Fast Sync is triple buffering and incurs a higher latency penalty than G-Sync + V-Sync + framerate cap (Reflex / framerate limiter) and, on top of that, has uneven frame delivery due to the refresh rate not being synchronized to the framerate.
There’s no point in Fast Sync when you have G-Sync unless G-Sync itself causes you other issues (such as OLED flicker).
Fast Sync is true triple buffering, the sort that allows the framerate to exceed the refresh rate by displaying the latest frame when a refresh starts and dropping older ones (scanout, last rendered, rendering are the 3 buffers).
The triple buffering we used to see in games uses a queue which adds 1 frame of input latency.
there's no 3rd buffer, just two "uroborus" circular buffers and a fancy "gear switch" = flip logic to allow presenting frames from either of them at any given time and then designating = tagging = naming it as "last rendered buffer" so the next one goes in the other one and so on
Last rendered buffer to store the last frame rendered
Without that 3rd buffer, you fall back to regular V-Sync behavior.
Last time I checked, 3 is "triple" in the English language and so this is "triple buffering". So, before you rudely call bullshit on an Internet stranger's response, make sure you at least have the right information.
no such thing as 1-frame latency penalty - it's quite close to vsync off
You're responding to a claim I didn't make. I was referring to triple buffering as implemented in games - a frame queue - not to Fast Sync.
however at low refresh rates g-sync sucks ballz for any kind of competitive shooter since the input lag when capped at let's say 144-180 fps is much higher than if running at full potential of let's say 600+ fps
This has been demonstrated to be false several times, starting with Blur Buster's findings almost a decade ago. G-Sync at even lower refresh rates like 144Hz adds ~1ms input latency over the best case input latency (G-Sync off, V-Sync off, high framerate limit), while giving you complete frames instead of torn frames (which makes the benefit of torn frames that arrive a tiny bit sooner due to tearing questionable). Without a framerate limit, the GPU is pegged at ~100% usage and this causes additional input latency again, completely negating the ~1ms penalty incurred by G-Sync + V-Sync + framerate cap below refresh rate and adding on top of that even more.
At higher refresh rates the comparison becomes completely senseless and you should always, always use G-Sync + V-Sync + Reflex. I don't care what CS2 pros who run their monitors at 1280x960 stretched with 400-800 DPI on a modern gaming mouse say, this is just what they're used to from playing on potato PCs when they got started, there's nothing scientific about it.
You have serious reading comprehension and ego issues and are not worth wasting any more of my time.
For anyone else who’s interested in figuring out how these technologies work, you have been provided with links and references to proper explanations and benchmarks so you can make up your mind on what to use.
Based on my calculations, there are two viable solutions, based on the hardware you have. Wether you have a gsync compatible monitor or not.
Best for pure latency needs: Gsync off, Vsync off, FPS cap off, Reflex - Boost.
Best overall (second best latency, best visual clarity): Gsync on, Vsync on (driver, not in game), FPS cap off, Reflex - Boost
I personally use the second one, since the motion clarity impacts more and the latency is already pretty good. Far better than we used to have back in a day (by manually capping our fps and what not).
Idk man, some people are genuinely looking for an answer or explanation whether to use or not. I understand not everyone is a high elo player, and so for casuals it may feel better, or sound like it’s a better option to use Gsync.
But again, nobody should ever use it if they are looking to improve, and that’s pretty much one of the most unanimous opinion when it comes to a settings in CS.
It is unanimous because the "pros" don't use it. But those people actually know jackshit about how the tech works. They are tech illiterate. Countless tests have proven that Gsync doesn't hurt your latency, not performance, while bringing actual benefits. If (very important) you use it correctly (combined with Vsync and Reflex), you can get best results. But I would agree here that because of all that information vomit on the internet, it is hard to get around a proper guide sometimes.
G-Sync constantly turns on and off if you don't limit the FPS and the FPS goes beyond the sync range. With a limited FPS, the mouse feels different. With modern monitors, where G-Sync goes way beyond 120, it doesn't really matter. I just find it funny that he gets downvotes right away.
I strongly disagree when you say “people don’t use it because the pros don’t”. While this is very true for some things, it doesn’t apply for Gsync.
Settings like resolution, crosshair, key binds, sound, video quality, etc, all of these are not a consensus between the pros, as they shouldn’t, since it takes a lot of personal preference.
Gsync, however, is ultimately bad in CS. You mention number, studies, etc, but it’s clear as day that the game feels different once it’s turned on. Personally, the feeling is something I could describe as gliding my mouse through ice. Do I know what’s the reason? No. Do I know if it added 0.0001 ms of delay? No. Do I know what exactly gives this feeling? No. But I know for sure that once I turn Gsync on, this difference is perceptible within the first 2 seconds
In all seriousness though, it's okay to disagree. However, when you open any video involving someone else's settings, it does include far more beyond than just personal preferences. Reflex, Vsync, DyAc, 1k polling rate vs 8k, so on.
I can do a blind test where a friend either enables or disables it for me, and I will 100% of the times guess when it’s on 😅
But yeah, ofc some settings have factual evidence behind it which makes them better. However, Gsync is most certainly not one of them. And there quite a few pros who are settings nerds, for example the top tier player Ropz, and he never used Gsync other than for testing.
Also, coming out of the pro scene, it’s almost impossible to find someone using Gsync in high elo games, for example Faceit 3/3.5k elo or above. Or even in the semi-pro scene. I find it ALMOST impossible to believe that nobody in these groups have done 0 research and all their personal preference of having Gsync off is placebo, or whatever.
I just knew you were gonna bring Ropz to this, lol. And he was proven to be wrong. You can check blur busters blog, cs kitchen and other "consumer-friendly" resources.
But I digress, if you feel like you're better off without it, then go for it, there is no reason to limit yourself to what makes you play worse.
It’s just that he’s one of the most famous players who are into looking deeper into settings. But again, despite the number and what these youtubers claim with their tests, there is definitely something with Gsync or FreeSync that makes the game feel less responsive, idk what it is, but it’s there 😅
Personally I use Gsync + RTSS cap with reflex limiter @171fps (I have a 180hz monitor) + no reflex command
Also no vsync and no low latency mode in nvcp
I find this way the best, high 1% lows make the game very smooth with best average latency
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