As consumers, we buy expensive PC hardware to make gaming as immersive as possible. However, common hardware issues and problems like screen tearing can ruin the experience. VSync, a game setting, fixes this issue. VSync is a syncing technology designed for monitors, video games and graphics processing units (GPU).
New options like FreeSync and G-Sync are available, but VSync remains essential for gamers. They understand the importance of a capable rig to dominate leaderboards and transport them to the colorful and rich world of video games. Fine-tuning your devices for responsiveness before diving into your entertainment is important.
They understand the importance of a capable rig to dominate leaderboards and transport them to the colorful and rich world of video games. Fine-tuning your devices, the monitor’s refresh rate and your computer’s output can help manage screen tearing. Let’s find out what VSync is and why it should matter to you.
What is VSync?
Vertical sync, more popularly known as VSync, synchronizes the refresh rate and frame rate of a monitor. GPU manufacturers developed this technology to solve screen tearing. Screen tearing happens when your GPU displays parts of multiple frames at once. As a result, displays may appear split along a horizontal line. When the frames per second don’t sync with the refresh rate of the GPU, tearing occurs.
Source: Digital Trends
Though screen tearing can happen anytime, it is most visible in vertical elements like buildings and trees during high-speed games with constant rate changes. Tearing breaks the viewer’s immersion and makes games look ugly.
VSync corrects this by limiting the graphic card’s refresh rate to frame rate, thus avoiding higher frames per second than the monitor’s capacity. It uses page flipping and double buffering to display frames after a refresh cycle finishes so that users don’t see tears.
But, what does VSync do? What is going on in the background?
Understanding Input and Output
There are two aspects to VSync: the screen’s refresh rate and input. The screen refreshes several every second, even though our eyes don’t see it. If the screen didn’t refresh, all we would see is a static image. Even when you aren’t playing games, the display still refreshes to show where the cursor is or how it’s moving.
Your refresh rate measures how many times every pixel on the screen refreshes every second. It is a unit of frequency that is measured in Hz (hertz). So, if your display’s refresh rate is 90 Hz, it means that every pixel refreshes 90 times every second. The higher the refresh rate, the better your experience.
Source: Online Tech Tips
You need a monitor with a high refresh rate to lower motion blurring in OLED and LCD panels. Most desktop screens have a refresh rate of 60 Hz and a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. You can check the refresh rate by navigating to advanced display settings and clicking on display adapter properties.
As for the output, there are two aspects: frames per second (fps) and the frame grinder.
Movies have a standard run rate of 24 fps or 24 Hz. However, our eyes can easily view over 1000 FPS. However, gaming isn’t the same as watching movies. Games with 24 fps may be tolerable but not immersive. At 60 FPS, movements become fluid; it is even better if your display can manage 90 FPS or 90 Hz and higher.
The GPU, or the graphics processing unit, manages the display’s rendering load. The GPU cannot access the disk’s memory directly. Instead, it stores graphics related to frames, textures and models temporarily.
Storage, CPU, memory and the GPU all contribute to the game’s output, depending on the software and hardware environment. The CPU handles both external processes to run the computer and the game. A fast CPU helps manage all of these processes simultaneously. Also, frame rates are affected by the rendering load, operating system and hardware. Fluctuations may still occur despite setting up the game correctly.
Alternatives
- Adaptive Sync: Presented by NVIDIA, it lets users render frames with NVIDIA’s control panel. However, you can only switch it on for NVIDIA’s GT 600-series graphics cards. It functions similarly to VSync as it limits fps output and matches it to the refresh capacity. Adaptive Sync works hard to remove performance lag and boost visual performance as a result of low refresh rates without screen tearing and stuttering.
- Fast Sync: This technology works with 10-series GPUs or GTX 900 cards or newer. It eliminates input lag and screen-tearing, simultaneously maintaining latency at minimum levels. It performs more consistently than VSync. Fast Sync also reduces latency.
- Enhanced Sync: Designed by AMD, Enhanced Sync is a better version of VSync. It’s only compatible with AMD Radeon cards and doesn’t replace VSync; it works with it. Together they reduce input lag and stuttering when FPS goes below the screen’s refresh rates. Enhanced Sync improves performance consistency and overall capability. If performance goes down, Enhanced Sync turns off to preserve frame rates.
- Smooth VSync: When SLI (Scalable Link Interface) and VSync are active, Smooth VSync is used to lower stuttering. SLI elevates processing power by parallel processing GPUs. When enabled, SLI can combine four GPUs to render games at high FPS. Smooth VSync reduces stuttering and locks in a stable frame rate.
Does VSync Really Make a Difference?
Even when VSync is working well it’s not perfect. It may affect the gaming experience as it reduces the frame rate till it finds the perfect balance, resulting in stuttering increases and input lag. It happens in all types of games but is most noticeable in fighting and shooter titles.
That’s why serious gamers don’t prefer enabling VSync. Triple buffering is another setting that reduces a few of VSync’s problems, but it doesn’t always help.
Two Major Types
The above features have existed on computer systems for years. Recent times, however, have seen the arrival of improved forms of VSync that reduce some of the disadvantages.
Nvidia G-Sync
Introduced a few years ago, this technology adapts the gaming frame rate to the monitor’s refresh rate, resulting in a smooth experience with no latency, tearing, sharp FPS drops or stutters. The only condition is that a Nvidia GPU and G-Sync enabled monitor are required.
Source: Nvidia
AMD FreeSync
This method was developed by AMD in response to Nvidia’s G-Sync. The results are good, but users need an AMD GPU and FreeSync enabled monitor to use it.
If you reach an intense moment in the game and the frame rate goes below the refresh rate, VSync will try to match those changes, resulting in performance and visual lag.
How to Enable VSync?
Now that we have answered whether to keep VSync on or off let’s see how to enable it.
VSync works with all types of displays but requires a graphics card that supports it. Recent monitor models support it across their product lineups. Users can enable VSync in the drivers of both AMD and Nvidia cards.
Most games offer this option in their settings as a toggle. Enabling VSync through Nvidia is easy. Follow the instructions below to turn it on and off.
- Step 1: Search for the Nvidia control panel in Windows search.
- Step 2: Click on Manage 3D Settings.
- Step 3: Vertical Sync is mentioned in the Global Setting tab. From the dropdown menu, select Force on.
Source: Partition Wizard
Settings may vary depending on different GPUs, but the method above is common across devices.
Takeaways
We hope that we’ve answered any burning questions you have about VSync and if you should use it or not. In summary, VSync is very useful when implemented correctly. It keeps the graphics processor from being overused and heating up. Used incorrectly, it can cause input lag and harm FPS.
Let us know what you like or don’t like about VSync in the comments section below.