There are few things worse in gaming than having your powerful system connected to a great looking monitor only for the two of them to sync up poorly and render your games a sloppy mess as the screen draws partial frames during each refresh. That’s just what can happen without some sort of syncing technology enabled. A G-Sync monitor paired with an Nvidia graphics card will do a better job than just about anything else at avoiding that scenario.With the proper setup, a G-Sync monitor will slow down and speed up (to an extent) its refresh rate to match whatever framerate your computer is able to deliver. It thereby ensures each frame your computer sends will be shown in its entirety on your screen. What does that mean for you? Clear imagery in your games regardless of your computer’s ability to keep a stable frame rate. G-Sync also manages to avoid the issues of standard V-Sync, which can introduce noticeable latency.So, if you’ve got a PC running on an Nvidia graphics card, you owe it to yourself to check out a G-Sync monitor. Below, you’ll find everything from ultra-fast, 240Hz monitors to more affordable FreeSync displays that can support G-Sync nonetheless. In addition, for those of you in the UK, click here to see where you can get all the monitors mentioned.
TL;DR These are the Best G-Sync Gaming Monitors:
1. ViewSonic Elite XG270QG
Best G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh rate: 165Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 10-bit (8-bit + FRC), 100% sRGB, 90% Adobe RGB, 98% DCI-P3 Inputs: 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 17 pounds Size: 24.2″ x 18.06″ x 10.4″
If you’re getting a G-Sync display, you ought to be sure you’re getting a lot of other goodies at the same time. That’s why the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG is such a standout monitor. It offers up that G-Sync goodness on a display that can refresh at up to 165Hz. It uses an IPS panel for great viewing angles, but still offers a 1ms response time. When it comes to high-speed gaming, this monitor is incredibly ready.That all wouldn’t be good enough if the display was small and low resolution, but the ViewSonic Elite XG270QG is neither. It has a 27-inch panel with a 1440p resolution, hitting a sweet spot for games. The latest high-end graphics cards from Nvidia can readily push high frame rates at 1440p.
2. ViewSonic Elite XG270
Best Budget G-Sync Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 Panel type: Fast IPS FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 240Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 16.7M, 8-bit Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 17.42 pounds Size: 24.2″ x 18.1 x 10.4″
Not only is the ViewSonic Elite XG270 a fairly affordable alternative to its sharper sibling that tops this list, but it actually manages to have a few edges on the 1440p model. The ViewSonic Elite XG270 has a 1080p, IPS display, giving it good color and modest sharpness. But, where it manages to truly impress at its price point is in its speed and brightness. This monitor musters a 400-nit peak brightness, which is fairly high for a budget display, and gives the XG270 room to offer HDR10 support (albeit not in all circumstances).The XG270 becomes extra exceptional when we take into account the 240Hz refresh rate. That’s blisteringly fast, with very few monitors going any faster than that. Landing that clear IPS picture with support for G-Sync and the insane 240Hz is great, but getting it for under $500 is even more impressive.
3. Samsung CRG5 Curved Gaming Monitor
The Best 1080p G-Sync Monitor
Screen size: 24″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 Panel type: VA G-Sync Brightness: 300cd/m2 Refresh rate: 240Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 8-bit Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 10.14 pounds Size: 22.3″ x 18.6″ x 0.82″
Unlike the majority of 240Hz gaming monitors out there, Samsung CRG5 Curved Gaming Monitor uses a VA panel, which means super-fast response times and high refresh rates without having to sacrifice wide color gamut and wide viewing angles. Its pricey for a 1080p monitor, at $400, but it’s well worth it.To get the most out of this blisteringly fast 1080p gaming monitor, you’ll want to pair it with a high-power graphics card and get those super-high frame rates. G-Sync will also help you maintain the smoothest gameplay possible.
4. Asus ROG Strix XG279Q
Best 1440p G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 Panel type: IPS FreeSync Premium, G-Sync Compatible Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 170Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 16.7M, 8-bit Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 15.43 pounds Size: 24.1″ x 16.2″ x 10.6″
If you want to get a great monitor that’s capable of G-Sync thanks to Nvidia’s extended support to FreeSync monitors, then the Asus ROG Strix XG279Q is a champ. This monitor delivers a 27-inch, 1440p display that can run at up to 170Hz, devliering buttery smooth gaming. The smoothness is further along by a 1ms response time.That’s not all the display has to offer either. The Asus ROG Strix XG279Q has an IPS panel to deliver excellent viewing angles, so you won’t have to worry about keeping the monitor perfectly in the center of your vision to avoid dark spots and color shifts. You won’t have to worry about darkness much at all, since the display has a peak brightness of 400 nits, earning its DisplayHDR 400 certification.
5. Acer Predator XB273K
The Best 4K G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 1,000:1 Color support: 90% DCI-P3, 87% ARGB, 100% sRGB Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 x Weight: 15.85 pounds Size: 24.76″ x 21.3 x 12.09″
Acers excellent Predator XB273K (read our review) isnt cheap, but its it offers the best 4K HDR picture without getting into the stratospheric prices of G-Sync Ultimate gaming monitors.Of course, running triple-A games at 4K HDR requires a beefy graphics card, but be aware you’re going to have to keep your frame rate around 92Hz to enjoy full 10-bit color. For great visual quality and performance at an attainable price, you cant beat the Acer Predator XB273K.
6. MSI Optix MPG341CQR
Best Ultrawide G-Sync Monitor
Screen size: 34″ Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: VA FreeSync 2 HDR Compatibility: HDR10 Brightness: 400cd/m2 Refresh rate: 144Hz Response time: 4ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 8-bit Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x USB Type-C Weight: 21.38 pounds Size: 31.9″ x 22.2″ x 12.8″
The MSI Optix MPG341CQR is a 34-inch curved gaming monitor that features an eye-popping 3,440 x 1,440 resolution and a peak brightness of 400-nits that makes it the best ultrawide gaming monitor you can get. Although it’s not technically listed as an official G-Sync compatible gaming monitor, you can enable G-Sync to run inside Nvidia’s Control Panel all the same and believe us that it works beautifully.Widescreen gaming at high-resolutions and with high-dynamic-range effects is great, but there’s something about a 21:9 panel that takes it to the next step. The MSI Optix MPG341CQR is also very versatile as a gaming monitor thanks to its HDR10 support and high-color accuracy. It also features a great suite of ports including two HDMI, a DisplayPort, and USB-C for connecting any of Nvidia’s latest graphics cards, modern gaming laptops, and even a MacBook.
7. Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ
Best FreeSync Gaming Monitor for G-Sync
Screen size: 27″ Aspect ratio: 16:9 Resolution: 2,560 x ,1440 Panel type: IPS G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync 2 HDR Brightness: 350cd/m2 Refresh rate: 165Hz Response time: 1ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 3,000:1 Color support: 16.7M Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4 Weight: 12.79 pounds Size: 24.4″ x 14.8″ x 8.31″
With the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ, you can stop worrying about having to pick between G-Sync and Freesync as this gaming monitor supports both. Thanks to its classification as a G-Sync compatible FreeSync gaming monitor, this display can give you a variable refresh rate experience on both Nvidia- and AMD-powered PCs as well as the Xbox One S and Xbox One X.Aside from its VRR features, the Asus TUF Gaming VG27AQ is gaming monitor that only costs about $430 and yet you get a 1,440p panel with HDR10 support. This display also offers a silky smooth 165Hz frame rate and little to no lag with only a 1ms response time.
8. Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ
Best 4K HDR G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 35″ Aspect ratio: 21:9 Resolution: 3,440 x 1,440 Panel type: VA Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate Brightness: 1,000cd/m2 Refresh rate: 200Hz Response time: 2ms Viewing angle: 178(H)/178(V) Contrast ratio: 2,500:1 Color support: 1.07B Inputs: 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2 Weight: 30 pounds Size: 32.8″ x 17.7″ x 12″
The Asus ROG Swift PG35VQ is pretty much the ultimate G-Sync gaming monitor you can buy right now. This display offers a nearly endless font of high-end specs including a 3,440 x 1,440 resolution, 200Hz refresh rate, 2ms response time, and 1,000-nit peak brightness. As if that all wasn’t enough to make this gaming monitor super desirable, it also features 512 local dimming zones, which work just like they on high-end 4K TVs to display deep blacks right next to burning bright hot spots on the screen.Unfortunately, this poster child for Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate gaming monitors comes at the hefty price of $2,499, which you easily could use to build a powerful enough gaming PC to take full advantage of all the visual glory this display promises.
Where to Get the Best G-Sync Monitor in the UK
Thankfully all of the best monitors listed are also available to pick up in the UK. The retailers will certainly be different, but each and every one of the G-Sync displays we’ve mentioned can be purchased on the other side of the pond as well. Typically, most of these can be found on sites like Amazon, Currys PC World, Overclockers, and more. Funnily enough, Dell even stocks its own products, such as this 24-Inch Gaming Monitor, one of the best options for those on a tight budget.What to look for in a G-Sync Gaming Monitor
A little background: G-Sync is Nvidias proprietary technology for variable refresh rate (VRR) monitors. The company embeds a display controller in the monitor (which makes it cost a little more) and then it can sync the monitor’s refresh rate with the frame output from any modern Nvidia graphics card (Kepler or newer). If youve got an AMD graphics card, a G-Sync monitor will just act like a normal monitor and you’ll need a FreeSync display instead.So what is VRR? Basically, a normal monitor is locked to a single refresh ratethats the number of times per second that it changes the color and brightness of the pixels on the screen. Your graphics card draws a frame and then waits until the monitors next refresh cycle to display it. This has the effect of making your game jump frame rate between even multiples of the displays refresh: with a 144Hz monitor, your games will run at 144fps, for example (if you have the right hardware or powerful enough prebuilt PC, of course).
With VRR technology, the monitor refreshes whenever the graphics card is done drawing the next frame.
Disabling Vsync will also allow your graphics card to run as fast as possible on any monitor, but it produces an ugly visual artifact called tearing, where the monitor displays partially-drawn frames on top of the previous frame. With VRR technology (G-Sync or FreeSync), the monitor refreshes whenever the graphics card has drawn the next frame. So your monitor and game might max out at 60Hz, but if your game is running at 52fps, the monitor will refresh at 52Hz, drawing the frame immediately instead of waiting for the next 60Hz cycle. So youll see the frame rate your graphics card is capable of, not a big downgrade to 30fps.As a final reminder: there are two VRR technologies gamers should know about: G-Sync and FreeSync. G-Sync is Nvidia’s proprietary technology and only works with Nvidia graphics cards. FreeSync is AMDs brand for a VRR technology built on top of the VESA standard and only works with AMD GPUs. G-Sync requires extra hardware in the monitor, driving monitors costs up but maintains consistently high quality. FreeSync requires no special hardware and thus monitors are typically cheaper, but quality control is a little less consistent.
G-Sync on a FreeSync Display?
At CES 2019, Nvidia announced its intention to encroach on AMD’s turf with its G-Sync Compatible initiative. Basically, Nvidia is testing existing FreeSync equipped monitors with its latest G-Sync drivers.The new driver went live in January with 12 FreeSync monitors certified as G-Sync compatible, and thanks to another three being added during Computex the number of G-Sync compatible monitors on the list has increased to 28. That’s huge news for anyone running a FreeSync monitor or looking for a less expensive solution to G-Sync. More importantly, if users find themselves playing games with an RTX- or GTX-powered gaming PC and an Xbox One X, they won’t have to choose between either a G-Sync or FreeSync display, since each of the monitors we’ve included on this list work with either variable refresh rate technology.
There are also more G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors than Nvidia has tested. You can manually set most FreeSync monitors to work with Nvidia GPUs and G-Sync. One such display is the Viotek GFT27DB, which we recently reviewed. It isnt on the compatibility list, but it played nice with G-Sync during testing.
If you’re looking to get the most out of your PC’s display, be sure to check out our guide to the best 4K gaming monitors, the top graphics cards of 2019, or for absolutely blazing frame rates, our guide to the best 240hz monitors.
Mark Knapp is a regular contributor to IGN and an irregular Tweeter on Twitter @Techn0Mark
