NVIDIA’s GeForce Now Cloud Streaming Service Embraces Variable Refresh Rate Support

nVidia has finally delivered on its promise to bring variable Refresh Rate (VRR) support to its cloud gaming service, Geforce Now. This long-awaited feature, including NVIDIA’s own G-SYNC technology, ensures a tear-free gaming experience by synchronizing the monitor’s refresh rate with the game’s framerate. Without VRR, gamers are left with the unsightly screen tearing or the option to enable V-Sync, which unfortunately adds Latency and can limit framerates.

Dubbed “Cloud G-Sync,” NVIDIA’s VRR implementation not only eliminates screen tearing but also reduces latency by adjusting the stream rate to the client. This is particularly beneficial for Reflex-enabled games. Prior to this update, GeForce Now users had to resort to in-game V-Sync or stream-level V-Sync settings, both of which had their drawbacks. However, with the introduction of VRR, GeForce Now Ultimate members can now enjoy a tear-free experience while taking advantage of Reflex-powered 60 FPS and 120 FPS streaming modes.

NVIDIA’s technical documentation reveals that VRR support on GeForce Now extends to both Mac and Windows PCs connected to VRR-capable monitors. This includes G-Sync monitors on Windows, VESA AdaptiveSync/FreeSync monitors, HDMI 2.1 VRR displays, and even Apple ProMotion displays found in recent MacBook Pro Laptops. However, it’s worth noting that the current compatibility limitation lies on the GPU side, as VRR with GeForce Now requires an NVIDIA GPU. Intel and AMD GPUs are not supported at this time.

Interestingly, despite G-Sync’s introduction in 2013 and GeForce Now’s availability since 2015, the two technologies never intersected until now. NVIDIA’s reasoning for this delay remains unclear, as their announcement simply mentions that the “newly improved cloud G-SYNC technology goes even further,” without providing any specific details.

In conclusion, NVIDIA’s addition of variable refresh rate support to GeForce Now is a significant step forward for cloud gaming enthusiasts. By eliminating screen tearing and reducing latency, NVIDIA aims to enhance the gaming experience for its users. With compatibility across various monitors and the inclusion of Reflex-powered streaming modes, GeForce Now Ultimate members can now enjoy tear-free gaming at optimal framerates.

(Source)

Background Information

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About AMD: AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

  

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About Apple: Apple Inc., known for its iconic products, was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976. The company has since revolutionized the technology landscape with innovations like the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone, iPad, and more. for its emphasis on design, user experience, and ecosystem integration, Apple's devices and software have made a profound impact on various industries. With a commitment to quality and innovation, Apple remains a global technology leader.

  

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About Intel: Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

  

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About nVidia: NVIDIA has firmly established itself as a leader in the realm of client computing, continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in graphics and AI technologies. With a deep commitment to enhancing user experiences, NVIDIA's client computing business focuses on delivering solutions that power everything from gaming and creative workloads to enterprise applications. for its GeForce graphics cards, the company has redefined high-performance gaming, setting industry standards for realistic visuals, fluid frame rates, and immersive experiences. Complementing its gaming expertise, NVIDIA's Quadro and NVIDIA RTX graphics cards cater to professionals in design, content creation, and scientific fields, enabling real-time ray tracing and AI-driven workflows that elevate productivity and creativity to unprecedented heights. By seamlessly integrating graphics, AI, and software, NVIDIA continues to shape the landscape of client computing, fostering innovation and immersive interactions in a rapidly evolving digital world.

  

Technology Explained

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FreeSync: FreeSync is a technology developed by AMD that helps create an amazing gaming or multimedia experience by synchronizing the refresh rate of a display device with the frame rate of a graphics device. It reduces input lag, stutter, and tearing of the screen, allowing for smooth, clear visuals. The technology is now widely used in PC monitors and televisions to provide an enhanced gaming experience. FreeSync helps reduce gaming input latency, meaning gamers can have better, faster reactions, and more accurate gameplay. This technology is highly beneficial for competitive gamers and is one of the reasons why PCs can still compete with consoles. Additionally, FreeSync helps reduce eye strain, allowing users to game or watch movies more comfortably for longer periods of time.

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G-SYNC: G-SYNC is a revolutionary technology developed by NVIDIA that synchronizes the refresh rate of a monitor with the frame rate of a GPU. This technology eliminates screen tearing, stuttering, and input lag, resulting in a smooth, responsive gaming experience. G-SYNC is also capable of variable refresh rates, allowing the monitor to adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate of the GPU, resulting in an even smoother gaming experience. G-SYNC is now widely used in the computer industry, and is available on a variety of monitors, from budget models to high-end gaming displays. It is also supported by a wide range of GPUs, making it a great choice for gamers looking for a smooth, responsive gaming experience.

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Geforce: Geforce is a line of graphics processing units (GPUs) developed by Nvidia. It is the most popular GPU used in the computer industry today. Geforce GPUs are used in gaming PCs, workstations, and high-end laptops. They are also used in virtual reality systems, artificial intelligence, and deep learning applications. Geforce GPUs are designed to deliver high performance and power efficiency, making them ideal for gaming and other demanding applications. They are also capable of rendering high-resolution graphics and providing smooth, realistic visuals. Geforce GPUs are used in a variety of applications, from gaming to professional workstations, and are the preferred choice for many computer users.

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GPU: GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is a specialized type of processor designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks. It is used in the computer industry to render images, videos, and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. They are also used in the medical field to create 3D models of organs and tissues, and in the automotive industry to create virtual prototypes of cars. GPUs are also used in the field of artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data and create complex models. GPUs are becoming increasingly important in the computer industry as they are able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

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Latency: Technology latency is the time it takes for a computer system to respond to a request. It is an important factor in the performance of computer systems, as it affects the speed and efficiency of data processing. In the computer industry, latency is a major factor in the performance of computer networks, storage systems, and other computer systems. Low latency is essential for applications that require fast response times, such as online gaming, streaming media, and real-time data processing. High latency can cause delays in data processing, resulting in slow response times and poor performance. To reduce latency, computer systems use various techniques such as caching, load balancing, and parallel processing. By reducing latency, computer systems can provide faster response times and improved performance.

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Refresh Rate: The technology refresh rate is a measure of how often a computer system is updated with new hardware and software. It is an important factor in the computer industry, as it determines how quickly a system can be upgraded and how well it can handle new applications. The refresh rate is usually measured in years, and it is important for businesses to keep their systems up to date in order to remain competitive. A higher refresh rate means that the system can handle more applications and can be upgraded more quickly. This can be beneficial for businesses that need to keep up with the latest technology trends. Additionally, a higher refresh rate can help reduce the cost of maintaining a system, as newer hardware and software can be more efficient and cost-effective.

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VRR: Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) is a technology primarily used in displays, such as computer monitors and televisions, to improve the viewing experience, especially for gamers. VRR synchronizes the refresh rate of the display with the frame rate of the content being shown. VRR technologies, like AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync (for PC monitors), and HDMI VRR or VRR through software updates (for TVs and gaming consoles), allow the display to adapt its refresh rate dynamically to match the frame rate of the content. For example, if a game is running at 45 frames per second (fps), the display will adjust its refresh rate to 45Hz, eliminating tearing and reducing stuttering.