Vsync or not?

[BoWser]

I would like to know your guys's prefrence on this. Do you use vsync in games or not? (Or does it depend on the game?) I don't want to start a flame war so please keep it clean.

[Bop]

Yes, games look much better with it on. Just turn on triple buffering and there is no reason not to use it.

[Kakyoin]

I keep it off, never liked the VSync FPS limit at 60, in CS, shooting guns looks slower when you have it on, faster when you dont.

[BoWser]

not counting cs, everyone knows you should have it off in that game

[FiZ]

Depends, in some games I get image tearing/sheering on my LCD. If I do I use Vsync, if not I disable it.

[cmosdos]

I usually turn it off. Get some tearing once in a while, but usually not noticable.

[Bop]

It only caps your fps at your refresh rate. I have my cap at 75fps and if you really want that extra 5-10fps in a game at the cost of tearing, go right ahead...(above 75 or 80 you can't tell the difference unless its by a wide distance)

[Betauser]

i have an lcd and i keep it on, coz when i play CoD, i noticed alot of tearings.. not a good sight :( but i turn it off when im playing NFSU tho, it runs alot smoother..

[ThreeDee]

for most games , I have it on ..so caps fps at 85@1280x1024


but if playing online with a game ..I'll turn it off for quicker response times

[BoWser]

most of my games will run fine with it, but how about battlefield? anyone notice slowdown with it on?

[Bop]

There will be no slowdown at all, your framerate will just be capped at a certain number depending on your refresh rate. It actually makes gameplay smoother as your framerate will not fluctuate as much and you will not see tearing while in motion.

Just make sure triple buffering is on. I use VSYNC on all the time, that means BF1942.

[DocFaustus]

Vsnyc with Triple Buffering is the best solution.

[Neurotic-Turtle]

I always set it off

[BoWser]

What is tripple buffering and how do i set it on?

[ug_rulz_all]

i use it in every game except halflife (especially cs)

reason being my monitor kinda sucks for refresh rates - the only resolution that can stand 100hz is 640x480, and i cant stand playing cs at that resolution because the crosshair looks real inaccurate

furthermore, playing cs with the vsync off and fps at 100 makes the visible crosshair recoil seem much lower, reflecting the true recoil of the gun (though sometimes with the AK, i beg to differ :rolleyes: )

[obs]

I leave it off unless I have problems.

[Bop]

Umm VSYNC has nothing to do with aim in counter-strike. Most people do not use it as they have no idea what it is or they are thinking wrong. It is pointless to leave it off or on for just certain games.

It syncs(plz look the word sync up in the dictionary if you do not know what it means!) the framerate with the monitor's refresh rate to ensure that the image does not distort or tear. With it off, play a fast paced game and move the mouse around alot, you'll see parts of the image shift as it is not in sync with the monitor.

There is no reason not to use it in a game, in benchmarking, leave it off. For games, leave it on unless you have OCD and must have above 85-120fps(depending on monitor) which would have no affect on gameplay.

[FiZ]

No it can effect your aim, more FPS = smoother. And generally you will get more FPS without Vsync. Counter strike is a good example because it limits your FPS at 100 anyway so a difference between 85 limited by your refresh rate (if you have vsync on) and 100 without it is noticable. It also probably won't tax your system so it will stay at 100 constantly. It may not make a difference in other games though where you FPS fluncuates.

[doh-nut]

well in call of duty, when i look at a certain bush in brecourt, i get 30-40fps. this is with vsync on. when i turn it off, i get around 50fps looking at the same bush. and if i turn off 8x anisotoptric filtering i get 70fps. which sucks most of all. but vsync does tax the computer to peform its algorithm and cap the frames. ive seen it in direct3d games too as well where my minimum framerate is actually lower.

this is with a radeon9700 pro with catalyst 3.10

[Bop]

I already know why that happens. Go to the ATi control pannel, then OGL options then compatability and turn Triple Buffering on.

That will fix that issue.

The TB+VSYNC combo is best for gaming period.



Triple buffering basicly creates a bank where each number from 0-(selected refresh rate) can be applicable, while the standard double buffering uses multiples of a refresh rate. So if your refresh rate is 70 and you take a 3fps hit while using DB you go down to 35fps while with TB you take a 3fps hit and you go down to 67.

[ug_rulz_all]

Originally posted by Bop
Umm VSYNC has nothing to do with aim in counter-strike. Most people do not use it as they have no idea what it is or they are thinking wrong. It is pointless to leave it off or on for just certain games. try this:

get any weapon in cs that shoots fast, preferably an smg or a non-sniper rifle

cap the fps at 30, hold the trigger for about a second and watch the crosshair pulsate down

do the same at 100fps

youll see at 100, it pulsates down much faster than at 30

by the way 30 is an arbitrary number - you can do this with any number that isnt too close to 100

[doh-nut]

Originally posted by Bop
I already know why that happens. Go to the ATi control pannel, then OGL options then compatability and turn Triple Buffering on.

That will fix that issue.

The TB+VSYNC combo is best for gaming period.



Triple buffering basicly creates a bank where each number from 0-(selected refresh rate) can be applicable, while the standard double buffering uses multiples of a refresh rate. So if your refresh rate is 70 and you take a 3fps hit while using DB you go down to 35fps while with TB you take a 3fps hit and you go down to 67.

thats good info ill remember that. thanks

so now the only big performance killer in COD it seems for me is AF. totally kills my framerate on brecourt. even when i join a game the mouse is laggy when i pick a team with AF on. the terrain looks sooo washed out without AF.

[FiZ]

Try putting the General Textures on High instead of Extreme. That even slows my computer down, with AF.

[DocFaustus]

Originally posted by Bop
I already know why that happens. Go to the ATi control pannel, then OGL options then compatability and turn Triple Buffering on.

That will fix that issue.

The TB+VSYNC combo is best for gaming period.



Triple buffering basicly creates a bank where each number from 0-(selected refresh rate) can be applicable, while the standard double buffering uses multiples of a refresh rate. So if your refresh rate is 70 and you take a 3fps hit while using DB you go down to 35fps while with TB you take a 3fps hit and you go down to 67.

Correct.

So if you have the system to do it, use TB+VSYNC.

If your system cannot handle that, and you must fall back to Double Buffering, it is better then to turn VSYNC OFF and turn your refresh rate as high as you can.

[OTL]

I used to keep it on until I got a 9500 Pro. For whatever reason the Catalyst drivers don't handle vsync well at all, and the minumum framerate can be anywhere from 10-30fps lower than with it off. It also renders some high profile games like NFS:U unplayable with periodic stuttering when enabled.

[BoWser]

Thanks guys for all your opinions and information. I'm currently considering getting a new graphics card. I posted on this thread (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=709784) if anyone is intrested in helping me out there. I'm mainly looking for better preformance in battlefield and want to run battlefield vietnam. Ut2k3 runs fine so should have no problems with 2k4.

Also, I have a envision EN-775e monitor right now, I'm not sure what is limiting my refresh rate to 85 hz. Would it be my monitor or my video card?

[Bop]

That would be the monitor, 85hz is not that bad as its not like you will notice a difference between 85fps and 100fps.

OTL, if your framerate is 10-30fps lower with it on than you have double buffering on most likely, look for an option to turn triple buffering on. I had pausing in NFS:U too but I turned Triple Buffering on and I closed all background apps and that fixed it.

[EarthwormJim]

How do I turn triple buffering on with my Nvidia card?

[Roost426]

Since this triple buffering thing is under the OPENGL tab does it only work in OPENGL Games?

[Bop]

For D3D games you have to turn TB on for each game, usually in the options menu.

[LordJezo]

Anyone know how I can set vsync with my G4 4400?

Is it game specific? What if it isnt an option in the game? Do I need to set it in some control panel or something?

[Bop]

Right click on your desktop, select properties. Now hit settings then advanced. Go to the nVidia tab and go to OpenGL and have VSYNC default to on. You will of course have to set it on in games unless you have an ATi card which can be set to always on.

Download coolbits.reg from guru3d.com and install it and then go to Direct 3d Advanced options and set VSYNC to on. Go to a tweaking website if a game requires you to go into a file to turn it on.

[OTL]

Originally posted by Bop
OTL, if your framerate is 10-30fps lower with it on than you have double buffering on most likely, look for an option to turn triple buffering on. I had pausing in NFS:U too but I turned Triple Buffering on and I closed all background apps and that fixed it.

I would do that but most D3D games don't have an option for triple buffering, and the Catalyst drivers don't seem to have a registry entry for it either.

[oqvist]

As long as there is no tearing you will see no difference. Some games is fine with it off other cause tearing.