[SOLVED] Can't disable V-Sync on laptop (60 fps lock and huge input lag).

[Melody]

I won't be home the next days because I'll go on holiday, so I decided to bring my laptop with me so I'll be able to have some fun playing games. Specs:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-3537U
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GT 720M
RAM: 4 GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Storage: 120 GB Kingston SSD

No problems so far, all games work as expected, such as The Sims 4, Serious Sam, Unreal Tournament 2004, Open Arena and so on.

The only game I'm having troubles with is Quake Live. At first, the game refused to launch saying "GLW_CreateWindow: could not register window", but I fixed that by changing the "r_mode" variable to "-2" in my configuration file.

Now, V-Sync seems to be stuck. No matter if I disable or enable V-Sync in Quake's settings and no matter if I enable or disable V-Sync in my NVIDIA Control Panel, the game is constantly capped at 60 fps with V-Sync enabled (I can tell because there's no tearing at all, and also a huge input lag). Also tried "com_maxfps 300" with no luck. The command "gfxinfo" clearly says that the game is using my NVIDIA video card and not the Intel one, so it's not a GPU problem.

Any ideas?

Edit:
Workaround: Run the game using the integrated Intel video card.

[Bones]

The human eye can only see about 24 fps anyway. Each eye can see it so you cap out around 48 fps which is why people like 60 so much - it's high enough that you won't go beneath 48 very often. Why do you need more than 60 fps anyway? It's not like you can see a difference and your laptop screen probably literally would refuse to display more than 60 in the first place!

[Melody]

Originally posted by Bones:

The human eye can only see about 24 fps anyway. Each eye can see it so you cap out around 48 fps which is why people like 60 so much - it's high enough that you won't go beneath 48 very often. Why do you need more than 60 fps anyway? It's not like you can see a difference and your laptop screen probably literally would refuse to display more than 60 in the first place!

^ This answer is a troll, right?

[Yakumo]

com_maxfps is capped to max of 250, setting 300 won't work at all
r_swapinterval 0 is the console command for turning vsync off, \vid_restart afterwards.
com_idleSleep causes fps problems for many but wouldn't lock to 60.
r_primitives is not set to 2 similar issues can happen for different reasons.

Nvidia 'threaded optimization' should be off in the nvidia control panel for Quake Live -> manage 3 settings -> program settings (create a profile for Quake Live if there isn't one), and you may as well force vsync off there too while you're at it.

win10 'Creators Update' can cause problems with the new 'gaming mode' etc -

Settings -> Gaming -> : 'Record game clips, screenshots and broadcast using Game Bar' to off (stops the winkey+g popup in games entirely, so no hooks) , turn off 'Game Mode' from the section on the left menu here too.
Turn off 'fullscreen optimisation' (in exe properties compatability tab for the game you're trying too)

[Melody]

Originally posted by Yakumo:

com_maxfps is capped to max of 250, setting 300 won't work at all
r_swapinterval 0 is the console command for turning vsync off, \vid_restart afterwards.
com_idleSleep causes fps problems for many but wouldn't lock to 60.
r_primitives is not set to 2 similar issues can happen for different reasons.

Nvidia 'threaded optimization' should be off in the nvidia control panel for Quake Live -> manage 3 settings -> program settings (create a profile for Quake Live if there isn't one), and you may as well force vsync off there too while you're at it.

win10 'Creators Update' can cause problems with the new 'gaming mode' etc -

Settings -> Gaming -> : 'Record game clips, screenshots and broadcast using Game Bar' to off (stops the winkey+g popup in games entirely, so no hooks) , turn off 'Game Mode' from the section on the left menu here too.
Turn off 'fullscreen optimisation' (in exe properties compatability tab for the game you're trying too)

Too late, I fixed it in a different way.

I've set Quake Live to use my Intel integrated GPU (Intel HD 4000) instead of the NVIDIA dedicated one (GT 720M) and now I get solid 250 fps all the time. Thanks anyway.

I'll eventually try the above solution as well if I see performance issues with the Intel graphics.

[Melody]

Ok, I tried disabling the game bar and it didn't help at all, also tried the other suggestions and they didn't work. The weird thing I noticed is that if I enable the game bar and start recording a video using it, the framerate unlocks for some magic reason, and when I stop recording it caps to 60 fps again.

Edit: Ok, basically if ANY system overlay pops up (like the volume bar or the screen brightness bar) the fps uncaps magically, what is causing this? And expecially, why is this just happening for Quake Live and not other games?

Edit2: I also tried disabling everything related to V-Sync, G-Sync and Swap Interval in NVIDIA Inspector and it didn't work. Well, I'm fine with Intel graphics since the game is not very demanding, so I'll stick with Intel GPU.

[Yakumo]

https://www.reddit.com/r/lowendgaming/comments/5yrtl6/intel_hd_graphics_4000_vs_geforce_720m/

[Melody]

Originally posted by Yakumo:

https://www.reddit.com/r/lowendgaming/comments/5yrtl6/intel_hd_graphics_4000_vs_geforce_720m/

Intel HD runs GTA V at 20 fps, while GT 720M runs it at 45-50 fps of average.

[Melody]

By the way, sticking with Intel HD 4000 works pretty well. For those having the v-sync issue: Use the Intel HD graphics instead of the NVIDIA one. This is not a dust issue or a throttling issue, this is a bug that forces v-sync on for some reason.

[Melody]

Originally posted by un337 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com:

@Melody~ Sorry for necro, but maybe you've found another solution? I have the same problem with Overwatch, if I'd use Intel HD 4000 I'll get like 20-30 fps in action. Turned off vsync in Overwatch, Intel HD Graphics, vsync/gsync/fastsync in NVIDIA, and I haven't got "game mode panel" with fullscreen enhancements in Win 10 LTSB. Reinstalled drivers, installed older drivers, nothing helped, FPS capped at 60 (screen refreshrate) when in fullscreen. FPS isn't capped at borderless window mode. FPS isn't capped in Intel HD 4000 or other games with NVIDIA. Sorry for probable mistakes btw, my english isn't good.

Hi there, you should be able to bypass that cap by running the game in windowed mode or borderless, tell me if that works.

[Melody]

Originally posted by un337 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥.com:

Originally posted by Melody~:

Hi there, you should be able to bypass that cap by running the game in windowed mode or borderless, tell me if that works.

Yeah, like I said, FPS capped in fullscreen, it isn't capped at borderless windowed mode/windowed mode. But input lag gets bigger in those modes, so I really want to get rid of that bugged vsync in fullscreen. Googled all the internet and still haven't found any solution.

I don't think there's an actual solution to that. There are only 2 ways you can "fix" it:
1) Install Windows 8.1 as secondary OS and play the games there.
2) Upgrade your laptop.

[RASHAD]

Originally posted by uN337:

Originally posted by Melody~:

I don't think there's an actual solution to that. There are only 2 ways you can "fix" it:
1) Install Windows 8.1 as secondary OS and play the games there.
2) Upgrade your laptop.

Well, $#!t. Anyways, thanks for answer, have a nice day!

**if anyone is still having the 60fps cap in fullscreen mode then here how i fixed it
1- go to search and type "device manger"
2- open it and go to display adapters
3- you will find nvidia and Intel graphics
4- right click the Intel HD graphics and choose uninstall
5- THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT, uncheck "delete the driver software from this computer" and hit OK
6- wait for it to uninstall the driver then it will ask you to restart your computer but you don't have to just go to action in the top bar and choose "scan for hardware changes"

now it will reinstall Intel driver and will appear again in display adapters. after it finish installing the driver quickly open the game that you having issues with and see how many fps you're getting. if you're getting higher than 60fps then the problem is the Intel driver. try to update or downgrade your driver and everything should be good.



**this solution was my last attempt to fix this problem. you should try the v-sync option in nvidia and the windows 10 Xbox one options and the other available solution before trying this.

[Melody]

Originally posted by RASHAD:

Originally posted by uN337:

Well, $#!t. Anyways, thanks for answer, have a nice day!

**if anyone is still having the 60fps cap in fullscreen mode then here how i fixed it
1- go to search and type "device manger"
2- open it and go to display adapters
3- you will find nvidia and Intel graphics
4- right click the Intel HD graphics and choose uninstall
5- THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT, uncheck "delete the driver software from this computer" and hit OK
6- wait for it to uninstall the driver then it will ask you to restart your computer but you don't have to just go to action in the top bar and choose "scan for hardware changes"

now it will reinstall Intel driver and will appear again in display adapters. after it finish installing the driver quickly open the game that you having issues with and see how many fps you're getting. if you're getting higher than 60fps then the problem is the Intel driver. try to update or downgrade your driver and everything should be good.



**this solution was my last attempt to fix this problem. you should try the v-sync option in nvidia and the windows 10 Xbox one options and the other available solution before trying this.

The reason why you're not getting the cap, is because when you reinstall the Intel driver, Quake runs using the integrated GPU instead of the dedicated one. In fact, another fix for this is running the game using the integrated GPU instead of the NVIDIA one (which was my workaround when I still had that notebook).

[RASHAD]

Originally posted by Melody~:

Originally posted by RASHAD:

**if anyone is still having the 60fps cap in fullscreen mode then here how i fixed it
1- go to search and type "device manger"
2- open it and go to display adapters
3- you will find nvidia and Intel graphics
4- right click the Intel HD graphics and choose uninstall
5- THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT, uncheck "delete the driver software from this computer" and hit OK
6- wait for it to uninstall the driver then it will ask you to restart your computer but you don't have to just go to action in the top bar and choose "scan for hardware changes"

now it will reinstall Intel driver and will appear again in display adapters. after it finish installing the driver quickly open the game that you having issues with and see how many fps you're getting. if you're getting higher than 60fps then the problem is the Intel driver. try to update or downgrade your driver and everything should be good.



**this solution was my last attempt to fix this problem. you should try the v-sync option in nvidia and the windows 10 Xbox one options and the other available solution before trying this.

The reason why you're not getting the cap, is because when you reinstall the Intel driver, Quake runs using the integrated GPU instead of the dedicated one. In fact, another fix for this is running the game using the integrated GPU instead of the NVIDIA one (which was my workaround when I still had that notebook).

it would be a huge waste of my nvidia 1050ti GPU which is WAY better than the integrated GPU

[Melody]

Originally posted by RASHAD:

Originally posted by Melody~:

The reason why you're not getting the cap, is because when you reinstall the Intel driver, Quake runs using the integrated GPU instead of the dedicated one. In fact, another fix for this is running the game using the integrated GPU instead of the NVIDIA one (which was my workaround when I still had that notebook).

it would be a huge waste of my nvidia 1050ti GPU which is WAY better than the integrated GPU

Well, your fix implies using the Intel IGD.

[RASHAD]

Originally posted by Melody~:

Originally posted by RASHAD:

it would be a huge waste of my nvidia 1050ti GPU which is WAY better than the integrated GPU

Well, your fix implies using the Intel IGD.

Im saying that when you uninstall and reinstall intel driver you should quickly open a game and check your fps if its capped or not, because intel driver doesn't register the fps cap or whatever its doing fast enough, and by that you can determine whether its your Intel driver thats causing the problem or not.

another solution if you are not comfortable removing drivers is that you restart your computer and as soon as its open you go and open the game and check the fps.

and btw when i install and reinstall the driver there is noway that i am using the intel HD graphics instead of nvidia because i tried using intel on rocket league (haven't tried it on quake ) it gives my like 35fps and with nvidia its 110fps