Optimal Settings for Fighting Games

[franman]

Between 120 Hz: G-sync OFF & V-sync OFF -VS- 144 Hz: G-sync ON & V-sync ON -VS- 144 Hz: G-sync ON & V-sync OFF which setting delivers optimal performance?

I was told by a user on a discord channel that fighting games capped at 60 fps can benefit with 120 Hz refresh rate w/o g-sync enabled since 120 is a double of 60 and produces double frames. But I've also read Blur Buster's G-sync 101 articles especially on Hidden Benefits of High Refresh Rate G-sync that at 144 Hz with g-sync and v-sync enabled you get the shortest amount of input lag achieved. However, what confuses me is that on the G-sync vs V-sync OFF article, with G-sync enabled and V-sync disabled the input lag is lower than with V-sync enabled.

So is there a better optimal setting than the 3 I've specified?

[Kheri]

I think you cap your FPS 3 frames below max hz (141 for 144 hz) when using G-sync, IIRC. Take a look at that article again, iirc, it explains what to do. https://www.blurbusters.com/gsync/gsync ... ettings/4/

Lowest input lag would be g-sync off, v-sync off, and MBR/ULMB off -- all off. G-sync doesn't add much input lag unless it hits the ceiling.

[jorimt]

First, I'll answer the comment you left in my article:

Based on the graphs, you’ve only shown the hertz comparison with both G-sync and V-sync enabled + frame cap. If you disabled V-sync would I get even less input lag?

NOTE: I’m going for a fighting game locked at 60 fps on a monitor that can be overclocked to 165Hz; would 165Hz: G-sync w/ V-sync OFF (NVCP) + 60 fps limit provide the most optimal performance and experience for a fighting game?

The charts with those scenarios compared are already contained in the below link. It also covers what you asked in your first sentence above:
https://www.blurbusters.com/gsync/gsync ... ettings/6/

Short answer, the benefit of both standalone V-SYNC OFF + FPS limit and G-SYNC + V-SYNC "Off" + FPS limit vs. G-SYNC + V-SYNC "On" + FPS limit, is tearing. Whenever you see the tear, that is your literal lag reduction over G-SYNC + V-SYNC "On."

Regarding your "NOTE," most 60 FPS fighting games already have a built-in 60 FPS limit, so, if you're using G-SYNC, the only thing you need is the existing game cap (at any refresh rate above 60Hz, be it 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz; the higher, the better) + G-SYNC + V-SYNC "On." You can disable V-SYNC in that scenario, but again, you'll only get less input lag with the tearing you see when compared to the other scenario.

Between 120 Hz: G-sync OFF & V-sync OFF -VS- 144 Hz: G-sync ON & V-sync ON -VS- 144 Hz: G-sync ON & V-sync OFF which setting delivers optimal performance?

I was told by a user on a discord channel that fighting games capped at 60 fps can benefit with 120 Hz refresh rate w/o g-sync enabled since 120 is a double of 60 and produces double frames. But I've also read Blur Buster's G-sync 101 articles especially on Hidden Benefits of High Refresh Rate G-sync that at 144 Hz with g-sync and v-sync enabled you get the shortest amount of input lag achieved. However, what confuses me is that on the G-sync vs V-sync OFF article, with G-sync enabled and V-sync disabled the input lag is lower than with V-sync enabled.

So is there a better optimal setting than the 3 I've specified?

Highest refresh rate you can get (lower/faster scanout time = lower input lag) + 60 FPS external or in-game cap (if the game has one, stick to that, as it's always lower lag than external one) + G-SYNC + V-SYNC "On" or "Off" (it's your preference on that last bit; again, V-SYNC "Off" with G-SYNC just has the possibility of tearing).

Also, 120Hz standalone V-SYNC + 60 FPS limit will always be worse (for both frame delivery and input lag) than 120 (or higher) Hz + G-SYNC + V-SYNC (on or off) + 60 FPS limit.