Vertical synchronization, or VSync, is a long-standing PC graphics setting that aims to align a game's frame rate with a monitor's refresh rate. As Engadget explains, it prevents screen tearing by making the GPU wait for the display's refresh cycle before sending the next frame. On a 60Hz monitor, that typically means rendering around 60 frames per second, even if the graphics card could produce more.
The trade-off is that VSync can introduce new problems. If the GPU cannot keep up with the monitor's refresh rate, the game may suddenly feel slower, and stuttering can appear. Input lag is another common side effect, since frames are held to a strict delivery schedule. That may be unnoticeable in a slow-paced game, but it can feel sluggish in a competitive shooter.
For many users, adaptive sync technologies such as AMD's FreeSync and Nvidia's G-Sync are a better starting point. These let the monitor adjust its refresh rate dynamically to match the GPU's output, reducing tearing without the same stutter or input lag. Engadget notes that G-Sync users should generally enable VSync alongside it and cap the frame rate about 3 FPS below the monitor's maximum, while FreeSync users should leave standard VSync off unless tearing persists. If the hardware does not support adaptive sync, VSync can still serve as a useful backstop when the PC can maintain a steady frame rate at or above the monitor's refresh rate.{