What does V-Sync actually do to your PC’s frames per second?
V-Sync synchronises a game’s frame output with a monitor’s refresh cycle to reduce screen tearing, which occurs when parts of different frames appear at once. It can also reduce the load on the graphics card, potentially lowering power use and heat, but may cause stuttering or make controls feel less responsive.
The effect depends on the hardware and game. On a 60 Hz monitor, V-Sync typically targets 60 frames per second; on a 144 Hz monitor, 144 FPS. When a graphics card cannot keep pace, performance may drop sharply, while input lag can be especially noticeable in fast-paced games. FreeSync and G-Sync can match the monitor’s refresh rate to the GPU’s output, though they require compatible hardware; V-Sync can still be a fallback.
- V-Sync reduces screen tearing by matching frames to monitor refresh.
- It can cause stuttering or input lag.
- FreeSync and G-Sync may offer a smoother alternative.
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V-Sync is a graphics setting that synchronises the rate at which a game displays images with your monitor's refresh rate. Without it, you typically see screen tearing, a visual glitch where different parts of two frames appear on screen simultaneously. This usually happens when your graphics card produces frames faster than your monitor can display them.
When V-Sync is enabled, your graphics card waits to send images to the monitor in sync with its refresh cycle. This eliminates tearing and reduces the workload on your graphics card, lowering power consumption and heat. However, forced synchronisation can cause stuttering or input lag, making controls feel less responsive in fast-paced games.
Alternative technologies such as G-Sync and FreeSync adjust the monitor's refresh rate to match the graphics card's output instead of making the card wait. These can avoid V-Sync's downsides, but they require compatible hardware. V-Sync remains popular because it works with virtually any setup.