G-Sync gaming monitors don't have to be crazy expensive anymore. That's thanks to Nvidia's support for many FreeSync gaming monitors when paired with an Nvidia graphics card, you can find both lower cost G-Sync Compatible gaming monitors as well as those equipped with an actual G-Sync module. G-Sync ensures your graphics card and monitor play together nicely to avoid the nasty screen tearing caused by misalignment between your GPU's frame rate output and monitor's refresh rate. G-Sync avoids the stuttering and input lag of V-Sync (not to mention limiting your frame rate to just 60fps).
So, if you're on the market for a monitor with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology and you have an Nvidia graphics processor, it's worth your while to see the affordable options available to you. We've picked out budget monitors that deliver either true G-Sync or confirmed compatibility through FreeSync – and click here to find them in the UK.
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: 165Hz (180Hz OC) | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
The LG UltraGear 27GP850-B brings G-Sync support and a lot more to love for just under $500. You’re getting a big display to see all the action on, and the 1440p resolution will help keep it all crisp. LG is giving you an HDR boost with an IPS panel capable of dazzling at 400 nits of brightness and offering a 10-bit color depth.
Bright and colorful is good, but when you’re gaming, you’re going to want speed. This monitor goes above the typical 144Hz you’ll find on budget gaming monitors and hops up to 165Hz. But, with an overclock setting, you can bump that right up to 180Hz. All that performance comes alongside some extra utility thanks to a flexible stand and added USB 3.0 pass-through.
Screen size: 23.8" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
If you're looking to get G-Sync for the lowest price possible, the Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A delivers. Asus has an incredible lineup of budget-friendly G-sync compatible displays, a few of which are on this list, but this one will give you the best bang for your buck. You can get gaming at a fast refresh rate up to 165Hz at the high end or keep pace with your graphics card all the way down to 60Hz. That’s a wide range of variable refresh rate support to ensure your gaming with the best possible visuals at all times.
The monitor itself is a fairly straightforward ordeal, with no fancy HDR or extra-high peak brightness. You get flicker-free technology, low motion blur, and plenty of connectivity. Plus, with shadow boost software, you can spot enemies lurking in the darkness. Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A is doing the job it set out to do, so don't shy away from this monitor if you're focus is fast gaming with no tearing.
Screen size: 28" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel type: IPS FreeSync | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz | Response time: 5ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Speed is great for competitive gaming, but some games are just about the eye candy, and a 4K display can make them really shimmer. The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A brings that 4K capability at an affordable price and backs it up with support for G-Sync. Since a steady framerate can be hard to maintain at 4K, having the G-Sync to back you up is crucial for clear visuals free of tearing or stutter.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A boasts a bright, IPS display that supports a 10-bit color depth to give you over a billion colors to see. And, when we said this monitor came at an affordable price point, we meant it. You can grab it for just over $300.
Screen size: 32" 1500R | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync compatible | HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0
You can get a lot of features all in one place if you know where to look. If you want a large display with a sharp resolution, a fast refresh rate, HDR support, and VRR compatiblity, then the Gigabyte G32QC is where you should look.
This monitor delivers a 32-inch display with a 1500R curvature to wrap it around your field of view and immerse you in your games. That display has DisplayHDR 400 certification, ensuring a strong picture quality that is just made better by its 1440p resolution, solid contrast ratio, and 165Hz refresh rate. G-Sync support will let you stay smooth even when you're not displaying 165 frames per second.
Screen size: 24.5" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: TN G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 400cd/m2 | HDR Support: DisplayHDR 400 | Refresh rate: 280Hz | Response time: 0.5ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Going with 1080p may not mean you'll get the sharpest image, but you can get something those folks with 1440p and 4K monitors can't yet: blistering speeds. And, at 1080p, you can even get it at a budget price. The Asus TUF Gaming VG258QM brings you a 280Hz refresh rate for just $300.
There are a few tradeoffs to hit that low price. For one thing, Asus used a TN panel. These don't tend to have the best color or viewing angles, but when you're gaming this hardcore, you should be looking at your monitor head-on anyway. Asus did manage to make the monitor fairly bright with a 400-nit peak brightness and DisplayHDR 400 certification, so you won't miss out on enemies on account of a dim display. So, on a budget, this is a good pick for fast-paced esports.
Screen size: 27" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1440 | Panel type: IPS FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 300cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x USB-C (DP Alt)
Getting a G-Sync Compatible monitor instead of one that features a true G-Sync module may seem like cheating, but with everything that the NZXT Canvas 27Q has to offer, you’ll forget all about the fact that it's not actual G-Sync. And if you also have another PC packing an AMD graphics card, you can take advantage of FreeSync Premium. Thanks to this impressive adaptive sync technology, this monitor delivers a tear-free gaming experience with a max refresh rate of 165Hz on the DisplayPort and USB-C connections. You also get an admirable 144Hz over the HDMI ports. Not bad for a monitor that’ll only set you back $320, and that’s just the start.
The NZXT Canvas 27Q totes a 1440p resolution on a 27-inch IPS panel. For such an affordable display, you still get a relatively high peak brightness at 300 nits that, along with its anti-glare coating, make it a great option for even your brighter spaces. However, this display truly shines when it comes to color performance, covering 99% of the sRGB color gamut. You get a wide range of vibrant colors, only you may find darker objects have a bit of haloing, and darker scenes have a gray glow. And annoyingly, you are going to have to purchase the stand separately for $40. If those slight flaws aren’t deal breakers, most should find this sturdy and attractive monitor to be a suitable option for their PC build.
Screen size: 27" 1500R | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: VA FreeSync, G-Sync compatible | Brightness: 250cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Your budget doesn’t have to define your speeds with the Acer Nitro ED270. This 240Hz monitor is wildly affordable. It starts at $300, but we’ve seen it go as low as $219. That’s impressively low for any 27-inch gaming monitor, let alone one that can cruise at 240Hz. Aside from speed, the Acer Nitro ED270 isn’t entirely special. You won’t find a bright, HDR-capable panel to make AAA games really pop, and the monitor is achieving its speeds by using a VA panel rather than the IPS panels that tend to offer more attractive visuals.
But, at 1080p and 27 inches, the Nitro ED270 can provide sharp enough visuals that will provide a ton of extra clarity thanks to the high refresh rate. If you’re on a budget, your hardware might not always hit a full 240 fps, so that’s where the G-Sync compatibility of the monitor will come in to prevent stutter and tearing. Get ready for super-smooth gaming.
Screen size: 27" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel type: IPS G-Sync compatible | Brightness: 400cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 4ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4
So, you want to get into gaming at 4K with HDR without breaking the bank? The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ is your best bet. This monitor delivers the high resolution you crave and earns DisplayHDR400 certification thanks to its 400-nit peak brightness. It can also display a 10-bit depth for a richer color experience than typical 8-bit panels.
You won't be missing out on speed with the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ either. The IPS panel on this monitor can run at 144Hz to deliver super-smooth visuals while keeping a low response time of just 4ms. Unfortunately, you'll have to sacrifice some color depth to get this monitors full 4K at 144Hz experience. Alternatively, you could settle for 4K at 120Hz, which is still great. Either way, get ready to enjoy tear-free gaming with both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility from an Nvidia graphics card.
Screen tearing is just about the most upsetting thing that can happen to you while gaming. Previously the solution to this problem was to simply enable V-Sync in your game, which synced the output of the video card to your monitor's maximum refresh rate, which was usually 60Hz.
Unfortunately, V-Sync introduces its own set of issues including increased input lag and capping the frame rate to a maximum of 60 fps—or 30 fps if you're running below that.
Nvidia was unhappy with this solution (just like the rest of us), so it created G-Sync a few years ago to solve these issues. It locks your monitor's refresh rate to the current frame rate of your graphics card and eliminates screen tearing, but isn't limited to any particular refresh rate. It can work at 38Hz, 45Hz, and so on.
In general, it works really well, but there are requirements. You need an Nvidia graphics card (minimum of a GTX 650 Ti Boost) and a G-Sync-enabled monitor connected by DisplayPort 1.2 or newer, and you need to turn it on in the Nvidia control panel software.
All G-Sync monitors have a proprietary G-Sync module in them that allows it to work, and with the right monitor and video card, you could get synced frame rates up to 240Hz.
G-Sync monitors tend to be around $100 to $200 more than the comparable FreeSync panels (which is attributed to the required module), so ‘cheap’ has a slightly different connotation here. That said, the best cheap G-Sync monitors let you experience a tear-free gaming experience without having to break the bank.
With the right monitor and video card, you could get synced frame rates up to 240Hz
Better yet Nvidia has decreed that some Freesync monitors can be G-Sync Compatible, making them an amazingly affordable way to sidestep your way to a completely tear-free and smooth gaming experience with an Nvidia-powered system.
While Freesync monitors don't include a dedicated G-Sync display module, Nvidia has tested over 400 displays and certified that at least 50 of them will definitely work with G-Sync. That said, our own testing has revealed there are even more compatible monitors out there.
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
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So, if you're on the market for a monitor with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology and you have an Nvidia graphics processor, it's worth your while to see the affordable options available to you. We've picked out budget monitors that deliver either true G-Sync or confirmed compatibility through FreeSync – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Budget G-Sync Monitors:
- LG UltraGear 27GP850-B
- Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A
- Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
- Gigabyte G32QC
- Asus TUF Gaming VG258QM
- NZXT Canvas 27Q
- Acer Nitro ED270
- Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ
1. LG UltraGear 27GP850-B
Best Budget 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: 165Hz (180Hz OC) | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
The LG UltraGear 27GP850-B brings G-Sync support and a lot more to love for just under $500. You’re getting a big display to see all the action on, and the 1440p resolution will help keep it all crisp. LG is giving you an HDR boost with an IPS panel capable of dazzling at 400 nits of brightness and offering a 10-bit color depth.
Bright and colorful is good, but when you’re gaming, you’re going to want speed. This monitor goes above the typical 144Hz you’ll find on budget gaming monitors and hops up to 165Hz. But, with an overclock setting, you can bump that right up to 180Hz. All that performance comes alongside some extra utility thanks to a flexible stand and added USB 3.0 pass-through.
2. Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A
Ultra Cheap G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 23.8" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
If you're looking to get G-Sync for the lowest price possible, the Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A delivers. Asus has an incredible lineup of budget-friendly G-sync compatible displays, a few of which are on this list, but this one will give you the best bang for your buck. You can get gaming at a fast refresh rate up to 165Hz at the high end or keep pace with your graphics card all the way down to 60Hz. That’s a wide range of variable refresh rate support to ensure your gaming with the best possible visuals at all times.
The monitor itself is a fairly straightforward ordeal, with no fancy HDR or extra-high peak brightness. You get flicker-free technology, low motion blur, and plenty of connectivity. Plus, with shadow boost software, you can spot enemies lurking in the darkness. Overall, the Asus TUF Gaming VG247Q1A is doing the job it set out to do, so don't shy away from this monitor if you're focus is fast gaming with no tearing.
3. Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
Best Budget 4K G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 28" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel type: IPS FreeSync | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 60Hz | Response time: 5ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Speed is great for competitive gaming, but some games are just about the eye candy, and a 4K display can make them really shimmer. The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A brings that 4K capability at an affordable price and backs it up with support for G-Sync. Since a steady framerate can be hard to maintain at 4K, having the G-Sync to back you up is crucial for clear visuals free of tearing or stutter.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A boasts a bright, IPS display that supports a 10-bit color depth to give you over a billion colors to see. And, when we said this monitor came at an affordable price point, we meant it. You can grab it for just over $300.
4. Gigabyte G32QC
Best Budget 1440p G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 32" 1500R | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel type: VA FreeSync Premium Pro, G-Sync compatible | HDR compatibility: DisplayHDR 400 | Brightness: 350cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 2 x HDMI 2.0
You can get a lot of features all in one place if you know where to look. If you want a large display with a sharp resolution, a fast refresh rate, HDR support, and VRR compatiblity, then the Gigabyte G32QC is where you should look.
This monitor delivers a 32-inch display with a 1500R curvature to wrap it around your field of view and immerse you in your games. That display has DisplayHDR 400 certification, ensuring a strong picture quality that is just made better by its 1440p resolution, solid contrast ratio, and 165Hz refresh rate. G-Sync support will let you stay smooth even when you're not displaying 165 frames per second.
5. Asus TUF Gaming VG258QM
Best Budget 1080p G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 24.5" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: TN G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 400cd/m2 | HDR Support: DisplayHDR 400 | Refresh rate: 280Hz | Response time: 0.5ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Going with 1080p may not mean you'll get the sharpest image, but you can get something those folks with 1440p and 4K monitors can't yet: blistering speeds. And, at 1080p, you can even get it at a budget price. The Asus TUF Gaming VG258QM brings you a 280Hz refresh rate for just $300.
There are a few tradeoffs to hit that low price. For one thing, Asus used a TN panel. These don't tend to have the best color or viewing angles, but when you're gaming this hardcore, you should be looking at your monitor head-on anyway. Asus did manage to make the monitor fairly bright with a 400-nit peak brightness and DisplayHDR 400 certification, so you won't miss out on enemies on account of a dim display. So, on a budget, this is a good pick for fast-paced esports.
6. NZXT Canvas 27Q
Best Budget G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1440 | Panel type: IPS FreeSync, G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 300cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1 x USB-C (DP Alt)
Getting a G-Sync Compatible monitor instead of one that features a true G-Sync module may seem like cheating, but with everything that the NZXT Canvas 27Q has to offer, you’ll forget all about the fact that it's not actual G-Sync. And if you also have another PC packing an AMD graphics card, you can take advantage of FreeSync Premium. Thanks to this impressive adaptive sync technology, this monitor delivers a tear-free gaming experience with a max refresh rate of 165Hz on the DisplayPort and USB-C connections. You also get an admirable 144Hz over the HDMI ports. Not bad for a monitor that’ll only set you back $320, and that’s just the start.
The NZXT Canvas 27Q totes a 1440p resolution on a 27-inch IPS panel. For such an affordable display, you still get a relatively high peak brightness at 300 nits that, along with its anti-glare coating, make it a great option for even your brighter spaces. However, this display truly shines when it comes to color performance, covering 99% of the sRGB color gamut. You get a wide range of vibrant colors, only you may find darker objects have a bit of haloing, and darker scenes have a gray glow. And annoyingly, you are going to have to purchase the stand separately for $40. If those slight flaws aren’t deal breakers, most should find this sturdy and attractive monitor to be a suitable option for their PC build.
7. Acer Nitro ED270
Best Budget 240Hz G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Screen size: 27" 1500R | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel type: VA FreeSync, G-Sync compatible | Brightness: 250cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2
Your budget doesn’t have to define your speeds with the Acer Nitro ED270. This 240Hz monitor is wildly affordable. It starts at $300, but we’ve seen it go as low as $219. That’s impressively low for any 27-inch gaming monitor, let alone one that can cruise at 240Hz. Aside from speed, the Acer Nitro ED270 isn’t entirely special. You won’t find a bright, HDR-capable panel to make AAA games really pop, and the monitor is achieving its speeds by using a VA panel rather than the IPS panels that tend to offer more attractive visuals.
But, at 1080p and 27 inches, the Nitro ED270 can provide sharp enough visuals that will provide a ton of extra clarity thanks to the high refresh rate. If you’re on a budget, your hardware might not always hit a full 240 fps, so that’s where the G-Sync compatibility of the monitor will come in to prevent stutter and tearing. Get ready for super-smooth gaming.
8. Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ
4K HDR at a Reasonable Price
Screen size: 27" | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel type: IPS G-Sync compatible | Brightness: 400cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 4ms | Inputs: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.4
So, you want to get into gaming at 4K with HDR without breaking the bank? The Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ is your best bet. This monitor delivers the high resolution you crave and earns DisplayHDR400 certification thanks to its 400-nit peak brightness. It can also display a 10-bit depth for a richer color experience than typical 8-bit panels.
You won't be missing out on speed with the Asus ROG Strix XG27UQ either. The IPS panel on this monitor can run at 144Hz to deliver super-smooth visuals while keeping a low response time of just 4ms. Unfortunately, you'll have to sacrifice some color depth to get this monitors full 4K at 144Hz experience. Alternatively, you could settle for 4K at 120Hz, which is still great. Either way, get ready to enjoy tear-free gaming with both FreeSync and G-Sync compatibility from an Nvidia graphics card.
Where to Get the Best Cheap G-Sync Monitors in the UK
What to look for in a Cheap G-Sync Monitor
Screen tearing is just about the most upsetting thing that can happen to you while gaming. Previously the solution to this problem was to simply enable V-Sync in your game, which synced the output of the video card to your monitor's maximum refresh rate, which was usually 60Hz.
Unfortunately, V-Sync introduces its own set of issues including increased input lag and capping the frame rate to a maximum of 60 fps—or 30 fps if you're running below that.
Nvidia was unhappy with this solution (just like the rest of us), so it created G-Sync a few years ago to solve these issues. It locks your monitor's refresh rate to the current frame rate of your graphics card and eliminates screen tearing, but isn't limited to any particular refresh rate. It can work at 38Hz, 45Hz, and so on.
In general, it works really well, but there are requirements. You need an Nvidia graphics card (minimum of a GTX 650 Ti Boost) and a G-Sync-enabled monitor connected by DisplayPort 1.2 or newer, and you need to turn it on in the Nvidia control panel software.
All G-Sync monitors have a proprietary G-Sync module in them that allows it to work, and with the right monitor and video card, you could get synced frame rates up to 240Hz.
G-Sync monitors tend to be around $100 to $200 more than the comparable FreeSync panels (which is attributed to the required module), so ‘cheap’ has a slightly different connotation here. That said, the best cheap G-Sync monitors let you experience a tear-free gaming experience without having to break the bank.
With the right monitor and video card, you could get synced frame rates up to 240Hz
Better yet Nvidia has decreed that some Freesync monitors can be G-Sync Compatible, making them an amazingly affordable way to sidestep your way to a completely tear-free and smooth gaming experience with an Nvidia-powered system.
While Freesync monitors don't include a dedicated G-Sync display module, Nvidia has tested over 400 displays and certified that at least 50 of them will definitely work with G-Sync. That said, our own testing has revealed there are even more compatible monitors out there.
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Continue reading...
