V-sync / FPS caps

jayhughes79

jayhughes79

jayhughes79

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Not sure where to put this so apologies if it's in the wrong subforum.

Anyways after finally getting my PC up to speed and where I want it I have the pleasant problem of wondering about fps limitation in games. I don't know much about this since I've always in the past been struggling to get more fps instead :p

My monitor is http://aoc-europe.com/en/products/m2870vhe 1080p@60Hz and the gfx card is a Gigabyte Windforce 780ti, connected via HDMI cable. Am I right in thinking that anything above 60fps is wasted on that monitor? And does capping fps have a benefit to power consumption etc of the card? Finally, what's the difference between capping (via something like Rivatuner) and using V-sync?

To make it more complicated I'm running audio through the HDMI cable (getting a soundcard one day), does this affect the image or refresh rate or anything? Sorry for a million questions. :D
 
V-Sync caps your FPS at your screen refresh rate, this then stops frames from tearing as they're rendered by the GPU and pushed onto the monitor.

You'll notice without V-Sync in games that when you turn left or right, the image will look as if it's been cut in 2 especially on corners or walls/objects.

Audio through HDMI is fine, won't affect your image quality.
Would recommend a optical cable to your motherboard, sound cards are useful for audio production and the likes but for everything else, motherboard sound cards are very good now.
 
I did used to use the onboard sound, but it got toasted somehow and no longer works. I have a suspicion it was something to do with the crossfire setup I used to have...
 
Personally I cap all my games at 60fps I tend not to use a games v-sync setting as it normally causes me mouse lag. I force v-sync if needed with d3doverrider normally.
 
get a newer monitor 120 hz or 144hz.

so much better. v sync capping often causes other issues. mouse lag for one.

you have a good card aswell. so i would just look at a newer monitor.
 
I've noticed a great improvement in games going to a 120/144hz monitor, for one no tearing at all with Vsync off and no lag! My previous 60hz monitor would tear like wet paper without Vsync
 
Monitor upgrade is on the cards, but not for a while yet.... it was either going to be a higher res/refresh rate or go for multi screen. Probably not this year though.
 
V-Sync will cap your FPS at your monitor's refresh rate in order to synchronise the frames, 60FPS in your case.
If the FPS goes lower than that of your monitor's refresh rate, it's then capped at the nearest FPS that goes into 60. For example:

If the GPU is able to render the game at 60FPS or faster then V-Sync will cap it off at 60FPS.
If the GPU is taking a beating and is unable to render at 60FPS then V-Sync will cap it at 30FPS. If it drops below 30 then it'll cap at 20, then 15, 12 etc etc. The caps have to be able to go into your refresh rate evenly in order to synchronise them.

V-Sync can get rid of screen tearing and keep your graphics card cooler by not rendering over what's required, but will give you input lag and can cause stuttering.

Adaptive V-Sync is what you want to be using if you like the idea of V-Sync. It'll only sync frames above that of your refresh rate and disable if it falls below it. E.g, Will lock at 60FPS in your case and if it falls to say 52FPS, it'll disable and give you 52FPS.

Best option i've found is getting a 120/144Hz monitor and enabling Adaptive V-Sync, you get the best of both worlds.

Audio over HDMI doesn't affect it.
 
Last edited:
~>Dg<~ said:
get a newer monitor 120 hz or 144hz.

so much better. v sync capping often causes other issues. mouse lag for one.

you have a good card aswell. so i would just look at a newer monitor.
Click to expand...

This is why d3doverrider is so good, it does v-sync and does not give any mouse lag at all.
 
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