Guide on how to enable G-sync on your FreeSync monitor
Upgrading your computer with the latest technology only enhances your experience if you are able to get the maximum value out of your top-notch gear. It is clear that an AOC FreeSync monitor can stabilise and hone picture quality coming from the PC with AMD graphic cards, but thanks to the recent technological improvements, it is now possible to transform an AOC FreeSync monitor into a G-Sync compatible display, working smoothly with GPU’s from NVIDIA as well.
What is synchronisation in a monitor?
The GPU is usually not able to maintain a consistent frame rate, possibly altering between high spikes and sudden drops in performance. Its frame rate depends on the scenery the GPU has to display. For example, calm scenes in which there isn’t much going on demand less performance than epic, effect-laden boss fights.
When the frame rate of your GPU does not match the frame rate of your monitor, display issues occur: lag, tearing or stuttering when the monitor has to wait for new data or tries to display two different frames as one. To prevent these issues, the GPU and monitor need to be synchronised.
A technology to ensure a stable picture quality is called FreeSync and requires an AMD graphics processor and a FreeSync monitor. NVIDIA’s G-Sync on the other hand depends on the combination of an NVIDIA graphics card and a G-Sync monitor.
G-Sync compatible
With the new generations of NVIDIA graphics cards, it is possible to get the G-Sync features working on specific FreeSync AOC monitors as well. NVIDIA announced a list of certified AOC monitors which are also G-Sync compatible. Even if the AOC product is not on the list, you can still enable G-Sync on any AOC monitor and test the performance.*
How to enable G-Sync on your FreeSync monitor
- Upgrade your NVIDIA drivers to at least Version 417.71 (lower versions do not work).
- Connect your graphics card and monitor via DisplayPort.
- Enable variable refresh rates in the monitor's controls.
By following all the steps above, G-Sync should be enabled automatically. If not, you can take a few additional steps to enable the feature manually.
- Open the Nvidia Control Panel from the bottom right of Windows.
- Got to “Display” and click on “Set up G-SYNC”.
- Chose “Enable G-SYNC Compatible”.
- Select your monitor in “Enable settings for the selected display model”.
- Check “Enable settings for the selected display model”.
- Apply settings.
If the described method does not work, you might have to carry out a few extra steps:
- Go to "Manage 3D Settings", click "Global", scroll down to "Monitor Technology", select "G-SYNC Compatible" then click "Apply".
- You can also go to "Change Resolution" on the left and chose a higher refresh rate or different resolution.
Now you should have successfully enabled G-Sync on your AOC FreeSync monitor. The picture quality stays perfect and you can enjoy your gaming session without disruptive image flaws.
* Please refer to NVIDIA website for the complete list of GPUs working with FreeSync monitors and to see which monitors have been officially categorized as G-sync Compatible.
