Another Gsync thread...Is it necessary?

[Xa3phod]

I've read other Gsync threads, but they really don't answer the question I am asking:

If I want a 34" monitor that runs at 144mhz, do I need Gsync? Currently running a GTX970, but I am looking forward to upgrading to a 1080 or 1070. Will I need to upgrade if I get a Gsync? If I upgrade my GPU, will I need Gsync?

I play a ton of Planetside 2, I usually hover around 55-60fps. Will Gsync make it look like angels are singing to me? Or if I have a 144mhz monitor, will I not need Gsync? I doubt I will ever hit 144fps, so Gsync sounds like a good idea, but if I upgrade to a 1080, and I don't know how strong it will be, and if i get 144fps then, will Gsync not be worth it? With the difference between a Gsync and non Gsync 144mhz monitor is half the price of a 1080.

So what do you all think?

 

[Dreamerbydesign]

If you want a 144hz monitor but doubt you will ever hit 144 fps, why do you want a 144hz monitor?

 

[Enhanced Interrogator]

I've read other Gsync threads, but they really don't answer the question I am asking:

If I want a 34" monitor that runs at 144mhz, do I need Gsync? Currently running a GTX970, but I am looking forward to upgrading to a 1080 or 1070. Will I need to upgrade if I get a Gsync? If I upgrade my GPU, will I need Gsync?

I play a ton of Planetside 2, I usually hover around 55-60fps. Will Gsync make it look like angels are singing to me? Or if I have a 144mhz monitor, will I not need Gsync? I doubt I will ever hit 144fps, so Gsync sounds like a good idea, but if I upgrade to a 1080, and I don't know how strong it will be, and if i get 144fps then, will Gsync not be worth it? With the difference between a Gsync and non Gsync 144mhz monitor is half the price of a 1080.

So what do you all think?

That was really hard to read, but I think you just asked the same question 3 times in a row.

But to the answer the question: It's all subjective. Learn about technologies by googling them, then make an informed decision yourself. Nobody is going to tell you something here that hasn't already been discussed 5,000 times on this forum.

 

[zone74]

Any time your framerate is ever lower than your refresh rate G-Sync will be a big improvement in smoothness.
1070 + G-Sync is far better than a 1080 without G-Sync, unless you only play old games that always run at 144 FPS.

 

[pandora's box]

If you are buying a new monitor, I think buying one without GSYNC or Freesync (AMD) is foolish. People will mention the cost, but I think it's worth it considering most people keep monitors for 3-5 years before thinking about upgrading. GSYNC provides a level of smoothness I never thought would be possible and I will even say it's probably the best upgrade I've done in a long time.

 

[kalston]

G-sync or Freesync is totally worth it for the vast majority of gamers like previous posters said.

Most gamers don't have a stable 120-144fps on all games they play, even a mere 60 can be tough to achieve without compromising too much on quality. They also don't update their monitor frequently. If on a really tight budget I'd advise to at least get a 120-144hz monitor though, for the flexibility and the noticeable reduction in tearing even with v-sync off.

For you the answer is simple though : go G-sync. If it means getting a GTX 1070 instead of a 1080 so be it, it's still be way better.

 

[mdaniel]

I've never replaced a monitor ever 3-5 years. Mine usually serve me for about ten years. Shoot, I just now finally upgraded to 1080p 24" monitors with Freesync and 144 Hz from my old and still working 1400x900 19" monitors.

 

[elvn]

Even if you did a single 1080 on certain games now, or some other sli setup powerful enough to dial your graphics settings in to get 100fps-hz average, it would still be an average with a frame rate graph all over the place +/- 30 fps-hz. G-sync is always going to be better unless you had a very high minimum on some game and/or resolution with very little gpu demand, for example someone with a 60hz monitor at 1080p with a very strong gpu locking their frame rate at 60fps-hz/using v-sync, or someone with 1440p but running an isomteric game or an old source engine game or something. G-sync will always be better to me though because it allows you to ride the frame rate roller coaster higher (and lower) dynamically yet smoothly instead of settling for the tradeoffs and lower fps-hz of v-sync.

This page on blurbusters.com gives very clear examples of what g-sync does for you so I recommend checking it out.
Preview of NVIDIA G-SYNC, Part #1 (Fluidity)

For me 100fps-hz average is where you should be at least. With variable hz, around 100fps-hz to 120fps-hz average provides a constantly "vibrating" range of frame rate which on a graph usually goes 70fps-hz to 75fps-hz up to high 130's with a few potholes and spikes here and there depending on the game. So you are get maybe 30% to 60% blur reduction and 1.x:1 to 2.4:1 motion definition and motion articulation increase but it's all over the graph.

 

[Armenius]

I've read other Gsync threads, but they really don't answer the question I am asking:

If I want a 34" monitor that runs at 144mhz, do I need Gsync? Currently running a GTX970, but I am looking forward to upgrading to a 1080 or 1070. Will I need to upgrade if I get a Gsync? If I upgrade my GPU, will I need Gsync?

I play a ton of Planetside 2, I usually hover around 55-60fps. Will Gsync make it look like angels are singing to me? Or if I have a 144mhz monitor, will I not need Gsync? I doubt I will ever hit 144fps, so Gsync sounds like a good idea, but if I upgrade to a 1080, and I don't know how strong it will be, and if i get 144fps then, will Gsync not be worth it? With the difference between a Gsync and non Gsync 144mhz monitor is half the price of a 1080.

So what do you all think?

Can you be specific about the monitors you're looking at? Because there are no 34" 144 Hz monitors out there right now regardless of the inclusion of G-Sync.

As far as G-Sync goes: it's not "necessary" as to your thread title, but it is definitely a game changer. The technical stuff has already been covered, so I'll just say that I'll never go back to a static refresh rate monitor for gaming again.

 

[MistaSparkul]

I've been pretty happy with gsync. It just really irritates me how big the price premium over a freesync monitor of the exact same specs can be. This is mainly an issue with the 4k monitors, both the gsync capable Asus PG27AQ and the Acer XB271HK costs $800+ while a Freesync LG that probably uses the same exact panel costs $400. That extra $400 may as well be used towards a high end AMD gpu upgrade like Vega 10 with HBM2 to power your new monitor...

 

[chenw]

I've been pretty happy with gsync. It just really irritates me how big the price premium over a freesync monitor of the exact same specs can be. This is mainly an issue with the 4k monitors, both the gsync capable Asus PG27AQ and the Acer XB271HK costs $800+ while a Freesync LG that probably uses the same exact panel costs $400. That extra $400 may as well be used towards a high end AMD gpu upgrade like Vega 10 with HBM2 to power your new monitor...

This pretty much sums it up.

The painful part is, though, that the $400 you save from choosing freesync panels instead doesn't net you a whole lot on the AMD side right now, unless you are willing to go crossfire with Fury (Might be a little hard trying to fit 2 Fury X Radiators in a typical case). Vega is on the way yes, but it is still several months away.

When all else being equal though, it makes more 'sense' to choose a FreeSync monitor with nVidia GPU than a G-Sync monitor with AMD GPU, especially considering that there often no "Sync-less" versions of FreeSync monitors, so buying FreeSync monitor is heading towards being the baseline monitor. I even see it as FreeSync is a bonus if you go with AMD GPU, but is otherwise like a plain Sync-less monitor on nVidia hardware. Lack of G-Sync on AMD GPUs with G-Sync monitor OTOH feels like a penalty.

So all things considered, if you are uncertain whether or not you want tear-free tech, or if you are uncertain which GPU you will end up with, I'd probably choose FreeSync. G-Sync is more for those who pre-planned their purchase like "I MUST HAVE THAT SYNC!" type, and have no problems with sticking to nVidia. (I chose G-Sync because there was nothing else available at the time).

And finally, I have the completely unfounded and baseless hope that it probably would be more likely for nVidia to support FreeSync than letting AMD write their own G-Sync drivers.