G-Sync gaming monitors don't have to be crazy expensive anymore. That's thanks to Nvidia's support for many FreeSync gaming monitors when paired with an Nvidia graphics card, you can find both lower cost G-Sync Compatible gaming monitors as well as those equipped with an actual G-Sync module. G-Sync ensures your graphics card and monitor play together nicely to avoid the nasty screen tearing caused by misalignment between your GPU's frame rate output and monitor's refresh rate. G-Sync avoids the stuttering and input lag of V-Sync (not to mention limiting your frame rate to just 60fps).
So, if you're in the market for a monitor with variable refresh rate (VRR) technology and you have an Nvidia graphics processor, it's worth your while to see the affordable options available to you. We've picked out budget monitors that deliver either true G-Sync or confirmed compatibility through FreeSync – and click here to find them in the UK.
TL;DR – These are the Best Budget G-Sync Monitors:
- LG UltraGear 32GP750-B
- Asus TUF Gaming VG248Q1B
- Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
- Gigabyte G32QC
- NZXT Canvas 25F
- NZXT Canvas 27Q
- Acer Nitro ED270
LG UltraGear 32GP750-B
Best Budget G-Sync Gaming Monitor
The LG UltraGear 32GP750-B brings G-Sync support and much more to love for around $350. You’re getting a big 31.5-inch display to see all the action, and the 1440p resolution helps keep it all crisp. LG is giving you an HDR boost with an IPS panel capable of dazzling at 400 nits of brightness and a solid contrast ratio. Colors should be vivid and accurate thanks to the monitor covering 99% of the sRGB color gamut and offering a 10-bit color depth.
Bright and colorful is good, but when you’re gaming, you want speed. This monitor goes above the typical 144Hz you find on most budget gaming monitors and hops up to 165Hz. Of course, your GPU and monitor won’t be able to keep up that high frame rate the entire time, so that’s where G-Sync compatibility steps in. This technology and its 1ms response time will keep the action butter-smooth and stutter-free for a more immersive gaming experience. All that performance comes alongside some extra utility thanks to a flexible stand.
Asus TUF Gaming VG248Q1B
Ultra Cheap G-Sync Gaming Monitor
If you're looking to get G-Sync for the lowest price possible, the Asus TUF Gaming VG248Q1B delivers. Asus has an incredible lineup of budget-friendly G-sync compatible displays, a few of which are on this list, but this one will give you the best bang for your buck, coming in at around $170. You can get gaming at a fast refresh rate up to 165Hz at the high end or keep pace with your Nvidia graphics card all the way down to 48Hz. That’s a wide range of variable refresh rate support to ensure your gaming with the best possible visuals at all times. If you’ve got an AMD GPU in another rig, you also get support for FreeSync Premium. And your smooth gameplay is further enhanced by 0.5ms response time.
The monitor itself is a fairly straightforward ordeal, with no fancy HDR or extra-high peak brightness. You’re getting a 24-inch 1080p display toting basic features like flicker-free technology, low motion blur, and plenty of connectivity. Asus also packs in Shadow boost software, so you can spot enemies lurking in the darkness. The Asus TUF Gaming VG248Q1B is doing the job it set out to do, so don't shy away from this monitor if you're focus is fast gaming with no tearing over the sharpest possible image.
Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A
Best Budget 4K G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Speed is great for competitive gaming, but some games are just about the eye candy, and a 4K display can make them really shimmer. The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A brings that 4K capability at an affordable price and backs it up with support for G-Sync. Since a steady framerate can be hard to maintain at 4K, having the G-Sync to back you up is crucial for clear visuals free of tearing or stutter.
The Asus TUF Gaming VG289Q1A boasts a bright, IPS display that supports a 10-bit color depth to give you over a billion colors to see. And, when we said this monitor came at an affordable price point, we meant it. You can grab it for just over $300.
Gigabyte G32QC
Best Budget 1440p G-Sync Gaming Monitor
You can get a lot of features all in one place if you know where to look. If you want a large display with a sharp resolution, a fast refresh rate, HDR support, and VRR compatiblity, then the Gigabyte G32QC is where you should look.
This monitor delivers a 32-inch display with a 1500R curvature to wrap it around your field of view and immerse you in your games. That display has DisplayHDR 400 certification, ensuring a strong picture quality that is just made better by its 1440p resolution, solid contrast ratio, and 165Hz refresh rate. G-Sync support will let you stay smooth even when you're not displaying 165 frames per second.
NZXT Canvas 25F
Best Budget 1080p G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Going with 1080p may not mean you'll get the sharpest image, but you can get something those folks with 1440p and 4K monitors can't yet: blistering speeds. It also helps that there are many 1080p monitors available for a bargain price. Look at the NZXT Canvas 25F, which delivers a 240Hz refresh rate and G-Sync compatibility for just $300, making it ideal for fast-paced esports.
You don’t sacrifice much quality to hit that low price. To start, NXZT uses a stunning IPS panel for vivid colors and solid viewing angles, letting you enjoy those speedy, butter-smooth frames even more. The monitor also hits a fairly bright 400-nit peak brightness and comes with a DisplayHDR 400 certification, ensuring you don’t miss out on enemies due to a dim display.
NZXT Canvas 27Q
Best Budget G-Sync Compatible Gaming Monitor
Getting a G-Sync Compatible monitor instead of one that features a true G-Sync module may seem like cheating, but with everything that the NZXT Canvas 27Q has to offer, you’ll forget all about the fact that it's not actual G-Sync. This monitor delivers a tear-free gaming experience with a max refresh rate of 165Hz on the DisplayPort and USB-C connections. You also get an admirable 144Hz over the HDMI ports. Not bad for a monitor that’ll only set you back $320, and that’s just the start.
The NZXT Canvas 27Q totes a 1440p resolution on a 27-inch IPS panel. For such an affordable display, you still get a relatively high peak brightness at 300 nits that, along with its anti-glare coating, make it a great option for even your brighter spaces. However, this display truly shines when it comes to color performance, covering 99% of the sRGB color gamut. You get a wide range of vibrant colors, only you may find darker objects have a bit of haloing, and darker scenes have a gray glow. And annoyingly, you are going to have to purchase the stand separately for $40. If those slight flaws aren’t deal breakers, most should find this sturdy and attractive monitor to be a suitable option for their PC build.
Acer Nitro ED270
Best Budget 240Hz G-Sync Gaming Monitor
Your budget doesn’t have to define your speeds with the Acer Nitro ED270. This 240Hz monitor is wildly affordable. It starts at $300, but we’ve seen it go as low as $219. That’s impressively low for any 27-inch gaming monitor, let alone one that can cruise at 240Hz. Aside from speed, the Acer Nitro ED270 isn’t entirely special. You won’t find a bright, HDR-capable panel to make AAA games really pop, and the monitor is achieving its speeds by using a VA panel rather than the IPS panels that tend to offer more attractive visuals.
But, at 1080p and 27 inches, the Nitro ED270 can provide sharp enough visuals that will provide a ton of extra clarity thanks to the high refresh rate. If you’re on a budget, your hardware might not always hit a full 240 fps, so that’s where the G-Sync compatibility of the monitor will come in to prevent stutter and tearing. Get ready for super-smooth gaming.
Where to Get the Best Cheap G-Sync Monitors in the UK
What to look for in a Cheap G-Sync Monitor
Screen tearing is just about the most upsetting thing that can happen to you while gaming. Previously the solution to this problem was to simply enable V-Sync in your game, which synced the output of the video card to your monitor's maximum refresh rate, which was usually 60Hz.
Unfortunately, V-Sync introduces its own set of issues including increased input lag and capping the frame rate to a maximum of 60 fps—or 30 fps if you're running below that.
Nvidia was unhappy with this solution (just like the rest of us), so it created G-Sync a few years ago to solve these issues. It locks your monitor's refresh rate to the current frame rate of your graphics card and eliminates screen tearing, but isn't limited to any particular refresh rate. It can work at 38Hz, 45Hz, and so on.
In general, it works really well, but there are requirements. You need an Nvidia graphics card (minimum of a GTX 650 Ti Boost) and a G-Sync-enabled monitor connected by DisplayPort 1.2 or newer, and you need to turn it on in the Nvidia control panel software.
All G-Sync monitors have a proprietary G-Sync module in them that allows it to work, and with the right monitor and video card, you could get synced frame rates up to 240Hz.
G-Sync monitors tend to be around $100 to $200 more than the comparable FreeSync panels (which is attributed to the required module), so ‘cheap’ has a slightly different connotation here. That said, the best cheap G-Sync monitors let you experience a tear-free gaming experience without having to break the bank.
Better yet Nvidia has decreed that some Freesync monitors can be G-Sync Compatible, making them an amazingly affordable way to sidestep your way to a completely tear-free and smooth gaming experience with an Nvidia-powered system.
While Freesync monitors don't include a dedicated G-Sync display module, Nvidia has tested over 400 displays and certified that at least 50 of them will definitely work with G-Sync. That said, our own testing has revealed there are even more compatible monitors out there.
Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
