G-SYNC, FreeSync & V-Sync Explained

Estimated Lesson Time: 35–45 Minutes

Lesson Overview

So far, we’ve focused on graphics drivers, image quality settings and technologies that improve rendering performance.

In this lesson, we’re going to explore something every Flight Simulator user experiences but not everyone understands:

How frames are displayed on your monitor.

Even if your simulator is producing excellent FPS, your experience can still feel poor if your monitor and graphics card are not working together correctly.

This lesson explains why:

• Screen tearing occurs.
• Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technologies exist.
• G-SYNC and FreeSync improve smoothness.
• V-Sync behaves differently.
• FPS caps can improve consistency.

By understanding these technologies, you’ll be able to configure your display for a smoother and more responsive simulator.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson you will understand:

What screen tearing is.

What monitor refresh rate means.

How G-SYNC works.

How FreeSync works.

What Adaptive Sync is.

How V-Sync behaves.

Why FPS caps can improve consistency.

Which display configuration best suits your hardware.

1. Understanding Screen Tearing

One of the most common visual problems in PC gaming is screen tearing.

Screen tearing occurs when your graphics card sends a new frame to the monitor before the monitor has finished displaying the previous one.

The result is that two or more frames appear on the screen at the same time.

You may notice:

• A horizontal split across the screen.
• The top and bottom of the image appearing out of sync.
• Tearing during camera movement.
• Visible tearing while panning around the cockpit.

This is not caused by low FPS.

It is caused by the GPU and monitor becoming unsynchronised.

Example

Imagine your monitor refreshes at 144Hz.

This means it updates the image 144 times every second.

Now imagine your graphics card produces:

97 FPS.

The monitor refreshes every 6.9 milliseconds.

The GPU finishes frames every 10.3 milliseconds.

Because they aren’t synchronised, the monitor may begin displaying a new frame halfway through drawing the previous one.

That’s screen tearing.

2. What Is Refresh Rate?

Refresh rate is how many times your monitor updates the displayed image every second.

Common refresh rates include:

• 60Hz
• 75Hz
• 120Hz
• 144Hz
• 165Hz
• 240Hz

Higher refresh rates allow the monitor to display new frames more frequently.

Benefits include:

• Smoother motion.
• Reduced motion blur.
• Improved responsiveness.

However…

A high-refresh-rate monitor does not automatically mean your simulator will feel smoother.

The graphics card must also deliver frames consistently.

3. What Is G-SYNC?

G-SYNC is NVIDIA’s Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology.

Instead of the monitor refreshing at a fixed rate…

The monitor adjusts its refresh rate to match the frame rate produced by the GPU.

For example:

If your simulator is producing:

84 FPS.

The monitor refreshes at approximately 84Hz.

If FPS changes to:

71 FPS.

The monitor adjusts to around 71Hz.

This keeps the GPU and monitor synchronised.

Benefits of G-SYNC

• Eliminates screen tearing.
• Reduces stutter.
• Improves frame pacing.
• Makes variable FPS feel smoother.
• Maintains excellent responsiveness.

Does MSFS Benefit?

Yes.

Flight Simulator often runs at varying frame rates depending on:

• Airports.
• Weather.
• Aircraft.
• AI traffic.

Because FPS constantly changes, G-SYNC can significantly improve perceived smoothness.

4. What Is FreeSync?

FreeSync is AMD’s Variable Refresh Rate technology.

It performs the same basic task as G-SYNC:

Matching monitor refresh rate to GPU frame output.

Many modern NVIDIA graphics cards also support G-SYNC Compatible mode on certified FreeSync monitors.

Benefits

• Eliminates tearing.
• Improves smoothness.
• Works across a wide FPS range.
• Lower cost than dedicated hardware G-SYNC monitors.

5. What Is Adaptive Sync?

Adaptive Sync is the DisplayPort standard upon which many VRR technologies are based.

Think of it as the underlying technology.

Manufacturers then build features such as:

• FreeSync.
• G-SYNC Compatible.

Many modern gaming monitors support Adaptive Sync.

6. What Is V-Sync?

Vertical Synchronisation (V-Sync) prevents screen tearing by synchronising the GPU’s frame output with the monitor’s refresh cycle.

Unlike G-SYNC…

The monitor refresh rate remains fixed.

Instead…

The GPU waits for the monitor before presenting the next frame.

Advantages

• Eliminates tearing.
• Simple to enable.

Disadvantages

Traditional V-Sync can:

• Increase input latency.
• Reduce responsiveness.
• Cause larger FPS drops if the GPU cannot maintain the monitor’s refresh rate.

Does MSFS Use It?

Yes.

Microsoft Flight Simulator includes its own V-Sync setting.

Driver-level V-Sync is also available.

Choose one method rather than forcing V-Sync in multiple places.

7. FPS Caps

Many users believe:

“The higher my FPS, the better.”

This isn’t always true.

If your GPU constantly renders unnecessary frames, it can:

• Increase temperatures.
• Increase power consumption.
• Create inconsistent frame pacing.

A sensible FPS cap can:

• Improve frame consistency.
• Reduce GPU workload.
• Lower temperatures.
• Produce a smoother overall experience.

Example

Monitor:

144Hz

Simulator:

Produces between 90–120 FPS.

Instead of allowing FPS to fluctuate constantly…

Capping the simulator to a value your system can maintain consistently may produce smoother frame pacing.

8. Best Display Configurations

Configuration 1

G-SYNC Compatible Monitor

• Enable G-SYNC.
• Use the monitor’s highest refresh rate.
• Configure V-Sync consistently (avoid duplicate control).
• Use NVIDIA Reflex if available.
• Consider an FPS cap slightly below the monitor’s maximum refresh rate if it improves consistency on your system.

Configuration 2

FreeSync Monitor

• Enable FreeSync.
• Use highest refresh rate.
• Configure V-Sync appropriately.
• Test an FPS cap if required.

Configuration 3

Standard Monitor (No VRR)

• Use V-Sync if tearing is distracting.
• Consider an FPS cap that your system can sustain consistently.

CPU vs GPU Impact

None of these technologies directly increase raw rendering performance.

Instead, they improve:

• Frame presentation.
• Smoothness.
• Responsiveness.
• Visual consistency.

This is why they can dramatically improve how the simulator feels without increasing average FPS.

Common Myths

Myth 1

“G-SYNC increases FPS.”

False.

It improves frame presentation, not rendering performance.

Myth 2

“V-Sync always makes games smoother.”

Not necessarily.

It removes tearing but can increase input latency depending on the configuration.

Myth 3

“FreeSync only works with AMD graphics cards.”

False.

Many NVIDIA GPUs support G-SYNC Compatible mode on FreeSync monitors.

Myth 4

“Higher FPS always means smoother gameplay.”

False.

Stable frame pacing and proper monitor synchronisation often matter more.

Myth 5

“You should always uncap FPS.”

False.

An uncapped frame rate can lead to unnecessary GPU usage, higher temperatures and inconsistent frame pacing.

Recommended Configurations