Quick Answer

To get tear-free gaming with VRR, enable G-Sync or FreeSync in your driver panel and monitor OSD, cap your in-game frame rate to 3 to 5 fps below the monitor's maximum refresh rate, and ensure your frame rate stays above the VRR floor (typically 48 fps or lower). Tearing only occurs when the frame rate is outside the VRR range.

Enabling VRR Correctly on NVIDIA and AMD Setups 🖥️

On NVIDIA GPUs, open the NVIDIA Control Panel, go to Display and Set Up G-Sync, and check the box to enable G-Sync for your monitor. Then go to Manage 3D Settings, select the game profile or global settings, and set Vertical Sync to On in combination with a frame rate cap. This prevents the frame rate from exceeding the G-Sync range, which would disable VRR and cause tearing at the top of the range. On AMD GPUs, open AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition, navigate to Display, and toggle FreeSync Premium or Premium Pro to On. Confirm the monitor's OSD also has FreeSync enabled under its display or game settings menu. Many monitors ship with FreeSync in the OSD set to Off by default.

Frame Rate Cap Strategy for Tear-Free Output 🎮

The most important setting in a VRR configuration is the frame rate cap. Without a cap, the frame rate will periodically exceed the monitor's maximum refresh rate, causing the VRR engine to disengage and producing tearing at those peaks. Set your cap in the game's settings menu or in an overlay tool like RTSS to 3 to 5 fps below the maximum. For a 165Hz monitor, cap at 160 fps. For a 300Hz monitor, cap at 295 fps. This keeps the frame rate consistently inside the VRR range. Equally important is the floor: if frame rate drops below the VRR minimum (often 48 fps but sometimes as low as 1 fps on Premium Pro panels), tearing returns. In heavier games on GPUs like an RTX 4070 or RX 7700 XT, monitor which titles push below the floor and consider reducing settings in those games specifically.

Checking That VRR Is Actually Active 🔧

A common frustration is enabling VRR in driver and OSD only to find tearing persists. Check the monitor's OSD information page while a game runs: many panels display VRR status and current refresh rate in real time. If the OSD shows a fixed refresh rate, VRR is not active. Common causes: HDMI 2.0 cable instead of HDMI 2.1, borderless windowed mode instead of exclusive fullscreen, or a frame rate cap above the VRR ceiling.

TIP

Use Exclusive Fullscreen for Maximum VRR Compatibility ⚡

Borderless windowed mode routes the game's output through Windows Desktop Window Manager, which can prevent G-Sync from engaging on some driver versions. If you are experiencing tearing despite correct settings, switch the game to exclusive fullscreen mode and test again. CS2, Valorant, and most competitive titles run at full performance in exclusive fullscreen without the downside of a slow alt-tab.

FAQ

Does VRR reduce input lag compared to V-Sync?

Yes, significantly. Traditional V-Sync adds a buffer that delays frame delivery by one full frame (roughly 6 ms at 165Hz). VRR delivers each frame the instant it is ready, so input latency matches the uncapped frame rate without tearing. VRR is strictly better than V-Sync for gaming.

Can I use VRR with a 60Hz TV for console-style gaming on a PC?

Yes, if the TV supports HDMI 2.1 VRR and your GPU has an HDMI 2.1 output. The experience on a 60Hz panel is less dramatic than on a 144Hz or 165Hz monitor, but it still removes tearing at frame rates below 60 fps.

My monitor has both G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync. Which should I use?

If you have an NVIDIA GPU, use the G-Sync Compatible mode (enabled in the NVIDIA Control Panel). If you have an AMD GPU, use FreeSync. The underlying technology is the same adaptive sync standard; the naming is just vendor-specific branding.

Shopping for a VRR-capable gaming monitor for your SA setup? Evetech stocks monitors with FreeSync Premium and G-Sync Compatible certification. Browse the monitor section to find a panel with a VRR range that suits your GPU and target frame rate.