Adaptive Sync is only available to those with GPUs running a GT 600-series NVIDIA graphics card or newer.Īdaptive Sync technology is designed to function similarly to VSync by limiting fps output to match your monitor’s refresh capacity, but it works harder to eliminate performance lag caused by dipping refresh rates. NVIDIA’s Adaptive Sync is a smart alternative to VSync that allows you to render frames using the NVIDIA Control Panel software. When VSync is turned on, a strict fps cap is set to ensure there is no rate synchronization breakage. This happens most frequently with games that utilize refresh rates of 60 frames per second (fps) or more.
When refresh rates are out of sync, the images you see are marred fragments of a full picture. Screen-tearing ruins gameplay in an instant and compromises any strategy you may have had by no fault of your own. Typically, this will look like two frames shown together in a single frame, causing a jarring torn effect. Screen-tearing is a frame-rendering glitch that occurs when two different “screens” of an image clash and shatter. This synchronization delivers smooth, uninterrupted gameplay for graphics-heavy 3D games.įirst engineered by GPU developers looking to mitigate the issue of screen-tearing, VSync’s earliest aim was to eliminate the problem altogether. Short for vertical sync, VSync is the graphics technology responsible for synchronizing the frame rate of a game to the refresh rate of a monitor. But what exactly is VSync? What difference does this technology make, and should you turn it off or on? Use this comprehensive guide to answer all of your burning VSync questions. VSync is one of the latest and greatest visual-enhancement technologies that work to bring your favorite video game scapes to vibrant life. To properly accommodate the visual properties that make bestsellers like Red Dead Redemption and Assassin’s Creed stand out, having VSync is a must. Modern video-gaming has become wildly impressive, blurring the line between realities with increased attention to detail and optimized 3D rendering. Diving into a rich game scape that is as mechanically responsive as it is visually immersive means fine-tuning your specs for functional perfection.
Whether you’re looking to dominate the leaderboards and earn a spot on an eSports league team, or you only video game to escape into a more colorful, freedom-filled world, you depend on your PC to be the powerful vehicle that transports you with a single power-on.
This feature is available only on select GeForce 9 Series and above GPUs that support multiple performance levels (idle, 3D, etc) and applies only to DirectX and OpenGL-based applications running under Windows Vista and above.If you’re a gamer, you understand just how important having a capable rig is. This option can be set Globally (for all 3D applications), or an application profile can be created under Program Settings to set the preference for a particular 3D application. To set this option, users can open the NVIDIA Control Panel and select "Prefer Maximum Performance" from the drop down menu under Manage 3D Settings - Power Management Mode. This mode is recommended by NVIDIA for best overall balance of power and performance.Īn alternate option is now available in the NVIDIA Control Panel that allows users to maintain the card at its maximum performance level when 3D applications are running regardless of GPU usage. This allows the GPU to always use the minimum amount of power required to run a given application, and can allow even older 3D games to run in lower power modes if the game does not require full 3D performance.
The default behavior in R190 drivers ("Adaptive") is for the graphics card to monitor GPU usage and seamlessly switch between modes based on the performance demands of the application.
To provide end users with more control over the power management capabilities of the graphics card, NVIDIA has added an option to the control panel to allow users to set preferences for how the driver will switch between these performance levels. These modes can include different GPU/memory clocks for the Windows Desktop (idle), video playback, and 3D applications. Many NVIDIA graphics cards support multiple performance levels so that the PC can save power when full graphics performance is not required. NVIDIA Control Panel Feature: Manage 3D Settings - Power Management Mode