NVIDIA releases firmware 1.1.6 for G-SYNC Pulsar and fixes issues running between 100 and 180 FPS
NVIDIA’s G-SYNC Pulsar technology just received a new firmware update. The version 1.1.6 is available through the online update tool that the company maintains on its support page, and brings with it performance-focused improvements within the 100 to 180 FPS rangealong with several corrections that affect the management of video inputs and the color calibration of the panel.
Pulsar hit the market in January 2026, almost two years after NVIDIA first introduced it at CES 2024. The wait was long, but the concept is solid– Technology combines variable refresh rate (VRR) with backlight strobe to adaptively reduce motion blur. The result, according to NVIDIA, equates to perceived motion clarity greater than 1,000 Hz on compatible 360 Hz monitors.
What changes with version 1.1.6
The previous firmware, version 1.1.4, focused primarily on fixing problematic behavior below 90 FPS. It introduced general Pulsar optimizations, removed double images that frequently appeared in that range, fixed the monitor’s FPS indicator when the frame rate fell below that threshold, and added a fixed 60Hz strobe mode intended for titles that run locked at that figure.
The new version 1.1.6 extends that work to the intermediate rangewhere several users had reported that the Pulsar experience was not as clean as it should be. Specifically, the update introduces the following corrections and improvements:
Improved G-SYNC Pulsar performance in the range of 100 to 180 FPSwhich was the main pain point identified by users since the technology reached the first monitors. Correction of the value of the monitor’s white point in the EDID, now adjusting it to the D65 standard. Solution to the problem of automatic input switching, which in certain scenarios did not work correctly. Fixed a bug in cable detection when using a DP80 cable, which prevented switching between inputs reliably. Fix for an intermittent frame skip issue when the second monitor input was active.
Compatible monitors and how to update
G-SYNC Pulsar is a technology that depends on the G-SYNC module installed in the monitor and the NVIDIA display processor. Therefore, firmware updates are not distributed by each manufacturer independently, but rather are centralized in the NVIDIA update toolavailable in the G-SYNC monitors section of their support website.
The models that support this technology are the Acer Predator XB273U F5, AOC AGON PRO AG276QSG2, ASUS ROG STRIX Pulsar. However, version 1.1.6 is not available simultaneously for all of them. At the moment, only users of the AOC AGON PRO AG276QSG2 and the MSI MPG 272QRF X36 can install this update. The Acer and ASUS models remain on version 1.1.4 for now, although NVIDIA plans to expand support soon.
The update process requires a Micro-B USB cable to connect the monitor to the computer and a compatible browser. The complete update usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
The context of Pulsar in the market
G-SYNC Pulsar was born in response to a historical limitation of the combination between VRR and strobe. Classic modes like ULMB worked at fixed refresh rates, which prevented VRR from being used at the same time. NVIDIA designed Pulsar to resolve this incompatibility, dynamically adjusting both the strobe frequency and panel overdrive intensity based on the game’s actual frame rate at any given time.
The technology is supported by specific panels and the G-SYNC modulewhich explains why the list of compatible monitors is small and why the firmware is managed directly by NVIDIA. Manufacturers such as AOC, MSI, Acer and ASUS integrate the necessary hardware, but Pulsar’s behavior is controlled by the software and firmware layer that NVIDIA updates centrally.
The interest of update 1.1.6 is that the range from 100 to 180 FPS is especially relevant for players of competitive titles who do not always manage to keep the counter above 180 frames per second on a sustained basis, but who do not usually drop below 100 either. It was precisely that range that presented the most obvious irregularities in Pulsar’s behavior, and this version addresses it directly.
