Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Talk about AMD's FreeSync and VESA AdaptiveSync, which are variable refresh rate technologies. They also eliminate stutters, and eliminate tearing. List of FreeSync Monitors.
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pixeldew
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Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by pixeldew » 04 Oct 2021, 11:43

I read through the G-sync tests (thanks for all the through research) and in my situation with a freesync compatible monitor with an Nvidia GPU, the best settings (if I'm not mistaken) would be -

Gsync on for full-screen only
Vsync on in nvcp
Vsync in game disabled (unless I notice tearing)
Fps cap of 141 in game if possible or through RTSS
For comp games where fps greatly exceeds I disable vsync in nvcp

So if I'm playing a game where I can constantly hit that 141 fps cap these settings are golden.
Now what about the large number of games where I can't constantly hit that 141 fps limit?

Let's say I can only hit 60, would simply limiting the fps to 60 with those same settings be the ideal situation? Or ideal enough for 99.9% of games?
Or is there some other setting I should enable that would be default like vsync+gsync, that would be ideal.

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jorimt
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Re: Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by jorimt » 04 Oct 2021, 12:12

pixeldew wrote:
04 Oct 2021, 11:43
So if I'm playing a game where I can constantly hit that 141 fps cap these settings are golden.
Now what about the large number of games where I can't constantly hit that 141 fps limit?

Let's say I can only hit 60, would simply limiting the fps to 60 with those same settings be the ideal situation?
If the game supports Reflex, enable it and it will both prevent GPU-limitation (by setting a dynamic internal FPS limit when GPU-limited to ensure GPU usage is below 99%) and keep G-SYNC in range with its auto FPS limit (at 144Hz it's 138 FPS).

I've recently done Reflex tests in Overwatch, and it appears to have the same input lag levels as the in-game limiter:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9151&p=72211#p72182

As for games that don't support Reflex, find your 99% achievable average framerate and limit the FPS just below that to prevent the GPU usage from maxing. This will have the same effect, but obviously isn't dynamic/automatic like Reflex is.

TLDR: to prevent GPU-limitation, ensure your framerate limit is keeping GPU usage under 99%, or use Reflex, where available.
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

pixeldew
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Re: Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by pixeldew » 04 Oct 2021, 12:24

jorimt wrote:
04 Oct 2021, 12:12
TLDR: to prevent GPU-limitation, ensure your framerate limit is keeping GPU usage under 99%, or use Reflex, where available.
Thanks so such a quick detailed explanation!

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jorimt
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Re: Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by jorimt » 04 Oct 2021, 13:54

pixeldew wrote:
04 Oct 2021, 12:24
Thanks so such a quick detailed explanation!
You're welcome.
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

aerin
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Re: Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by aerin » 04 Oct 2021, 18:18

Please keep in mind that rtss adds an estimated ~7 ms due to having to buffer an additional frame and thus should only be used in non-competitive scenarios.

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jorimt
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Re: Optimal settings when GPU-limited?

Post by jorimt » 04 Oct 2021, 18:39

aerin wrote:
04 Oct 2021, 18:18
Please keep in mind that rtss adds an estimated ~7 ms due to having to buffer an additional frame and thus should only be used in non-competitive scenarios.
It is true that external limiters such as RTSS and Nvidia MFR can add up to 1 frame (relative to the current max refresh rate) delay over most engine-level in-game limiters, but said external limiters are 1) still lower lag than uncapped at the same FPS (in GPU-limited scenarios), 2) unlike most in-game limiters, they limit by frametime, and can thus provide more frametime stability, and 3) in both Apex and Overwatch I've found them to only add up to 1/2 frame delay over the in-game limiters on average.

In-game limiters also aren't always available (or stable), so it can be situation dependent.

But yes, most of the biggest comp games feature good to decent in-game limiters, so those should be used in place of an external limiter for the lowest possible frame delay (as my optimal G-SYNC settings already recommend), where possible.
(jorimt: /jor-uhm-tee/)
Author: Blur Busters "G-SYNC 101" Series

Displays: ASUS PG27AQN, LG 48CX VR: Beyond, Quest 3, Reverb G2, Index OS: Windows 11 Pro Case: Fractal Design Torrent PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 MB: ASUS Z790 Hero CPU: Intel i9-13900k w/Noctua NH-U12A GPU: GIGABYTE RTX 4090 GAMING OC RAM: 32GB G.SKILL Trident Z5 DDR5 6400MHz CL32 SSDs: 2TB WD_BLACK SN850 (OS), 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X (Games) Keyboards: Wooting 60HE, Logitech G915 TKL Mice: Razer Viper Mini SE, Razer Viper 8kHz Sound: Creative Sound Blaster Katana V2 (speakers/amp/DAC), AFUL Performer 8 (IEMs)

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