monitor Can someone help me to understand sync technologies?

[nihilwindirel]

I have G-Sync compatible 240 HZ monitor but I have an AMD GPU so I can only use the Adaptive-Sync or VRR. My problem is, when I get 60 to 100 FPS, all of my games looks terrible. It feels like 30 FPS. No screen tearing at all but weird choppiness. For an example, I am currently playing Dark Souls Remastered and it's locked to 60 FPS so my game looks absolutely terrible. It goes same for all the games below 100 FPS. I tried Adaptive-Sync on and off, VRR on and off, Enhanced Sync, V-Sync etc. Nothing changed. My question is, do I need a FreeSync capable monitor to eliminate this choppiness or am I doing something wrong?

[ZetZet]

Could you pick a game that doesn't suck in terms of optimization and then test that? Dark Souls stutters like the fate of the universe depends on it. 

 

VRR should work well on both Nvidia and AMD GPUs. 

[nihilwindirel]

Just now, ZetZet said:

Could you pick a game that doesn't suck in terms of optimization and then test that? Dark Souls stutters like the fate of the universe depends on it. 

 

I have played Horizon Zero Dawn and it was the same. If I get 170 FPS or above everyting is fine but if it drops below 100 FPS it's hell. It goes for any game. Horizon Zero Dawn, Borderlands 3, Nier Automata (locked 60 FPS), Red Dead Redemption 2.. All of them are the same because I get below 100 FPS. 

[ZetZet]

1 minute ago, nihilwindirel said:

I have played Horizon Zero Dawn and it was the same. If I get 170 FPS or above everyting is fine but if it drops below 100 FPS it's hell. It goes for any game. Horizon Zero Dawn, Borderlands 3, Nier Automata (locked 60 FPS), Red Dead Redemption 2.. All of them are the same because I get below 100 FPS. 

If the game stutters when you have everything off then something is wrong with your PC itself, monitor has nothing to do with it. 

[Andrewtst]

25 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

I tried Adaptive-Sync on and off, VRR on and off, Enhanced Sync, V-Sync etc.

Try this:

• Adaptive-Sync - On (always On from monitor menu)
• VRR - Off (Me using Nvidia RTX3080 and notice stuttering when game setting of DLSS On with VRR On, no issue if DLSS is Off with VRR On/Off but I not seen the benefits of VRR On, so I decide turn it Off from my monitor menu)
• Enhanced Sync - Off (this is AMD sync tech, you need to try yourself as Nvidia don't have such sync tech)
• V-Sync - Off (off everywhere as this increase input lag)

 

[nihilwindirel]

Just now, ZetZet said:

If the game stutters when you have everything off then something is wrong with your PC itself, monitor has nothing to do with it. 

I have no stutter or any kind of lag It just looks choppy. I don't know the best word to describe it since English is not my native language but choppy is the closest one I think. I tried competitive games where I can get 300 FPS or more and it was very smooth. No choppiness or any kind of weird things at all.

[nihilwindirel]

8 minutes ago, Andrewtst said:

Try this:

• Adaptive-Sync - On
• VRR - Off (Me using Nvidia RTX3080 and notice stuttering when game setting with DLSS On with VRR On, no issue if DLSS is Off with VRR On/Off but I not seen the benefits of VRR On, so I decide turn it Off from my monitor menu)
• Enhanced Sync - Off
• V-Sync - Off

 

 

I tried leaving only Adaptive-Sync on but nothing changed. Is FreeSync or FreeSync Premium Pro different than Adaptive-Sync? If I get a FreeSync monitor, will it help when my fps drops below 100? Is it gonna sync my refresh to 100 to eliminate choppiness? Is this how it works? Sorry I have only used laptop for whole my life so I am kind of new to these things.

[ZetZet]

4 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

I have no stutter or any kind of lag It just looks choppy. I don't know the best word to describe it since English is not my native language but choppy is the closest one I think. I tried competitive games where I can get 300 FPS or more and it was very smooth. No choppiness or any kind of weird things at all.

Stutter is choppy. If the frames come at uneven times that's stutter. You can enable performance overlays you know that right? 

[Andrewtst]

6 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

 

I tried leaving only Adaptive-Sync on but nothing changed. Is FreeSync or FreeSync Premium Pro is different than Adaptive-Sync? If I get a FreeSync monitor, will it help when my fps drops below 100? Is it gonna sync my refresh to 100 to eliminate choppiness? Is this how it works? Sorry I have only used laptop for whole my life so I am kind of new to these things.

All G-Sync compatible monitor is FreeSync support.

 

You using Laptop? Did your laptop got Display Port? as from what I know HDMI is not support G-Sync or FreeSync unless it is HDMI version 2.1  (if I not remember wrong)

[nihilwindirel]

1 minute ago, Andrewtst said:

All G-Sync compatible monitor is FreeSync support.

 

You using Laptop? Did your laptop got Display Port? as from what I know HDMI is not support G-Sync or FreeSync unless it is HDMI version 2.1 

No, I am using a desktop. So there is no need to buy a FreeSync monitor? 

[Andrewtst]

14 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

No, I am using a desktop. So there is no need to buy a FreeSync monitor? 

Should be no need as your monitor support Adaptive-Sync which support AMD FreeSync when using DP version 1.2 and above. 

[porina]

What is the exact model of monitor so we can check its capabilities?

[nihilwindirel]

34 minutes ago, porina said:

What is the exact model of monitor so we can check its capabilities?

It's ViewSonic Elite XG270 and there is something I don't understand about this monitor. ViewSonic product page says it's only G-Sync Compatible but AMD FreeSync monitor list says it also has FreeSync Premium but I can't find the setting anywhere. 

[porina]

21 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

It's ViewSonic Elite XG270 and there is something I don't understand about this monitor. ViewSonic product page says it's only G-Sync Compatible but AMD FreeSync monitor list says it also has FreeSync Premium but I can't find the setting anywhere. 

Manufacturer's page only mentions Adaptive Sync and G-Sync Compatible certification. If it was FreeSync Premium certified they would have said it. The spec seems to have everything you'd want from a display and the VRR range is wide so no problems expected there.

 

I'm not familiar with what settings are on AMD GPUs these days so can't advise there apart from something probably needs to be on if not already. Contrary to previous poster, I'd always leave V-Sync on when using VRR. It does not affect latency within VRR range. There is a setting in Windows Graphics Settings where there's a Variable Refresh Rate option you could try if not already.

[nihilwindirel]

6 minutes ago, porina said:

Manufacturer's page only mentions Adaptive Sync and G-Sync Compatible certification. If it was FreeSync Premium certified they would have said it. The spec seems to have everything you'd want from a display and the VRR range is wide so no problems expected there.

 

I'm not familiar with what settings are on AMD GPUs these days so can't advise there apart from something probably needs to be on if not already. Contrary to previous poster, I'd always leave V-Sync on when using VRR. It does not affect latency within VRR range. There is a setting in Windows Graphics Settings where there's a Variable Refresh Rate option you could try if not already.

If I connect my monitor via displayport cable it activates the Adaptive-Sync in Radeon Software but If I connect via HDMI, it activates VRR in the Radeon Software. Which one should I use? Thank you so much for your help.

[porina]

5 minutes ago, nihilwindirel said:

If I connect my monitor via displayport cable it activates the Adaptive-Sync in Radeon Software but If I connect via HDMI, it activates VRR in the Radeon Software. Which one should I use? Thank you so much for your help.

To be honest without getting hands on myself I'm guessing. Historically I think DP is favoured, but given both support it, try both.

[Stahlmann]

Most 240Hz monitors are poorly optimized for lower refresh rates. Their input lag and pixel response times significantly increase and overshoot will typically also creep in. Because of that, 60 fps games can feel terrible, even though you have a relatively fast 240Hz monitor.

 

Try lowering your pixel overdrive setting in your monitor OSD when playing at lower fps. Or disable VRR entirely when playing these games. You'll probably see some tearing here and there, but input lag should be better.

 

13 hours ago, ZetZet said:

Could you pick a game that doesn't suck in terms of optimization and then test that? Dark Souls stutters like the fate of the universe depends on it. 

Dark Souls is a lot of things, but certainly not stuttery or laggy. Yes it's locked to 60, but it never dropped below that for me. I can't recall ever seeing a stutter in my hundreds of hours between DS1, 2 and 3. Elden Ring is another story...

[Andrewtst]

Just playing around my monitor VRR and now I know what the issue and how to prevent it.

 

When VRR ON

• If without turn on DLSS, how low the games fps also won't have bad stuttering issue.
• If with DLSS ON, then I need to ensure the games fps not lower than 40fps, if lower than that the stuttering could be very bad until not playable.

Due to this, I start fine tune every single options for games like Cyberpunk and Watch Dogs Legion. Now I can play the games without any issue with VRR ON and the games is not impact to visually noticeable image quality drop but still maintain the fps and not lower than 40fps for minimum.

 

I am keeping VRR ON now.