Gaming Console 101

Does Xbox Series X Support G Sync?

Does Xbox Series X Support G Sync Featured

There is just so much going on with display technology particularly with gaming consoles these days. You have ultra-high resolutions such as 4K and beyond, refresh rates support surpassing 120 Hz, as well as high color bit depths (let alone different types of panels and backlight types for TVs and monitors).

If that wasn’t enough, you also have quality-of-life improvement technologies including Auto low latency mode, Variable Refresh Rate, and HDR. But one feature that many gamers often find is the G-Sync support on monitors leading Xbox gamers to beg the question “does Xbox Series X Support G Sync?”

The short and unfortunate answer is no. Xbox Series X DOES NOT support NVIDIA G-Sync technology. Enabling G Sync requires NVIDIA hardware and Xbox Series X lacks it.

In the following text, I will dissect this question further:

What is NVIDIA G-Sync?

nvidia g sync

G-Sync is basically a proprietary adaptive sync technology developed by NVIDIA.

The technology is designed to eliminate screen tearing and reduce stuttering caused by a misalignment between the screen’s refresh rates and the game’s frame rates. This results in a smooth and stutter-free visual.

While adaptive sync technology is nothing new for PC gamers, for console gamers it is a novelty.

Traditionally, for gaming PCs, in order to enable the G Sync feature you need:

  1. A monitor that supports this feature (has the G-Sync chip)
  2. An NVIDIA graphics card

However, how does this pan out for Xbox Series X?

So Does Xbox Series X Support G Sync?

Unfortunately, no, Xbox Series X DOES NOT support the G Sync feature. So if you have a gaming monitor with G Sync functionality, it WILL work, but will NOT be able to enable or utilize the G Sync functionality on it.

Given that G-Sync is NVIDIA’s proprietary technology, its support is predominantly found in PCs where NVIDIA’s graphics cards are in use.

Xbox Series X, on the other hand, uses a custom GPU designed by AMD. AMD, as we all, is a rival brand to NVIDIA when it comes to the GPU space.

Hence, the Xbox Series X does not natively support G-Sync and given the brand rivalry, it is unlikely that G-Sync support will come in the future as well.

AMD’s FreeSync IS Supported (Fortunately)

AMD has its own adaptive sync technology as an answer to NVIDIA G Sync, the AMD FreeSync.

The great thing about FreeSync is that it is an open-source technology. Meaning that monitor manufacturers can use this technology on their displays for FREE.

NVIDIA G Sync, on the other hand, requires that the manufacturer pay a licensing fee.

This means that monitors with AMD FreeSync technology are CHEAPER as compared to those with the NVIDIA G Sync feature.

There are premium levels to AMD Freesync technology but that is reserved only for the high-end gaming monitors.

FreeSync works in almost the way as NVIDIA G Sync. It also fixes the issues of screen tears and stutters caused by frame rate and refresh rate misalignment.

And given that the Xbox Series X actually has AMD hardware installed, it means that it can easily interface and work with monitors that offer the AMD FreeSync feature.

What are Screen Stuttering and Screen Tearing

In the world of gaming and displays, the terms “screen tearing” and “screen stuttering” are often thrown around to highlight the issues of refresh rate and frame rate mismatch.

Refresh Rate vs Frame Rate

Before you attempt to understand these two phenomena, it is important that you first understand the difference between Refresh Rate and Frame Rate.

Often people confuse the two and use these terms interchangeably. However, that is hardly the case.

Refresh Rate is the function or specification of the display device (monitor or TV). It is often constant depending upon your settings i.e. 60Hz, 120Hz, etc. It basically defines the maxim rate at which the display can change the image in a second. So a 60Hz or 120Hz monitor has the CAPACITY to change the image 60 and 120 times per second respectively.

Frame Rate on the other hand defines how powerful your gaming hardware is. Frame Rate is thus the function of your console/gaming PC. Basically, just because a monitor has a refresh rate of 60Hz or 120Hz, does not mean that your gaming hardware will have enough juice to pump out 60 or 120 frames in a second.

It gets tougher and tougher for your gaming hardware to pump out a high frame rate if the visuals get very demanding i.e. high graphics quality, high resolution, etc.

With that said, it will be easier for you to understand what screen tearing and screen stuttering is.

Screen Tearing

screen tear
Source: Wikipedia

Screen Tearing is an unwanted phenomenon that occurs when your gaming hardware (Xbox Series X) is very powerful and is pumping out a higher frame rate as compared to the maximum refresh rate of your monitor.

So imagine your monitor working at 60Hz, but your gaming hardware pumping out 90 frames in a second. Here your screen will show another split frame divided into two or more sections causing a screen tear.

Screen Stuttering

Screen stuttering is the opposite of screen tearing. This occurs when your gaming hardware is not powerful and it cannot keep up with the refresh rate of the monitor.

So imagine your monitor working at 60Hz, but your gaming console only pumping out 30 Frames per second.

Gamers generally refer to this as lag or freeze but it is in fact called screen stuttering.

Screen stuttering can also occur due to “frame pacing” issues, where the frames aren’t being rendered at consistent intervals. Frame pacing often occurs when the game is not optimized properly.

Atif Qazi

Atif Qazi is the founder of GamingConsole101.com and a huge gaming nerd. Thanks to the vast gaming experience under his belt, you can often find him writing detailed pieces of content on gaming hardware and console. But in all honesty, nothing gives him more pleasure than 'one-shotting' everyone as a stealth archer in ESO: Skyrim.

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