G-SYNC Upgrade Board Giveaway - FIVE boards! [complete]

[cheneric]

Hello, I'm Eric. I don't have much DIY experience other than building and fixing computers for about 8 years. I just love the feeling of putting things together and how each part makes it whole. I try to build computers as much as I can. My friends would come to me when they need computer advice and when a computer needs to be built.

My favorite URL is of course the howto lightboost. http://www.blurbusters.com/zero-motion-blur/lightboost/ I was so excited reading about this. It was revolutionary to me. As a competitive FPS player, I was contemplating about whether or not I should get a CRT. I still check ebay and craigslist for the FW900 from time to time, but lightboost seals the deal for me boasting better or equivalent performance to a CRT.

At first, I had two monitors. 2 x u2312hm's, then got got back into counter strike and started to play CSGO a alot. Like at least 40 hours a week. I decided to get the ASUS monitor as my third monitor only because it's going to have G-Sync. I am very picky when it comes to performance and how smooth my game runs on CS. I will get annoyed by the slightest stutter and FPS instability. With G-Sync, I will be able to further pursue perfection to the movements and fluidity in game. I will mainly use G-Sync's strobe feature as they said it's going to be superior and I'm very interested in finding out how much better it will be. I feel like I would be the perfect candidate to try the new G-Sync. Although I mainly play CS, I also play some other games on the side that would be really advantageous with the G-sync mode. I currently started playing Day Z and I currently only have about 30-40 FPS and experience a lot of tearing. This game would be a perfect game to test this baby out. I hope G-Sync really is what I hope it will be.

[shadman]

I'm not entering the contest, for a few reasons, but I want to make sure to wish everyone good luck on this drawing, and welcome to the forums. Don't be scared to start new topics or reply to other ones as well.

And, well, while I'm here I might as well post my favorite URL as well, because who doesn't like a good FAQ?
http://www.blurbusters.com/faq/scanningbacklight/

[cirthix]

I'm cirthix and I've been messing around with displays for years. I've published some overclocking mods for the IBM T221 (the first 4k display, released in 2001), produced and sold video adapters for the T221, done some custom work for LVDS adapters, made a board to use an edp 12.85" 2560*1700 lcd with a desktop computer, as well as modifying the panel to be overclocked (tracked down the configuration eeprom, dumped, found, editited, and reflashed what was presented as edid-over-aux)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4Ce1AGR0Mk

Recently I've also made boards to create a 240Hz 1080p M270HHF-L10 based display. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP1DEC9N6qY

My favorite post so on the blurbusters page so far is http://www.blurbusters.com/blur-busters ... -giveaway/. Of course it would be! haha. Maybe the second favorite would be my 240Hz mod . From testufo, I've found http://testufo.com/#test=frameskipping&horiz=15&vert=8 to be the most useful since it provides a very easy way to quickly assess frame-dropping. It even works better than rrmt for this purpose, impressive for an online test. Great job on this!

What would I do with gsync? I've got a lot to try. Not only will I extensively test it with games (who wouldn't haha), I'd try some real work on it too! I've done some work on just-in-time rendering (pictures here: https://picasaweb.google.com/1129081983 ... p2Q29vEhgE) which would be very interesting to try in conjunction with gsync (mainly for purposes of implementing a soft power-cap with dynamic clocking). I will also attempt to attach it to some other displays, and of course, I'll find a way to overclock the gsync module (I strongly suspect that it sets it's own modes from the same external configuration that it sources the edid-over-aux information from, so there could be fun opportunities there, considering that I have a spare 4k 4ch lvds panel laying around...

Rules (From NVIDIA)

They require these rules:
-- Must be qualified DIYer.
I think I qualify
-- Kit cannot be resold.
Ok.
-- Must already have an ASUS VG248QE monitor (no other monitors supported).
We'll see about that... But seriously, I'll buy a vg248qe if i get one of the kits.
-- You'll need to have (or immediately get) one of the supported GeForce cards (650 Ti or later).
Have 660ti already, might replace 7970 if gsync really works that well.
-- Recipient must perform modification.
Even if you performed it, I'd take it apart
-- Recipient must provide feedback on G-SYNC gaming experience.
Sure
-- Only available in United States and Canada. (their condition, presumably a legal technicality)
USA

[Scooter]

Hi my name is Kevin. I started into computers when I was pretty young with an old TI 99 4a... kinda dating myself there... but anyway, I was always interested in electronics. I joined the USAF and went straight into electronics and worked on some of the most advanced aircraft at the time... F-16's, CV-22's, F117's (stealth), predators, globalhawks ect. the whole time I was in the USAF I built computers, fixed friends computers, and tinkered with everything electronic that I could get my hands on. After I retired from the USAF, I got a job working on cash recyclers, and cash dispensers... I just recently built my new computer, and have been going through the BF4 growing pains. My monitor is brand new after a friend got one and I was amazed at how his looked, so of course I had to have one!! My current setup is a Asus VG248QE, AsRock Z68 Extreme 4, 16g of Corsair Vengence ram, Gigabyte OC 760 GTX 4gig, 5 SSD's(Samsung and OCZ's). Some of my hobbies are, building and repairing pc's, fishing, boating, motorcycle riding.

http://www.testufo.com/#test=framerates

If I do win the Gsync board, the first thing I will do (after install) is have a few friends over to check it out. I want to see what it will do on this monitor with BF4 and hopefully up my frags quite a bit!! The videos I have watched on it are impressive, and I would love to have one!!! Plz pick me!!! Merry Christmas!!!

[Chief Blur Buster]

TwistedEndz, cheneric, cirthix, and Scooter -- Thanks for very entertaing & interesting submissions!
You are going to give Blur Busters a hard time when the time period is up!

(P.S. Welcome, shadman!)

[JakeNQuake]

Howdy!

I'm Jake. I play QuakeLive pretty competitively. I'm a somewhat highly ranked player (2k+ ELO in CA (Yes, I know problems with ELO )) and have become pretty good. I've been playing Quake since the QTest demo. I also play a lot of other FPS and RTS games, but nothing as much as QL. By day I'm a programmer and systems guy writing (mostly Go) code to manage various services across thousands of servers for a large web company. By night I frag until the wee hours far more often than I probably should!

I think FPS gaming is truly the "pong" version of the kind of competitive games people will be playing on holodecks in the future. I love the ability to put my reflexes and mind up against other people's. I love great teamwork and fair play, and always try to treat n00bs gently. I love the competition! And that's exactly why I spend time tweaking my configs, trying out different gear, and constantly trying to improve the interface between the game and my brain and fingers. I would love to have a G-SYNC board so I could really try being competitive in games where my FPS varies a lot (PlanetSide2, Battlefield 4) and it'd be awesome to have an improved QuakeLive experience through input lag and stutter reduction!

I meet all the requirements, would not mess up the installation, and I've already pointed at least a few dozen gamers at the BlurBusters site I even follow on Twitter!

My favorite BlurBusters page would have to be http://www.blurbusters.com/zero-motion- ... boost-faq/ because I learned so much the first time I read it (and then a bit more each time )

Thank you!
Jake

[Chief Blur Buster]

JakeNQuake -- thanks for your submission!
Vega and SS4 -- I've moved your posts to the "Show us photos of your displays!" thread upon his permission, since it was meant to introduce himself rather than submit for G-SYNC (this thread is G-SYNC submissions)

[PiERiT]

My name is Matt. I've been using computers since I was 8, and built my own when I was 13. If memory serves, I put the heatsink on backwards. Obviously I've learned a lot since then. My current build started in 2010 when I joined OCN, but has been upgraded piece by piece since then to the point where nothing in the original build is still being used. When it got to where I ran out of components to upgrade, I started looking at peripherals: a sound card and headset, a mechanical keyboard, and finally a monitor.

I'd been using the cheap 60hz TN panels for far too long, so I was looking for something better. I started with a 120hz Acer, which was nice, but unfortunately it was defective so I had to return it. I then got talked into a Dell IPS monitor, and it too was nice, but after a few weeks the better color reproduction became unnoticeable. When 2560x1440 monitors became all the rage, I imported one from Korea for $450 (immediately afterwards they of course dropped to $350). It had all sorts of problems; it buzzed, the top half had a yellow tint, it had dead pixels, and it would randomly not turn on. The cost of returning it was too much, so I stuck it out... until I saw your original LightBoost thread on OCN and the subsequent article(s) on here. I immediately picked up an ASUS VG248QE and gave LB a shot. However, between having to lower settings to achieve a steady 120fps, the red tint, the initial difficulty in getting it to work 100% of the time, and the fact that I did not notice much of an improvement over non-LB (likely due to my terrible eyesight), I quit using LB. But, since the ASUS isn't defective like every other monitor I've had, I counted my blessings and I'm still using it today.

I then read about G-SYNC, also on OCN. A lot of people seemed to dismiss it, but I am excited. I can't stand screen tearing, so I need to have v-sync enabled, but I also can't stand random FPS drops. Most of my time these days is spent putzing around with settings to find a combination that will give me a steady 60fps. This is annoying for three reasons: 1) I really shouldn't have to turn down settings after spending so much money on my gear, 2) I'm not taking advantage of my monitor's perks, and 3) I am spending more time messing with settings than I am actually playing. The G-SYNC mod would alleviate all of those, and let me get back to fully enjoying games.

[aMunster]

Hi, I'm Andrew. I play both extremely fast and slow games, primarily Quake Live and Runescape. In both cases, visual artifacts are distracting and ruin the experience.

I'll speak first to modding. I worked for a computer company, auditing and reconditioning servers, both old and new. Creative solutions were necessary to keep up. If we didn't have the right type of cable, we had to build it. Serial cables and hammers were the order of the day. If an ancient IBM storage array needed 480v power, it would be tested at the breaker with two 240v lines held together by duct tape. I will never forget how difficult it was to rebuild IBM POWER-based UNIX workstations. Nothing inside or out would fit right between identical machines. Conversely, I could strip down an HP blade server, scan all of the barcodes inside and reassemble it in under five minutes. I cross flashed a raid card this week to gain motherboard compatibility. Compared to my time with this company, replacing a circuit board in a monitor is easy.

My desire to use cutting edge monitors stems from my competitive spirit in Quake. Less visual distraction means stronger play. I was sick of the choppiness in 60hz displays. The difference when upgrading to 120hz was immediately apparent. Lightboosted 2d was another upgrade, which came from Blurbusters! Thank god for the ToastyX tutorial. I expect G-SYNC to be another large improvement.

I plan to use G-SYNC with Quake Live, where input lag and visual distractions can ruin your game. An Asus VG248QE and GTX 770 arrived early for Christmas, and my accuracy has already improved. Currently, 2d lightboosted monitors are the best displays to use in this game. I've tested out Adaptive V-sync as well. It made concentrating on my opponent easier but did slightly alter mouse movement, which interrupted muscle memory.

Additionally, I think G-SYNC will help with Runescape. The game is not well optimized, so the framerates are all over the place. In this scenario I'm waiting for G-SYNC to blow me away. My favorite quality of life upgrades are the ones I never knew I wanted. It quickly turns into things I can't live without.

So far I've spent $600 on a pair of 10 year old games. I want to see improvements. I help beta test Quake Live so I'm in a good position to report feedback to both id software and Nvidia if I receive the DIY kit.


P.S. - You haven't lived until you've played Nyan cat on an IBM Power4-based AIX machine outputting to a 3153 terminal and a refrigerator size dot matrix printer

[Chickenfeed]

Hey all, I've been a computer enthusiast and gamer since the time I could grasp a mouse in my hands as a child. I've always loved learning how things work and reveled in managing to use DOS 3.1 to install and run games at a young age. I have fond memories of downloading game demos over a 28K modem for days on end, anxiously awaiting for them to finish so I could see all those magical 0s and 1s come to life. Since that time I've made it my hobby to keep up with the latest and greatest in the PC and gaming world and have built and maintained numerous PCs for both myself, friends, family and the odd customer on the side. On the gaming side of things I've helped alpha and beta test games from numerous genres, by providing feedback and bug reporting.

I built my first system when I was 10 and have been hooked ever since. I've toyed with various form factors, cooling methods ( including a custom watercooled TJ07 ) gpus and display setups. I recall hearing murmurs of Samsung's SM2233RZ display months before its release and what it promised to do for gaming and LCDs in general. I grew up playing CS 1.6, Quake 3 and Unreal, all on a good old 19" CRT and after moving on to LCDs never had that same feeling. When I picked up a 2233RZ at launch that all changed, It made me feel like kid again. I appreciated and learned to love games all over. I've since been using a 27" WQHD panel as I've grown fond of high DPI displays and also the strong viewing angles offered by these IPS panels. That said, a part of me always missed that fluid 120HZ experience but as time went on I once again got used to 60HZ *gasp!* (I know feel free to send hate mail!)

That brings me to today. I've read numerous articles on Gsync and how it promises to change gaming once again, in the same way the 120HZ LCD changed the landscape on its release. After reading many glowing previews by various press outlets, I was excited all over again. I've always disliked tearing but as I've been somewhat of a competitive gamer my whole life, I've hated input lag even more so. As a result I've largely played games sans vsync most of my gaming career. The concept that one could have low latency input AND no tearing and framerate drops commonly attributed to vsync really got my attention.

I recently came about the HOW TO article on enabling 2D lightboost - http://www.blurbusters.com/zero-motion-blur/lightboost/
and between this and the soon to be released gsync upgrade kits, I was ready to jump back onto the high speed train of gaming panels again. I ordered a VG248QE last week and am ready to see gaming reborn once again with light boost and gysnc once it is released. I've always enjoyed documenting and sharing my experiences and would relish the opportunity to test and report on this seemingly huge leap in gaming immersion. I can't wait to play through both old games and new again being I've only used an original 120Hz display. I've heard nothing but great things about 2D lightboost (CRT like motion fidelity for the win :p ) and paired with Gsync it should make for the best gaming experience on the market (sorry Sony and Microsoft )

I've always been adamant about using high quality input devices to enhance the computing experience and at this time there are no shortage of great mice and keyboards and other peripherals. That said, its great to finally see more focus put on the output devices for a change. Changes in display technologies have always been at war with each other claiming to be the best format, panel type and display method but seeing something like this come along inspires confidence in the industry.

I'm currently a big fan of both Payday 2 and Battlefield 4. My ever growing Steam library is always at odds with my free time and I also like going old school and re installing classic shooters and replaying them at high levels of supersampling (just replayed through COD2 yesterday and man Ghosts has nothing on it ) Currently I am playing Soldier of Fortune II.

Best wishes to all entrants and I can't wait to hear about the experiences of those lucky enough to be among the first to use gysnc themselves