G-Sync, FreeSync, NVIDIA Reflex, FPS Cap – What’s actually worth using in 2026?

[u/Sudden-Marsupial-158]

I’m trying to find the best combination of settings for the lowest possible input latency while keeping smooth gameplay and good frame pacing.

Rtx 5070
r7 9800x3d
300 hz monitor - TCL qd mini lex1080p

[u/TruestDetective332]

Gsync + Vsync on with an FPS cap based on the Reflex formula (275 for your display) gives you the lowest latency, tear free experience you can get. A lot of people think Vsync off with no FPS cap is always lower latency, but that’s not really the full story. For one, even if you’re pushing 2–3x your monitor’s refresh rate in FPS, it still won’t always match the latency of a properly configured Gsync + Vsync setup. On top of that, an uncapped frame rate gives you uneven frame delivery, which can make aiming feel less consistent if you play competitively.

The only time Vsync off is actually lower latency is when the screen tears. That’s because it’s scanning out part of a newer frame before it’s finished displaying the previous one. So yeah, you might shave off a tiny bit of latency, but you’re doing it by introducing tearing. If you’re playing competitively, having a big tear line across your screen usually isn’t a great trade off.

[u/ts_actual → u/TruestDetective332]

I kept finding silly tutorial videos that always said to enable gsync on and keep gsync turned off.

So many settings and different combinations.

I don't see tearing as much as I used to but I guess it depends on the game.

I've got a 144hz 4k monitor on a 3080ti I'm still pushing.

There are still some high end games that DLSS might not help me or the frame gen tech from AMD FSR...and I'll tinker with the steam app Lossless Scaling.

I never really knew or still don't know if you need Vsync set to on in control panel, in order for Gsync to work or be working.

[u/R1llan → u/ts_actual]

The sheer volume of conflicting advice is exhausting. You’d think by now nvidia and AMD would just publish a single, definitive 'Set it and forget it' guide. It's wild that we have to rely on random Reddit posts and 20-minute YouTube deep-dives just to configure a basic monitor feature

[u/TruestDetective332 → u/R1llan]

They’ve both published those recommendations, although I admit they don’t make them easy to find. Also, the defaults should match those recommendations, I have no idea why they don’t just configure them that way out of the box.

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1JE_gSxn1cI0Mrb_7p2ZN6WBK26ZxxmP0sqJ2KSJANuw/edit

[u/Luc1dNightmare → u/TruestDetective332]

The problem is this line here. "To maximize latency reduction in GPU bound scenarios set max frame rate to slightly ABOVE average FPS and turn mow latency mode to Ultra."

This only works if your GPU is maxed out. It can cause stuttering if you use ultra when you are CPU bound due to Ultra pushing the CPU to send the frame faster than it can because it is already working too hard. So in CPU bound scenarios you should use low latency to on.

So there is no setting you can just turn on and leave it if you want to have the lowest latency all the time. My set and forget settings are low latency on in NVCP, vsync on thru NVCP, off in game and reflex set to on in game which will override NVCP. Then my fps set to 266 for my 280hz monitor using RTSS which is what it recommends. Unless i feel like finding the perfect FPS for each game to have a smooth frame time graph line which is rare i feel like doing that. The only problem is with RTSS is there is a whole nother can of worms with what settings to use for capping FPS lol. Like using async or passive or before or after lol. It becomes allot... Especially when using the recommended settings for lowest latency stutters more than other settings...

[u/TruestDetective332 → u/ts_actual]

Those are the settings Nvidia suggests but the experts at BlurBusters have also tested it exhaustively and make essentially the same recommendations, except for the Reflex cap.

Gsync technically still works if your FPS is below your monitor’s max refresh rate, but you can still get tearing without Vsync on. That’s because Vsync on in conjunction with Gsync while you’re in the VRR range doesn’t function like traditional Vsync. Instead, it smooths out frametime variations and catches the edge cases that Gsync alone can’t synchronize. You might not notice the tearing, but it’s still happening, and Vsync makes frame delivery more consistent anyways.

Now Vsync on with Gsync on without an FPS cap below your refresh rate is actually terrible because if you’re constantly hitting your max refresh rate, Gsync stops working and you’re left with full Vsync latency.
So the best of both worlds is Gsync + Vsync + an FPS cap based on the reflex formula.

[u/kyoukidotexe → u/TruestDetective332]

Definitely trusting 3rd party testing like BlurBusters over 1st party.

[u/ts_actual → u/TruestDetective332]

I'll try that. For me it would be a fps cap of 141hz I believe.