NVIDIA has confirmed the immediate retail availability of its G-SYNC Pulsar technology following announcements at CES. Starting tomorrow, January 7, a new line of gaming monitors utilizing this updated display engine will be available for purchase.

The Technology

For years, PC users have generally had to choose between two distinct display modes. You could enable Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to synchronize the frame rate and eliminate screen tearing, or you could use backlight strobing techniques like ULMB to reduce motion blur. Strobing typically required a fixed refresh rate to function correctly. This limitation often forced users to disable VRR to gain motion clarity.

G-SYNC Pulsar attempts to resolve this trade-off by combining VRR with variable frequency strobing. The technology modulates the monitor’s overdrive and backlight pulse in real-time to match the render rate of the GPU. This approach aims to maintain motion clarity without introducing the flicker or stutter usually associated with strobing on a variable signal.

NVIDIA states that this combination delivers an "effective motion clarity" of 1000Hz on these 360Hz panels. The process utilizes a technique described as "Rolling Scan," which pulses the backlight for only a portion of the frame duration to reduce the persistence of images on the retina.

Hardware Implementation

A significant change in these new displays is the hardware driving the panel. These monitors utilize a scaler chip developed in collaboration with MediaTek. This integration allows the monitors to support the full G-SYNC feature set without requiring the dedicated FPGA module found in previous high-end generations.

Additionally, firmware updates for these displays will be handled via a standard USB connection.

Launch Specifications

The initial rollout includes models from ASUS, Acer, AOC, and MSI. While the exterior designs vary by manufacturer, the core panel specifications are standardized across the lineup:

  • Panel Type: IPS
  • Size: 27 inches
  • Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (1440p)
  • Refresh Rate: 360Hz
  • Starting Price: $599 USD

The specific models launching tomorrow include:

  • ASUS ROG Strix Pulsar XG27AQNGV
  • Acer Predator XB273U F5
  • AOC AGON Pro AG276QSG2
  • MSI MPG 272QRF X36

These units also feature G-SYNC Ambient Adaptive Technology. This system uses a built-in sensor to detect ambient room lighting and automatically adjusts brightness and color temperature to match the environment.

System Considerations

Users looking to integrate these displays into a setup should ensure their GPU can drive 1440p resolution at high frame rates to maximize the utility of the 360Hz panel. If you are currently mocking up a parts list on Configurine, you should verify that your selected video card aligns with these monitor specifications.

The new G-SYNC Pulsar monitors will be available at major retailers starting at 6 AM PT tomorrow.