I'm trying to configure my system for smooth gameplay and low input latency. My understanding is that I should enable G-Sync, enable V-Sync in the NVIDIA Control Panel, cap the frame rate a few frames below the monitor's refresh rate, and enable NVIDIA Reflex in games that support it.
However, enabling V-Sync and a frame cap makes Fortnite feel worse on my system. With V-Sync disabled and no driver-level frame cap, the game feels smooth and looks normal. With those settings enabled, I occasionally notice what seems like ghosting, brief stuttering, or image distortion whenever frame times spike. The problem is noticeable even when I try a lower cap such as 138 FPS.
Using the in-game cap helped somewhat, but Fortnite only offers 120 FPS as the nearest option below 144 FPS, and the game still feels less consistent than it does with V-Sync off. I'm trying to understand whether the issue is caused by my configuration, frame pacing, the external cap, or a possible CPU limitation rather than simply ignoring the recommended settings.
My system has a Ryzen 5 5600X, GeForce RTX 4090, 32 GB of RAM, an MSI B550-A Pro motherboard, and a 1200 W power supply. My primary display is a Gigabyte M28U running at 4K and 144 Hz, with a secondary 1080p 165 Hz monitor connected as well.
3 Answers
There is no requirement that the recommended combination feel best on every system. V-Sync can make frame-time spikes more noticeable, especially when the game is CPU-limited or the frame rate regularly falls out of the variable-refresh range. Your 5600X may be limiting Fortnite at 4K high frame rates, and the second high-refresh display can sometimes complicate testing. Compare with the second monitor disconnected, verify that G-Sync is enabled for fullscreen or windowed mode as appropriate, and check frame-time graphs rather than FPS alone. If V-Sync off consistently feels better and you do not notice tearing, using that configuration is reasonable.
Try disabling V-Sync in the game, leaving the frame rate on automatic or using the game’s own limiter, and enabling V-Sync for that specific game in the NVIDIA Control Panel. Avoid stacking extra low-latency or reduced-buffering options on top of Reflex, since they can interfere with each other. An in-game limiter often provides better frame pacing and less latency than an external driver cap, although the result varies by game.
V-Sync can add latency once the game reaches the monitor’s refresh limit. The usual variable-refresh setup is G-Sync enabled, V-Sync enabled in the driver, and an FPS cap a few frames below the refresh rate so V-Sync does not engage at the ceiling. A cap below the limit generally reduces latency compared with hitting the refresh limit directly, but the cap itself can still affect frame pacing depending on where it is applied.
I tried 138 FPS and also tried moving the cap into the game instead of using the driver. It helped a little, but it still feels less smooth than simply leaving V-Sync off.
That makes sense. I may test with the second monitor disconnected and then compare the frame-time graphs. If the game still feels better with V-Sync off, I’ll probably keep that setup rather than force a configuration that feels worse.