Published in Graphics

Nvida’s G-Sync not N-Sync with fast monitors

by on10 November 2015


Bug

Nvidia’s G-Sync technology might have a serious bug which is causing high GPU use even when idling.

G-Sync is supposed to be a more expensive, higher-quality solution compared to AMD’s Freesync and it does its business without impacting GPU usage. However it looks like it has a problem with screens that have refresh-rates of 144Hz and above.

Users have noticed that their idling frequencies of the GPU jumped to much higher levels and the power draw from the GPU increased dramatically, despite the PC have a quiet moment.

It appears that there is no difference in the power draw until the refresh rate crosses a 144Hz threshold and then the GPU goes mental.

Nvidia’s chip for syncing frame rates is supposed to take place within the monito so the system shouldn’t be affected by the monitor syncing higher frame rates.

Nvidia has acknowledged the issue and confirmed that its tests showed that there was a bug in the way the GPU was managing clocks for G-Sync at high refresh-rates.

It’s promised that a fix is coming and the newest high refresh-rate monitors won’t be affected for long – probably in the next driver release from the green GPU maker.

Last modified on 10 November 2015
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