has no relevancy in the gaming market. As long as NVIDIA is the leader and pushes G-Sync for gamers, that's what will get the most attention. Also keep in mind we have yet to see a direct head to head analysis of G-Sync vs FreeSync. I'll put my money on G-Sync being the better option due to it's dedicated hardware and DRAM.

It blows my mind when people say, "I'm gonna buy a FreeSync display because it's an open standard and not proprietary so I won't be locked in!". Umm yeah you will be locked in to AMD graphics cards. If you go with NVIDIA, you have to purchase a G-Sync display and if you go AMD, you gotta get Free Sync/Adaptive Sync. As a ROG Swift owner and someone who only purchases NVIDIA graphics cards (been burned by AMD one too many times), I LOVE G-Sync and see the results of it in every game I play daily.

 

[3DVagabond]

Which is why it's highly amusing to see the AMD fanboys say "I'm getting FreeSync because it's an open standard and doesn't tie me to one GPU maker!"
Nvidia doesn't have to support an open standard, they control the market, G-Sync will live on as long as Nvidia wants it to and has monitors to sell with it.

Unless AMD actually figures out how to market FreeSync(Anyone want to take bets on AMD's marketing team... I mean seriously?....) Gsync is here to stay for awhile.

So now supporting open standard makes someone a fanboy? I'd say it's more the opposite. You'd have to be a fan of a brand to support their proprietary tech over an open standard. Assuming the open standard is as effective. This remains to be seen, but we have had sources other than AMD, say that it is.

Gsync isn't going anywhere and has a bigger chance of success considering nvidia owns the desktop and laptop discrete markets.

Are there Gsync laptops?

 

[AnandThenMan]

You're really beating the "Nvidia has more market share" drum. FreeSync will quickly become standard in all monitors there is simply no reason for display makers not to implement it.

snip

 

[5150Joker]

So now supporting open standard makes someone a fanboy? I'd say it's more the opposite. You'd have to be a fan of a brand to support their proprietary tech over an open standard. Assuming the open standard is as effective. This remains to be seen, but we have had sources other than AMD, say that it is.



Are there Gsync laptops?

Not yet but laptops can be used in conjunction w/a G-Sync display like the ROG Swift.

You're really beating the "Nvidia has more market share" drum. FreeSync will quickly become standard in all monitors there is simply no reason for display makers not to implement it.

I'm just pointing out the obvious that many seem oblivious to. You can push Adaptive Sync all day long but it won't matter if the majority of people that would have use for it are using NVIDIA graphics cards.

 

[3DVagabond]

Not yet but laptops can be used in conjunction w/a G-Sync display like the ROG Swift.

Since you want to base it on market share what do you think the market size is for people using laptops to drive $600-$800 displays?

Still waiting on your response to people who support open standards are somehow fanboys for a particular brand. Seems like that would apply to supporting proprietary as you are supporting a single brand's tech.

 

[DigDog]

but seriously, my purchase window just got kicked back 1 year. no way i'm shelling out for this, and no way i'm buying a TN now that IPS does g-sync.

 

[5150Joker]

Since you want to base it on market share what do you think the market size is for people using laptops to drive $600-$800 displays?

Who cares? You asked if there were G-Sync laptops yet knowing there aren't (nor are there FreeSync for that matter) but that doesn't change the fact that AMD has little to no presence in discrete gaming notebooks.

Still waiting on your response to people who support open standards are somehow fanboys for a particular brand. Seems like that would apply to supporting proprietary as you are supporting a single brand's tech.

What? Who said anything about fanboys except you? Proprietary vs open standard is meaningless in this discussion because AMD is almost irrelevant in the discrete market with it's 25-30% market share. Then again discrete graphics as a whole are stagnant or on a downward trend but AMD is in much worse shape in every single way vs NVIDIA.

 

[cmdrdredd]

but seriously, my purchase window just got kicked back 1 year. no way i'm shelling out for this, and no way i'm buying a TN now that IPS does g-sync.

The only benefit to me is that TN can be very low blur. IPS as far as I know can still blur in motion.

 

[DeathReborn]

You're really beating the "Nvidia has more market share" drum. FreeSync will quickly become standard in all monitors there is simply no reason for display makers not to implement it.

Isn't Adaptive Sync the one that will become (or already is?) standard not AMD's FreeSync?

 

[tential]

It blows my mind when people say, "I'm gonna buy a FreeSync display because it's an open standard and not proprietary so I won't be locked in!". Umm yeah you will be locked in to AMD graphics cards. If you go with NVIDIA, you have to purchase a G-Sync display and if you go AMD, you gotta get Free Sync/Adaptive Sync.

Same here, mind boggled at how their brains are coming to that conclusion

 

[bystander36]

The only benefit to me is that TN can be very low blur. IPS as far as I know can still blur in motion.

Another thing, related to this, is IPS can't do 3D Vision, if you are into it.

 

[Kippa]

I am newbie when it comes to Gysnc et al. So if you have a gfx card that supports Gsync and a monitor that does, what do you have to do get it all to work in games? Do you need to do anything inside the games to get it to work? Or does it work magically with now settings to faff around with? So you just turn off vsync in games and you're good to go?

 

[cmdrdredd]

I am newbie when it comes to Gysnc et al. So if you have a gfx card that supports Gsync and a monitor that does, what do you have to do get it all to work in games? Do you need to do anything inside the games to get it to work? Or does it work magically with now settings to faff around with? So you just turn off vsync in games and you're good to go?

I think it happens at the driver level to allow the hardware components to communicate. That's how I read it to be anyhow.

 

[bystander36]

I think he was asking how you turn it on. I don't have one, so I'm not certain, but I believe it is turned on in the Nvidia Control Panel.

 

[wand3r3r]

Which is why it's highly amusing to see the AMD fanboys say "I'm getting FreeSync because it's an open standard and doesn't tie me to one GPU maker!"
Nvidia doesn't have to support an open standard, they control the market, G-Sync will live on as long as Nvidia wants it to and has monitors to sell with it.

Unless AMD actually figures out how to market FreeSync(Anyone want to take bets on AMD's marketing team... I mean seriously?....) Gsync is here to stay for awhile.

What you guys are clearly missing is the fact the freesync appears to have little or possibly even no price premium over a monitor without it (Asus $599 IPS FS vs. TN GS $799). Why wouldn't you take a freesync monitor, even if you switch GPUs you haven't lost anything. With G-sync $150-200 premiums, you have a lot to lose and therefore tie you down.

I haven't see any statements about not being tied to a gpu maker, where are these posts? Technically it isn't even tied to a GPU manufacturer.

G-Sync requires DP, doesn't mean the monitor makers can't integrate additional inputs AFAIK. Furthermore, your predictions of 90% of monitors having Adaptive Sync support is really stretching it...by a lot. There's still extra money the vendors have to spend on integrating it and many will not bother. Also, and I'll reiterate, AMD is a small time player now in the overall market and they don't have the influence to set any kind of standard in the discrete market. Why do people keep talking about Intel? It has no relevancy in the gaming market. As long as NVIDIA is the leader and pushes G-Sync for gamers, that's what will get the most attention. Also keep in mind we have yet to see a direct head to head analysis of G-Sync vs FreeSync. I'll put my money on G-Sync being the better option due to it's dedicated hardware and DRAM.

It blows my mind when people say, "I'm gonna buy a FreeSync display because it's an open standard and not proprietary so I won't be locked in!". Umm yeah you will be locked in to AMD graphics cards. If you go with NVIDIA, you have to purchase a G-Sync display and if you go AMD, you gotta get Free Sync/Adaptive Sync. As a ROG Swift owner and someone who only purchases NVIDIA graphics cards (been burned by AMD one too many times), I LOVE G-Sync and see the results of it in every game I play daily.

I doubt it will be better due to that, more expensive for sure anyway. I suspect it has hardware simply because they lacked the standard and had to make something custom to get it to market. If there wasn't a standard then additional hardware is the only option.

 

[bystander36]

What you guys are clearly missing is the fact the freesync appears to have little or possibly even no price premium over a monitor without it (Asus $599 IPS FS vs. TN GS $799). Why wouldn't you take a freesync monitor, even if you switch GPUs you haven't lost anything. With G-sync $150-200 premiums, you have a lot to lose and therefore tie you down.

I haven't see any statements about not being tied to a gpu maker, where are these posts? Technically it isn't even tied to a GPU manufacturer.

It does appear that Freesync will be cheaper, but we can't know for sure until they are both out and about. And the following months may cause more adjustments.

We will have to see what the costs are once these monitors are released. The G-sync versions may have been artificially high in cost. And in the case of the TN ASUS vs the IPS freesync version, we don't know if the TN cost more or not, as it is a new resolution for TN's, and may even be more expensive to setup and produce.

In March, there will be IPS versions of both monitors, and we may see new pricing.

 

[Pia]

I am newbie when it comes to Gysnc et al. So if you have a gfx card that supports Gsync and a monitor that does, what do you have to do get it all to work in games? Do you need to do anything inside the games to get it to work? Or does it work magically with now settings to faff around with? So you just turn off vsync in games and you're good to go?

I don't have Gsync display yet, but messed around with a ROG Swift display unit at a store. There's a checkbox for Gsync in the driver settings. If it's turned on, then any in-game vsync option will toggle between Vsync and Gsync instead of Vsync and tearing.