Nvidia G-Sync was first launched more than five years ago, and it promised the end of visual artifacts and screen tearing. And, while the technology has certainly faced plenty of controversy, it’s grown into one of the most coveted technologies in our gaming monitors. Recently, at CES 2019, Nvidia decided to port its G-Sync technology to FreeSync monitors designed to work with AMD graphics cards.
After testing 400 FreeSync monitors, Nvidia recently announced that 15 of them were worthy of G-Sync, opening the tech up to more affordable displays. But, how do you find the best FreeSync monitor for G-Sync?
So, if you’re looking for a FreeSync monitor that supports G-Sync, you should take a few things into consideration. The first thing you need to keep an eye open for is a high refresh rate. Because G-Sync automatically changes the refresh rate to match your framerate in game, shoot for the highest refresh rate you can find, that way, you won’t be held back by your monitor. A 144Hz refresh rate will be more than enough for most people – not to mention graphics cards.
Then, of course, you’re going to want to find a monitor with fast response time. If you’re big into esports, finding the fastest monitor is literally game-changing, so 1ms should be the goal. However, if you’re more into laid-back adventures, like Astroneer, this is not as big of a deal.
This is a lot to take in, but we here at TechRadar have your back. We’ve picked out the five best FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, so you can spend less time shopping and more time gaming.
TN panels make for great gaming monitors, even if they aren’t the most beautiful things in the world. They’re fast, affordable, and they’re color accurate enough for games, without going to the extremes needed for professional work. That’s why when we heard that the Asus MG278Q was one of the FreeSync monitors approved for G-Sync, we were appropriately excited. This monitor checks all the right boxes for an esports monitor, without driving the price through the roof.
Read the full review: Asus MG278Q
This isn’t the fastest gaming monitor in the world (look at our #1 pick for raw speed,) but it may be one of the prettiest. One of the prettiest that won’t cost you an arm and a leg, at least. Not only is this a FreeSync monitor that supports G-Sync, but it also supports HDR 400, so games that support it will look more vibrant, on top of being free of screen tearing. We wouldn’t recommend it to esports players, but everyone else should keep their eyes on this monitor.
Read the full review: AOC Agon AG322QC4
Let’s say you’re practicing to become the next big CS:GO or Overwatch world champ, but you just don’t feel like your monitor can keep up. You could go for some 144Hz panel, but why not go all the way? Why not go for a 240Hz 1080p panel, especially one packed with RGB lighting and a slick 1ms response time? We’ll that’s what you’re getting with the Asus ROG Strix XG258Q, and while that price tag seems high, it’s worth it for buttery-smooth frame rates.
We know we’re not the only ones that love tech that looks as good as it performs, and the Acer XG270HU definitely fits the bill. This beautiful red monitor is packing a 27-inch TN panel with a 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response times. This is one of the best FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, and it’s got the style to back it up – even if we wouldn’t exactly call it the ‘gamer aesthetic.'
BenQ’s Zowie monitors are beloved for their esports cred these days, so when the BenQ Zowie XL2740 showed up on Nvidia’s list of FreeSync monitors for G-Sync, we were excited. This pro gaming monitor features a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and decent color accuracy for a TN panel. These specs, combined with an attachable screen shield make for a gaming monitor that esports players will want to take to every tournament.
- Find the best Nvidia GeForce graphics card to go with these G-Sync displays
