Nvidia promises to offer a 1000 Hz feel on an LCD screen with its G-Sync Pulsar technology. We were able to test it on the AOC AG276QSG2 screen and have a lot to say about it. Here’s our review.
Revealed by Nvidia 2 years ago, G-Sync Pulsar technology has finally arrived. This evolution of the G-Sync standard promises motion clarity close to 1000 Hz in some cases, targeting a specific group of players.
After experiencing it briefly at different events, we finally had the opportunity to test it extensively on one of the first G-Sync Pulsar models. Here are our impressions of the technology on the AOC AGON PRO AG276QSG2 screen, a 360 Hz LCD model fully compatible with Nvidia technology.
What’s the issue with LCD screens?
G-Sync technology is Nvidia’s variable refresh rate (VRR) solution. The screen’s frequency adjusts to the game’s frame rate to avoid image tearing. Whether you’re at 60 FPS or 180, a G-Sync compatible screen will synchronize with all frame rate variations.
While VRR technology offers a cleaner visual experience, G-Sync Pulsar aims to address another issue associated with LCD and OLED displays: motion blur.
This blur around moving objects is caused by two factors on an LCD screen: the relative slowness of liquid crystal transitions and image persistence on the retina while the eye follows a movement.
To counter this issue, screen manufacturers have been offering solutions based on backlight flickering for years, such as interlacing a black image with a standard image. However, these solutions often come with limitations, including the inability to enable variable refresh rates. G-Sync Pulsar aims to solve this problem.
How does G-Sync Pulsar work?
Nvidia previously offered its ULMB / ULMB 2 (Ultra Low Motion Blur) technology with backlight strobing on competitive screens. G-Sync Pulsar now arrives as a more modern and permissive alternative.
The technology is based on three interdependent techniques that work together to offer significantly improved image clarity on an LCD screen.
The first technique is progressive scanning (or rolling scan), where the screen is divided into several horizontal sections that the backlight can illuminate independently. Each section is pulsed at a constant speed before the LCD pixels are updated for the next image.
To counter flickering due to varying frame rates, Pulsar adds a brief secondary pulse to each screen segment only when the refresh rate varies. In theory, this additional pulse shifts the flicker outside human perception.
Furthermore, all G-Sync Pulsar screens feature Variable Overdrive functionality, adjusting stress on liquid crystals to accelerate their transition to another state (color/brightness). This adjustment adapts to your refresh rate, ensuring optimal motion clarity in every situation.
According to Nvidia, G-Sync Pulsar reduces the retinal image persistence time by four, resulting in a fourfold increase in perceived motion clarity. The 360 Hz screen we tested could potentially surpass 1000 Hz in perceived motion once the feature is activated.
In-game Experience
Testing G-Sync Pulsar on the AOC AG276QSG2 360 Hz monitor revealed a remarkably smooth experience, catering mainly to competitive gamers with sharp and demanding eyes.
Personally testing it across multiple long gaming sessions involving Overwatch 2, Counter-Strike 2, and Anno 117, the visual clarity provided by Pulsar on such a fast screen was highly satisfying.
Evaluating the screen’s response times, which range from 1 to 3 ms, revealed that beyond 360 Hz, the benefits become less noticeable due to diminishing returns. Activating Pulsar via the screen menu temporarily displayed a black screen before adjusting to the brightest setting of 500 cd/m².
Conclusion
After hours of testing, G-Sync Pulsar impresses with improved motion clarity and readability, particularly in fast-paced games. While it may not be as noticeable at very high frequencies, it effectively addresses the limitations of LCD screens, especially for competitive gamers.
Nvidia’s technology is promising but may not appeal to everyone. Those sensitive to visual advantages, particularly in mitigating motion blur and ghosting, will appreciate Pulsar. It remains to be seen if Pulsar will become a standard for competitive LCD screens in the future and expand to other display types like Mini-LED or OLED.
