These three terms get mixed up constantly because they all deal with the same problem: screen tearing. But how they solve it — and what it costs you in terms of input lag — is completely different. This guide breaks down exactly when to use which.
First, let's understand the problem: what is screen tearing?
Your monitor has a fixed refresh rate (e.g. 60Hz = refreshes the screen 60 times per second). The GPU, meanwhile, renders the game independently of that rate, at whatever speed it can (FPS). When these two rates don't match, the monitor might refresh the screen mid-way through the GPU sending a new frame — showing half of the old frame and half of the new one, creating a horizontal visual "cut" known as screen tearing.
VSync (Vertical Sync)
The oldest solution. It forces the GPU to wait for the monitor's next refresh cycle before sending a new frame — this completely eliminates tearing. But it comes at a cost: input lag. The GPU has to hold onto a finished frame and wait, which stretches out the time between your mouse/keyboard movement and it showing up on screen. Also, if your GPU's FPS drops below the monitor's refresh rate (e.g. 60 FPS), frame pacing breaks down and can create a noticeable stutter feeling (see our stuttering guide).
G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD)
These solve the problem from the other direction: they dynamically adjust the monitor's refresh rate to match whatever FPS the GPU is producing (this is called variable refresh rate — VRR). If the GPU is putting out 87 FPS, the monitor refreshes at 87Hz at that moment. Result: no tearing, and none of the extra lag VSync introduces.
- G-Sync: NVIDIA's technology — the original version required a dedicated hardware module (pricier monitors). "G-Sync Compatible" monitors offer software-based compatibility without extra hardware — most modern monitors fall into this category.
- FreeSync: AMD's open standard doesn't require extra hardware, so it's more common and generally cheaper across monitors. Most FreeSync monitors also work fine with NVIDIA cards (either officially "G-Sync Compatible" certified, or manually enabled).
So which one should you turn on?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Your monitor supports G-Sync/FreeSync | Turn on VRR, turn off VSync |
| Your monitor doesn't support VRR, tearing bothers you | Turn on VSync (accepting the lag tradeoff) |
| Competitive FPS/aim precision is the priority | Turn both off, use an FPS cap if possible |
Why should you sometimes add an FPS cap too?
Even with VRR on, if your GPU is producing FPS well above your monitor's maximum refresh rate (e.g. 400 FPS on a 240Hz monitor), you exceed the VRR range and tearing can reappear. That's why capping FPS a few frames below your monitor's max refresh rate (e.g. 235 on a 240Hz screen) keeps you within the VRR range while also reducing unnecessary GPU/CPU heat and power draw.
How much FPS can you expect from your hardware?
To pick these settings correctly, it helps to first know realistically how much FPS you'll get in the games you play — check quickly with our FPS calculator. If you're consistently well below your VRR range (e.g. your monitor supports 48-165Hz VRR but you're only getting 30 FPS), we'd recommend starting with our FPS boosting guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I always keep VSync turned off?
If your monitor supports G-Sync/FreeSync, yes — VSync isn't needed while VRR is active. If your monitor doesn't support VRR and screen tearing bothers you, keeping VSync on (accepting the added lag) can be a reasonable tradeoff.
Does a FreeSync monitor work with an NVIDIA graphics card?
Most modern FreeSync monitors work fine with NVIDIA cards too, either through official "G-Sync Compatible" certification or by manually enabling it in the NVIDIA Control Panel.
Why is setting an FPS cap recommended alongside VRR?
It prevents the GPU from exceeding your monitor's maximum VRR range, which would otherwise bring tearing back, and it also reduces the extra heat and power draw that comes from producing unnecessarily high FPS.