I'm trying to configure my Gigabyte M28U at 4K and 144 Hz for smooth gameplay and low latency. My understanding is that I should enable G-Sync, enable V-Sync in the NVIDIA control panel, cap the game a few frames below 144 FPS, and enable NVIDIA Reflex in Fortnite.
The problem is that V-Sync and an FPS cap make the game feel noticeably worse on my system. With V-Sync disabled and no driver-level cap, the game looks and feels normal. With the recommended settings enabled, I occasionally notice ghosting, stuttering, or distortion whenever frame times spike. I tried a 138 FPS cap and also tried using the in-game cap instead of the NVIDIA control-panel cap; using the in-game 120 FPS option helped somewhat, but it still felt worse than leaving V-Sync off.
I'm wondering whether this is a configuration issue, a frame-pacing problem, or possibly a limitation of my CPU. My system has a Ryzen 5 5600X, RTX 4090, 32 GB of RAM, an MSI B550-A Pro motherboard, a 1200 W PSU, and a 4K 144 Hz main monitor with a 1080p 165 Hz secondary monitor. What should I check to determine why the usual G-Sync, V-Sync, and frame-cap setup performs worse for me?
4 Answers
V-Sync can add latency when the frame rate reaches the monitor’s refresh limit. That’s why the usual setup keeps the cap below the limit—for example, around 138–141 FPS on a 144 Hz display. The cap method can also matter: an in-game limiter often gives better frame pacing and latency than a driver-level limiter, although this varies by game. If Fortnite’s in-game options jump from 144 to 120, the lower setting may feel less responsive but can still be steadier.
For a G-Sync display, a common setup is G-Sync enabled, V-Sync enabled in the NVIDIA profile, V-Sync disabled in the game, and an FPS cap several frames below the refresh rate. Reflex should be enabled in the game, but avoid stacking other latency or “reduced buffering” features on top of it if they conflict with Reflex. Also make sure the monitor is actually running at 144 Hz and that G-Sync is enabled for the correct display mode.
The Ryzen 5 5600X can become the limiting factor in a competitive game, especially when trying to maintain very high and consistent frame rates. A powerful GPU does not guarantee perfectly even frame pacing if the game is CPU-limited. Try monitoring CPU and GPU utilization, per-core CPU usage, FPS, and frame times while testing. Also test with the second monitor disconnected or with hardware acceleration disabled in background applications, since mixed-refresh multi-monitor setups can occasionally contribute to presentation stutter. If the uncapped configuration genuinely feels better, it is reasonable to use V-Sync off and keep Reflex enabled while accepting some possible tearing.
G-Sync and V-Sync solve different parts of the problem. G-Sync adjusts the monitor’s refresh timing to the game’s frame rate, while V-Sync prevents frames from being presented outside the refresh window. Using G-Sync with V-Sync is normal, but it is not mandatory if you prefer the feel of V-Sync off and can tolerate some tearing. If your frame time spikes, no synchronization setting can make those spikes disappear; it may simply make them more noticeable.
That makes sense. With V-Sync off I don’t notice the spikes as much, even though the frame-time graph may still show them.
I tried 138 FPS in the driver and also tried the in-game limiter. The in-game setting helped a little, but it still stuttered more than simply leaving V-Sync off.