It’s virtually impossible to buy a gaming monitor that lacks an AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync logo these days, and for good reason. Variable refresh rate technology is important for smooth, consistent gameplay. Some displays only claim support for one of the two, however, which begs the question: which is better? It turns out the two are more similar than different.
Freesync vs. G-Sync
Freesync vs. G-Sync: Performance
AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are variable refresh rate technologies. They’re designed to synchronize the refresh rate of a compatible monitor or television with the frame rate put out by an attached device (usually a PC or game console).
This eliminates screen tearing, an ugly graphical artifact that creates a visible line or seam that moves up and down the display. Screen tearing happens when a display refreshes in the middle of a frame render. You’re literally seeing two different frames. AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync ensure a display waits for a frame to be rendered before refreshing the display.
FreeSync and G-Sync also ensure consistent frame pacing, which is important for smooth gameplay. A game that plays at a high frame rate can still seem to stutter if the time it takes to render each frame swings wildly during gameplay. V-sync (vertical sync) can solve this problem but may significantly lower the frame rate when swings in performance are too wide. FreeSync and G-Sync can handle these dips without that downside, so they’re preferable.
Most AMD FreeSync and G-Sync displays are more similar than they are different. That’s because all FreeSync displays, and all Nvidia G-Sync Compatible displays, piggyback off an open-source standard called VESA Adaptive-Sync. AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible are so similar that most displays with support for one also work with the other—even if it’s not officially supported.
Nvidia G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate are the exceptions. These require a display and additional hardware that only works with Nvidia GPUs. G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate are less common than G-Sync Compatible and reserved for high-end, expensive displays. Nvidia’s proprietary solution is superior to others because it handles adaptive sync through a display’s entire refresh rate. AMD FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible may drop out under a refresh rate of 40 to 48Hz (it depends on the display). The real-world utility of this advantage is up for debate, though, since it only applies to a slim slice of scenarios. Speaking personally, I can’t remember the last time I had a bad experience with AMD FreeSync or G-Sync Compatible at lower refresh rates, and I review dozens of monitors every year.
Winner: Tie
Freesync vs. G-Sync: Features
AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible displays are extremely similar and their feature sets are largely identical.
Nvidia G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate monitors are the exception. These have proprietary hardware built to function specifically with Nvidia video cards. This increases the range of refresh rates that a monitor can support. Most FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible monitors have a minimum refresh rate below which adaptive sync stops working. Nvidia G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate monitors don’t have this disadvantage.
It’s a pretty minor perk. The situations in which you’ll play a game with adaptive sync turned on, but a frame rate below 48 FPS (the typical lower bound on a FreeSync display), are slim. G-Sync Compatible and AMD FreeSync Premium / Premium Pro monitors also compensate for this by repeating frames, which gets around the problem.
AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync try to differentiate themselves with features that actually have nothing to do with variable fresh rates. Both add tiers of HDR certification, and G-Sync Ultimate promises a “factory-calibrated” sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut. This is marketing fluff. Certifications are nice to have, but the technology behind FreeSync and G-Sync has little to do with HDR or a particular color gamut. AMD and G-Sync are just slapping a badge on features most monitors support anyway.
Winner: Tie
FreeSync vs. G-Sync: Monitor and video card compatibility
As mentioned, AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible monitors rely on the VESA Adaptive-Sync standard. As a result, most monitors that support one should work with the other. The support is unofficial, so it’s not guaranteed—but in most cases it’s not a problem.
Some monitor manufacturers are slapping VESA Adaptive-Sync badges to their displays, too. That’s an easy marketing win, since FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible monitors already support it.
There’s some nuance to this conversation. AMD, Nvidia, and VESA have different certification programs with slightly different standards, not all of which are clearly explained. That’s why some displays only list support for one or two of the three variable refresh rate technologies despite their similarities. A display that should be G-Sync Compatible can’t slap that label on the box without passing Nvidia’s certification. The same is true for AMD FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro and VESA Adaptive Sync.
But this distracts from the key point: VESA Adaptive Sync, G-Sync Compatible, and AMD FreeSync Premium build on the same technical standard, so none is better or worse than the others. They serve the same purpose and are usually compatible with each other, even when compatibility isn’t officially listed.
Nvidia G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate monitors are the exception. These don’t use the VESA Adaptive Sync standard as a foundation and instead have proprietary Nvidia hardware inside them, so they only support variable refresh rates when used with an Nvidia video card.
Winner: Tie
FreeSync vs. G-Sync: Value
If you guessed that AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync offer similar value, give yourself a pat on the back. You’re right!
G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate displays are often more expensive than AMD FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro monitors. The vast majority of displays instead support Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, which is often thrown in alongside support for AMD FreeSync Premium / Premium Pro.
So, once again, the debate boils to an impasse. Most AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync displays are similarly priced when offering similar features.
Winner: Tie
FreeSync vs. G-Sync Verdict: It’s a tie
AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, and VESA Adaptive-Sync displays are similar, often cross-compatible, and deliver similar results in games.
It’s probably better to think of these labels as certifications instead of unique technologies. Many displays that support FreeSync can work with G-Sync Compatible and VESA Adaptive-Sync, or vice-versa—but display manufacturers can’t advertise support without submitting a display for certification from each respective company.
Nvidia G-Sync and G-Sync Ultimate are important and confusing exceptions. Displays that support these standards have proprietary Nvidia hardware inside them and only work with Nvidia graphics cards. However, most gamers who speak of “G-Sync support” are usually referring to G-Sync Compatible, which is more common.
The similarities between AMD FreeSync, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible, and VESA Adaptive-Sync make for a less exciting conclusion, but it’s good news for gamers. Variable refresh rate support is now widely available in a long list of monitors and televisions, some of which dip under $200. Gamers don’t need to sacrifice anything to enjoy variable refresh rates—it’s become an expected feature for even the least expensive gaming monitors.
Verdict: Tie
