V-Sync, short for vertical sync, is a technology used in computer graphics to synchronize the frame rate of the GPU with the refresh rate of the monitor. The goal of V-Sync is to eliminate screen tearing that occurs when the GPU frame rate is out of sync with the monitor’s frequency.
When V-Sync is enabled, the GPU will send a new frame to the monitor only when the monitor is ready to display it. This ensures that each frame is displayed at the same time as the monitor’s refresh rate, eliminating screen tearing.
V-Sync can improve the overall gaming experience, but it also has some downsides. It can introduce input lag, i.e. a delay between the user entering a command and displaying it on the screen. In addition, if the frame rate of the GPU is lower than the refresh rate of the monitor, it may cause slower performance and display stuttering.
The newer version of V-Sync is called Adaptive V-Sync, which dynamically adjusts the frame rate of the GPU to match the refresh rate of the monitor. This means that if the FPS of the GPU falls below the refresh rate of the monitor, V-Sync will be temporarily disabled, which may help to eliminate the aforementioned issues.
Advantages of V-Sync
V-Sync synchronizes the frame rate of the GPU with the refresh rate of the monitor, which eliminates image tearing. This can greatly improve the overall gaming experience. V-Sync can also improve the visual quality of your display by reducing the visibility of jagged edges and other aliasing artifacts. Additionally, this technology is compatible with a wide range of graphics cards and monitors. In turn, a newer version of V-Sync called Adaptive V-Sync dynamically adjusts the frame rate of the GPU to the refresh rate of the monitor. This means that if the frame rate of the GPU drops below the refresh rate of the monitor, V-Sync will be temporarily disabled, which can help reduce image stutter.
Disadvantages of V-Sync
• Input lag: V-Sync may introduce input lag, which is the delay between when a user enters a command and when it appears on the screen. This can make games less responsive and less enjoyable.
• Performance loss: If the FPS of the GPU is lower than the refresh rate of the monitor, V-Sync may cause performance degradation and stuttering. This can be especially noticeable in games with fast-paced action.
• Limited frame rate: V-Sync is limited by the refresh rate of the monitor. If the frame rate of the GPU exceeds the refresh rate of the monitor, it will be throttled, which may result in lower performance.
• Limited resolutions: V-Sync may not work properly at very high resolutions such as 4K.
• Limited adaptive V-sync: Adaptive V-sync, which dynamically adjusts GPU frame rate to monitor refresh rate, may not work properly in all games, which may cause artifacts.
• Increased power consumption: V-Sync can increase power consumption, which can lead to higher electricity bills and shorter battery life for laptops.
