Everyone knows about G-SYNC and FreeSync, but NVIDIA’s Fast Sync and AMD’s Enhanced Sync are a different, less understood way to fight screen tearing. They exist for a specific situation: when your GPU pumps out far more frames than your monitor can show. Knowing when to use them can smooth out older or lightweight games without adding input lag.
The tearing problem, quickly
Screen tearing happens when your GPU sends a new frame midway through the monitor’s refresh, so the top and bottom of the screen show different frames. Traditional V-Sync fixes it by forcing the GPU to wait for the refresh, but that waiting adds noticeable input lag and can cause stutter when frame rate dips.
How Fast Sync and Enhanced Sync differ
Fast Sync (NVIDIA) and Enhanced Sync (AMD) let the GPU render as fast as it wants, then intelligently pick the most recent complete frame to display, discarding the extras. The result is tear-free output without the GPU stalling, so you avoid most of V-Sync’s input lag. They shine when frame rate is well above refresh rate.
| Method | Tearing | Input lag | Best when FPS is |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-Sync | None | High | Near refresh rate |
| Fast / Enhanced Sync | None (mostly) | Low | Far above refresh rate |
| VRR (G-SYNC/FreeSync) | None | Very low | Within VRR range |
| No sync | Visible | Lowest | Competitive, tearing tolerated |
When to actually use them
High-frame-rate scenarios
These modes need frame rates comfortably above your refresh rate to work well, ideally two or three times higher. That makes them ideal for older esports titles, indie games or lightweight competitive games where a strong GPU produces hundreds of frames on a 60-144Hz panel. Below refresh rate they can stutter, so they are not a general-purpose fix.
Pairing with VRR
If your monitor supports VRR, use G-SYNC or FreeSync as your primary anti-tearing tool inside its range, and reserve Fast or Enhanced Sync for frame rates that exceed the VRR window. Some players cap frame rate just below the panel’s max instead, which is often the simplest low-lag approach.
How to enable them
Fast Sync lives in the NVIDIA Control Panel under the Manage 3D Settings vertical sync option, where you can set it globally or per game. Enhanced Sync sits in AMD’s software under the graphics or per-game profile settings. A common approach is to leave standard V-Sync off in the game itself and let the driver mode handle tearing. Remember these work best when frame rates run well above your refresh rate, so they pair naturally with an uncapped older title. If you notice stutter, your frame rate has likely dropped near the refresh rate, where a frame-rate cap or VRR is the better tool.
FAQ
Is Fast Sync better than V-Sync?
For high frame rates, yes, because it removes tearing with far less input lag than V-Sync. But it needs your GPU to run well above the refresh rate; at frame rates near or below refresh, V-Sync or VRR behaves more consistently.
Do I still need Fast Sync if I have G-SYNC or FreeSync?
Usually not within the VRR range, since adaptive sync already handles tearing with minimal lag. Fast or Enhanced Sync is mainly useful for frames above the VRR ceiling, such as capped-out older titles running hundreds of FPS.
Bottom line
Fast Sync and Enhanced Sync remove screen tearing by displaying the newest finished frame and dropping the rest, giving low-lag, tear-free motion when your frame rate sits well above your refresh rate. They are best for lightweight or older games on capable hardware, and they complement, rather than replace, G-SYNC and FreeSync.
