Gsync does not seem to activate on Retroarch on Linux

RetroArch Linux devices
#1

I have an old Asus Rog PG348Q monitor with Gsync chipset and an Nvidia GTX 1080 and decided to dual boot with Windows 10 and OpenSUSE Tumbleweed 15.6

When it comes to Retroarch, after activating Gsync and the indicators in the xorg.conf file and logging to X11 on Plasma, I tested the classic game examples to see whether Gsync was functioning:

Mortal Kombat 1 coin insert intro and the shadows in Samurai Shodown 2.

On Retroarch I also enabled the Gsync/VRR sync option and activated vsync too. Monitor indicator shows that it is activated (green letters showing vsync on on top left, while the letter near vsync is red).

However when playing SS2 on Retroarch via FB Neo or MAME, the shadows do not flicker ultra fast.

I also installed MAME 0.271 separately and when testing the games there, shadows flicker ultra fast as intended and both messages are green.

Is there any other setting I am omitting?

#2

Upon further inspection, it seems that on MAME the flip indicator is green and the vsync option is red, Same on Dosbox Staging as both are green. But in order for Gsync to be activated, FLIP letters on top left should be green, even when vsync is red.

Yet on Retroarch the flip indicator is always red making gsync not possible. Despite enabling VRR/Gsync option. Only Vsync option is green.

Is something on Retroarch not allowing Gsync to activate on Linux?

#3

settings>video>output, push enter on “set display reported refresh rate” or manually enter your monitor max refresh if it’s not detected
settings>video>Synchronization, enable “sync to exact content framerate” on bottom (keep vsync On, should be default)
then close RA to save/apply

In MAME core options>System>enable “Throttle”.

1 Like
#4

settings are exactly like that. But BLIT letters are red, meaning no Gsync is activated. The slow shadows in Samurai Showdown 2 demonstrate this.

Though Retroarch is not the only case. Duckstation and PCSX2 do not have gsync enabled either on Linux on fullscreen

The apps that activate it on fullscreen only, so far are Mame, dosbox Staging and Snes9x. It seems the other applications do not activate full screen exclusive mode. Maybe it is a nvidia drivers issue too as TW is stuck at 550 for months. Will wait for newer drivers to see if anything changed.

#5

it seems monitor only supports Gsync and not VRR. Tried setting vrr on Gnome via dconf and it would not show in Settings - Display.

So it seems Retroarch on Linux relies only on VRR instead of Gsync, hence why Gsync does not activate. Probably the same goes for the other emulators.

It is better to use the Windows version of RA for Gsync then. Fortunately on Linux both Snes9x, Mame and Blastem support Gsync but I need it mostly for Mame games.

#6

Problem solved. For a strange reason, Gsync is only activated on LXQt desktop. Neither Plasma, Gnome, not even Cinammon accept VRR via Gsync.