Two locks appear in professional display conversations because they solve different coordination problems. Genlock vs Frame Lock is not a choice between a good and bad feature: it is a question of whether the system needs a shared timing reference, coordinated frames across graphics hardware, or both.

Quick Answer

Genlock supplies common timing to the installation; Frame Lock coordinates frame presentation across the graphics hardware that participates in the display surface.

A common reference is Genlock's domain; cross-GPU frame agreement is Frame Lock's. PNY RTX Pro Sync provides both for R19,599 and adds NVIDIA Mosaic. The design limits are eight professional graphics processors and 32 coordinated screens.

⏳ Use Genlock for reference timing

Choose Genlock when the signal design calls for equipment to follow the same timing reference. This is a system-level requirement that should be drawn into the signal plan. It is not a promise about content layout, bezel correction or a particular response-time result.

Ask where the reference originates, which equipment must follow it and how the result will be observed during acceptance. Those questions belong with the integrator because the exact connection and setup depend on the completed system. The sync card provides the function; the project supplies the architecture.

🎬 Use Frame Lock across graphics hardware

Frame Lock is the relevant term when frames produced through participating graphics resources must remain coordinated. That role becomes especially important in a multi-GPU visual design, where independent frame progression could become visible at display boundaries.

PNY allows eight NVIDIA RTX Pro processors at the outer edge of this architecture. Review suitable hardware in the workstation graphics cards section after deciding how applications and outputs will be distributed.

🧱 Keep Mosaic distinct

NVIDIA Mosaic manages the multi-display arrangement. It can sit beside either lock requirement, but it does not turn Genlock and Frame Lock into interchangeable names. The R19,599 PNY synchronization card combines Mosaic with both locks for designs topping out at 32 synchronised screens.

Think in three columns: reference timing, cross-GPU frame coordination and canvas arrangement. A project review should give each column its own answer. That structure also makes overbuying less likely because a small independent-screen setup may not require every capability.

🔎 Select by observable needs

Write a pass condition for each chosen feature. For reference timing, observe whether the participating equipment follows the intended source. For multi-GPU frame coordination, run motion across the relevant output boundaries. For Mosaic, confirm that the planned visual surface is arranged as expected.

Screens and surrounding parts should follow the same requirement-led method. Compare PC monitors using the final canvas and review graphics card accessories only after the core architecture is approved.

Use symptoms to decide which lock to inspect

If disagreement appears across equipment that should follow one reference, begin with the Genlock requirement and its reference path. If the visible break follows the boundary between two graphics processors, examine the Frame Lock plan and the outputs owned by each GPU. This is a diagnostic starting point, not a replacement for end-to-end testing.

Keep a small set of repeatable test clips for both cases. One should make reference disagreement easy to observe across the screen group; another should carry motion across the highlighted GPU boundary. Saving the active configuration with each passing clip gives technicians a useful baseline after maintenance.

Account for layouts that change

Some installations switch between one Mosaic canvas and several display regions. Treat every approved layout as a separate acceptance state. The lock roles may stay the same, but content boundaries and GPU ownership can move when the arrangement changes.

RTX PRO Sync packages the primary synchronisation card with four 12-inch cables and two 24-inch alternatives, allowing different internal spans between components. The completed system can include two such cards and as many as eight GPUs. Those physical facts matter when the lock roles cross a large chassis, because selecting the right function still requires a connection layout capable of carrying it.

Side-by-side abstract comparison of timing rings and aligned frame pulses

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Genlock and Frame Lock be used in the same design?

Yes. The PNY RTX Pro Sync card includes both functions, so a system can address shared reference timing and coordinated frames where both are required.

Which lock controls a Mosaic canvas?

Neither lock is the canvas tool. NVIDIA Mosaic handles the multi-display arrangement, while the locks cover timing and frame coordination.

What is the maximum supported scale?

The largest version pairs 32 synchronised displays with an eight-processor RTX Pro boundary.

Does R19,599 cover the displays too?

No. R19,599 buys the PNY sync card. Panels, graphics processors and installation items need separate budget entries.

What evidence helps choose between the two locks?

Use the system diagram and a repeatable visual test. A reference relationship supports the Genlock case, while a visible cross-GPU boundary supports the Frame Lock case. If both conditions exist, document and test them separately so one passing observation does not hide a failure in the other role.

Ready to choose the correct lock role? Map reference timing, GPU ownership and screen arrangement, then compare the matching professional display components at Evetech.