How to install Nvidia G-Sync on your unsupported FreeSync monitor

If you want a smooth game without tearing the screen and want to enjoy the high speeds of your Nvidia graphics card, Nvidia's adaptive sync technology G-Sync, which optimizes the best performance of your card, is a great choice. feature that you will be looking for your next monitor.

To get this feature, you can spend a lot of money on a monitor with built-in G-Sync, like the high-end Acer Predator X27 at $ 1,999, or you can spend less money on a monitor FreeSync compatible with G-Sync via software. update. (At the time of writing these lines, 15 monitors are supporting the upgrade.)

However, there are still hundreds of FreeSync templates that will probably never get this feature. According to Nvidia, "not all monitors go through an official certification process, the quality of billboards varies and other issues may prevent players from benefiting from a significantly improved experience".

But even if you have an unsupported monitor, it may be possible to enable G-Sync. You can even have a good experience – at first. I tested G-Sync with two unsupported models and, unfortunately, the results were not consistent enough to be recommended for a supported monitor.

The 32-inch CQ32G1 AOC Curved Gaming Monitor, priced at $ 399, was no problem when I played Apex Legends and Metro: Exodus – first. Then flickers started to appear during the game, although I did not make any changes to the visual settings. I also tested it with Yakuza 0, which, surprisingly, served the worst performance, even though it's the least demanding title I've tested. Whether in full screen or windowed mode, the frame rate was unstable.

Photo of Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Another unsupported monitor, the $ 550 Asus MG279Q, managed both Metro: Exodus and Forza Horizon 4 without notable problems. (It is easy to confuse the MG279Q with the Asus MG278Q, which is on the list of FreeSync models supported by Nvidia.) In Nvidia's G-Sync test, the tear was important at first, but curiously, I I could not recreate it.

However, if you want to try G-Sync with an unsupported monitor, here's how.

Before you begin, note that to get the highest rates with or without G-Sync enabled, you must use a DisplayPort cable. If you use a FreeSync monitor, there is a good chance that it will be accompanied. But otherwise, they are not too expensive.

Using G-Sync with an unsupported FreeSync monitor

First, download and install the latest driver for your GPU from the Nvidia website or via GeForce Experience, Nvidia's Windows 10 application that lets you adjust game-by-game graphics. Since mid-January 2019, all Nvidia drivers have included G-Sync support for some FreeSync monitors. Even if you do not have a supported monitor, you will probably be able to activate G-Sync once you have installed the latest driver. Another question is whether it will work well after activating the feature.

Once the driver is installed, open the Nvidia Control Panel. In the side column you will see a new entry: Configure G-Sync. (If you do not see this setting, enable FreeSync in your monitor's on-screen display – if you still do not see it, you may not have a chance.)

Select the "Enable G-Sync Compatible" check box and click "Apply: Apply" to enable the settings. (The settings page will inform you that your monitor is not validated by Nvidia for G-Sync, since you already know that this is the case, do not worry.)

Check that the resolution and refresh rate are set to the maximum by selecting "Change Resolution" in the side column. Set the resolution and refresh rate to the highest possible option (the latter option being at least 144Hz if you have spent hundreds of dollars on your game monitor).

Nvidia offers a downloadable G-Sync benchmark, which should let you know quickly if everything is working as expected. If G-Sync is active, the animation must not show any tearing or jerking. But since you're using an unsupported monitor, do not be surprised if you see questionable results. Then try some of your favorite games. If something goes wrong, you'll soon find out.

There's a good resource on Reddit, where its PC community has created a vast list of unsupported FreeSync monitors, documenting the pros and cons of each monitor when G-Sync is enabled. These real world discoveries are revealing, but your experience will vary depending on the configuration of your computer and the games you play.

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