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Which V-Sync Settings Should You Use for Smooth Gameplay?

The right V-Sync setting depends on your monitor and priorities. Use VRR when supported, cap FPS when it exceeds the display range, and choose V-Sync on or off based on tearing versus latency.
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For smooth gameplay, start by checking whether your monitor supports variable refresh rate (VRR), such as NVIDIA G-SYNC or AMD FreeSync. If it does, enable VRR both in the monitor’s on-screen menu and in the matching graphics software; use a frame cap or synchronization setting if game frame rates regularly exceed the display’s maximum refresh rate. On a fixed-refresh display, turn V-Sync on if tearing bothers you, or try it off if responsiveness matters more and you can tolerate tearing.

There is no single best setting for every game and PC: the right choice depends on your monitor, graphics card, frame rate, game, and tolerance for tearing versus input latency.

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Choose a starting setting for your display

Situation Starting setting What to watch for
NVIDIA G-SYNC, with tearing unacceptable Enable G-SYNC. NVIDIA recommends V-Sync on alongside Reflex or Ultra Low Latency; if needed, cap frame rate slightly below the display’s maximum refresh rate. NVIDIA says this approach has slightly higher latency than uncapped FPS with Reflex enabled. A cap can help keep the frame rate within the VRR range, but no universal number of frames below maximum is established. NVIDIA’s latency guide and G-SYNC setup guide describe the options.
AMD FreeSync, frame rate usually stays within the display’s VRR range Enable FreeSync in the monitor and AMD Software, then assess the game’s frame pacing and smoothness. Some monitor presets may turn FreeSync off. Confirm it is enabled on both sides. AMD’s setup instructions show how to enable it in Adrenalin.
FreeSync, frame rate regularly exceeds the display’s maximum refresh rate Turn on V-Sync or set a frame-rate cap. AMD recommends either option for this situation. Choose based on the game and whether you prefer tear-free output or lower latency; AMD does not specify one cap value for all systems. See AMD FreeSync guidance.
AMD Radeon, frame rate often exceeds refresh and latency matters Consider Enhanced Sync. AMD positions it as a way to reduce tearing, latency, and stutter compared with traditional V-Sync in its target use case. It does not support OpenGL and may cause multimedia playback issues. Details are in AMD’s Enhanced Sync overview.
Fixed-refresh display, tearing is distracting Try conventional V-Sync on. It synchronizes output with monitor refresh to remove tearing, but can add latency. The effect on responsiveness is not identical for every player or system. NVIDIA’s latency guide explains the tradeoff.
Fixed-refresh display, responsiveness is the priority Try V-Sync off. Tearing may occur, particularly when the game’s frame rate exceeds the display’s refresh rate. This is a preference tradeoff, not a universally superior setting.

What V-Sync, VRR, and a frame cap change

V-Sync synchronizes output to refresh

V-Sync, also called vertical synchronization, coordinates the game’s output with the monitor’s refresh cycle to prevent screen tearing. Traditional V-Sync can introduce latency; NVIDIA describes display back pressure and recommends turning it off for players willing to accept tearing. How noticeable the tradeoff is depends on the game, system, and player.

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On AMD Radeon, the driver’s “Wait for Vertical Refresh” control applies only to OpenGL applications. For APIs such as DirectX or Vulkan, V-Sync is controlled in the game’s graphics settings, according to AMD’s Radeon settings guidance.

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VRR adjusts refresh to match game frame rate

Unlike conventional V-Sync, variable refresh rate allows a compatible display to adjust its refresh rate in response to the game’s frame rate. NVIDIA describes G-SYNC as matching monitor refresh to GPU frame rate; AMD describes FreeSync as synchronizing display refresh with compatible graphics frame rate and lists standards including DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync and HDMI Variable Refresh Rate. Both require compatible display and graphics hardware. AMD calls FreeSync a technology for smooth, tear-free, low-latency gameplay and video; that is AMD’s description, not an independent test result.

VRR works within a display’s supported refresh range. On supported FreeSync tiers, low-framerate compensation can duplicate frames when the game falls below the display’s minimum rate. AMD’s example is a 60–144 Hz display running a game at 40 FPS: duplicating frames lets the display refresh at 80 Hz. That is an illustration of the feature, not a guarantee for every display.

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A frame cap limits maximum rendered FPS

A cap prevents the game from rendering above a chosen frame rate. NVIDIA says its Max Frame Rate control can help keep a game within a G-SYNC/VRR range, reduce power use, or reduce system latency in some GPU-bound situations. AMD says Frame Rate Target Control can help avoid exceeding the maximum FreeSync range, but documents that the cited feature applies to fullscreen DirectX 9, 10, and 11 applications and a 30–200 FPS target range. The available cap controls and useful value therefore depend on the driver, game, and system.

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Enable VRR and check the refresh rate

  1. Set the display to its highest supported refresh rate. Use the operating system’s display settings or graphics control panel. NVIDIA specifically recommends the highest available refresh rate for G-SYNC.
  2. Enable VRR in the monitor’s on-screen menu. Look for FreeSync, Adaptive-Sync, or the display’s equivalent variable-refresh setting, if supported. Monitor presets can sometimes disable the feature.
  3. Enable the matching feature in graphics software. In NVIDIA Control Panel, configure G-SYNC for a compatible display. In AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, check and enable FreeSync. Both the monitor and software setting matter.
  4. Check the game’s frame rate against the display’s range. If FPS regularly exceeds the maximum refresh rate, AMD recommends V-Sync or a cap. NVIDIA recommends a cap slightly below the VRR maximum to help remain in range.
  5. Adjust one setting at a time in the game you play. Check for tearing, stutter, responsiveness, and uneven frame pacing. A result in one game does not establish a universal best setting.
  6. If you enable AMD Enhanced Sync, check compatibility. It does not support OpenGL. If multimedia playback flickers or behaves undesirably, disable Enhanced Sync for that use.

When a setting does not behave as expected

  • VRR is unavailable or does not seem active: confirm the display and graphics device support the same VRR feature, enable it in the monitor menu, and check the corresponding driver setting. A display preset may have disabled VRR.
  • You still see tearing above the refresh rate: try V-Sync or a frame cap. On a G-SYNC setup, NVIDIA’s suggested approach for users who do not want tearing includes V-Sync on with Reflex or Ultra Low Latency, with a cap slightly below maximum refresh if needed.
  • Gameplay feels less responsive with V-Sync on: compare with V-Sync off in the same game. On a fixed-refresh display, off can improve responsiveness at the cost of possible tearing; on VRR setups, follow the relevant vendor’s configuration guidance.
  • AMD’s driver V-Sync control has no effect in a game: check the game’s own graphics options. AMD’s “Wait for Vertical Refresh” control is limited to OpenGL; DirectX and Vulkan applications control V-Sync in the application.
  • Enhanced Sync causes a multimedia problem: turn it off for the affected use, since AMD notes that multimedia playback issues can occur.

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