How do you "lock" framerates on pc?

[Man_of_Steel_84]

My current pc setup is
Superclocked 980Ti
i7 6700K
16 gb of ddr4 ram

I'm gaming on my 1080p hdtv with a refresh rate of 60 and I want to cap or "lock" my framerate to 60, how I can I do this?

Also I've heard enabling vsync can lock the framerate to 30 if the framerate drops, is this true?

 

[getochkn]

VSync locks the frame rate to whatever the refresh rate of the receiving device is.

 

[jtabb1256]

Most games have the VSync option in their menu, which should allow you to cap your fps.

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

So for instance if my max framerate is 100, vsync will keep the max framerate to 60, but drops below 60 could still occur correct?

 

[Brandon_20]

If the game isn't allowing you to do it from the menu or it isn't working, you can do it via the nVidia control panel, selecting the executable in question and scrolling down to the bottom to find the VSync option. For some games, this does not work if you have a higher refresh monitor (I'm looking at you, Lords of the Fallen) but if it's locked at 60, you should be fine with that.

 

[getochkn]

With a 980ti, you shouldn't get too many drops below 60, but it can happen. That's why they freesync/gsync, as they adjust the refresh rate of the monitor to what your gpu is currently outputing.

 

[Brandon_20]

So for instance if my max framerate is 100, vsync will keep the max framerate to 60, but drops below 60 could still occur correct?

If you have VSync on and the max refresh rate of your Monitor is 100, it will keep it at 100 with some dips below. If the monitor has a max refresh rate of 60 but the GPU can push 100 and you have VSync on, you will be getting 60 framerate with some possible dips below that.

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

What is the difference between vsync, gsync and adaptive vsync?

 

[Dunlop0078]

Yah use vsync. Some games like borderlands 2 if I remember correctly give you the option to limit the game engine to 60fps or whatever without vsync but not a lot of games do. I have never had vsync lock my game at 30fps, in gta v my pc would sometimes dip below 30fps when i tried to run it on max settings this would cause the game to to lower graphical settings on the fly and lock to 30fps in an attempt to keep the game playable then go back up to 60fps when I was in a less graphically intensive area but I believe thats a feature in a lot of games not a feature of vsync.

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

What about gsync and adaptive vsync, what is different about those when compared to gsync?

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

Sorry, I meant when compared to vsync?

 

[getochkn]

You can Google those things on your own and figure out what they are.

 

[boju]

MSI Afterburner would your best bet to limit FPS: http://gaming.msi.com/features/afterburner

Its a bit of mucking around getting to the FPS limiter part but hope this helps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CvoHXzaHKY

For reasons limiting fps, Vsync will do it obviously but input lag will be a slap in the face. Frame buffering will help opengl games but in my experience that is crap as well. The only fix for Vsync lag in either Opengl/DX is limiting the FPS to 59, it is that simple.

 

[Crixilian]

adaptive vsync means
http://www.geforce.com/hardware/technology/adaptive-vsync/technology

comparison vsync and adaptive vsync
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb8bppsG5Jo

I use radeon gpu, I use rivatuner to limit fps

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

How severe is the input lag? Also when the game has the option which would you use vsync, gsync or adaptive vsync, because even though I've researched what each one is, I don't know which one is best to use.

 

[getochkn]

gsync needs a compatible monitor that supports gsync.

 

[getochkn]

You have about the fastest video card currently out, and you're only playing at 1080p, you're going to get 60+fps on just about any game out.

In addition, TV's are usually slower for gaming so playing on a TV might be more of an issue than worrying about sync issues.

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

Gotcha so I would really only have the option of vsync and adaptive vsync. Also I'm using Syber Vapor Xtreme gaming console which is from what I understand meant to be used on a tv, but what kind of problems would I run into gaming on a tv?

 

[getochkn]

Give adaptive and vsync a try and see what you like and how it runs and what your eyes like better. Everyone is more or less senstivie to refresh rates, jitter, ghosting, etc. As I've said many times, your system is a beast. I don't see it going down below 60, so give them a try.

 

[boju]

How severe is the input lag? Also when the game has the option which would you use vsync, gsync or adaptive vsync, because even though I've researched what each one is, I don't know which one is best to use.

Adaptive Vsync has a restrictive refresh rate depending on GPU how it performs, if the game you play plays at or above 60fps vsync will keep the monitor at 60Hz to avoid tear, if the game goes below 60fps by even 1fps say 59 Vsync will drop to 30Hz with up and down change, that's adaptive vsync.

Gsync a chip inside monitors helps with variable frame rate so no need for vsync, the monitor sees what the gpu is seeing. Gsync is a form a vsync just isn't as irritable with input lag.

Screen tearing happens when the gpu is producing much more frames, ie; 100fps+ more than a 60Hz screen, the 60Hz screen is going nuts doing all it can to display all those frames so it tears and shutters as the monitor gets confused which frames to show. Vsync caps the gpu to allow the monitor to sync/catchup. Input lag is a byproduct and Gsync and Freesync rectifies that, but those without such monitors just limit the FPS to 59 with Vsync on at 60Hz.

 

[Crixilian]

I prefer adaptive vsync to vsync

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

From what I read I thought adaptive vsync turns vsync on and off when appropriate, for instance if the game is operating at 60 or more, vsync will be turned on to keep it from going over 60, whereas when it drops below 60 vsync is turned off until the game can get back to 60 which vsync is then reenabled. Is this correct or did misunderstand what adaptive vsync is?

 

[boju]

Yes Adaptive will adapt lowering below 60Hz turning off the sync part since your monitor doesn't need it anymore, your input lag will be normal in this instance albeit wouldn't expect your 980Ti being a bottom feeder for too long. Be reasonable with game settings i think, 980Ti is pretty decent but don't expect too much at 4k.

 

[Man_of_Steel_84]

I guess I'll keep adaptive vsync on, just in case in were to drop below 60, from the sounds of it that mostly likely won't happen too often. Also I read some games don't have an adaptive vsync option in the games menu and I would need to enable it in the nvidia control panel, in those instances do I still need to enable whatever vsync the game offers, in addition to the nvidia control panel adaptive vsync?