Gsync is not new to issues, and flickering is an issue that most users face with Gsync monitors. But worry not; I have come to you today with the remedy for the Gsync monitor flickering.
Setting FPS limits, Updating GPU drivers, and lowering the refresh rate range can solve Gsync monitor flickering. However, if they don’t work, you can roll back recent driver updates and set GPU driver program settings to default to solve the issue.
Now, before getting into the meat of the matter, I will first diagnose why this issue occurs.
Gsync Monitor Flickering: Diagnosis
Gsync Monitors Flicker primarily because of Higher FPS than Refresh Rate, Lower FPS than the Refresh Rate Range. However, Out-of-date and problematic GPU drivers and Game-driver settings conflict can cause it as well.
Here’s a table with all the reasons as well as solutions for folks who don’t have the time.
| Reasons | Solutions |
| Higher FPS than Refresh Rate | Set FPS Limit |
| Lower FPS than Refresh Rate Range | Use CRU to lower the limits |
| Graphics Card Driver Out of Date | Update the GPU Driver |
| Problematic GPU Driver | Roll-back the update |
| Game-Driver Settings Conflict | Resolve the Conflict |
However, I would recommend you sit through the rest of the article to know the process of how you can solve the issue. It can get complicated, after all. It may be mentioned that things like DLSS or TAA have no effect on this issue.
Well, let’s get started with the diagnosis.
Higher FPS than the Refresh Rate:
If your FPS is higher than the max refresh rate your G-sync monitor can offer, that might end up causing flickers in the monitor. For example, if you get 200 FPS on a 165Hz monitor, that can cause flickers in that specific monitor.
This means that the FPS is more than what your refresh rate can handle. However, interestingly, this issue doesn’t happen to everyone. So, if this is the reason why you’re facing gsync monitor flickering, then that’s bad luck at its finest.
Lower FPS than Refresh Rate Range:
There is a specific range of refresh rates in every Gsync monitor. For example, a monitor may have a 30-165hz refresh rate range. If the FPS you get from your game is below 30 in this scenario, you will notice flickering on your monitor.
Since the FPS is too low, it causes issues with syncing the frames with the monitor as that falls below the range the monitor supports. However, much like the earlier reason, this does not happen to everyone.
So, the problem might be with only your unit. However, the warranty does not cover this aspect of the monitor.
Graphics Card Driver Out of Date:
If your GPU driver is out of date, that often conflicts with software that is compatible with the later version of the driver. That conflict results in Gsync flickering for games, especially.
This issue is universal, as an out-of-date GPU driver doesn’t only cause flickering in Gsync monitors but also causes GPU not found issues in games like MSFS. So fix it as soon as you can.
Problematic GPU Driver:
Some GPU drivers are fraught with glitches, and Gsync is often a victim of those glitches. A famous example would be Nvidia driver version 388.0; Gsync would cause flickering for most users in that update.
This is also a universal issue as most users faced it at some point in their lives, including me. Both AMD and Nvidia drivers caused this issue once upon a time.
Game-Driver Settings Conflict:
Game-Driver settings conflict happens when you apply the same setting on a game and the graphics driver at the same time. As the driver enforces its setting on the game, it creates a conflict with the coding of the game.
That conflict causes the Gsync monitor flickering issue if the setting in question is vsync or FPS cap. However, not all games have this quirk.
That’ll be it for the reasons. Without delaying any further, I’ll be moving on to the solutions.
All Possible Solutions to the Gsync Monitor Flickering
FPS limit, CTU, and updated GPU drivers can fix Gsync Monitor Flickering in most cases. However, if they don’t, resolving game-driver conflicts or rolling back driver updates is going to do the trick.
Set FPS Limit in Games or Driver Settings:
If your high FPS is the reason behind your G-Sync monitor flickering, simply set an FPS limit right below the refresh rate. That will do the trick.
You can go to either the game settings or driver settings to manually set an FPS limit. For example, if your monitor is 165hz, set the FPS limit to 161. That will get rid of any flickering you were facing if the issue was due to FPS being too high.
However, if your FPS is too low, this solution won’t work for you.
Use Custom Resolution Utility:
If the FPS you get in games is much lower than the refresh rate range of your gsync monitor, that can cause flickering. So, you just have to lower the refresh rate range to match your FPS through the Custom Resolution Utility software.
These are the steps you must follow to do that-
- First, download the Custom Resolution Utility.
- Then, select your monitor from the dropdown menu.
- Now, Edit the reported range next to your monitor.
- All you have to do is set the lowest frequency your monitor can handle.
- Finally, Restart your computer.
Now you can test it with any applications you want; I would recommend Nvidia Pendulum.
If even this doesn’t fix it, then your problem lies somewhere else. Try another solution.
Update Your GPU Drivers:
If you haven’t updated your GPU drivers in a long time, and observe flickering, then it’s time for you to opt for an update.
- Go to Nvidia’s website and download the latest update for your GPU model.
- Install the update.
- Make sure to restart your computer at the end of it.
Your flickering should now go away, and if it hasn’t, you can try uninstalling GPU drivers and reinstalling it in safe mode.
Resolve Game-Driver Conflicts:
Resolving game-driver conflicts is the easiest. Simply set the program settings in your driver back to default. That will solve the conflict easily, and you’ll be back to having no flickering in your G-sync monitor.
Roll-Back GPU Driver Updates:
Finally, if a certain GPU driver update causes the flickering issue, then all you have to do is roll back the update. Follow these steps-
- Download Display Driver Uninstaller from Guru3D or any other verified website.
- Run it and uninstall your GPU driver.
- Download an older version of the driver where the flickering issue was absent.
- Install the older GPU driver.
- Restart your PC.
Now your G-Sync monitor will not flicker anymore. If it does, then it might be a hardware-related problem. You would have to take the monitor to a repair shop to get that checked out.
Now that all’s said and done, I will answer some of the frequently asked questions before concluding the article. But before that you can check a guide on fixing Honeycomb Bravo on screen light indicator not working
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Should I Always Turn On Gsync?
If you’re a big fan of the smoothness G-Sync offers, you should always turn on G-Sync. Although, I would not recommend it for online multiplayer games like Apex Legends or COD Warzone.
Does G-Sync fix screen tearing?
G-Sync does fix screen tearing for the most part. So for the games where visuals matter, do turn on the G-sync feature.
Is G-Sync better than VSync?
Yes, G-sync is better than Vsync. G-sync is essentially a hardware implementation of vsync that gets rid of the screen tearing and input lag that vsync causes.
Final Words
That’ll be all folks. I hope my article was able to solve your Gsync monitor flickering issue effectively. So, what about it? Will you be using Gsync for all of your games now? Let me know in the comments below.
Till then, Happy Gaming! And if you want you can check an article on Fseconomy vs Neofly
