not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

I"m the process of buying a secondhand Alienware 15 r3 laptop. On my first visit to the seller, I was disappointed to discover that even though the laptop had both a iGPU and a dGPU, there was no way to switch (MUX switch) the graphics from the dGPU.

Information on this error message is REALLY sketchy online. Some say that the G-Sync LCD panel is hardwired to the dGPU and that the iGPU is connected to nothing. Some say that dGPU is connected to the G-Sync LCD through the iGPU. Some say that they got the MUX switch working after an intention ordering of bios update, iGPU drivers then dGPU drivers on a clean install.

I"m suspecting that if I connect an external 60hz IPS monitor to one of the display ports on the laptop and make it the only display, the Fn+F7 key will actually switch the graphics because the display is not a G-Sync LCD panel. Am I right on this?

If I"m right on this, does that mean that if I purchase this laptop, order a 15inch Alienware 60hz IPS screen and swap it with the FHD 120+hz screen currently inside, I will also continue to have MUX switch support and no G-Sync? The price for these screens is not outrageous.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

If you have a G-SYNC Compatible Adaptive Sync monitor, variable refresh rate will be enabled automatically following the installation of R417.71 or later drivers on system that meets the system requirements.

Please note: Some Adaptive Sync monitors will ship with the variable refresh rate setting set to disabled. Consult with the user manual for your monitor to confirm the Adaptive Sync setting is enabled. Also some monitors may have the DisplayPort mode set to DisplayPort 1.1 for backwards compatibility. The monitor must be configured as a DisplayPort 1.2 or higher to support Adaptive Sync.

If your Adaptive Sync monitor isn’t listed as a G-SYNC Compatible monitor, you can enable the tech manually from the NVIDIA Control Panel. It may work, it may work partly, or it may not work at all. To give it a try:

2. Enable the Variable Refresh Rate functionality of your display by using the monitor"s controls and On-Screen Display. If needed, also check that DisplayPort 1.2 or higher is enabled.

3. From within Windows, open the NVIDIA Control Panel -> select "Set up G-SYNC" from the left column -> check the "Enable settings for the selected display model"box, and finally click on the Apply button on the bottom right to confirm your settings.

If the above isn"t available, or isn"t working, you may need to go to "Manage 3D Settings", click the "Global" tab, scroll down to "Monitor Technology", select "G-SYNC Compatible" in the drop down, and then click "Apply". Additionally, you may need to go to "Change Resolution" on the left nav and apply a higher refresh rate, or different resolution

For the best gaming experience we recommend NVIDIA G-SYNC and G-SYNC Ultimate monitors: those with G-SYNC processors that have passed over over 300 compatibility and quality tests, and feature a full refresh rate range from 1Hz to the display panel’s max refresh rate, plus other advantages like variable overdrive, refresh rate overclocking, ultra low motion blur display modes, and industry-leading HDR with 1000 nits, full matrix backlight and DCI-P3 color.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

I got a refurbished Alienware 15 R3 today, when i placed the order i made sure to look for one which doesn"t have a g-sync display so i can switch off the dedicated gpu in order to save battery, however when i got the laptop and tried switching to the internal gpu it doesn"t give me the option and only lets me use the dedicated one.

At first i thought that maybe i was sent a laptop with a g-sync display but when i checked in device manager the display is listed as "generic pnp display" no mention of g-sync yet i cant seem to be able to turn off the gpu and whenever i press fn+f7 i get the following message "not supported with g-sync ips display" even though the display is not a g-sync display.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

G-Sync is a must-have feature in a gaming monitor if you own an Nvidia graphics card. It synchronizes the refresh rate of your display with the frame rate of the games you play, smoothing away stuttering and screen tearing. Believe it or not, these problems were the norm as recently as a decade ago.

However, choosing the right G-Sync gaming monitor can be complex. You must select from several levels of G-Sync certification while also separating out great FreeSync gaming monitors that work with AMD’s video cards. If you don’t want to dig into the details, however, we’ve done the legwork for you and picked out the best G-sync gaming monitors – and click here to see them in the UK.

4See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: G-Sync | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB, Audio out

There are a plethora of G-Sync gaming monitors out there, and the Viewsonic Elite XG270Q ticks all the right boxes. It offers a 27-inch display with 1440p resolution, hitting that sweet spot of a fast refresh rate without sacrificing a sharp image. The true G-Sync module handles any refresh rate from 1Hz and is overclockable to 165Hz. That pairs well with the wickedly fast response time, resulting in a superbly smooth gameplay experience that any gamer will love.

This monitor also stands out for its image quality. It uses a Nano IPS panel with an extremely wide color gamut, great color accuracy, and high maximum brightness, though you don’t get local dimming or HDR. Similar to most IPS panels, it doesn’t offer the deepest blacks, but that issue can be somewhat remedied by the bias lighting available on the back of the display. That lighting is actually RGB lighting, so you can amp up the gamer aesthetic if you prefer.

The Viewsonic Elite XG270Q is a sturdy display with a great stand that’s height, tilt, and swivel adjustable. Unlike some rivals, its design doesn’t scream, “I’m a gaming monitor!” It totes two video ports; a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 port. There’s also a USB hub for up to three wired USB-A peripherals.

Best Budget G-Sync Gaming MonitorScreen Size: 23.8” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: TN FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 350 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 165Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, Audio out

You don’t need to spend a fortune for a smooth gaming experience, and the Asus VG248QG is proof of this. This ergonomic 23.8-inch monitor is the predecessor of one of our previous favorites, the Asus VG248QE. Its latest iteration offers 1080p, 165Hz, and uses a TN panel to shave the price below $200. Though it"s not the largest or most capable monitor out there, it sure beats the typical boring 24-inch, 60Hz office monitor.

You get G-Sync compatibility with this option, the least strenuous of the G-Sync standards available. However, the support of any refresh rate between 1Hz and 165Hz using the DisplayPort connection provides a broad frame rate range and prevents screen tearing. The HDMI port doesn’t support G-Sync, but there’s also native FreeSync if you’ve got an AMD graphics card in another rig. You get smooth motion due to a speedy response time, and input lag is low for responsive gaming. Therefore, you’re getting an overall pleasant gaming experience.

The downside? Image quality is not the best out there, and the viewing angles are limited. Its TN panel doesn’t handle contrast ratio well, and you don’t get deep blacks. However, for budget competitive gaming, motion clarity is key, not image quality, so this is the perfect monitor.

3See on AmazonScreen Size: 24.5” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 400 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 280Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 4x USB Type-A, Audio out

The Acer Predator XB253Q GW remains our go-to recommendation for a mid-range 1080p gaming monitor. The 24.5-inch display earns the nod largely on its image quality and impressive refresh rate of 280Hz. The monitor has great color accuracy, outstanding motion clarity, and a good contrast ratio—for an IPS panel, at least. It also gets pretty bright and supports HDR gaming, though you don’t get backlight dimming.

This G-Sync compatible monitor doesn’t have a full G-Sync module baked in. The lack of a true G-Sync is disappointing, but that ups the price of a monitor quickly. It still works with G-Sync at a refresh rate between 50Hz and 240Hz, but when you overclock to 280Hz, you do lose support. The 50Hz lower limit on G-Sync compatibility shouldn’t be an issue with most games, as running games at 1080p isn’t very demanding. That solid motion clarity and a quick response time should keep you immersed in the action for hours.

This monitor is built like a tank, and the stand lets you get the proper ergonimics to be comfortable during marathon gaming sessions. There’s plenty of connectivity, including two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2 that supports the 280Hz refresh rate. Beyond that, there’s an audio out jack and four USB Type-A ports—two on the side bezel and two around the back.

26See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: IPS FreeSync and G-Sync | Brightness: 450 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, Headphone out, 2x USB ports, audio line-out

Alienware’s AW2721D is a fantastic gaming monitor and nearly bumped the Viewsonic XG270QG from its top spot. The Viewsonic edged out due to its lower price, but AW2721D is a great alternative. Its 27-inch, 1440p display manages a solid contrast ratio and gets surprisingly deep blacks for an IPS panel. It even totes local backlight dimming. The high pixel density, brightness, and color performance further solidify it as an ideal choice for gaming.

Speaking of gaming, this monitor is Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate certified, supporting G-Sync at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 240Hz on the DisplayPort and includes HDR. The two HDMI ports drop you down to 144Hz, but you’ll still see smooth gameplay in every game, all the time. HDR support is a nice bonus, though it’s only on par with budget HDR TVs. Still, the image quality looks excellent and it’s similar to the Viewsonic XG270QG.

The Alienware has a unique look and class-leading build quality. There’s even some RGB lighting that can be customized through AlienFX software. It also supports two USB Type-A ports for wired gaming peripherals.

Screen Size: 32” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, Audio out

It’s difficult to find a great 4K monitor with official G-Sync certification, a somewhat reasonable price, and available stock, but the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ fits the bill. This big 32-inch, 4K monitor stands out most because of its outrageously sharp, bright, and vibrant image. Color performance is excellent, and the monitor’s high 600 nits maximum brightness adds punchy visuals to HDR games.

Going 4K means sacrificing frame rates, but the 144Hz on this monitor still provides a smooth, enjoyable gaming experience. It’s a G-Sync Compatible option that supports G-Sync at a refresh rate between 48Hz to 144Hz. You may likely see issues at low framerates with this monitor’s high native resolution, but that can be avoided by upgrading to a much more expensive monitor like the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX. Other gaming features include a low 1ms response time to eliminate smearing and motion blur and auto low latency for lag-free gaming.

As for build quality, this monitor is rock solid and has a stable, height-adjustable stand. Connectivity is a bit bare as it includes two USB Type-A ports for connecting wired gaming peripherals beyond its two HDMI 2.1 that only support 120Hz native refresh rate and one DisplayPort.

46See on AmazonScreen Size: 27” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440 | Panel Type: VA FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh Rate: 240Hz | Response Time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort

Gamers don’t need to choose between AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, as Samsung’s Odyssey G7 shows it"s possible to have both in one excellent display. This gaming monitor has class-leading image quality and offers smooth gameplay with AMD and Nvidia hardware. The G-Sync Compatibility between a refresh rate of 60Hz and 240Hz is a bit high, so you’ll want to pair the monitor with a fast video card for best results. Nvidia fans should note the 32-inch model has a higher minimum of 80Hz, which is why we recommend the smaller monitor for use with G-Sync.

Sticking with a 1440p monitor aids in the impressive frame rates and helps games run better. Those speeds, alongside a 600-nit peak brightness and 10-bit color depth on the VA panel mean you’ll not only be able to see a ton of frames, but each frame can look exceptional. There are also deep blacks and decent pixel density on the 27-inch model for a better viewing experience.

Samsung’s Odyssey G7 is an eye-catching display even when it’s off. It has an aggressive curve for immersive gaming and delivers an attractive design with good build quality. The monitor has two USB Type-A ports for connecting wired peripherals, while the two HDMIs or DisplayPort are great for hooking up your rig.

0See on DellScreen Size: 34” | Aspect Ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 1,600 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Ultimate | Brightness: 600 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 2x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, Audio-out, Headphone-out

Gaming on an ultrawide monitor, like the Alienware AW3821DW, gets you far more immersed in the action than a traditional monitor. This 38-inch ultrawide monster boasts 3,840 x 1,600 resolution for a sharp, crisp image and a 21:9 aspect ratio with a slight curve to wrap your games around your field of vision. Beyond its ample display real estate, you get decent color performance, a high maximum brightness—it totes HDR600—and superb motion clarity with its G-Sync Ultimate support.

If you’re gaming on an Nvidia GPU, this G-Sync Ultimate monitor works with a refresh rate of 1Hz all the way up to 144Hz, so you’re in for ultra-smooth, stutter-free gameplay. It works perfectly in pretty much every game in full-screen or windowed mode. Its HDR performance in compatible games is respectable and provides a punchy look, though it’s nothing to rave about.

Alienware’s outstanding build quality is in full force here. It’s a massive, hefty monitor, so much so that you may need to rearrange your desk or gaming den to make it fit. Luckily, the stand is height, tilt, and swivel adjustable, making it easier to get the most comfortable viewing angles. The monitor only offers two USB ports, which is a bit disappointing, but they use the more capable USB 3.2 Gen 1 standard—most monitors stick to USB 3.0 or 3.1.

5See on AmazonScreen Size: 24.5” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync | Brightness: 400 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 360Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 2x USB, audio out

If you’re often playing League of Legends, Overwatch, or other fast-paced esports games, it’s important to grab a monitor with a high refresh rate over a high resolution. Luckily, the Asus ROG Swift PG259QN offers an absurdly fast 360fps for smooth, virtually blur-free motion—if your GPU can even keep up with those speeds. That’s paired with an equally stellar response time for virtually no flickering.

This monitor offers a G-Sync module, which means G-Sync will work at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 360Hz. That’s the widest range of G-Sync compatibility you’ll find on any monitor. The result is super-smooth gaming that always takes full advantage of your Nvidia video card’s performance. There’s even a G-Sync Esports Mode to get the ideal settings for esports games.

This 24.5-inch, 1080p monitor offers good image quality, and the small size makes it easier to see all the action on screen without constantly moving your eyes back and forth. It has excellent build quality and a large, sturdy stand. The monitor includes two USB ports for connecting wired peripherals, though they’re on the rear and can be a bit difficult to access.

6See on AmazonScreen Size: 32” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: IPS G-Sync Ultimate | Brightness: 1400 cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 3x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort, 3x USB, audio-out

To make the most of G-Sync technology, then the ultra-premium and expensive Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX is the way to go. This monitor totes G-Sync Ultimate, so it’ll work at any refresh rate between 1Hz and 144Hz. This feature is essential, as most video cards will not be able to sustain a high framerate at this monitor’s 4K resolution, and it’s safe to say everyone wants smooth, tear-free gaming. Unlike most G-Sync Ultimate monitors, this monitor can even make the most of HDR. It’s currently the best HDR gaming monitor money can buy.

The PG32UQX rocks a Mini-LED backlight that sets a new standard for contrast ratio and dark scene performance in an IPS gaming monitor. It also blows away the competition when it comes to HDR and has an insane peak brightness. Motion performance is not outstanding, but it’s alright for a 4K monitor, and it’s ultimately about immersive visuals more than split-second responsiveness.

The build quality goes beyond great and into the realm of the absurd. The monitor is massive, thick, and even has a tiny secondary screen that can display information like GPU system temperatures or current framerate. There are three USB ports, one of which is on the top and meant for connecting a webcam.

0See on AmazonScreen Size: 48” | Aspect Ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 | Panel Type: OLED Evo G-Sync Compatible | Brightness: 800~ cd/m2 | Refresh rate: 120Hz | Response time: 1ms | Inputs: 4x HDMI, 2x USB-in, Ethernet, Headphone, Digital Optical Out, Co-ax

The LG C2 OLED Evo has more-or-less become the default gaming television. It uses OLED technology for the fastest pixel response time currently available, and you can control color down to each individual pixel. Blacks are truly black, and there’s little worry about annoying “halo” effects around bright objects on dark backgrounds. The absolute contrast also makes colors pop and any scene from bright landscapes and skies to dark caves and creepy basements look incredible.

It’s not only great because of the excellent image quality but also totes strong support for the latest gaming standards, including multiple HDMI 2.1 ports along with Adaptive Sync, FreeSync, and G-Sync. It’s G-Sync compatible and certified to work at a refresh rate between 40Hz and 120Hz. While true G-Sync would’ve been nice, this provides a wide range of refresh rates to work. Large displays with true G-Sync are rare, and those that exist are much more expensive than the LG C2 OLED Evo.

Because it"s a television, not a monitor, the LG C2 OLED Evo’s connectivity is different from other displays listed here. It offers four HDMI ports, all of which support HDMI 2.1 for hooking up your machines, but doesn’t have DisplayPort. It’s a bit pricey, though if you want the best television for gaming with no compromises, this delivers.

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.

Nvidia G-Sync comes in three flavors: G-Sync Ultimate, G-Sync, and G-Sync Compatible. It’s important to understand the difference between G-Sync standards before you buy.

The G-Sync Ultimate and G-Sync standards require a dedicated G-Sync hardware module inside the display. This module is a dedicated chip that synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the Nvidia video card’s output.

The G-Sync module’s key benefit is the ability to display smooth motion across a monitor’s entire refresh rate range. You will see smooth, evenly paced gameplay even when a game’s frame rate takes a dip. The motion will not feel as smooth as at a higher framerate, of course, but it will remain free of tearing and stuttering.

G-Sync Ultimate adds image quality standards including HDR and wide color gamut support. This is a sly marketing move from Nvidia, as it suggests these benefits are related to G-Sync. That’s not the case: Nvidia is only certifying the monitor performs to a certain minimum standard. The motion performance of G-Sync Ultimate is the same as standard G-Sync.

G-Sync Compatible is where things get dicey. G-Sync Compatible monitors don’t have a G-Sync module at all and instead rely on the open VESA Adaptive Sync standard. This standard is now common to a wide variety of monitors and, because it doesn’t require a G-Sync module, can hit very low price points.

However, the VESA Adaptive Sync standard does not support refresh rates any lower than 40Hz, and some monitors that are G-Sync compatible have a minimum G-Sync refresh rate even higher than that. G-Sync may not work properly at a framerate below the minimum refresh rate the monitor is G-Sync Compatible monitor is certified to support. You could see flickering or blanking (blank frames) while gaming. Nvidia maintains a database showing the certified specifications of all G-Sync and G-Sync compatible monitors.

Technically, G-Sync Compatible monitors may also have issues when a game’s framerate exceeds a monitor’s refresh rate. This is less frequently an issue, though, and can be addressed with a frame rate cap.

The downsides of G-Sync Compatible monitors are rare in practice. We test dozens of monitors every year at IGN, and it’s unusual that we see flickering or blanking during our review process. Most G-Sync Compatible monitors are certified to work down to a refresh rate of at least 48Hz, which means gameplay should remain smooth and trouble-free at 48 frames per second or above. That’s not a difficult standard to achieve, especially on 1080p and 1440p monitors.

Still, you should keep the difference between G-Sync Compatible and G-Sync in mind. If you want smooth and trouble-free G-Sync in every game, at any frame rate, you’ll want to buy a monitor with G-Sync or G-Sync Ultimate.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

Enter the world of gaming and you will hear the terms refresh rates and frame rates thrown about frequently. To explore brand new alien landscapes and capture enemy lines in smooth, seamless movements, gamers seek out equipment that delivers ultra-fast refresh rates and super-high frame rates.

Continue reading to learn about how Adaptive Sync prevents screen tearing and game stuttering for the smoothest gameplay possible. Or discover ViewSonic ELITE’s range of professional gaming monitors equipped with the latest sync capabilities.

However, no matter how advanced the specifications are, the monitor’s refresh rate and the graphics card’s frame rate need to be synced. Without the synchronization, gamers will experience a poor gaming experience marred with tears and judders. Manufacturers such as NVIDIA, AMD, and VESA have developed different display technologies that help sync frame rates and refresh rates to eliminate screen tearing and minimize game stuttering. And one such technology is Adaptive Sync.

To understand what Adaptive Sync is, we need to first understand what causes screen tearing, game stuttering, and input lag, and how Adaptive Sync resolves them.

Traditional monitors tend to refresh their images at a fixed rate. However, when a game requires higher frame rates outside of the set range, especially during fast-motion scenes, the monitor might not be able to keep up with the dramatic increase. The monitor will then show a part of one frame and the next frame at the same time.

As an example, imagine that your game is going at 90 FPS (Frames Per Second), but your monitor’s refresh rate is 60Hz, this means your graphics card is doing 90 updates per second with the display only doing 60. This overlap leads to split images – almost like a tear across the screen. These lines will take the beautiful viewing experience away and hamper any gameplay.

Game stuttering or micro-stuttering is when frames are being repeated, skipped, or frozen. This usually happens when there is input delay between the GPU and your display. Games, especially fast-paced and graphics-intensive types, will feel slow and laggy and players will experience delayed action and sudden screen hiccups.

Input lags are often caused by a decrease in FPS when the GPU renders images at a slower rate as compared to the monitor. A drop in frame rates below your display’s refresh rate will lead to game stuttering and input delays – and this can be caused by V-Sync.

V-Sync, also known as Vertical Sync, is the original GPU technology that synchronizes the game’s frame rate to the monitor’s refresh rate and is featured in most modern graphics cards. It was developed primarily to combat screen tears.

When V-Sync is enabled on a monitor, it helps limit the frame rate output of the graphics card to the monitor’s refresh rate. This allows the monitor to avoid handling a higher FPS that it can manage and hence, eliminates screen tearing. However, if the game’s required framerate drops below the refresh rate of the monitor, having V-Sync enabled will cause the FPS to drop even further to match the monitor. This brings added latency which will impede performance and increase input delays.

In every gameplay, different scenes demand varying levels of framerates. The more effects and details the scene has (such as explosions and smoke), the longer it takes to render the variance in framerate. Instead of consistently rendering the same framerate across all scenes, whether they are graphics-intensive or not, it makes more sense to sync the refresh rate accordingly.

Developed by VESA, Adaptive Sync adjusts the display’s refresh rate to match the GPU’s outputting frames on the fly. Every single frame is displayed as soon as possible to prevent input lag and not repeated, thus avoiding game stuttering and screen tearing.

Outside of gaming, Adaptive Sync can also be used to enable seamless video playback at various framerates, whether from 23.98 to 60 fps. It changes the monitor’s refresh rate to match with the framerate of the video content, thus banishing video stutters and even reducing power consumption.

Unlike V-Sync which caps your GPU’s frame rate to match with your display’s refresh rate, Adaptive Sync dynamically changes the monitor’s refresh rate in response to the game’s required framerates to render. This means it does not only annihilate screen tearing but also addresses the juddering effect that V-Sync causes when the FPS falls.

To illustrate Adaptive Sync with a diagram explained by VESA, you will see that Display A will wait till Render B is completed and ready before updating to Display B. This ensures that each frame is displayed as soon as possible, thus reducing the possibility of input lag. Frames will not be repeated within the display’s refresh rate set to avoid game stuttering. It will adapt the refresh rate to the rendering framerate to avoid any screen tearing.

AMD FreeSync is no different from VESA Adaptive Sync. It utilizes VESA’s royalty-free technology to sync the refresh rate to the FPS. It also works on most monitors, which keeps the prices down. However, AMD has left the framerate range in the hands of the manufacturers which reduces the usefulness of the sync technology.

NVIDIA G-Sync uses the same principle as Adaptive Sync. But it relies on proprietary hardware that must be built into the display. With the additional hardware and strict regulations enforced by NVIDIA, monitors supporting G-Sync have tighter quality control and are more premium in price.

Both solutions are also hardware bound. If you own a monitor equipped with G-Sync, you will need to get an NVIDIA graphics card. Likewise, a FreeSync display will require an AMD graphics card. However, AMD has also released the technology for open use as part of the DisplayPort interface. This allows anyone can enjoy FreeSync on competing devices. There are also G-Sync Compatible monitors available in the market to pair with an NVIDIA GPU.

Choosing a sync technology depends on your needs and preferences. If you seek a smoother gaming experience, it is ideal for your gaming monitor to have Adaptive Sync on top of V-Sync capabilities. Especially if you play a lot of fighting or shooting games that require precise clicks and lightning reflexes, then a few frames of difference can lead to victory or defeat.

If you need a refresher on the differences between refresh rate and frame rate, you can check our guide here. Or you can browse through ViewSonic ELITE’s professional gaming monitors for a tear-and-stutter-free gaming experience.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

To provide you more detailed instruction, you can also click ASUS Youtube video link below to know more about Troubleshooting for No display on LCD Monitor

Make sure if the operating system had entered hibernation,sleep or power-save mode. Press any key (Enter key / Power key) or move the mouse to wake it up.

Check if the signal cable (VGA / DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort) is wellconnected , and confirmed another end of the output cable has been firmly connected to computer input port (graphics card). Unplug and plug 2-terminals again to ensure all pins aren"t bent.

Check if the signal cable (VGA / DVI / HDMI / DisplayPort) is wellconnected and confirmed another end of the output cable has been firmly connected to computer input port (graphics card). Unplug and plug 2-terminals again to ensure all the pins aren"t bent.

If the model had attached with the power supply (AC-adapter), make sure the power supply has connected to the screen. Please check if the light of power supply is ON. If the light is NOT ON, change another power supply to test.

Are there any regional differences inpower specifications thatASUS LCD monitor supported (for example: If monitor was bought in Taiwan, can it be used in China or other countries?)

ASUS LCD monitor can support power specification: AC 100-240V. As long as within this voltage range, the display can work properly. However, please be noted that if you bought a monitor from another region, the power cord is not necessarily compatible to power outlet. Customer should replace the appropriate power cord or plug adapter in order to ensure normal power supply of the display.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

You are enjoying gaming but after a few sessions, you"re starting to get eyestrain. This is commonly caused by screen tearing. This is where Adaptive-Sync comes into play which is made possible thanks to AMD"s FreeSync and NVIDIA"s G-Sync technology.

The real question is, do you need Adaptive-Sync? That"s a big yes if you"re a competitive gamer. In this guide, we"ll discuss all the advantages & benefits you"ll acquire if you use Adaptive-Sync.

As mentioned above, FreeSync is AMD"s Adaptive-Sync technology. It"s aimed at competitive gamers who want the most precise picture while moving around, which is highly recommended for fast-paced shooter games.

Screen tearing will occur if your monitor"s refresh rate isn"t similar to the game"s frame rate. Those who play games such as CS: GO, Fortnite, Valiant, and PUBG may notice screen tearing issues here and there, which will ruin the overall experience.

In most cases, the GPU renders frames faster than your display that causes some parts of displayed output as strips of different frames. Depending on the game"s movement, it usually appears more frequently when it moves horizontally.

By choosing a monitor with FreeSync, you"ll be able to sync your monitor"s refresh rate to your GPU at ease, eliminating screen tearing. With many FreeSync monitors available nowadays you can easily find monitors ranging from 75 Hz to 240 Hz at affordable prices.

FreeSync is a colossal gamechanger! Once you enable it, you won"t go back. It"s one of the most popular Adaptive-Sync technologies available that will dynamically refresh the screen, syncing within the current game"s frame rate.

If your monitor only has a maximum of 60Hz refresh rate, then the maximum number of frames you"ll get is 60 frames per second. If your frames drop below 60, your monitor will also lower the refresh rate accordingly.

Before you get started with AMD"s FreeSync technology, you should first find a compatible AMD dedicated Graphics Card such as the AORUS Radeon RX 6900 XT Gaming OC 16G or an NVIDIA GPU and monitor that are compatible.

Finally, you should also check if your monitor supports it and which display cable to use. We highly recommend DisplayPort cables over HDMI, since these cables offer more bandwidth.

The latest versions of FreeSync from AMD are FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro. These newer Adaptive-Sync technologies focus on those who want to play with crystal-clear HDR in-game. Moreover, it will also come in handy with AMD"s Big Navi due to its Ray-Tracing capabilities.

FreeSync Premium and Premium make use of low framerate compensation (LFC) which means if your monitor is frequently dropping frames, it will be within the monitor"s range. For example, you could be gaming on a 144Hz monitor but your GPU is struggling to hit 144Hz and only supports 120Hz. LFC will kick in and sync your monitor to 120Hz instead of leaving your graphics card to try and catch up. As a result, this will eliminate any screen tearing that you may have experienced otherwise.

The benefit of FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro is that they support monitors that are over 120Hz whereas the basic version of FreeSync was initially designed to support 60Hz. This makes the overall performance of HDR much smoother than ever.

G-Sync monitors are typically more expensive than FreeSync monitors due to the fact that they include special hardware in the monitor that works with NVIDIAs version of an adaptive refresh.

One of the key benefits of a G-Sync monitor is that you have multiple options when it comes to blurring reduction. Known as Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB), it is a feature developed by NVIDIA that works by strobing the backlight at the same rate as the refresh rate of your monitor which in turn removes ghosting from appearing in the image on your monitor.

The benefit of ULMB is that it works incredibly well and is reported to have a lower input lag. One thing of note however is that ULMB cannot be in conjunction with G-Sync Adaptive Sync.

G-Sync also provides you with the most solid performance when it comes to the reduction of screen tearing. Even at low refresh rates, NVIDIA has ensured that you will not notice any screen tearing. Once you hit a refresh rate that is lower than 30Hz, G-Sync will double the amount of frame renders which in turn doubles the refresh rate, ensuring that everything keeps running in the adaptive refresh range.

Although costing more than FreeSync monitors, G-Sync offers incredible performance and is a great option for gamers looking to get every bit of performance out of their monitors as possible.

If you would like to make use of some of the G-Sync features but you don’t have the budget for a dedicated G-Sync monitor there is now a solution available for you. NVIDIA has now offered support for G-Sync to be used on some FreeSync monitors such as the AORUS F127Q-X Gaming Monitor.

There are a few drawbacks to using a G-Sync compatible monitor over a native G-Sync monitor. You won’t be able to make use of NVIDIAs Ultra Low Motion Blur mode and it won’t come with factory colour calibration that native G-Sync monitors come with. In addition, the G-Sync will only work within the same FPS range that the FreeSync monitor that you are using is rated for.

There are a number of G-Sync-Compatible monitors out there in the market and they"re very affordable. Even regular FreeSync monitors without certification may work correctly, so give it a shot and see if your monitor supports it.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

Based in South Korea, Samsung has become one of the world"s leading electronic brands, and its main competitor is LG. Their lineup includes some monitors with IPS panels, but many have VA panels with a curved screen. Although VA panels look great in dark rooms, the main downside is that they have narrow viewing angles, which isn"t ideal for sharing your screen with others. They"ve even started including Mini LED backlighting on high-end models, further improving the picture quality, peak brightness, and dark room performance. It helps that Samsung already produces TVs with this Mini LED technology, so they"ve become an industry leader for monitors with it.

Samsung offers the best features and performance with their high-end models like the Samsung LS32BG852NNXGO, known as the Neo G8, and lower-end models tend to sacrifice features and performance for a lower cost. For example, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G7 S32BG75 is a step down from the Neo G8 and costs less, but it has a lower 165Hz refresh rate compared to 240Hz on the Neo G8. It means that Samsung"s best options are their high-end ones, as their budget displays, like the Samsung Odyssey G3 S24AG30, have limited performance.

not supported with g sync lcd panel made in china

If you haven’t purchased a new gaming monitor for a few years, you’ve missed out on big advances that can make your games look great: The latest models have gorgeous colors and contrasts that will rival your living room TV, higher resolutions that pack more pixels into the panel to give you sharper visuals and an incredible combination of high refresh rates and adaptive sync technology for smooth, consistent gameplay.

We tested 11 of the best-reviewed gaming monitors across four separate categories — 1080p, 1440p, 4K and ultrawide — to find the best monitors for gamers of all types. We tested each monitor’s color accuracy and response times, and used each one to play games, watch HDR movies and perform everyday tasks within Windows 11. From gamers who need low lag and high frame rates to climb the ladder in their Valorantmatches to gamers who want a gorgeous, wide display for multitasking andmovies, we have a pick for most desktop preferences.

For gamers who don"t have the fanciest systems — and that"s a lot of us — the 27-inch Alienware delivers excellent performance, with a better combination of color accuracy and fast response time than any other monitor we tested.

Asus" top-of-the-line 4K monitor has the best picture quality we tested along with incredibly low input lag — it"s expensive, but it"s the best gaming monitor we"ve found, and for serious gamers who can make the investment, it"s the one to get.

With an incredible picture and speedy performance, this ultrawide OLED from Dell delivered the fastest response times in our testing and should satisfy any gamer looking for an immersive experience.

For gamers on a budget — especially first-person shooter fans — this small monitor with great color accuracy, HDR support and a fast 360Hz refresh rate really delivers.

If you don’t like ultrawide displays, and your system can’t handle a 4K resolution, your next best option is to pick up a strong 1440p display. Of the monitors we researched and tested, Dell’s Alienware AW2721D floated to the top for its excellent out-of-the-box picture quality and strong response times. As an HDR 600-certified display, which gives it more peak brightness to work with and requires it to support local dimming in some capacity, it’s better than most 1440p displays that support the more lackluster HDR 400 standard.

Out of the box, this 27-inch, 240Hz IPS display delivered great performance on our color accuracy tests, reaching a DeltaE of 2.19 and 1.05 for our sRGB and DCI-P3 tests, respectively. That’s partly due to the strength of the monitor’s accuracy on its grayscales; looking just at the DeltaE average for colors on the sRGB version of our test, its score of 3.34 is a little higher than we’d prefer to see. However, the monitor doesn’t come with an sRGB clamp or a mode that would restrict its color space. So, it’s expected that there’d be some aberrations given its wider default gamut. This isn’t a huge issue, but the monitor may appear slightly more saturated at times.

Dell’s display supports HDR10 and is certified for the HDR 600 standard, which gives you approximately 32 local dimming zones — a better setup than you’d typically find on an HDR 400 display, but outpaced by our pricier ultrawide and 4K gaming monitor picks. As with most displays, the monitor’s incredibly high maximum refresh rate, 240Hz, will actually max out at 144Hz if you’re using 10-bit color, though we doubt you’ll see much of a difference between 8- or 10-bit mode. Its total luminosity range was a whopping 476 cd/m2 in our tests (44.3–520.4 cd/m2).

No other 1440p monitor we tested had such a strong combination of default color accuracy and great average response times — 5.46 milliseconds, which was among the top of all the monitors we tested for this guide. The display supports G-Sync and FreeSync across its entire refresh rate range if you’re using its single DisplayPort 1.4 connection. We recommend that over the display’s two HDMI 1.4 ports. The display’s input lag is so low, as measured by TFT Central, that you’ll be able to play twitchy first-person shooters without any issues whatsoever.

In our gaming tests, we didn’t experience any noticeable ghosting, blurring or lag-related issues that would give us grief in a first-person shooter. We’re also not competitive gamers, but for everything from MMO raids, to Satisfactory plotting, to Overwatchmatches gone wrong, there was nothing about this display’s responsiveness that made us worry. Its overall input lag is less than a millisecond slower than our very best pick for competitive gamers, Asus’ ROG Swift PG259QNR, and both scores represent less than one frame’s worth of lag at 240Hz. That’s incredibly fast; we found ourselves more hurt by our raw skills than this monitor’s capabilities.

The AW2721D doesn’t come with any built-in speakers, which we don’t miss, and it has four USB 3.2 ports split between its rear and bottom. RGB lighting is integrated as well, but it’s not the display’s focus, more a subtle, “nice to have” add-on than something you’ll be using to spice up the look of your Twitch streams.

Aside from the display’s so-so local dimming for HDR, which won’t necessarily wow you, and the lack of an sRGB emulation mode, the AW2721D otherwise performs well for most gamers’ needs. It’s a little on the expensive side compared to other 1440p monitors we tested, but it’s as color-accurate as it is responsive right out of the box.

Asus’ ROG Swift PG32UQX has a gorgeous Mini LED backlit display that gives you near-perfect picture quality and supports 4K resolution at refresh rates as high as you’re likely to encounter for the smoothest performance we saw in testing. You won’t find a better mix of size, image quality, gaming capabilities and HDR performance — and we’d expect nothing less than near-perfection for its eye-popping price tag, which is the PG32UQX’s only real downside. If your gaming PC can handle a 4K resolution and you can afford it, Asus’ PG32UQX is the display to get.

This 32-inch IPS display supports 4K gaming at a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz, which is higher than the frame rates most gamers will probably ever see when playing their favorite games at their highest quality settings. Its factory-calibrated picture is practically perfect out of the box, and the PG32UQX is compatible with both Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync adaptive sync technologies for buttery-smooth gameplay. In our testing, it delivered a huge luminosity range of 377.4 cd/m2 (41.2–418.6 cd/m2 ), which makes it as good to use in a brightly lit room as a darker gamer den.

The PG32UQX gives you an incredible picture quality right out of the box. That said, unlike most displays, it doesn’t come with a simple “Standard” preset, so you’ll have to choose based on what you’re using it for; plus, once you do select a preset (we started with “Racing”) you will have to pick the color space “clamp” or limit you need for the games you’re playing (we recommend sticking with the monitor’s sRGB or DCI-P3 presets for everything you’re doing).

Whichever you select, you’ll get great color accuracy. We measured the PG32UQX’s color gamut at 98.8% and 99.9% for sRGB and DCI-P3, respectively, so you’re basically getting a full color space to work with no matter what you pick. The PG32UQX’s sRGB mode achieved an average DeltaE — a measure of color accuracy — of 0.74 across our grayscale and color-swatch tests, which is incredible performance for a consumer monitor. Its color accuracy dropped to a DeltaE of 2.16 when we switched over to DCI-P3, but even that is simply more in line with average monitors, and wouldn’t cause us any concern for everyday use or gaming. (You’re more likely to notice the oversaturated colors of DCI-P3 if you’re using this broader color space with apps and content that were built for more limited sRGB colors.)

When tested on its default settings, the PG32UQX’s average gamma-corrected response time of 11.91 milliseconds was on the slower side of all the monitors we tested (double some of the speedier displays we evaluated). That’s the average of all the measurements we took for the display’s “gray to gray” times, or how long it takes a pixel to move from one specific shade of gray to another. Slow response times can lead to “ghosting” or blurring as an element quickly moves across the screen, but we didn’t notice these when playing Overwatch and Valorant. When we were able to max out the monitor’s high refresh rate, coupled with its “normal” Overdrive setting, our (admittedly noncompetitive) gameplay felt responsive and precise.

Though its response time is on the slower side for a gaming display, this shouldn’t cause issues, as the monitor’s incredibly low input lag (measured by TFT Central) doesn’t incorporate any signal-processing lag, thanks to the display’s built-in G-Sync module. In practical terms, this means that you’ll be able to play fast-paced, competitive first-person shooters without issue. We’d expect nothing less from a display that costs more than an incredible living room TV.

You get two USB 3.0 ports on the display’s back panel as well as another one on the very top of the monitor for your webcam — a design we’ve can’t ever remember seeing elsewhere and which we found very handy.

The display’s only omissions are minor. It doesn’t come with any built-in speakers, but we’re fine with this omission given that integrated monitor speakers usually sound terrible and if you’re going to be putting this much money into a monitor you’re likely going to be shopping for a great gaming headset or better desktop speakers anyway.

There’s also no HDMI 2.1 input — just one DisplayPort 1.4 connection and three HDMI 2.0 ports, which is slightly harder to swallow given the price of this display. Though the monitor supports both HDR10 and DisplayHDR 1400, which is excellent, Dolby Vision is absent. This inclusion would have been the cherry on top of an otherwise killer display, but you’ll probably get by just fine with “regular” ol’ HDR10. You can’t spin the 32-inch display into portrait mode, and we hate that its RGB lights stay on in its standby mode.

If the PG32UQX is simply beyond your gaming budget, Asus has a lower-priced alternative, the PG32UQ, that is otherwise similar but trades the Mini LED setup for a more standard edge-lit backlight. However, we think Gigabyte’s M32U is a better option. It typically costs a few hundred dollars less than the cheaper Asus PG32UQ, and it supports the same 144Hz maximum refresh rate, but it has stronger color accuracy in its sRGB mode. Both displays support HDR 600; by default, the PG32UQ has worse response times, but cranking up the Overdrive level to four (of five) makes it competitive to the M32U. You get HDMI 2.1 ports on either display, great for gamers looking to connect one of their next-gen consoles for 4K gaming. We still recommend sticking with Gigabyte’s display if you need a less expensive 4K gaming monitor than our top pick.

Price aside, there are other valid reasons why you might not want to buy the PG32UQX. The most important one is its 4K resolution. If your system isn’t capable of outputting a decent frame rate at this resolution in your favorite games, then a 4K display might not be the best choice for you. You’ll have to reduce your image quality via your in-game settings to make them playable, and we don’t think it’s worth slapping a worse-looking image on such a gorgeous, pricey display.

Dell’s Alienware AW3423DW is an incredibly good-looking Quantum Dot OLED monitor (QD-OLED) that has a few minor quirks but gives you a great picture quality and rich HDR performance across its 34-inch, 3440-by-1440-pixel ultrawide display. It’s one of the cheapest and best ways to get OLED performance on your desk, so long as you aren’t bothered by an ultrawide resolution in general — a matter of personal preference that’s the main reason why this display wasn’t our top pick for everyone.

The display supports a refresh rate up to 175Hz, but you’ll have to drop from a 10-bit to an 8-bit color depth to achieve it. While most people are unlikely to notice this difference, it’s also true that most gamers will probably be just fine bumping the refresh rate down to 144Hz, or the highest refresh rate supported for 10-bit color.

A built-in G-Sync module means that adaptive sync triggers across the monitor’s entire range of refresh rates, and the AW3423DW also works just fine with FreeSync. Just make sure you’re using the monitor’s single DisplayPort 1.4 connection if you want the best G-Sync or FreeSync performance; you’ll be more restricted over its two HDMI 2.0 ports.

On our display quality tests, the monitor’s default settings produced an average DeltaE of 2.81 on our sRGB test, which is slightly below the point at which you’d probably notice any color inaccuracies. It fared much better on our wide-gamut, DCI-P3 test with a DeltaE of 1.66, but it’s up to you whether you prefer more universal accuracy (sRGB) or a wider gamut but potentially oversaturated colors in apps and games that weren’t designed for it (DCI-P3). We measured the monitor’s luminosity range at 221.2 cd/m2 (23.4–244.5 cd/m2).

The monitor’s sRGB mode improved its color accuracy considerably, achieving a DeltaE of 1.24, but its DCI-P3 mode appeared worse, reaching a DeltaE of 3.7. We recommend sticking with the monitor’s sRGB mode, which is good enough that you don’t really need to do any extra calibration or fiddling, aside from adjusting its brightness to your preference.

We did notice that on-screen text felt a little fuzzier in Windows 11 than other monitors we’ve reviewed, mainly a result of the AW3423DW’s RGB sub-pixel layout. If this bothers you — some notice it, some don’t — you can easily correct it by grabbing the free Better ClearType Tuner app, enabling RGB font antialiasing and bumping up the contrast. (We set ours to 1800, and it solved any slight text issues we saw.)

The slightly curved AW3423DW supports HDR10 (but no Dolby Vision) and has two official HDR “modes” you can select within the monitor’s on-screen display: HDR 400 and HDR 1000. We recommend sticking with HDR 1000. Even though HDR 400 is the more impressive HDR 400 True Black VESA certification, itself an improvement over normal HDR 400 (which isn’t very good on any monitor), the improved highlights you get with HDR 1000 makes games and movies look noticeably better. HDR 400 can lead to a “blown-out” look in brighter parts of whatever you’re staring at (like, say, a nuke going off in your favorite first-person shooter).

On our response time tests, Dell’s display delivered the best response times of all 11 monitors we tested by a wide margin: an average of 2.46 seconds for all gray-to-gray measurements, which was twice as fast as the next best display (non-OLED, to be fair). Input lag, as measured by pcmonitors.info, was 5.17 milliseconds. That’s higher than we’d expect for a panel with an integrated G-Sync module but still good enough to deliver a responsive gaming experience for nearly everyone.

We mostly disliked the setup of the AW3423DW’s on-screen display. For example, the monitor will occasionally prompt you to perform a pixel refresh if you haven’t powered it down in some time. It’s worded to suggest that the refresh will happen when the monitor is off, but the prompt fails to warn you that picking “proceed” turns the monitor off immediately and begins a multi-minute refresh — an annoying UX issue that will trip you up the first time but never again. Sometimes, a pixel refresh box will pop up on your screen that doesn’t have a “cancel” option on it, just “proceed,” and that’s really irritating to deal with when you’re in the middle of a game (like a World of Warcraft raid, in our case, but it’s a good reminder that it’s probably time to take a quick break).

There’s no way to update the AW3423DW’s firmware, which is especially annoying given our version of the display had a quirky bug where leaving its “Eco” mode enabled, its default state, would sometimes switch the monitor from sRGB to DCI-P3 mode when it woke up. It’s a bummer to know that the monitor, in its as-shipped state, will never get any better. (Turning off Eco mode fixed our issue, at least.)

The AW3423DW isn’t perfect, but its quirks — including the slightly longer than normal time it takes to switch from SDR to HDR modes in Windows 11 and the lack of a KVM switch or picture-in-picture mode for the monitor’s display connections and four USB 3.2 ports — aren’t any more annoying than the normal amount of “getting used to it” you’ll have to put yourself through when switching to an ultrawide display. The AW3423DW’s picture quality, especially for its price, is worth a little hassle.

For its small size, Asus’ ROG Swift PG259QNR gives you a lot to work with. This 25-inch, 1080p display has a huge 360Hz refresh rate and out-of-the-box color accuracy that’s impressive for its price. The display even supports HDR (albeit the standard with the least impressive visual performance, HDR 400), and it comes with a free desk clamp if you don’t want to use its provided stand.

The PG259QNR isn’t a wide-gamut display — more on that in a bit — so we only tested its color accuracy for the sRGB color space, where it delivered an amazing average DeltaE of 0.97 on our grayscale and spot-color tests. When we flipped to the monitor’s “racing,” mode, we found it performed just as well as its default preset, which was great to see. Its response times were among the fastest of all the monitors we tested, and TFT Central measured the input lag of its nearly identical sibling, the PG259QN, at 1.75 seconds. Given this monitor screams “first-person shooter fan,” given how it prioritizes refresh rate over resolution, that’s a great result for gamers who need the best timings in their favorite titles.

As you might expect, we sailed through twitchy games like Overwatch without encountering any difficulties. The monitor’s super-high refresh rate made for an incredibly smooth, immersive experience whenever we could crank a game’s frame rate. But even if you only were able to hit, say, 240 frames per second in your favorite title, that practically negates any slight aberrations its roughly 5 milliseconds of response time might create. We had our monitor set to its “Normal” overdrive mode for the best results. This, plus the monitor’s ultra-low input lag, makes it feel great for competitive gaming — or, in our case, running frantically from people who are much higher ranked than us. We wouldn’t use this monitor for MMOs or anything else that dumps a ton of information on the screen; this is a first-person shooter’s display, first and foremost.

We love that the PG259QNR is compatible with both G-Sync and FreeSync across its full refresh rate range, but you’ll have to use its single DisplayPort 1.4 connection to benefit from the full 360Hz instead of its two HDMI 2.0 ports. Though the display accepts an HDR signal, and supports 10-bit color depth, it’s not really built for HDR at all, since it only covered roughly 66% of the DCI-P3 color space in our testing. We wouldn’t recommend purchasing this monitor if you want a quality HDR image from your games, movies and other media.

Though we couldn’t adjust the display’s brightness on its sRGB setting, an annoyance for those buying the monitor in California, we measured its total luminance range on its Racing setting at 377.4 cd/m2 (41.2–418.6 cd/m2). That should give you plenty to work with, whether you’re using the display in daylight or a dim, murky gaming room.

If the PG259QNR’s price feels steep, consider checking out the PG259QN. It’s the exact same display minus a built-in Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, which probably isn’t worth it if you don’t care about benchmarking your display. Whichever version you go with, you’re getting a great, color-accurate display for everyday use and an incredibly responsive, high refresh rate for all the Valorant and Counter-Strike matches you’ll be playing after you’re done with work for the day. Given its small size and resolution, this display definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you know that’s the setup you need for your quasi-competitive gaming, Asus’ display is the one to pick up.

Gaming monitors come in a wide range of configurations to suit different types of gaming setups and tastes, and there’s no monitor that’s going to be perfect for everyone every time. However, when it’s time to upgrade, some attributes are worth prioritizing above others.

A monitor that supports whatever adaptive sync matches your graphics card — Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s FreeSync — is one of the more noticeable upgrades you’ll experience, so long as the display supports adaptive sync over a wide range of refresh rates. If FreeSync kicks in at 48Hz and you can barely push 30 frames per second in your favorite titles, you won’t get the buttery-smooth, stutter-free picture you were expecting. Combine these technologies with a display that supports a refresh rate of 120Hz, at minimum, and you’re on your way to a noticeable increase in image clarity and smoothness.

In general, being able to game at as high a resolution as possible can also give you a noticeable quality boost — just compare any “fuzzier” 1080p display to a 4K monitor. But there can be trade-offs. Bigger resolutions don’t always mean better quality. A panel that struggles with color accuracy, ghosting, lag or any number of other issues won’t be saved by having a huge resolution. And if your system can’t output frame rates at a game’s highest-quality settings, the demands of a 4K display might force you to lower your settings to make your favorite games playable — a trade-off we don’t think is worth it.

IPS panels, OLED displays or the various OLED-like derivatives can deliver great picture quality, but to have a better shot of achieving great visuals without having to buy expensive calibration hardware of your own, consider displays that arrive pre-calibrated from the factory. That’s not a guarantee they’ll be perfect, but it helps.

HDR — high dynamic range — isn’t a necessity for a gaming monitor, but it sure looks great when it’s done right, like when you’re taking a break from gaming with your favorite HDR-friendly movie. If you’re planning to use your monitor for multiple purposes, or you’re going to hold onto your new gaming monitor for a few years, consider getting one that offers an HDR mode that supports the wide color gamuts you’ll probably encounter in the future.

HDR 400 offers less brightness and a narrower range of colors, so you’ll want to look for HDR 600 support at minimum, while HDR 1000 has the potential to give you a much better picture since it supports an increased number of local dimming zones these displays typically support. In other words, the more places the monitor can make dark scenes really dark and light parts really bright. Look for a display with an 8-bit picture; 10-bit is even better, but you probably won’t notice the difference.

Low response times and input lag are important if you’re playing twitch-based shooters, but are less relevant if you’re spending all your time in front of your computer playing Hearthstone, Satisfactoryor other games that don’t require rapid reflexes. That said, most good gaming monitors are fast enough that this shouldn’t be much of a concern to anyone; you’re more likely to notice issues with overshoot, or when a monitor goes too far past its target when transitioning between colors. This can create an unpleasant blurring or “ghosting” effect in moving content. Look to independent reviewers for these response time and input lag measurements, as manufacturers tend to goose these figures (or not report them at all).

We started our research by tracking the most highly reviewed displays from TFT Central, RTINGS, PC Gamer, Tom’s Hardware, PCMag and various YouTube enthusiasts, which helped us narrow down to a list of 11 finalists across four overall categories.

Once we received each monitor, we measured each display’s maximum and minimum luminance using a ColorChecker Display Plus colorimeter in the free DisplayCAL software. We then set each display to a luminance of 120 cd/m2, whenever possible, and measured its gamut coverage for the sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. We then measured the color accuracy of each monitor’s default, as-shipped settings for sRGB and DCI-P3 (if applicable), which produced an average for 21 grayscale values and 29 colors, as well as a total average. We then ran those same tests for a display’s sRGB- or DCI-P3-specific presets, if they existed, and meas