Should You Turn Reflex, G-sync and V-sync On or Off?

How do Nvidia Reflex, G-sync and V-Sync affect the game? Should you play with them turned on or off? Does disabling them boost FPS?

Intro

Valve released an update on 6/25/2024, introducing a settings recommendation popup for G-Sync, V-Sync, and Nvidia Reflex if these technologies are supported but not enabled. They claim that enabling all of these settings will provide the smoothest visuals and lowest input latency. They also created a Steam Support Guide which goes further into technical details. This update aims to address frame pacing issues, particularly stuttering, in the game.

While theoretically, these technologies should improve gaming smoothness and latency, the gaming community generally does not recommend V-Sync. Some settings, like Nvidia Reflex, are also known to cause stuttering and lower FPS. Nvidia Reflex is designed to reduce Input Latency (different from frametimes), which might be worth the trade-off. I decided to test how these settings affect FPS and Frametimes.

I used this CS2 FPS Benchmark map from the community Workshop to measure my Average FPS, 1% Lows, and Frametimes. I have a G-Sync Compatible 240Hz monitor, and the rest of my PC specs are listed on my profile.

Note: This guide doesn't measure input latency as I have no practical way of doing this without expensive equipment. While measuring input latency could provide different insights, this is a practical and accessible test that allows anyone to decide if enabling these settings is worthwhile for themselves.

Results

Avg FPS	1% Lows	Avg Frame Times	Reflex	Vsync	Gsync
199	138	5.01 ms	✅	✅	✅
236	131	4.23 ms	❌	✅	✅
308	133	3.24 ms	❌	❌	✅
309	140	3.23 ms	❌	❌	❌
294	141	3.40 ms	✅	❌	✅

Note: For FPS and 1% Lows, higher is better. For Frametimes, lower is better.

Conclusion

Remember, I have not measured input latency. However, from my testing, I concluded that Nvidia Reflex and V-Sync both lowered my FPS and increased my Frametimes when they were simultaneously Enabled. Testing Nvidia Reflex with the "On" and "On+Boost" options showed no difference. However, with only G-Sync and Reflex enabled, the FPS and Frametimes impact was minimal, while allowing me to benefit from lower input lag thanks to Reflex. I also tested Boost Player Contrast, which reportedly lowers FPS, but it didn't affect my performance.

My Recommendations

Based on these results, I recommend disabling V-Sync, even with G-Sync on. If for some reason you require V-Sync to be Enabled, it might be worth Disabling Reflex. G-Sync did not affect my FPS or frametimes, so keep it enabled if you prefer. G-Sync does not increase input lag. Regarding Nvidia Reflex, try disabling it if you can't achieve the FPS required to match your monitor's Refresh Rate to see if you will get higher FPS. If you have sufficient FPS, keep it enabled since it doesn't lower FPS by much on its own and it decreases input latency.

Following my recommendations, the "Frame Pacing" section in your video settings should look like this

If your FPS is sufficient for your monitor's Refresh Rate:

If your FPS is lower than your monitor's Refresh Rate, try:

Thanks for reading!

You can rate this guide with the buttons at the top of your screen.

[Mooper]

I feel like not testing input latency makes this all irrelevant seeing as reducing it is the point of using those technology's in unison.

[nsfw нα̌ιℓι]

So just turn everything off and be done with it.

[demonox]

14900k, 3080, 240hz and with g-sync + Vsync the game is sitting at 225 fps and feels smooth af. With that turned off I have like 500-600 fps, but it feels like 60hz, cs2 I guess 🤡

[_Oracle]

You can use the Nvidia overlay to get latency figures, you don't need an LDAT setup with a high-framerate camera, that only matters if you want to test your monitor + peripheral latency but we only care about the system/game latency for this test.

[MOnzik]

to be honest i have very shit hz monitor LG 75hz :D (need upgrade atleast to 144hz). so i was having some issues with mosue movement, something feels off, floaty, loss, input, delay lag whatever u call... fps in game was showing around 200~120, but yeah my monitor 75hz , and was playing with GPU scaling. My gpu gtx 1660 super (old fart as well)... So tried lot off stuff, lot of google , YT fixes (most of them nova days click bait for views) so fk it i decided to turn on Gysnc (my monitor supports it somehow :D) went to nvidia c panel , turned on g sync, turnoed on V-sync (in game v sync off) turned on nvidia reflex enebale, gaped fps_max 70, and woaaa what do u think game feels smooth , mouse feels ok , and now i see enemy before he starts shoot at me :DD

[hamanpi]

i wish...*sigh* i had a monitor like that

[Chubbz]

Hi @Frey! Sure, if you decide to run your own tests utilising the Nvidia reflex analyser feature, I'd be happy to add a segment with your results, send me a friend request if you'd like to share your results. Alternatively you can create your own guide and link it in the comments. :)

[Frey]

I have the new asus 540hz nvidia reflex analyser, can I help to show you what the settings are the best ?

[M ツ]

man I have a 14700k and a 4080.
I cant play without gsync vsync and reflex on my 360hz monitor.
If I play uncapped with gsync + reflex its a laggy mess. Feels as if I am playing on 60hz....

Any ideas???

[Renos]

I had access to a LDAT that was loaned to me,
But for most people you can use NVIDIA FrameView
It won't do end to end latency but is fine for measuring your PC latency which is everything excluding the time it takes your mouse to register a click and the the time it takes your monitor to display the image,