{"id":118529,"date":"2017-06-20T18:00:13","date_gmt":"2017-06-20T16:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=118529"},"modified":"2017-06-20T17:46:23","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T15:46:23","slug":"why-g-sync-monitors-cost-more-than-freesync","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/hardware\/118529-why-g-sync-monitors-cost-more-than-freesync","title":{"rendered":"Why G-Sync monitors cost more than FreeSync"},"content":{"rendered":"

Variable refresh rate monitors are becoming more popular among PC gamers due to their elimination of screen tearing and stutter.<\/p>\n

There are two variable refresh rate technologies currently in the PC gaming market, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync.<\/p>\n

The screen technologies are only effective when paired with a graphics card from the same manufacturer, however, and there is a notable price difference between FreeSync and G-Sync monitors.<\/p>\n

FreeSync vs G-Sync<\/h3>\n

FreeSync and G-Sync monitors do not refresh at a constant rate of 60Hz or 144Hz like most monitors, and change their refresh rates based on how many frames per second your GPU delivers.<\/p>\n

This removes artifacts like screen tearing or stutter which result from higher frame rates and Vsync respectively.<\/p>\n

Vsync locks the video card\u2019s FPS output to a static amount, usually 60FPS, which causes input lag and stutter.<\/p>\n

FreeSync and G-Sync monitors solve this problem by changing refresh rates dynamically within a certain range.<\/p>\n

AMD and Nvidia\u2019s technologies both deliver similar results, which vary depending on the monitor\u2019s hardware and panel type.<\/p>\n

LCD monitors can make use of FreeSync or G-Sync on a variety of panel types, including IPS, TN, and VA.<\/p>\n

G-Sync is supported by Nvidia GeForce GTX 650 Ti or better graphics cards and require the manufacturer\u2019s R340.52 display drivers.<\/p>\n

AMD\u2019s FreeSync technology is supported by the company\u2019s RX-series graphics cards, in addition to various GPUs from the R9 series.<\/p>\n

For a monitor to use Nvidia\u2019s G-Sync technology, it must have a proprietary hardware module which is sold by Nvidia installed.<\/p>\n

FreeSync monitors use AMD\u2019s open FreeSync standard.<\/p>\n

\"Alienware<\/a><\/p>\n

Prices and Licensing<\/h3>\n

While Nvidia charges monitor manufacturers to install the G-Sync hardware module into their devices, FreeSync is royalty-free and has no licensing costs.<\/p>\n

This means that consumers with Nvidia graphics cards pay a premium for the same technology that AMD card owners get for free.<\/p>\n

According to AMD<\/strong><\/a>, the open FreeSync licence results in a price \u201cup to $300 less than comparable displays with competing technologies.\u201d<\/p>\n

G-Sync monitors are generally more expensive than their FreeSync counterparts, but the price difference is usually obscured by different specifications \u2013 such as panel types or connectivity.<\/p>\n

However, Dell\u2019s recently-launched\u00a0Alienware monitors<\/strong><\/a> sport identical specifications, with the exception of their variable refresh rate technology.<\/p>\n