Vertical Sync, what exactly does it do?

[ViRaLRuSh]

Is it beneficial to turn this off in WoW?

Also, has anyone ever used LSPfix before? Trying to fix connection problems and someone mentioned this before.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Vsync basically limits (and synchronizes) your frame rate to your refresh rate...this eliminates image tearing (which occurs if the video card draws a second frame while the monitor's still in the process of displaying the first, so you end up with parts of two or more different frames being shown at the same time). However, a drawback of Vsync is that as a result of this synchronization (and the fact that only two buffers are available by default), if your video card can't sustain as many frames per second as your refresh rate would dictate (60, 85, whatever), the synchronization will delay the next frame until it's time for it to be displayed, so to speak...in effect, this causes frames to drop from 60->30->20 or 85->42->28 etc. (assuming your video card can't sustain 60/85/however many fps.) Triple buffering takes care of this for the most part though, but can only be forced in the drivers for OpenGL...for D3D in theory the game has to specifically request the third buffer, although I have run across a utility that seems to force triple buffering for games that don't natively support it.

My description probably is not 100% technically precise, but it should give you an idea. If you are experiencing lots of sudden framerate drops (halving), then it would be beneficial to turn Vsync off in WoW (unless it supports triple buffering, in which case you'd just enable that).

 

[JAG87]

this should go in the video forums, but anyways

vsync wont harm or help in wow. generally in fast paced fps games, it improves visual quality by reducing tearing in the textures, but causes a latency in response to user input. so basically more eyecandy, and worse gameplay.

But in wow it would not make a difference.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

I'm using a Radeon X850 XT 256 MB with a pentium 4 3.0 HT/1GB pc3200. Do you think i should turn vsync off? i keep getting like 30 fps in raids or in battlegrounds and from what i understand this card should be able to handle max settings. I play on 1280x1024 75 Hz refresh.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Vertical sync is what keeps the picture from rolling vertically. If I remember correctly the setting only changes the sync pulse from the Positive (rising) edge of the sync pulse to the Negative (falling) edge of the sync pulse. Some Video can tolerate either. Luck, Jim

 

[wexsmith]

In my experience it's rare for CRTs to need VSync enabled. LCDs, however, are a different story. Many of them benefit from VSync greatly.

Basically, if you see some of the screen refreshing faster than the rest you should enable VSync. Normally it's a very noticable 'tear' in the image. If you don't notice any visual problems with VSync disabled, leave it disabled. On an LCD with WoW there's a good chance you'll notice the screen tearing. With VSync disabled, move your mouse to look from side to side real fast a few times. If you notice the image ripping then you should probably re-enable VSync, unless it doesn't bother you.

 

[ViRaLRuSh]

turned it off, let me tell you, the fps has increased so much!

 

[imported_Sincity]

I'm glad this was asked.