G-Sync eliminates screen tearing by syncing your monitor’s refresh rate to your GPU’s frame output, but a wrong setting can add input lag or leave tearing in place. Setting it up correctly means combining G-Sync with a frame-rate cap and the right V-Sync behavior. Here’s the configuration competitive and single-player players actually use.
Confirm your monitor supports it
Look for native G-Sync, “G-Sync Compatible” (adaptive sync validated by NVIDIA), or a FreeSync panel that works over the open standard. Connect via DisplayPort for the widest support; HDMI VRR works on some newer panels but DisplayPort is safest.
Enable it in the driver
- Open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to Display > Set up G-Sync.
- Check Enable G-Sync and choose “Enable for full screen and windowed mode.”
- Under Manage 3D Settings, set Monitor Technology to G-Sync.
The magic combo: cap + V-Sync
G-Sync only works inside your monitor’s refresh range. Above it, tearing returns; below it, you’re fine. The proven setup keeps frames inside the window:
- Set V-Sync to On in the NVIDIA Control Panel (not in-game).
- Cap your frame rate 3-4 FPS below your refresh rate.
| Monitor refresh | Recommended FPS cap | V-Sync (driver) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 Hz | 141 | On | No tearing, low lag |
| 165 Hz | 162 | On | No tearing, low lag |
| 240 Hz | 237 | On | No tearing, minimal lag |
| 360 Hz | 357 | On | No tearing, minimal lag |
Driver V-Sync here acts only as a backstop to catch frames that momentarily exceed the cap; because you never actually hit the ceiling, it adds almost no latency. This combination gives the smoothness of G-Sync without the traditional V-Sync input-lag penalty.
Add a latency-reduction feature
Turn on NVIDIA Reflex in games that support it, or set Low Latency Mode to Ultra in the driver for titles that don’t. This keeps the render queue short so your capped, G-Synced frames still feel responsive.
Verify it’s working
Enable the G-Sync indicator overlay in the NVIDIA Control Panel’s display menu, or use a pendulum demo. In-game, spin the camera fast: with G-Sync active you should see no tearing and no stutter across the refresh range.
Common mistakes
Leaving in-game V-Sync on as well can double up and add lag; use only the driver toggle. Forgetting the frame cap lets frames exceed refresh and tear. Running borderless without enabling windowed G-Sync can silently disable it. Fix those three and the experience is flawless.
Windowed, borderless, and multi-monitor gotchas
G-Sync behaves differently across window modes. Fullscreen exclusive is the most reliable; borderless windowed works only if you enabled G-Sync for windowed mode in the driver. If you run a second monitor playing video while you game, older setups could disable variable refresh; modern drivers handle this better, but if you see stutter, test with the second display’s content paused.
Mixed-refresh multi-monitor setups can also confuse the feature. If your main panel is 240 Hz and a secondary is 60 Hz, make sure the game runs on the G-Sync display and that Windows treats it as primary. When troubleshooting, the pendulum demo and the driver’s on-screen G-Sync indicator are your friends: they confirm the feature is genuinely active rather than silently off. Get fullscreen behavior, the frame cap, and the indicator all lined up, and you can trust that every frame in your refresh range is being synchronized.
FAQ
Do I need V-Sync on with G-Sync?
Yes, in the driver, as a safety net paired with an FPS cap below your refresh. Because you stay under the ceiling, it prevents tearing on spikes without the usual latency cost.
Does G-Sync add input lag?
Configured correctly (cap below refresh, Reflex or Low Latency Mode on), the added lag is negligible, far less than traditional V-Sync. Misconfigured, it can feel sluggish, which is why the cap matters.
Bottom line
Enable G-Sync for fullscreen and windowed, turn on driver V-Sync, cap frames 3-4 below your refresh rate, and add Reflex or Ultra Low Latency Mode. That recipe delivers tear-free, stutter-free, low-latency gaming across your entire refresh range.
