The truth about LCDs and Vsync???

[jyi786]

Isn't it true that LCDs do not suffer from the same effects as CRT in relation to refresh rate? If this is true, why is it that on UT2004, I see on 2 different LCDs the exact same issues as I would on a CRT?

Basically, in a nutshell, I have to make the following compromises:

1. Disable Vsync, and get extremely jerky gameplay
2. Enable Vsync, and get laggy mouse pointer
3. Enable Reduce Mouse Lag option in UT2004, and get really crappy framerates

How can I alleviate these issues? I want fast frames like I know my system is capable of, as well as without any compromise to my mouse's accuracy. I would also appreciate any suggestions as well as any information you can provide me about the relation of refresh rate and LCDs.

Thanks for your help.

 

[thisisglen]

Say goodbye to those problems by getting a new computer!

Seriously the only difference with LCD's refresh rate is unlike a CRT where a beam of light hits the screen and then fades away (resulting in a flashing screen if you look out the corner of your eye at it), each pixel on an LCD holds it's colour/brightness untill it is given a new instruction.. that means no flickering like on a CRT at 60Hz..

All that disabling vsync should do is result in a bit of tearing along sharp lines (usually vertical lines since you turn around in FPS games more than you look up and down) This jerky gameplay you talk of is far more likley to be an under performing system. And though you say your system is cabale of high frame rates you didn't actually mention what it is and what resolutions etc you run. The reduced mouse lag option shouldn't affect your performance noticably either so i would think once again something is up with your system, be it driver issues or otherwise..

I have heard of UT having mouse lag issues generally though so you never know..

Enabling Vsync works for me at 1920x1200 in UT and everything is smooth.. Without vsync i get tearing but not what i'd call 'jerky gameplay' just the odd bit of 'tearing'

 

[jyi786]

I tend to think that it was perhaps an installation gone bad, but underperforming for UT2004 my system is not, if you saw my sig.

I did a clean install of UT2004, upgraded the drivers, and updated Rivatuner and it's definitely a bit better. Since it's changed for the better, I think I have to take some time to get used to it again.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

Vsync eliminates tearing- I cant stand to play, or watch someone play, with it off (pisses people off at lans, I usually just walk off shaking my head...).

Congradulations on fixing it with the nuke- I actually wiped my first partition clean in Jan, had been a year since, had like 10 different gpu drivers installed- certainly cleaned alot of stuff up for me.

 

[TheRapture]

I cap my framerate at 75...no vsync on....no issues.

In FarCry, Vsync causes too much drop in framerate and triple buffering seems to make no difference...and I can't stand the tearing because of all the vertical lines (trees etc) in the game. Capping my fps to 75 fixes 99% of my issues and framerate is much smoother/steadier to boot!

I am very happy with my LCD's performance now...

 

[PKFGimpy]

I hate tearing, but I hate the loss of framerate and laggy mouse caused by VSync alot more.

One of the first thing I noticed when I loaded up UT2004 with VSync enabled was everything felt like it had a delayed reaction. I'm guessing that this is because the system spends a little bit of extra time waiting for the frames to be ready before sending them to the screen...

And why does my framerate hate to exist at any framerate other than 30FPS and 60FPS when Vsync is enabled? Why won't games run at 45 FPS or, 58FPS. As soon as the game drops below 60FPS it locks itself at 30FPS... argh!

Why can't we get the best of both worlds? High framerates, responsive mouse pointers and NO tearing!! Why is this so difficult to achieve?

 

[chiablo]

Do you people not know how Vsync works?

The reason you get "crappy framerates" and "OMG only 60fps" is because that's what Vsync does. It's limiting your FPS to match that of your display, you are getting the exact same performance, it's just not being shown in the numbers.

If your monitor is set to run at 60hz (60 screen refreshes per second) then by enabling Vsync, it syncronizes your game's framerate to the monitor's to give you a smoother image. If your monitor is running at 60hz, and your game is running at 95 fps with Vsync disabled, then you will get tearing because the display and game aren't syncronized.

 

[Trematode]

Do you people not know how Vsync works?

The reason you get "crappy framerates" and "OMG only 60fps" is because that's what Vsync does. It's limiting your FPS to match that of your display, you are getting the exact same performance, it's just not being shown in the numbers.

If your monitor is set to run at 60hz (60 screen refreshes per second) then by enabling Vsync, it syncronizes your game's framerate to the monitor's to give you a smoother image. If your monitor is running at 60hz, and your game is running at 95 fps with Vsync disabled, then you will get tearing because the display and game aren't syncronized

The story is different if, for whatever reason, your frames drop below the limit. You will suffer big hits in performance -- as you said, your system will be dropping frames out to match the refresh. This translates to mouselag and performance that cuts in half if it drops below 60 fps. Instead of 59 frames, you will be seeing -- AND FEELING -- 30. And this blows.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

The story is different if, for whatever reason, your frames drop below the limit. You will suffer big hits in performance -- as you said, your system will be dropping frames out to match the refresh. This translates to mouselag and performance that cuts in half if it drops below 60 fps. Instead of 59 frames, you will be seeing -- AND FEELING -- 30. And this blows.

I've been using VSync as long as it's been an option- and I've never seen this. What game are you running on that does this?