V-Sync (vertical synchronization) is a display setting that makes the graphics card wait to show a new frame until the monitor is ready to begin its next refresh. It prevents screen tearing, where two different frames appear in one refresh as a horizontal split.
Why it matters
Tearing happens when the GPU delivers frames out of step with the monitor's refresh rate. V-Sync removes it but can add input lag because frames wait in a buffer. With classic double-buffered V-Sync, if the GPU cannot match the refresh rate, FPS can drop in steps, for example from 60 to 30, which feels like stutter. Adaptive sync technologies address this more gracefully.
Example
On a 60 Hz monitor with V-Sync on:
- GPU renders at 75 FPS: output is capped to 60, with no tearing.
- GPU renders at 50 FPS: frames may be held to the next refresh, effectively giving 30 FPS in some modes.
- V-Sync off at 75 FPS: smoother response, but tearing can be visible.
Common mistakes
- Leaving V-Sync on for competitive play, where low latency matters more than a perfect picture.
- Combining V-Sync with an adaptive sync display without checking the recommended settings.
- Assuming tearing is a monitor fault rather than a timing mismatch.
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