Wondering what is NVIDIA Fast Sync and AMD Enhanced Sync? I know, the previous question sounded quite vague, didn’t it? It was, but read until the end.
Do you play a lot of games on your computer? If so, you have probably heard about NVIDIA Fast Sync and AMD Enhanced Sync. In this blog I will explain these two technologies in detail.
What is NVIDIA Fast Sync and AMD Enhanced Sync?
NVIDIA’s Fast Sync and AMD’s Enhanced Sync are two alternatives to traditional V-Sync. Both technologies allow for an uncapped frame rate without screen tearing—though there are some tradeoffs in terms of input lag, GPU load, stability on SLI systems and so forth that users will want to be aware of before deciding whether or not they’re worth using.
Furthermore, these two technologies introduce a significant reduction in input lag relative to V-Sync.
Enhanced Sync is a new feature that allows Radeon users to take advantage of the benefits of the Adaptive Sync technology without having to use V-Sync.
About NVIDIA Fast Sync and AMD Enhanced Sync
Before heading towards anything I would like to clear your concept of NVIDIA Fast sync and AMD enhanced sync.
- NVIDIA Fast Sync
Fast Sync is an NVIDIA technology that improves the performance of games and applications by synchronizing the graphics card with the display’s refresh rate.
This enables the GPU to pre-render frames in a buffer, instead of waiting for them to be displayed before rendering them. In addition to improving performance.
Fast Sync also reduces input latency, which can improve responsiveness when playing games or using applications such as video editing or CAD software.
- AMD Enhanced Sync
AMD Enhanced Sync is an AMD technology that does much the same thing: it allows for a variable refresh rate, which means that frames are displayed only when they’re ready.
Instead of displaying every frame on screen at once and potentially causing stuttering.
AMD Enhanced Sync is similar to NVIDIA Fast Sync, but it works with both NVIDIA and AMD GPUs.
It uses an on-screen display (OSD) overlay to improve the gameplay experience by reducing stuttering and tearing without introducing input lag or negatively impacting visual quality.
Understanding the Need for Synchronization Technologies
There are several different types of monitors, and each one has its own unique features. The most commonly used type is the LCD monitor.
These have a liquid crystal display that allows them to show images in color and have a high resolution.
However, I found some disadvantages that can be improved upon with the use of synchronization technologies.
Synchronization technologies are used on monitors to increase their performance and reduce flicker. Flicker occurs when there is a high contrast between dark and light areas on the screen.
This can cause eye strain and headaches as well as decrease productivity levels when it occurs frequently over long periods of time.
The most common method used to reduce flicker is through the use of vertical synchronization (V-Sync).
This feature allows games or videos to update at a rate equal to or faster than the refresh rate of the monitor so that they do not cause any flicker during gameplay or viewing sessions.
It also helps prevent tearing which happens when there are too many frames displayed on screen at once without any gaps between them.
This causes flickering as well as unnatural movements within game environments due to lack of space between frames where they should be displayed simultaneously rather than separately.
How does NVIDIA Fast Sync Work?
According to the research I did, NVIDIA Fast Sync is a technology that enables the use of variable refresh rates.
If a game supports NVIDIA Fast Sync, it will work when your monitor is connected to a compatible NVIDIA graphics card.
NVIDIA Fast Sync is designed to maximize the frame rate that can be displayed on a screen with variable refresh rates.
It works by synchronizing the display’s refresh rate with the frame rate of your game, eliminating visual artifacts and stuttering that can occur when you run games at high frame rates.
When you enable NVIDIA Fast Sync, it will automatically detect which games are installed on your PC and change their settings so that they run at higher frame rates.
It provides benefits similar to those of G-Sync, but without requiring an additional hardware module in your monitor or laptop screen.
Exploring the Features of AMD Enhanced Sync
In the past, a lot of gamers have been frustrated with their AMD graphics cards.
The company has had some issues with drivers in the past and these problems were compounded by its poor support of FreeSync.
It’s also not exactly known for having great customer service.
But now things are changing. AMD finally released its new Enhanced Sync technology and it’s looking like it could be one of the biggest changes to gaming monitors in a while.
Here’s what I think you need to know about Enhanced Sync:
Enhanced Sync is a brand-new feature that enables you to play games with zero input lag, tearing or stuttering.
This is possible because it works on multiple different platforms including Windows 10, MacOS and Linux operating systems as well as mobile devices running Android or iOS software.
You don’t need any additional software or hardware to use Enhanced Sync either.
It just works out-of-the-box so you’ll be able to start playing games immediately without having to worry about compatibility issues!
This technology was developed by AMD Labs which means that it uses proprietary software algorithms created specifically for AMD GPUs which make them compatible with other devices.
Benefits of Using Synchronization Technologies
I observed several benefits of synchronization technologies we are discussing. So, if you want to enhance your knowledge then I suggest you have a look at the table below!
| No | Benefit | Description |
| 1 | Reduced Screen Tearing | Synchronization technologies, such as G-Sync and FreeSync, minimize screen tearing by matching the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU’s frame rate. |
| 2 | Smoother Gameplay | Synchronization ensures a consistent frame rate, resulting in smoother and more immersive gaming experiences. |
| 3 | Elimination of Stuttering | By synchronizing frame rates, stuttering and juddering in games and videos are virtually eliminated. |
| 4 | Lower Input Lag | Synchronization can reduce input lag, making your actions in games more responsive and precise. |
| 5 | Enhanced Visuals | It provides more visually pleasing and stable graphics by maintaining a steady frame delivery. |
| 6 | Increased Monitor Lifespan | Synchronization can prevent flickering and strain on the monitor, potentially extending its lifespan. |
| 7 | Compatibility with Varying Hardware | These technologies work with both AMD (FreeSync) and NVIDIA (G-Sync) GPUs, ensuring broad compatibility. |
| 8 | Energy Efficiency | Synchronization can save power by dynamically adjusting the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU’s output. |
| 9 | Customizable Settings | Users can often adjust synchronization settings to fine-tune the balance between performance and visuals. |
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Compatibility and Hardware Requirements
NVIDIA Fast Sync and AMD Enhanced Sync are two technologies that both aim to provide a smoother, more fluid experience in-game as I have described above.
However, they work in different ways.
NVIDIA Fast Sync is compatible with most NVIDIA graphics cards. It requires an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 600 series or newer GPU and a system running Windows 8 or newer.
It also requires a display that supports G-Sync technology. If you have one of these things, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to use it!
AMD Enhanced Sync is much more open-ended—it’s compatible with any AMD Radeon graphics card as far back as the HD 7000 series.
In order to use AMD Enhanced Sync, you need a system running Windows 10 or later; any Ryzen processor; and any Radeon graphics card from the HD 7000 series onwards.
Setting Up NVIDIA Fast Sync
To enable NVIDIA Fast Sync, I recommend following these steps:
- Open up the NVIDIA Control Panel.You can find this by going to your Start Menu, then selecting Control Panel > Programs > Select Program Category > NVIDIA Graphics Driver > Set Up Sync.
- Click the ‘Set Up Sync’ button and choose the ‘Fast Power Save’ option if it’s available on your system. If not, choose ‘Optimal Performance.’
- Click ‘Apply’ and then restart your computer for changes to take effect!
Setting Up AMD Enhanced Sync
Now let’s see how we can enable AMD enhanced sync.
- Go to the Radeon Settings and select “Gaming” from the left-hand menu.
- Select “Global Settings” from the menu on the right.
- Then scroll down and click on “Vulkan API Support.”
- Make sure “Enable Vulkan API” is checked off, then click on “Advanced Features.”
- Scroll down until you find “Enhanced Sync,” then check off “Enable Enhanced Sync.”
Performance Comparison: NVIDIA vs. AMD
You may be wondering which one is the best. If you are confused in selecting NVIDIA Vs. AMD, don’t worry as I can help you. Just have a look at the table below!
| No | Aspect | NVIDIA | AMD |
| 1 | Graphics Processing Units | GeForce RTX 30 Series | Radeon RX 6000 Series |
| 2 | Performance in Gaming | High-performance and ray tracing capabilities. | Competitive gaming performance with Radeon GPUs. |
| 3 | Performance in Content Creation | CUDA cores enable faster rendering and AI-related tasks. | Excellent multi-threaded performance for creative workloads. |
| 4 | Driver Support | Regular driver updates with optimizations for popular games. | Ongoing driver updates with enhanced software features. |
| 5 | Power Efficiency | Efficient GPUs like the RTX 30 Series with DLSS for power savings. | AMD focuses on power efficiency with RDNA 2 architecture. |
| 6 | Ray Tracing Capabilities | Strong ray tracing performance with RT cores. | Ray tracing support with Radeon GPUs but not as strong as NVIDIA. |
| 7 | Price Range | High-end GPUs can be expensive. | Competitive pricing for good performance. |
Tips and Best Practices for Using These Technologies
I have some tips for you through which you can use both NVIDIA and AMD.
- Use Fast Sync with NVIDIA GPUs and Enhanced Sync with AMD GPUs. Fast Sync is an NVIDIA-specific feature, while Enhanced Sync is AMD specific.
- Make sure you’re using the right one for your graphics card.
- Enable Fast Sync in your game’s settings, or check the game’s options menu for a setting that says “Enable SLI Frame Pacing”.
- Set your refresh rate to 60Hz if you’re running an NVIDIA GPU and to 144Hz if you’re running an AMD GPU.
- You can use Fast Sync or Enhanced Sync even if your monitor isn’t able to display at 60Hz or 144Hz, but it won’t be as effective as it would be if you were using those refresh rates instead!
- If you have an NVIDIA GPU and want to use Fast Sync with games that don’t support it natively, download Game Ready Driver 430 or newer from GeForce Experience’s website.
Final Words
In this blog I have explained What Is NVIDIA Fast Sync And AMD Enhanced Sync.
Basically, NVIDIA has developed a proprietary method to enable variable refresh rates on their graphics cards.
Again, much like G-SYNC, NVIDIA Fast Sync only works with NVIDIA cards and monitors.
AMD Enhanced Sync is a new method developed by AMD that pretends that all the monitors of the world are flicker-free at 50 Hz.
FAQs
Does Fast Sync Increase FPS?
Fast Sync is Nvidia’s version of an improved V-sync, and it works by shifting the vertical sync settings from standard to best for situations where a GPU is producing more frames.
Which is Better: AMD FreeSync or Nvidia G-Sync?
At low refresh rates, G-Sync is superior to FreeSync: it doubles the number of Hertz at these speeds and thus avoids screen tearing.
Which AMD Processor is the Fastest?
AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 2990WX is the company’s highest-clocking processor with its most cores, while Intel’s Core i9 7980XE is their single-core champion.