Gsync and Vsync?

[Samhfx]

So I've been trying to do a lot of research to try and understand what is the correct settings I'm suppose to be using. I see so many different answers and I was hoping someone could give me a better understanding. I have a 165hz 1440p 2560x1440 monitor with 5800x and a 3070 FE.

In most older games if I turn down the in-game settings I can easily achieve 165 fps to match my hertz. I have gsync on but I want the least input lag as possible because I play a lot of competitive games. Am I suppose to enable vsync alongside gsync in nvidia app by selecting the game and enabling ultra low latency mode with vsync? Or do I use gsync and use the nvidia app to limit my fps -7 below refresh rate, so 158 fps cap for example.

gsync + uncap
gsync + vsync + ultra low latency mode (this caps my fps automatically i think?)
gsync + no vsync + nvidia cap 158

which one am I suppose to use? AFAIK I only enable ULL in nvidia app if the game doesn't have the option.

Also I recently played the BF6 playtest and on the lowest possible settings I could only achieve 90-120 FPS. I have gsync on, what else am I suppose to use? I capped my FPS around 95 and that would make it smoother right?

 

[Samhfx]

Best bet if you want the least input lag is to take advantage of Nvidia Reflex.

1. The lowest input lag is using reflex without any frame caps or vsync. Technically a frame cap by itself can beat reflex in some cases but there's no reason to do that in a game that supports reflex.

2. Lowest tear free input lag is reflex + gsync + vsync (from NV Control panel) which will cap to 5% below your refresh and will sync any one off frames that come in above the refresh (which will still happen).

3. In games without reflex you need to cap the fps such that the most demanding scene you'll ever encounter keeps the GPU below 93-97% usage - but this can be quite tricky to get absolutely spot on. I've always found running a log via MSI AB for a few hours and then exporting it into Excel to look at the metrics helps to determine the fps cap alongside GPU util.

I like this approach but it really relies on you getting the cap right and make a few tweaks to get it spot on. If you cap to 130 and you end up in a GPU heavy scene where your fps drops to 90 (due to the GPU) then you'll be feeling the input lag as the CPU gets ahead of the GPU. Reflex however prevents that in all cases - so if Reflex is available (like it was in the BF6 Open Beta) then I'd be going with that approach first.

I basically run the first option for any PvP game, then happily run option 2 or 3 for any single player or co-op game.

So lets say the game doesn't have reflex. I enable it for the specific game via nvidia app and thats it? just uncapped fps?

As for the 97% GPU usage. My GPU usually runs at 99% always, that's a bad thing?

The three options you listed makes sense but ideally, which one is the most efficient to use for competitive FPS games. For example CSGO, I've tried playing uncapped and get well over 200 FPS but then when I start the game up it says I should enable vsync with gsync message, which is kind of weird. And for battlefield, during the bf6 playtest I could only achieve 90-110 FPS on lowest settings. What option is best to use when that happens? Does capping my FPS lower to about 90 make the game better etc?

 

[Samhfx]

I think general advice is turn on reflex-gsync-vsync in nvidia settings.
Don't use nvidia frame cap, but if the game has one, set it to 5fps below monitor refresh rate. Game built in frame caps are usually better for latency.

I was reading to never use the in-game cap. And some games have weird caps, like league of legends. It doesn't have 165 and the closest one is 200 and and when I use 200 I notice weird visual tearing.

 

[Samhfx]

Yea cap bf6 at 90

I'm kind of hoping the playtest was only running bad and when the game comes out I get more FPS because I really can't afford to upgrade my GPU.

 

[Samhfx]

- Vsync on in nvcp and off in game
- Reflex set to "on" in game
- low latency off

There is no need for FPS cap when you are using reflex as reflex acts as a FPS limiter. If game doesn't have reflex then use a FPS limiter either in nvcp or rivatuner.

If the game doesnt have reflex I just use ULL in nvidia app right?

 

[Samhfx]

Yeah, if a game doesn't have Reflex I use the Nvidia app to cap my FPS. Uncapped in game, capped in Nvidia App/NVCP.

It's not a bad thing for your GPU to run at 99% (you paid for it, might as well use all of it!) but the reason why Reflex etc. limits your GPU from running at 100% is because consistent frame delivery is more important than just pushing for the highest possible frame rate, especially in fast-paced, competitive games. If you're running your GPU at 100%, it can sometimes render frames faster than the CPU can process the input and game logic which is what then causes your stuttering or delayed inputs.

This is a whole rabbit hole you can get lost down but if you do find yourself interested then the Blur Busters forums are basically dedicated to spending time talking about this, optimising it all etc.

Also it's worth pointing out that we're all unique in how we feel these things. Some people don't notice a higher latency, others are so used to it that they don't benefit from using a different approach - it's just finding what works for you.

For competitive games, option 1 is the way I'd want to go as it delivers the least amount of input latency.

Were you running DLSS on BF6 Beta? If it was me, I'd be running DLSS Balanced at 1440p - but with no fps cap and just using Reflex in game.

Yes I was running DLSS in BF6. I was just sad I didn't expect the game to run so poorly especially coming from BF1 where I would get easily over 140+ FPS. I had everything low in the BF6 playtest but I could bearly obtain over 100 FPS. I have reflex enabled in-game and vsync off but I capped my FPS around 90 because the fps would go up and down so often and the game just didn't feel smooth, like it was stuttering or lagging. All this vsync stuff just hurts my brain, everywhere I go and everything I read has different answers. I just want the least input lag and just have a smooth game.

From what I've read here today I guess for games like battlefield I will use gsync + vsync + reflex (if ingame has option) and that's all I need?

 

[Samhfx]

Never really got involved with putting a cap on things etc. When back home will read this again and might play around as I do play a few FPS games.Though does seem like a rabbit hole like you say.

I remember growing up hearing about vsync was just a no no to use. When I purchased my first Gsync monitor then it got a little confusing, blurbuster forum says to use vsync with gsync etc and it hurts my brain.

 

[Samhfx]

I guess BF1 is almost 10 years old at this point so you'd expect it to run well on a CPU/GPU that came out after the game was released.

Yep, I'd go with that approach with setting things up for the full release of BF6!

Maybe I will try save up and get a 5070 ti. Look jump looks pretty good but expensive

 

[Samhfx]

If you have VSync enabled along with GSync you’re basically using Vsync if the framerate is maxed at refresh rate.

Leave VSync in the Nvidia control panel at default and ensure it’s disabled in game then set a frame rate cap a few frames less than refresh rate

I have vsync turned off globally. I just enable it for the specific game in the nvidia app. is that a bad way to do it?

 

[Samhfx]

If you have a Gsync monitor, turn Vsync on in NVCP, and off in game.

I also set a max refresh rate and ultra low latency in NVCP.

There's only one game I have to set individually to not have a max FPS, and that's No Man's Sky, it bugs out the FPS otherwise.

So I should enable vsync ON globally? I have it OFF globally but I just enable it by selecting the specific games in nvidia app. It works the same way right? I think I had problems with my browser when I have vsync on globally a while back. When I'm scrolling there is a lot of screen tear and I thought my gpu or monitor was dying.

Sorry I think I repeated the same question maybe, very tired today. Thanks for the replies though.

 

[Samhfx]

Bf6 is very CPU heavy, you might upgrade GPU only to find you also need to upgrade CPU.

5800x is not good enough?

 

[Samhfx]

It's more than fine for BF6. If you're playing at 1440p then your 3070 is going to be more of an issue right now - although @throwaway4372 is definitely right about BF6 being a CPU heavy game.

You could pop in a 5800X3D or 5700X3D if you wanted to get the last hurrah on AM4 and give yourself a decent bump - but it wouldn't be as game changing as swapping your GPU out.

I'd honestly be waiting for the full game to release, play it for a few weeks to see how you find it performs with your current build then make a purchasing decision.

I only really had a 5070 ti on my mind if i can afford it. didn't realize the cpu would cause my problems, thats sad to hear.