Online retailer Scan is now offering a 24-inch Asus monitor fitted with Nvidia's G-Sync technology, the VG248QW. This is a Scan exclusive, the product page boasts, and costs a hefty $719.41 USD (441.41 British Pounds). There's also a version without the G-Sync tech for $260.77 less.
As previously reported, G-Sync is hardware that goes inside the display and eliminates screen tearing, V-Sync input lag and stutter. The G-Sync hardware synchronize the monitor to the output of the GPU instead of the GPU adjusting to the monitor. Compatible Nvidia GPUs include GTX 650 Ti Boost, GTX 660, GTX 660 Ti, GTX 670, GTX 680, GTX 690, GTX 760, GTX 770, GTX 780 and GTX TITAN. The driver requirement is R331.58 or higher.
Thanks to the module, the monitor begins a refresh cycle right after each frame is completely rendered on the GPU. And because the GPU renders with variable time, the refresh of the monitor now no longer has a fixed rate.
"We brought together about two dozen GPU architects and other senior guys to take apart the problem and look at why some games are smooth and others aren't," said Nvidia's Tom Peterson back in October. "It turns out that our entire industry has been syncing the GPU's frame-rendering rate to the monitor's refresh rate – usually 60 Hz – and it's this syncing that's causing a lot of the problems."
Bit-Tech reports that Nvidia's controller is a drop in replacement for the standard controller that's used in most monitors, meaning the G-Sync tech could be retrofitted to several models already on the market. The site also points to rumors about Nvidia actually selling the G-Sync module separately for users to upgrade their monitor on their own.
For now, the Asus VG248QW is one of the first offered with G-Sync right off the shelf.
UPDATE: Nvidia's posted a webpage for North American customers to point them where they can get their own G-Sync monitor. Nvidia has even sent along a video showing a comparison between V-Sync and G-Sync technology and a demo that shows with and without V-Sync. Our regular video hosting solutions don't support the 60 fps, but you can download it here if you're interested (fair warning: It's 200 MB).
