How to Properly Configure G-Sync for the Lowest Latency
G-Sync, FreeSync, and VSync have long been debated in the gaming community, especially regarding their impact on input latency. Many gamers believe that enabling any form of sync increases lag and should be avoided for competitive play. Others argue that certain configurations can provide a smoother experience without a significant latency penalty. The truth lies somewhere in between, and understanding how to properly set up G-Sync is crucial to getting the best performance from your system.
Understanding Adaptive Sync and Why You Need It
Adaptive sync technologies, such as G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD), synchronize your monitor’s refresh rate with your GPU’s frame output. This prevents screen tearing, a common issue that occurs when the GPU outputs frames faster than the monitor can refresh, leading to mismatched frame pieces displayed simultaneously. While running without sync may theoretically provide the lowest latency, the visual distortions can be distracting and detrimental to gameplay.
The Mistakes Gamers Make with G-Sync
1. Turning Off All Sync Options Completely
Many players disable all sync settings under the assumption that this results in the lowest latency. While this is true in some cases, it also introduces screen tearing, making the gameplay experience visually unpleasant.
2. Capping FPS at Maximum Refresh Rate
A widely spread but incorrect recommendation is to cap your FPS at the exact refresh rate of your monitor, such as setting a 240 FPS limit for a 240 Hz display. This method fails to keep the FPS within the adaptive sync range, leading to occasional tearing at the lower edges of the monitor.
3. Enabling VSync Without Proper G-Sync Settings
VSync ensures that frames are synchronized but at the cost of added input delay. Some gamers turn on both VSync and G-Sync, believing this to be the optimal setup. However, if configured incorrectly, G-Sync can behave similarly to pure VSync, negating its benefits.
The Correct Way to Configure G-Sync
To achieve the best balance between smooth gameplay and low input latency, you should configure G-Sync properly. Here’s how:
Step 1: Enable G-Sync and VSync in NVIDIA Control Panel
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Navigate to Display > Set up G-Sync.
- Enable G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible.
- Select Enable for windowed and full screen mode.
Next, navigate to Manage 3D settings:
- Scroll to Vertical Sync and set it to On.
- This prevents tearing when FPS is within the adaptive sync range.
Step 2: Set an FPS Cap Below Your Refresh Rate
To ensure G-Sync remains active and doesn’t revert to VSync behavior, cap your FPS just below your monitor’s refresh rate:
- If using NVIDIA Reflex, enable Reflex Low Latency + Boost.
- Reflex automatically caps FPS to a safe level below your monitor’s refresh rate.
- For a 240 Hz monitor, Reflex caps at 224 FPS.
If your game doesn’t support Reflex, manually set an FPS limit:
- Cap FPS 3-5 frames below your refresh rate using an in-game limiter or external tools like RTSS (Rivatuner Statistics Server).
- For a 240 Hz monitor, set FPS to 237.
- For a 144 Hz monitor, set FPS to 141.
Step 3: Compare Uncapped FPS vs. Adaptive Sync
While adaptive sync provides smooth visuals, some competitive players may benefit from an uncapped FPS with Reflex enabled. This can marginally reduce latency, but the difference is often minimal and comes at the cost of screen tearing.
Conclusion
For most players, the best approach is to enable G-Sync, turn on VSync in the NVIDIA Control Panel, and use an FPS cap slightly below the monitor’s refresh rate. This ensures smooth gameplay with minimal latency while eliminating screen tearing. If your game supports NVIDIA Reflex, enabling it provides an easy way to optimize latency further.
Competitive gamers should test both capped and uncapped configurations to determine what feels best, but proper G-Sync setup will almost always provide an improved experience over an unoptimized configuration.
FURTHER READING
