AMD Graphics Cards Will Work With Future G-Sync Monitors

[erek]

"So if you have an AMD graphics card, you could still enjoy the VRR experience and other additional benefits that the G-sync module brings even from a native G-sync screen, which was previously out of reach to those users," TFT said. However, it's uncertain if users will be able to reap G-Sync's full benefits.

But there is a caveat. The new firmware will only be compatible with future G-Sync displays, such as the Acer Predator XB273 X. Nvidia told TFT Central that the new firmware will not work with existing G-Sync monitors on the market.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/gsync-monitor-with-amd-graphics-card-nvidia

 

[DoubleTap]

Buying a Gsync monitor is a bet that you're always going to prefer Nvidia cards to AMD. For me, that's a pretty safe bet, but it's smart of Nvidia to open their product line to people who are less certain.

 

[defaultluser]

This is no surprise. Since Nvidia opened the gates wide at the beginning of the year, Gsync-only displays have been at a significant disadvantage.

Now, you can brand the monitor whatever you want, and it will be usable. It's the only way for GSYNC HDR (and those incredibly-expensive FPGSs that drive it) to find any long-term marketshare.

I was surprised it took them this long to do it. But given the fact that there will be no firmware upgrades to existing monitors, that tells you all you need to know about why Nvidia has been quiet about this.

 

[Ebernanut]

I'm torn on this. One the one hand it seems like another step towards a potential open standard but given Nvidia's track record I'm concerned that they'll make sure it's an inferior experience on AMD cards and at the same time push monitor manufacturers to adopt it as the (non-open) standard and drop freesync support.

 

[defaultluser]

I'm torn on this. One the one hand it seems like another step towards a potential open standard but given Nvidia's track record I'm concerned that they'll make sure it's an inferior experience on AMD cards and at the same time push monitor manufacturers to adopt it as the (non-open) standard and drop freesync support.

They can't do that. Once they've agreed to go "GSYNC-COMPATIBE," there's no closing the door (without some massive consequences).

If they don't offer the same olive branch to their GSYNC monitors, the number of buyers of their closed-architecture will fall massively over the next year!

 

[Darth Ender]

everyone is going to use freesync anyway. It's easier to support from the manufacturer perspective because it imposes less strict functionality so cheaper monitors can say they support freesync even if it's only 2 frequencies and neither are very low while top end models can support a full range that overlaps with gysnc's freq range requirements. TV's have gone this route as well (mostly because consoles are all amd)

Nvidia is updating monitor firmware so the few manufacturers that actually produce gsync monitors have less of a reason to abandon it altogether. This is a change they've been forced to make because their spec is dying and will die faster if you limit the demo to nvidia pc users.

 

[DoubleTap]

everyone is going to use freesync anyway. It's easier to support from the manufacturer perspective because it imposes less strict functionality so cheaper monitors can say they support freesync even if it's only 2 frequencies and neither are very low while top end models can support a full range that overlaps with gysnc's freq range requirements. TV's have gone this route as well (mostly because consoles are all amd)

Nvidia is updating monitor firmware so the few manufacturers that actually produce gsync monitors have less of a reason to abandon it altogether. This is a change they've been forced to make because their spec is dying and will die faster if you limit the demo to nvidia pc users.

It's always been a niche and will probably continue to have a niche in the top tier monitor space. It's not like a software platform - if you get Gsync monitors, they work great, even if sales fall and even if they stop making them. When it's time to refresh your monitors, it may or may not make sense to buy Gsync again but saying it's "dying" seems a little over wrought.

 

[cybereality]

Seems like Nvidia is just trying to save the G-Sync brand.

Once VRR is a supported standard, there will be no need for G-Sync or FreeSync as the feature will just be assumed.

 

[Darth Ender]

monitor manufacturers license gsync and the ability to call their monitors gsync from nvidia by paying nvidia ... You shortly will have two royalty free techs that do VRR (hdmi2.1 and freesync) available to people that will be compatible with everyone vs gsync which will only ever be compatible with pc's using nvidia graphics cards.

The writing is dripping off the wall. Display manufacturers will phase out new models with gsync and it will die.

 

[MavericK]

everyone is going to use freesync anyway. It's easier to support from the manufacturer perspective because it imposes less strict functionality so cheaper monitors can say they support freesync even if it's only 2 frequencies and neither are very low while top end models can support a full range that overlaps with gysnc's freq range requirements. TV's have gone this route as well (mostly because consoles are all amd)

This is one of my issues with everything being "Freesync" - there is no standardization as to what refresh rates are supported, so the experience can vary wildly between displays.

At least with hardware G-Sync you know that it will support a certain range of rates across all displays.