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Set your display to its highest supported refresh rate. If both your monitor and graphics card support variable refresh rate (VRR), turn it on in the monitor’s on-screen menu and in the graphics driver. When game frame rates regularly exceed the display’s refresh rate, enable V-Sync or use a suitable frame-rate cap. With a fixed-refresh display, V-Sync can reduce tearing, but dips below its cap may cause stutter.
Recommended settings at a glance
| Your setup | Recommended starting point | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|
| VRR-compatible monitor and GPU | Choose the display’s highest supported refresh rate, then enable its VRR feature both in the monitor menu and graphics software. | If FPS regularly exceeds the display’s maximum refresh rate, AMD recommends V-Sync or a frame-rate cap. Below the display’s VRR range, behavior depends on the monitor and technology tier. |
| Fixed-refresh display or VRR unavailable | Choose the highest supported refresh rate. Try V-Sync if reducing tearing matters more than avoiding possible below-cap stutter. | If performance often falls below refresh rate, consider a suitable frame-rate cap or an adaptive option supported by your GPU and driver. |
Refresh rate is a display capability, not a universal number to use on every monitor. A higher refresh rate alone does not synchronize the GPU’s frame output with the display, so it cannot guarantee that tearing will stop.
How to set up VRR
Variable refresh rate (VRR) lets a compatible display adjust its refresh timing to the GPU’s frame output. NVIDIA describes G-SYNC as matching monitor refresh rate to GPU frame rate; AMD says FreeSync synchronizes a display’s refresh rate with frame rate from a compatible GPU. These are vendor descriptions of their technologies, not independent comparative test results.
- Set the display to its top supported refresh rate. Select the highest available rate in your system or graphics display settings. NVIDIA’s G-SYNC instructions also specify using the highest available refresh-rate setting when G-SYNC is active. NVIDIA G-SYNC Control Panel Help.
- Enable VRR in the monitor. Open the monitor’s on-screen display (OSD) and turn on the feature, which may be named FreeSync, Adaptive-Sync, or another model-specific label. AMD advises enabling FreeSync in the display settings. Available options vary by model, so check the display manual if a setting is missing or named differently. AMD: How to Enable AMD FreeSync.
- Enable the matching feature in the graphics software. For AMD, verify FreeSync in AMD Software. For NVIDIA, enable G-SYNC in NVIDIA Control Panel and select G-SYNC/G-SYNC Compatible under Monitor Technology when the compatible display and driver provide those options. Menu labels can depend on hardware and driver version. NVIDIA G-SYNC Control Panel Help AMD setup guidance.
- Use V-Sync or a frame-rate cap if FPS often runs above maximum refresh. AMD recommends either option for a tear-free experience in that situation. Its guidance does not establish one cap value for every refresh rate, game, VRR range, or latency preference. AMD FreeSync Technology.
When frame rate falls below the VRR range
What happens below a display’s VRR range depends on the display and technology tier. AMD describes Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) as duplicating frames to keep refresh within the supported range. AMD says FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro displays are certified for mandatory LFC; this is a tier-specific feature, not a guarantee for every VRR display. AMD FreeSync Technology.
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Fixed refresh: deciding whether to use V-Sync
On a fixed-refresh display, the monitor refreshes at a set rate while the GPU may deliver frames at a different pace. V-Sync can reduce tearing by synchronizing output, but if performance drops below the synchronization cap, the result may be stutter. There is no single best setting for everyone: choose based on whether tearing or the effects of below-cap performance are more disruptive to you.
Use V-Sync when tearing is the bigger problem
Try V-Sync in the game’s graphics settings when you want to limit tearing and the game generally sustains the display’s refresh rate. If frame rate frequently dips below that level, watch for stutter and compare the result with a cap or a supported adaptive option.
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Consider NVIDIA Adaptive V-Sync if available
NVIDIA describes Adaptive V-Sync as applying V-Sync when frame rate rises above the monitor’s refresh rate and unlocking the cap behavior when performance falls below it. This is an NVIDIA-specific option; check whether it is available in your current driver and setup. NVIDIA: Set Vertical Sync.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check compatibility before troubleshooting
VRR depends on compatible display and graphics hardware, and the connection and port can matter. AMD documents FreeSync over DisplayPort and HDMI; its setup instructions also describe DisplayPort 1.2 or higher for the specific setup covered there. That does not mean every user needs a new cable: verify the requirements for your exact GPU, monitor, port, and cable. AMD FreeSync Technology AMD setup guidance.
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- If the VRR toggle is missing, confirm that the monitor, GPU, connection, and driver support the feature together.
- If VRR appears enabled in one place but not another, check both the monitor OSD and graphics software.
- If menus use different names or offer different choices, consult the display manual; AMD notes that settings vary by make and model. AMD setup guidance.
Choose based on the symptom you want to address
- Tearing when FPS is above refresh: use VRR if compatible; otherwise, V-Sync or a frame-rate cap can reduce tearing.
- Stutter when FPS drops under a fixed cap: consider a cap suited to your performance or an adaptive feature supported by your setup.
- FPS fluctuates within a VRR display’s range: VRR is designed to match refresh to frame output; confirm that both monitor and driver settings are enabled.
- Unsure whether a specific cap or latency tradeoff is best: available official guidance does not establish a universal FPS number or quantified latency penalty. The useful choice depends on your refresh rate, game performance, VRR range, hardware, and preference.
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