Will GSYNC(FREESYNC) matter when your fps = hz?

[techguyusa123]

If my game is running at a constant 60fps and my monitor's refresh rate is also 60hz, will gsync(freesync) matter in this situation?

 

[photonboy]

Yes.
A normal, synchronous monitor updates the screen a specific number of times per second based on what is in a buffer. However, this can cause PROBLEMS.

VSYNC ON
- this synchronizes so the GPU outputs 60x per second if the monitor is 60Hz. The PROBLEM is that you need an added buffer so it adds lag. Thus the game feels more SLUGGISH. Most noticeable in faster games.

VSYNC OFF
- the GPU just creates new frames as fast as possible
- avoids added LAG, but creates screen TEARING because the content of different frames get mixed together on the screen

GSYNC:
The GPU creates a frame, then the Monitor draws it. So the monitor is VARIABLE and only draws a frame when told to. You can't get different pieces mixed up (screen tearing) and there's no synch buffer caused by VSYNC ON

The result is that at the SAME TIME you have:
- no screen tearing
- minimal lag/sluggishness

There's more to the topic. For example, some Freesync monitors don't work well if the max/min is less than 2.5x (i.e. 40Hz to 60Hz means no support below 40FPS, but GSYNC works below 60FPS the entire range).

Some monitors have issues with color shift due to OVERDRIVE of the pixels (hard to vary the pixel response time and keep the color correct).

Best monitor?
Freesync for AMD GPU
GSync for NVidia GPU

A 144Hz, 27", IPS would be at the top end, but expensive.

 

[photonboy]

Update:
If you already had a GSYNC or Freesync monitor, and a GPU that supported it you would need to ensure you were not capped at 60FPS on a 60Hz monitor, because that reverts to the normal VSYNC ON or VSYNC OFF (one or the other depending on your settings).

So again, if you see it running a solid 60FPS that means VSYNC is ON and you are receiving no BENEFIT from the asynchronous GSYNC or FREESYNC mode. You would need to CAP the game to something like 50FPS (not sure what the maximum you can artificially cap is).

I know that's a bit confusing.

AMD can cap with their control panel.

NVidia I'm not sure about. I know I can do that with NVInspector, not sure about the normal control panel on a PER GAME BASIS.

 

[techguyusa123]

Yes.
A normal, synchronous monitor updates the screen a specific number of times per second based on what is in a buffer. However, this can cause PROBLEMS.

VSYNC ON
- this synchronizes so the GPU outputs 60x per second if the monitor is 60Hz. The PROBLEM is that you need an added buffer so it adds lag. Thus the game feels more SLUGGISH. Most noticeable in faster games.

VSYNC OFF
- the GPU just creates new frames as fast as possible
- avoids added LAG, but creates screen TEARING because the content of different frames get mixed together on the screen

GSYNC:
The GPU creates a frame, then the Monitor draws it. So the monitor is VARIABLE and only draws a frame when told to. You can't get different pieces mixed up (screen tearing) and there's no synch buffer caused by VSYNC ON

The result is that at the SAME TIME you have:
- no screen tearing
- minimal lag/sluggishness

There's more to the topic. For example, some Freesync monitors don't work well if the max/min is less than 2.5x (i.e. 40Hz to 60Hz means no support below 40FPS, but GSYNC works below 60FPS the entire range).

Some monitors have issues with color shift due to OVERDRIVE of the pixels (hard to vary the pixel response time and keep the color correct).

Best monitor?
Freesync for AMD GPU
GSync for NVidia GPU

A 144Hz, 27", IPS would be at the top end, but expensive.

Update:
If you already had a GSYNC or Freesync monitor, and a GPU that supported it you would need to ensure you were not capped at 60FPS on a 60Hz monitor, because that reverts to the normal VSYNC ON or VSYNC OFF (one or the other depending on your settings).

So again, if you see it running a solid 60FPS that means VSYNC is ON and you are receiving no BENEFIT from the asynchronous GSYNC or FREESYNC mode. You would need to CAP the game to something like 50FPS (not sure what the maximum you can artificially cap is).

I know that's a bit confusing.

AMD can cap with their control panel.

NVidia I'm not sure about. I know I can do that with NVInspector, not sure about the normal control panel on a PER GAME BASIS.

I still don't understand in the situation where FPS = HZ, how G(FREE)sync monitor can make any difference...

 

[photonboy]

Okay,
It does NOT make a difference in the situation you describe.

With a normal (synchronous) monitor the monitor refreshes the screen a SPECIFIC number of times per second depending what is in the framebuffer. For a 60Hz monitor it can update the ENTIRE screen 60x per second.

That can cause problems such as stutter, screen tearing, lag..

With GSYNC the monitor is NOT updating a specific number of times when it's in the asynchronous range. That's BELOW 60FPS for a 60Hz monitor, or BELOW 144FPS for a 144Hz, GSYNC monitor.

When that happens the GPU (video card) creates a new frame, then sends it to the monitor and the monitor then DRAWS the new image. So the monitor is totally slaved to the GPU.

*However, when the monitor reaches its MAXIMUM refresh rate it has to switch to either:
a) VSYNC OFF (screen tearing), or
b) VSYNC ON (added lag/sluggishness, added STUTTER for non-GSYNC scenario if dropping below target)

(normally I'd add added STUTTER to VSYNC ON but that doesn't apply here because if you drop below the targetSo again, once you hit that point you are NO LONGER in asynchronous mode. There is NO BENEFIT at that point to having a GSYNC monitor.