Let’s start by addressing the big question right off the bat: variable refresh rate on or off?
If you’re into online gaming, especially fast-paced competitive titles, you’ve probably heard of VRR, or at least stumbled upon the setting somewhere in your monitor or graphics card settings.
But what does it really do, and more importantly, should you care?
In this guide, we’re diving deep into the world of Variable Refresh Rate. We’ll break down what it is, the different types, how it impacts your gameplay, and whether it’s a feature you should keep on or off. Let’s get into it.
What is Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)?
A Variable Refresh Rate is a technology that allows your monitor’s refresh rate to dynamically adjust to the frame rate your GPU is producing in real-time.
Traditional monitors have a fixed refresh rate, say, 60Hz or 144Hz, which means they refresh the image on the screen that many times per second, no matter what.
The problem is, games don’t always pump out a consistent frame rate. Sometimes your graphics card is putting out 100 FPS, then it drops to 80, then back to 120.
Without VRR, this mismatch between your monitor’s refresh rate and your game’s frame rate can cause screen tearing, where two frames get displayed at once. It’s not pretty, especially in competitive shooters where every frame counts.
Source: BenQ
With VRR on, your monitor adjusts its refresh rate on the fly to match the game’s frame rate, smoothing out the experience and reducing tearing or stuttering. It’s a simple concept but with a big impact.
The Different Types of Variable Refresh Rate
There’s not just one VRR solution on the market. Different companies have their own takes on the technology. The three main ones are:
1. AMD FreeSync
Developed by AMD, FreeSync is an open-standard VRR technology that works over HDMI and DisplayPort. It’s widely supported, and many monitors offer it at a lower price compared to G-Sync.
FreeSync also has tiers like FreeSync Premium and FreeSync Premium Pro, which add features like low framerate compensation (LFC) and HDR support.
Source: Tom’s Hardware
2. NVIDIA G-Sync
G-Sync is NVIDIA’s proprietary version of VRR. It generally requires a dedicated G-Sync module inside the monitor, which can make G-Sync monitors more expensive.
The upside is that G-Sync typically offers tighter quality control and slightly better performance in terms of latency and frame delivery.
3. HDMI VRR
This one is part of the HDMI 2.1 specification and is used mostly in TVs and some high-end monitors. It’s more common in consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X but is becoming increasingly relevant for PC gaming too.
The good news? Many newer monitors support both FreeSync and G-Sync (either natively or as “G-Sync Compatible”), so you don’t always have to pick a side.
Source: HDMI.org
How Does Variable Refresh Rate Impact Gaming?
If you’re a casual gamer, you might not notice small issues like tearing or stuttering.
But for online gaming, especially competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Fortnite, or Warzone, VRR can make a real difference in how smooth and responsive the game feels.
Here’s what VRR can do for you:
- Eliminates screen tearing: This is the big one. Without VRR, you might see weird horizontal lines or mismatched frames during fast motion. VRR solves this.
- Reduces stuttering: If your frame rate drops suddenly, VRR helps keep things looking smooth rather than choppy.
- Improves input consistency: While VRR doesn’t directly reduce input lag, it prevents sudden spikes in latency that happen when your system struggles to sync frames.
- Better visual experience: The whole point is that gameplay looks and feels more fluid, especially when your frame rate is fluctuating.
That said, there’s one nuance: some competitive players actually prefer to turn VRR off to minimize input lag. VRR can sometimes add a tiny bit of latency (we’re talking milliseconds here), and at the highest level, every bit matters.
So, Should You Turn Variable Refresh Rate On or Off?
Here’s the short answer: for most gamers, turn VRR on.
It gives you a smoother experience, gets rid of tearing, and makes games look cleaner without sacrificing performance. Especially if you’re playing AAA online games that push your GPU hard, VRR can be a lifesaver.
However, there are exceptions:
- If you’re a pro or aspiring competitive gamer, and your rig can consistently deliver very high frame rates (well above your monitor’s refresh rate), you might prefer VRR off to minimize any possible input lag. In this case, using a fixed refresh rate with technologies like V-Sync turned off might give you the most responsive experience.
- If you’re using a very high-end monitor and GPU setup, where your frame rate stays locked to the refresh rate (like 240 FPS at 240Hz), VRR may be unnecessary.
So it depends on what kind of gamer you are. But again, for the vast majority of people, VRR on is the way to go.
How to Choose a VRR Monitor?
If you’re buying a new gaming monitor, especially for online gaming, here’s what to look for:
- VRR Compatibility: Check whether it supports FreeSync, G-Sync, or both. If you have an NVIDIA GPU, make sure it’s G-Sync compatible. For AMD, FreeSync works great.
- Low Input Lag: This is crucial for online games. Read reviews or spec sheets to confirm the monitor doesn’t add too much latency.
- High Refresh Rate: Aim for at least 120Hz or 144Hz. Anything lower and you won’t fully take advantage of VRR.
- Resolution and Panel Type: TN panels are faster but have worse colors. IPS panels strike a good balance between speed and visuals.
- Range of VRR: Not all VRR monitors are equal. A good VRR range (e.g., 48Hz–144Hz) gives you better performance during low FPS dips.
Good Choices for a VRR Monitor
If you’re shopping around and not sure where to start, here are four excellent monitors that support VRR and are solid picks for online gaming:
1. LG UltraGear 27GP850-B
- Type: 27” IPS, 1440p, 165Hz (180Hz OC)
- VRR Support: G-Sync Compatible & FreeSync Premium
- Why it’s good: Fast response time, great colors, wide VRR range. Perfect for FPS games.
2. Gigabyte M27Q
- Type: 27” IPS, 1440p, 170Hz
- VRR Support: FreeSync Premium (G-Sync Compatible unofficially)
- Why it’s good: Excellent value for the price, built-in KVM switch, low input lag.
3. ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM
- Type: 24.5” IPS, 1080p, 280Hz
- VRR Support: G-Sync Compatible & FreeSync
- Why it’s good: Ultra-high refresh rate, super smooth for fast-paced shooters, great build quality.
4. Acer Predator XB273U GXbmiipruzx
- Type: 27” IPS, 1440p, 270Hz
- VRR Support: G-Sync Compatible & FreeSync
- Why it’s good: Great motion clarity, color accuracy, and high refresh for competitive play.
How to Increase Your PC’s Performance?
If you’re already using NoPing to reduce latency and stabilize your ping (which is awesome for online games), you should definitely take advantage of the Boost FPS feature.
How it helps:
- Closes unnecessary background services
- Frees up RAM and CPU resources
- Optimizes network routes to reduce data congestion (which indirectly helps FPS in online matches)
How to use the Boost FPS feature:
- Sign-up through the website and download NoPing (you can test it for free).
- When you open the software, click on “Boost FPS” in the left side menu.
- On the next screen, you’ll see a range of options to customize the feature (there are over 50 settings). You can enable or disable everything and choose between Windows default or user settings. You can also filter the options using the bar on the right.
And that’s it! Boost FPS is now activated. Just launch your game and enjoy high FPS!
Variable Refresh Rate is one of those features that doesn’t get as much hype as ray tracing or high frame rates, but it quietly improves your gaming experience in a big way.
Whether you’re grinding competitive ladders or just want your RPGs to look and feel smoother, VRR is a worthwhile feature to keep enabled.
And now, check out how RAM affects your FPS in this complete guide!
