I've got a 165 Hz G-SYNC monitor and I'm trying to figure out the best way to use it. Here are my questions:
1. Should I enable both G-SYNC and V-SYNC in-game, or should I choose one over the other?
2. Is it better to cap my FPS at 165 Hz or any multiple of it, or can I just leave it on unlimited?
3. Sometimes I struggle to hit 165 FPS in more demanding games—should I lower my monitor's refresh rate to match the FPS I'm actually able to achieve? Thanks in advance for your help!
4 Answers
According to Nvidia, they actually recommend using V-SYNC in conjunction with G-SYNC for smoother performance. It really helps eliminate tearing when you come close to the max refresh rates!
You might find this guide really useful! It offers a ton of tips on using G-SYNC effectively and clarifies a lot of your questions. [Here's the link!](https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/1lg6mxi/comment/mytwj9d/?context=3)
G-SYNC is designed to match your monitor's refresh rate to whatever FPS your GPU is outputting as long as it's below the max rate to prevent tearing. You should enable G-SYNC and V-SYNC in the Nvidia Control Panel, but keep V-SYNC off in your game settings to avoid conflicts. This way you get the best experience during gameplay!
So, I should cap my FPS through the Control Panel, right? That's been my approach.
To get the most out of G-SYNC, set G-SYNC to 'On' and keep V-SYNC off in your game settings, but enable it through the Nvidia Control Panel (global profile). If your game has Nvidia Reflex, definitely turn that on because it helps keep your frames under the max refresh rate.
Also, limit your frames to around 162 FPS using tools like RTSS or in-game settings; this helps maintain smooth performance without tearing. Aim for a lower FPS limit (about 2-3 FPS below max) to prevent G-SYNC from switching to V-SYNC, which can add lag. If you're not using a limiter, set 'Low Latency Mode' to 'Ultra' in the Nvidia Control Panel to help with frame rates better.
What if I have Adaptive Sync instead? Is it all different?
You really don't need to cap the FPS yourself; enabling V-SYNC in the Nvidia Control Panel does that automatically. It's supposed to help with the syncing!
For sure! Having it on definitely gives a smoother feel overall.