Do FreeSync and VSync Work Together? A Deep Dive for Serious Gamers

As a hardcore PC gamer, you know that smooth, tear-free gameplay is the holy grail. Nothing ruins the gaming experience faster than choppy performance and screen tearing. FreeSync and VSync aim to solve these problems – but do they work together? Or do you have to choose one or the other?

I‘m Terry Williams, resident tech geek here at 33rdsquare. And I‘ve tested FreeSync and VSync every which way to uncover the truth. In this guide, I‘ll share everything I‘ve learned about these technologies – how they work, what problems they solve, and most importantly, whether running them together actually helps.

I‘m also going to debunk some common gaming myths and give my expert recommendations on the best settings for tear-free, stutter-free gaming with ANY graphics card and monitor.

So whether you‘re Team Red with an AMD GPU or Team Green with NVIDIA, read on for the definitive guide to FreeSync, VSync and achieving gaming nirvana. Let‘s dive in!

What Is FreeSync and How Does It Work?

First, the basics. FreeSync is an adaptive sync technology developed by AMD to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering during gaming. Here‘s a quick primer on how it works:

• It synchronizes the refresh rate of a compatible monitor to the frame rate of an AMD graphics card.

• This synced refresh rate is variable, with the monitor adjusting its refresh on-the-fly based on the game‘s frame rate.

• It works within a set framerate range, like 40-144Hz. No tearing/stuttering occurs within this range.

So in essence, FreeSync gives you a tear-free gaming experience within a flexible window of frame rates. And your monitor automatically varies its refresh rate to match the game‘s performance. Pretty slick!

To enable this variable refresh magic, FreeSync requires:

• An AMD GPU (RX 400/500/600 series or newer)
• A compatible FreeSync monitor
• DisplayPort connection (or HDMI 2.0)
• FreeSync enabled in monitor OSD and AMD driver

With this AMD-powered setup, you get all the benefits of FreeSync:

Perk 1: No Tearing

By linking the monitor and GPU refresh cycles, FreeSync perfectly aligns frame delivery to display redraws. This means no more jarring screen tearing.

Perk 2: No Stuttering

FreeSync also eliminates stuttering and lag caused by misaligned frames. Everything displays smoothly and instantly as its rendered.

Perk 3: Low Latency

With no synchronization needed, FreeSync has less than 1ms of input lag. Your clicks and keystrokes display lightning fast.

Perk 4: Capped or Uncapped Framerates

FreeSync works with fluctuating uncapped frame rates OR with a cap at max refresh rate. Either way, it‘s smooth sailing.

Perk 5: Affordable Monitors

Gaming monitors with FreeSync are generally cheaper than the G-Sync rivals. AMD‘s open approach drove down costs.

Based on my extensive testing, FreeSync delivers on these promises. It‘s a game-changer for AMD gamers.

Okay, now that you‘ve got the FreeSync basics down, let‘s move on to…

What is VSync and How Does it Compare to FreeSync?

Unlike AMD‘s FreeSync, VSync is not a new technology. It‘s been around for years as the go-to solution for screen tearing.

But how does it work and how does it compare to FreeSync? Here‘s a quick rundown:

• VSync is a software-level solution that synchronizes your frame rate with your monitor‘s refresh rate.

• It caps your frame rate at your monitor‘s maximum refresh to eliminate tearing.

• But this frame rate limit can introduce input lag and stuttering when performance dips below max refresh.

So in a nutshell, VSync trades tearing prevention for potential performance issues. The key differences vs. FreeSync are:

Feature	VSync	FreeSync
Approach	Caps FPS at max refresh	Dynamically syncs refresh rate
Performance	Can cause lag and stuttering	Low latency and stutter-free
Implementation	Software-based	Hardware-based
Frame Rate	Capped at max refresh	Variable within set range

So in summary, VSync just can‘t match FreeSync‘s seamless, tear-free gaming experience. But it doesn‘t require special hardware, so it has wider compatibility.

Okay, now that you know the scoop on both technologies, the million dollar question is…

Do FreeSync and VSync Work Together?

Can you – and should you – enable both FreeSync and VSync simultaneously for gaming? Let‘s break it down:

Option 1: FreeSync Only

By itself, FreeSync provides smooth, tear-free gaming with minimal input lag – no VSync needed. Most gamers run with FreeSync alone for best performance.

Option 2: VSync Only

VSync by itself eliminates tearing at the cost of potential lag/stuttering issues when frame rates fluctuate.

Option 3: FreeSync + VSync

If you enable both together, here‘s what happens:

• Frame rate is capped at max refresh by VSync

• Extra input lag is introduced by VSync synchronization

• No tearing within refresh rate, same as FreeSync or VSync alone

• Stuttering can occur below max refresh during FPS dips

So in summary, combining FreeSync and VSync gives you the downsides of VSync with no real benefits. I don‘t recommend it for most gaming.

There are niche cases where VSync + FreeSync could help:

• You get screen tearing above your max refresh rate

• Your unlocked FPS exceeds your monitor‘s FreeSync range

• You prefer a consistent, console-like capped frame rate

But for most gamers, FreeSync alone is the best option for lag-free, tear-free gaming performance.

Now let‘s move on to some key optimizations to get the most out of your FreeSync setup…

Optimizing Your Gaming Rig for FreeSync

To maximize FreeSync‘s buttery-smooth gaming capabilities, there are a few settings every AMD gamer should use:

1. Enable FreeSync

Make sure FreeSync is enabled in both your monitor‘s settings menu and AMD Radeon software.

2. Use DisplayPort

For variable refresh rates, you need to connect your monitor with a DisplayPort cable.

3. Set Max Refresh Rate

In Windows display settings, set your monitor‘s max refresh rate (often 144Hz or higher for gaming monitors).

4. Disable VSync

Turn off VSync in games and AMD‘s control panel to prevent capping frame rates.

5. Uncap FPS

Leave your game‘s frame rate uncapped to fluctuate freely within your FreeSync range.

Or optionally limit your frame rate 2-3 fps below your max refresh rate (e.g. 141 FPS for 144Hz monitor) for smoothest gameplay. This keeps your frame rate safely within your monitor‘s range.

6. Monitor FPS

Use a framrate counter overlay to ensure your FPS stays within your monitor‘s supported range. This guarantees tear-free FreeSync functioning.

Follow these best practices, and your AMD-powered rig will deliver an incredible FreeSync experience. Game on!

Now let‘s tackle a few more burning questions gamers have about these technologies…

VSync On or Off for Gaming – Which is Better?

If you‘re not running variable refresh rate tech like FreeSync or G-Sync, should you enable VSync for gaming or leave it off? Here are the key considerations:

VSync On

• Eliminates ugly screen tearing
• Delivers consistent frame pacing and smoothness (at max refresh rate)

VSync Off

• Removes input lag for faster responsiveness
• Allows uncapped framerates for max FPS performance
• Can expose some screen tearing

There are pros and cons either way. Some general guidance:

• Competitive gaming – Leave VSync OFF to minimize input lag

• Story-driven games – If you prioritize visuals, turning ON VSync improves smoothness

• High refresh rate (144Hz+) – Tearing less noticeable, so VSync can be disabled

• Lower refresh rate (60Hz) – More tearing, so VSync ON preferable for casual gaming

My advice is to test both modes in the games you play and decide based on personal preference and tolerance for tearing vs. input lag tradeoffs.

Now for the bonus round – using FreeSync monitors with GeForce graphics cards…

Using FreeSync Monitors with NVIDIA GPUs

Great news for NVIDIA gamers – your GeForce graphics cards are now compatible with FreeSync monitors! However, there are some limitations vs AMD cards:

• Requires DisplayPort connection

• NVIDIA has only certified some FreeSync monitors as "G-Sync Compatible"

• No variable refresh rate range – VRR works at max refresh rate only

• Enable G-Sync in NVIDIA control panel, not monitor menu

Within these constraints, FreeSync delivers excellent tear-free gaming on NVIDIA cards. And gives you access to more affordable gaming monitors compared to G-Sync counterparts.

That said, native G-Sync compatible monitors give you the full variable refresh rate range. So if you‘re a competitive gamer wanting every possible advantage, spring for a certified G-Sync display.

But for most gamers, a FreeSync monitor works great with GeForce cards. And the hundreds you save makes the limitations worth it!

Okay, we‘ve covered a TON of ground on getting the best possible gaming experience. Let‘s recap the key takeaways…

The Bottom Line – Smooth Gaming with FreeSync and VSync

Here are my top recommendations based on extensive real-world testing:

• For AMD gamers – Run with FreeSync alone for uncompromising smoothness and speed. Leave VSync off!

• For NVIDIA users – Leverage FreeSync monitors for tear-free gaming at max refresh rates. No need for VSync.

• Without variable sync – Enable VSync if you dislike tearing and can tolerate some input lag. Otherwise, disable it.

• Cap your FPS 2-3 fps below max refresh rate to stay in variable sync range. Or leave it uncapped for max performance.

• Above all, experiment with your setup and choose settings that give YOU the best experience based on your priorities. Don‘t be afraid to toggle these technologies on and off to see what works!

I hope this guide has dispelled the myths and clarified everything you need to know about FreeSync, VSync and crafting an incredible gaming experience. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Game on,

Terry Williams
Tech Geek Extraordinaire
33rdsquare.com