Nvidia's new partnership MediaTek has just killed off the module that made G-Sync monitors expensive

Nvidia announced that it has partnered up with MediaTek to create a scaler for gaming monitors that includes the full GSync feature set. Display vendors can now use a single chip instead of a separate GSync module to bring Nvidia’s variable refresh rate system into more products.

Nvidia launched G-Sync in 2013, a system which allows monitors the ability to vary the refresh rates so that the display can display the frame instantly instead of waiting for the GPU to finish rendering it. In this situation, the frame could be swapped during the display, resulting in an 'embarrassment' across the screen.

VRR also reduces any stuttering caused by differences in the refresh rate of a display and the frame rate of a game.

G-Sync isn’t the only VRR technology, however. DisplayPort 1.2 and newer, as well as HDMI 2.1, both feature it. AMD has its own VRR system, FreeSync, based on DisplayPort, but it has been improved since 2015.

FreeSync does not require any additional hardware in the monitor. It only requires that the display be able adjust its refresh rate within a certain range (e.g. Between 30 Hz to 144 Hz). If a monitor manufacturer wishes to offer full GSync support, they will need to purchase and install a separate add in board with Nvidia’s G-Sync processor and a small amount of RAM.

Since FreeSync is royalty-free and adds to the cost of materials, vendors like Asus, Acer Gigabyte MSI et. al prefer AMD's system.

This is why Nvidia and MediaTek have teamed up to produce a scaler with the full G Sync feature set, including the latest Pulsar Technology. This system reduces motion blur to keep small details as clear as they can be, even when the camera is whipped around in a video game.

Three vendors -- Acer, AOC and Asus -- have already announced gaming monitors which will use the chip. All three monitors are 27-inch gaming monitors in 1440p with a maximum refresh of 360 Hz.

It's not clear how much the Predator XB273UF5, Agon Pro AG276QS2, or ROG Swift PG27AQNR are going to cost, nor when they will go on sale, but I would imagine that an announcement is coming soon.

The question that is more important, regardless of price, is: "Why should I purchase a GSync monitor over a FreeSync monitor?" On paper, the two technologies are very similar. It's all about the application of each technology in a gaming display.

A display that supports G-Sync Ultimate is guaranteed to meet a certain hardware capability, while you are not guaranteed the same with a FreeSync display. AMD does offer FreeSync Premium with higher specifications and additional features.

While you may think that a GeForce RTX graphic card is required to use a G-Sync gaming display, this is not the case. Nvidia certifies monitors as G-Sync Ultimate, standard G-Sync or G-Sync compatible (i.e. It's a FreeSync display, but it will work with Nvidia graphics cards.

G-Sync Ultimate displays do have a wide VRR range. This range is typically 1 Hz to the maximum refresh rate of the monitor. G-Sync compatible displays have a smaller range. 48 Hz to144 Hz. If the frame rate of a game drops below the minimum value in the VRR, the monitor might activate blur reduction, or LFC (Low-Framerate Compensation), and/or simply double the refresh rates to keep everything in the VRR.

These new MediaTek G Sync monitors should give you the full G-Sync Ultimate functionality without having to pay the high cost of an additional G-Sync module. We'll let you all know how it works in the real-world when we review one!