Refresh Rate/Vsync/FPS Headaches

[MrGamer7934]

Ok first off are the things that I believe are the important factors regarding this situation:

Equpiment being used:
19" NEC Multisync FE950+
Radeon 9700 pro (built by ATI)
P4 3.06 overclocked to 3.7
Asus p4t433 w/ 1gb PC1066

Things that are confusing me:

1. With a setup like this what refresh rate should be used since I dont experience problems at 60hz but my monitor can handle 100hz. I do know that the refresh rate would limit the FPS so im guessing higher refresh = higher fps that can be actually be displayed on monitor. With this in mind I tried the 100 hz setting and all seemed fine playing ut2k (but didn't feel faster) and browsing windows except scrolling waves that could be seen on white backround which drove me crazy. So i took it down a bit and currently have it set for 85 hz but I don't experience any sort of performance boost while gaming. I'm not sure if games should feel smoother/faster or if changing a refresh rate is just an aid for display problems...

2. Nsync is another pain in my butt. Again, I know what it does. Syncs the refresh rate and fps. So if your monitor is set @ 85hz and you play UT2K w/ vsync turned on, your fps will max at 85. Trying this gave the gave a choppy feel so i turned it back off.
What i dont understand is why vsync causes a performance drop. When should vsync be a considerable option? In my mind, the video card and the monitor working together should give a better gaming experience but that surely wasn't the case...

3. I do know that I like high resolutions and AA/ AF turned on with details to the max!!!! I can care less about maximum FPS and 3D mark scores

Thanks

 

[Jadow]

Go with a minimum of 85hz. Even if you don't get headaches, or eyestrain (which I kinda find hard to believe if you do a lot of computing). Your eyes will last longer!

 

[BFG10K]

With a setup like this what refresh rate should be used since I dont experience problems at 60hz but my monitor can handle 100hz.

As high as possible but preferably at least 85 Hz.

I'm not sure if games should feel smoother/faster or if changing a refresh rate is just an aid for display problems...

They will feel smoother, especially if you use vsync.

Nsync is another pain in my butt.

Hahaha! I hate Nsync too - bunch of lame poptarts.

I think you mean vsync.

What i dont understand is why vsync causes a performance drop.

Because it reduces the maximum, average and minimum framerate.

When should vsync be a considerable option?

Only if you have excessive tearing and you've already raised the level of eye candy as high as possible.

 

[MrGamer7934]

thanks for the advice! I will set my refresh rate higher than 60hz, how can I figure out if windows properly adjusts the refresh rate while gaming? I been hearing about the 60hz default in XP so I would check this setting after a reboot/cold boot but still shows 85hz in my display properties... i'm wondering if a refresh force program is necessary.


"They will feel smoother, especially if you use vsync"

Well with my experience with UT2K Vsync doesn't make the game feel smooth at all


"Hahaha! I hate Nsync too - bunch of lame poptarts. I think you mean vsync"

LOL, yes the word of choice should be vsync!


"Only if you have excessive tearing and you've already raised the level of eye candy as high as possible"

Can someone explain the term "tearing"?!?

 

[Excelsior]

Have you dropped the hardware acceleration slider once in the troubleshooting tab. Helps many people out.

 

[MrGamer7934]

no i haven't. never thought i needed to. Thanks for the advice, worth a shot!

 

[kylebisme]

i have to take the other side of the issue with BFG10K on this one. with vsync each frame displayed on your screen is one complete image rendered by your videocard. without vsync the monitor starts drawing from the each frame as soon as the videocard renders it, so the imagine on your monitor at any given point is a combination of different images. to put it simply, when vsync is on it is like you are watching a movie projector as it displays one frame at a time. turning vsync off on the other hand is like taking the frame as well as additional frames from from before and after and cutting that all up to make one frame which is a broken and staggered image. unless your trying to run something so demanding on your system that every frame counts, vsync does little to lower anything but your maximum. granted there are people like BFG10K who don't seem to mind the rippling effect that turning off vsync has on the image, in which case you might as well leave it off.