G-Sync, FreeSync and V-Sync:
The Right Settings for Low Input Lag
There are two good setups: smooth with no tearing and only a tiny delay, or the absolute lowest latency with tearing. How to set up each one, and the combinations to avoid.
With a G-Sync or FreeSync monitor: turn G-Sync on, V-Sync on in the driver, V-Sync off in the game, Reflex on, and cap FPS a few frames below your refresh rate. That gives no tearing with very little added delay. For the absolute lowest latency, turn G-Sync and V-Sync off and accept tearing. Never use V-Sync on its own.
Pick one setup. Smooth with no tearing (recommended):
Right-click the desktop > NVIDIA Control Panel, set these once and click Apply. Leave everything else on default.
Manage 3D settings > Global Settings
Manage 3D settings > Program Settings
Display > Change resolution
Video > Adjust video color settings
Optional, only if you use G-SYNC: Display > Set up G-SYNC
Classic V-Sync makes every finished frame wait for the monitor's next refresh. That stops tearing, but when your FPS reaches the refresh rate, frames pile up and input lag jumps a lot.
G-Sync and FreeSync (variable refresh rate, VRR) do it the other way: the monitor waits for the frame. As long as your FPS stays inside the VRR range, there is no tearing and no queue.
The catch: when FPS goes above the refresh rate, VRR stops working. That is why you need a frame cap below refresh, and why V-Sync is turned on in the driver as a safety net. With the cap in place, V-Sync almost never kicks in. Reflex can set that cap for you.
Step-by-step
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1.Turn VRR on in the monitor
- Open the monitor menu (OSD) and turn on Adaptive-Sync, FreeSync or VRR (the name depends on the brand).
- Use DisplayPort if you can. Many monitors only support VRR over DisplayPort or have a wider VRR range on it.
- In Windows: Settings > System > Display > Advanced display > set the highest refresh rate.
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2.NVIDIA setup
- NVIDIA Control Panel > Set up G-SYNC > Enable G-SYNC, G-SYNC Compatible > "Enable for full screen mode". Tick "Enable settings for the selected display model" if it shows.
- Manage 3D settings > Vertical sync: On.
- Manage 3D settings > Low Latency Mode: On (games with Reflex override this anyway).
- In each game: V-Sync off, Reflex On (or On + Boost).
With G-Sync + V-Sync + Reflex all on, Reflex caps your FPS just below the refresh rate by itself in supported games.
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3.AMD setup
- AMD Software (Adrenalin) > Gaming > Display > AMD FreeSync: On.
- Gaming > Graphics > Wait for Vertical Refresh: "Off, unless application specifies" or use the in-game V-Sync off.
- Enhanced Sync: Off.
- Radeon Anti-Lag: On (or Anti-Lag 2 in games that support it).
- Cap FPS in the game. If the game has no limiter, use Radeon Chill with the same minimum and maximum.
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4.Set the right frame cap
The cap keeps you inside the VRR range so V-Sync never adds delay.
- A simple formula: refresh - (refresh x refresh / 3600).
- 144 Hz: cap at 138. 165 Hz: 157. 240 Hz: 224. 360 Hz: 324.
- Use the in-game limiter or Reflex. RTSS gives very even frame times but adds more delay than in-game limiters.
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5.The lowest-latency setup (with tearing)
Some competitive players prefer the absolute lowest delay and do not mind tearing at high FPS.
- G-Sync / FreeSync: Off. V-Sync: Off in the driver and in the game.
- Reflex: On + Boost.
- Cap FPS at a level the GPU holds without hitting 100% usage. At very high FPS, tearing is much less visible.
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6.Set monitor overdrive correctly
- Overdrive (OD, Response Time, Trace Free) makes pixels change faster.
- The highest setting usually causes overshoot: bright or dark trails around moving objects. The middle setting is often best.
- Check on the TestUFO ghosting test and pick the highest setting without bright halos.
Check that it worked
- ✓Turn on the G-Sync indicator in NVIDIA Control Panel (Display > G-SYNC Compatibility Indicator) to see that it is active in-game, then turn it off again.
- ✓FPS stays just below your refresh rate with the cap on.
- ✓No tearing in fast camera turns.
What does not work (and why)
✗ G-Sync always adds input lag
With FPS capped below refresh, G-Sync adds almost no delay compared to V-Sync off. The big delay comes from plain V-Sync or going above refresh.
✗ V-Sync in the driver with G-Sync adds lag
With a cap below refresh it almost never engages. It only prevents tearing near the top of the range.
✗ RTSS is the lowest-latency limiter
RTSS gives the smoothest pacing but adds more delay than in-game or Reflex limiters.
✗ Maximum overdrive is always best
The top setting usually overshoots and creates bright trails. Choose by eye on TestUFO.
The parts that depend on your exact hardware
Everything above is free and safe on any PC. The parts below depend on your exact CPU, RAM, motherboard and games, so they need live testing. That is what a 1-on-1 YTUNE session covers:
- ✓End-to-end latency checks for your setup with your games
- ✓Display chain checks: cable, DSC, scaling and refresh rate
- ✓Driver profile setup per game
// SOURCES & FURTHER READING
- Noverse win-config: Peripheral and monitor settings — G-Sync, V-Sync, Reflex and frame cap advice
- Blur Busters: G-SYNC 101 input lag tests — older, but the core method still holds
- NVIDIA Reflex
- PC-Tuning: Configure the NVIDIA driver
- valleyofdoom/PC-Tuning — evidence-based Windows tuning guide
- TestUFO ghosting test
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// FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Should V-Sync be on or off with G-Sync?
What FPS cap should I use with G-Sync?
Does G-Sync add input lag?
Should pros turn G-Sync off?
Is FreeSync the same as G-Sync Compatible?
// RELATED OPTIMIZATION GUIDES
NVIDIA Control Panel Esports Profile
Best NVIDIA Control Panel settings for low latency and FPS: Low Latency Mode, power management, shader cache, G-SYNC setup and a clean driver install. Sourced and tested, with what to skip.
0 Input Delay PC Calibration
How to get the lowest possible input delay on PC: the latency budget from mouse to screen, the settings that remove the most milliseconds, and why 0 input delay software and downloads do not work.
Low Input Lag PC Optimization
Free step-by-step guide to reduce input lag on PC: Reflex and Anti-Lag 2, frame caps, display settings, mouse and USB setup, and DPC latency checks. Measured, no placebo tweaks.
DisplayPort DSC Latency Tuning
Fix DisplayPort DSC black screen alt-tabbing delays, custom resolutions, and input latency. Hand-calibrated 1-on-1 AnyDesk PC optimization by YTUNE for flat $35.