Definition
V-Sync is short for "Vertical Synchronization". It's a setting that basically synchronizes 2 independent processes.
Before proceeding to the actual explanation here's a simplified description of how a frame gets on the monitor screen.
Games use at least 2 frame buffers. Buffer A is where a frame is being drawn into until it's complete. Buffer B then gets the completed frame from Buffer A with the sole purpose of making it available to the monitor which then draws on the screen what it finds there.
On one side the monitor regularly gets the data from buffer B depending on it's refreshrate (e.g. 75hz, 100hz, 120hz).
On the other side the graphics card regularly copies the data from buffer A to buffer B depending on how fast the system is (e.g. fast computer: every 3 milliseconds, slow computer: every 11 milliseconds; = results in framerate).
Both processes are not linked to each other unless V-Sync is enabled. V-Sync adjusts the maximal framerate to the monitors refreshrate. That means with a monitor set at 100hz you'll get 100 fps maximum.
Good to know, but why does one need that? The reason is something called "Tearing".
V-Sync is short for "Vertical Synchronization". It's a setting that basically synchronizes 2 independent processes.
Before proceeding to the actual explanation here's a simplified description of how a frame gets on the monitor screen.
Games use at least 2 frame buffers. Buffer A is where a frame is being drawn into until it's complete. Buffer B then gets the completed frame from Buffer A with the sole purpose of making it available to the monitor which then draws on the screen what it finds there.
On one side the monitor regularly gets the data from buffer B depending on it's refreshrate (e.g. 75hz, 100hz, 120hz).
On the other side the graphics card regularly copies the data from buffer A to buffer B depending on how fast the system is (e.g. fast computer: every 3 milliseconds, slow computer: every 11 milliseconds; = results in framerate).
Both processes are not linked to each other unless V-Sync is enabled. V-Sync adjusts the maximal framerate to the monitors refreshrate. That means with a monitor set at 100hz you'll get 100 fps maximum.
Good to know, but why does one need that? The reason is something called "Tearing".