What Is VSync? Should You Turn It On or Off?
What is vsync? VSync (short for vertical synchronization, or vertical sync) is a game setting that makes your graphics card send frames to your monitor at the same pace the screen refreshes. It fixes screen tearing, and only screen tearing. The catch is that it can add input lag. Turn vsync on if tearing bugs you. Turn it off in fast competitive games. tomsguide
If you play online games, you have seen this toggle in the graphics menu. Most guides make it sound harder than it is. Let’s keep it simple.
Quick Answer: VSync On or Off?
| Your situation | VSync | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Slow or single-player games, no G-Sync or FreeSync | On | Clean picture, and a little lag will not hurt |
| Competitive multiplayer shooters | Off, use an FPS cap | Lower input lag |
| Monitor with G-Sync or FreeSync | Usually off in the game | Your monitor already handles tearing |
| FPS often drops below your refresh rate | Off | VSync can make dips feel worse |
| FPS far above refresh rate and tearing is visible | On, or cap your FPS | Stops the tearing |
Not sure which row fits you? Read on. Each one is explained below.
What Is VSync and What Does It Do?
Your monitor redraws the picture a set number of times each second. That is the refresh rate. A 60Hz screen shows one new frame about every 16.66 milliseconds. Your graphics card (GPU) makes frames at its own speed, and the two often do not line up. techspot
Screen synchronization fixes this by limiting the GPU’s output to your monitor’s refresh rate, so the two stay in sync. In plain words, this setting tells your GPU to wait its turn. tomsguide
What Is Screen Tearing?
Screen tearing is when the picture looks sliced by a line, with the top part slightly out of place. You notice it most when you spin the camera fast.
With this setting off, your GPU sends frames as fast as it can. Tearing happens when a new frame shows up before the old one has finished leaving the screen. That is the whole problem vsync was built to solve. techspot
Does VSync Cause Input Lag?
Yes, it can. This is the main reason many players turn it off.
TechSpot explains that because vsync makes frames wait in a queue, it can add as much as 50 milliseconds of delay on top of your display’s own lag. At 60Hz, 50 milliseconds is about three frames. That is easy to feel in a fast shooter. techspot
The same guide says a few milliseconds can decide whether you land a headshot or get scoped first in esports-style games. Corsair also warns that vsync lag is an unwanted side effect in anything competitive. techspotcorsair
A player in a Steam Community thread from February 2024 put it this way: he would never use vsync in competitive games like CS2, but finds it fine for most other games. steamcommunity
Should You Turn VSync On or Off?
The best rule is simple. Tom’s Guide says to turn Screen synchronization on if you see a lot of screen tearing, and turn it off if you get heavy input lag or dropped frames. tomsguide
Turn vsync on when:
- You play slower or single-player games
- You see tearing and do not have a G-Sync or FreeSync monitor
- You play an older game that runs at a very high FPS. Make Tech Easier notes that vsync reins in those huge frame counts so you do not tear badly. maketecheasier
Turn vsync off when:
- You play competitive online games
- Your FPS often falls under your refresh rate. HP’s guide says Vertical sync then tries to match the drop, which causes visual and performance lag. hp
- You have a variable refresh rate monitor (more on that below)
There is one more problem to know about. Digital Citizen says vsync can also cause harsh stutter when the game locks to half your refresh rate. If a game feels choppy only with vsync on, that may be why. digitalcitizen
VSync for Multiplayer Gaming
In online games you deal with two kinds of delay. One is ping, which is your internet connection to the server. The other is input lag, which happens inside your own PC and monitor. This setting only touches the second one. It will not fix a bad connection. If you suspect the network, start with our guide on why your game is lagging.
For competitive play, there is a better trick than vsync: cap your FPS just under your refresh rate.
- Corsair suggests using the in-game limiter to set your max frame rate about 3 FPS below your monitor’s maximum. corsair
- Digital Citizen says a cap of two or three frames below refresh cuts tearing a lot without the input lag penalty of vsync. digitalcitizen
- TechSpot goes further with a “low-lag vsync” method. You cap the frame rate just under your monitor’s real refresh rate using RTSS, and it claims input latency up to 50 milliseconds lower than regular vsync. RTSS is the tool bundled with MSI Afterburner. techspot
There is a catch. TechSpot says this works best when your PC stays above the refresh rate all the time. If you only just hit 60 FPS, it can add stutter whenever frames dip. That means your CPU and GPU need enough power. Check yours with our bottleneck calculator, and read our multiplayer gaming guide for the full hardware picture. techspot
VSync vs G-Sync vs FreeSync
VSync makes the GPU wait for the monitor. G-Sync and FreeSync flip that around. They change the monitor’s refresh rate to follow the GPU’s frame rate, which prevents both tearing and stutter. techspot
| VSync | FreeSync | G-Sync | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixes tearing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| How it works | GPU waits for the monitor | Monitor follows the GPU | Monitor follows the GPU |
| Extra input lag | Can add lag | Low | Low |
| Needs a special monitor | No | Yes | Yes |
TechSpot notes that locking frame rates with vsync can add input lag and throttle performance, which is why variable refresh rate came along. Many G-Sync Compatible monitors are simply FreeSync monitors that Nvidia approved. You can read more in TechSpot’s FreeSync and G-Sync explainer. techspottechspot
Should You Use Vertical sync With G-Sync or FreeSync?
Honestly, even experienced players disagree. Here is what the sources say.
Corsair says to leave vsync off with FreeSync, but try it if you still see tearing, knowing it may add input lag. corsair
On Steam, the answers are split. In an October 2020 thread, one player keeps G-Sync on in the GPU control panel with vsync off in games. Another says the proper setup is G-Sync plus vsync in the control panel, vsync off in the game, and a frame limiter at 235 on a 240Hz screen. steamcommunity
A simple way to test it yourself:
- Turn G-Sync or FreeSync on.
- Keep Vertical sync off in the game.
- Cap your FPS a few frames below your refresh rate.
- Still see tearing? Try turning vsync on in the driver, and change only one thing at a time.
How to Turn VSync On or Off
- In the game: Open the graphics or video settings and look for “VSync” or “Vertical Sync.”
- Nvidia: You can find Vertical Sync in the Global Settings tab of the Nvidia driver. In the Nvidia Control Panel, that is under Manage 3D Settings. tomsguide
- AMD: AMD Radeon Software has a similar option.
Menu names change with driver updates, so if you cannot find it, check the in-game settings first. One Steam player says the driver setting overrides the in-game one. steamcommunity
vertical sync Will Not Fix a Weak PC
This part matters. Screen synchronization only fixes screen tearing. If your game runs at a low FPS or stutters, vsync will not help. tomsguide
When that happens, look at the real cause:
- A CPU bottleneck or GPU bottleneck
- Heat problems like thermal throttling
- Too high a resolution for your hardware (see 1080p vs 1440p)
Our calculator gives a directional estimate, not a lab test, so use it as a starting point and then watch real usage while you play.
VSync FAQs From Real Gamer Discussions
Is vertical sync good or bad for gaming?
It depends on the game. Tom’s Guide calls it a great setting when it works as intended, but it can cause noticeable input lag and dropped frames in some cases. tomsguide
Does vsync lower your FPS?
It can. TechSpot says it can throttle performance. If your FPS drops under your refresh rate, you may feel it more. techspot
Should I use vsync with G-Sync?
Players on Steam disagree. In a February 2024 thread titled “Is this why G-Sync + Vsync is recommended when gaming?”, one player said he uses an FPS limiter instead of vsync, while others said they rely on G-Sync or FreeSync and skip vsync in competitive titles. Test both and keep what feels best. steamcommunity
Is vsync bad for competitive games?
Usually, yes. Corsair says vsync input lag is unwanted in competitive play. Use an FPS cap instead. corsair
Is in-game Screen synchronization the same as driver vsync?
Mostly. In a Persona 5 Strikers thread on Steam, one player said they are the same thing and the driver option simply overrides the game. Another pointed out that some games have broken vsync, like Apex Legends around launch, while the control panel option worked fine. steamcommunity
What FPS cap should I use?
Start about 3 below your refresh rate. Steam players suggest 3 to 4 FPS below refresh. Corsair suggests 3 below. TechSpot says Radeon Chill can set it 3 to 5 below. If the game feels uneven, adjust a little. Persona 5 Strikers +2
The Bottom Line
For most people, the answer is easy. Use vsync for slower games if you see tearing. For competitive online games, leave it off and cap your FPS instead. If your monitor supports G-Sync or FreeSync, let it do the work.
Want smooth online play? Check your CPU and GPU with our bottleneck calculator, then read the multiplayer gaming guide.
