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Cap Your Frame Rate Just Below Your Refresh Rate for Lower Latency

A frame cap a few frames under the refresh rate keeps VRR active, stops the GPU sitting at 100% and removes the render queue that adds input lag.

by@guidox updated:10/30/26 time:15 min level:Intermediate tested on:Windows 11 24H2, RTX 3060 Ti, 144 Hz G-Sync works on:Windows 10, Windows 11, NVIDIA 550+, AMD Adrenalin 23+ tools:MSI Afterburner / RTSS (optional), HWiNFO64 (optional)
TL;DR

Set a cap **three frames below** your refresh rate - 141 at 144 Hz - and turn **VSync on in the driver, off in the game**. The GPU then renders one frame ahead instead of queueing several.

Before you start

Requirements

  • A monitor with G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync or VRR support
  • DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1 cable rated for your refresh rate
  • MSI Afterburner with RTSS for games that have no limiter of their own
Step by step

Instructions

01

Confirm what the game actually runs at

Turn on the game's own frame counter or the RTSS overlay and watch a busy scene for a minute. Note the frame rate, the frame time and the GPU load before you change anything.

tipHWiNFO64 logs GPU load and frame time to a file if you want numbers instead of impressions.
02

Turn on VRR in the driver

In the NVIDIA Control Panel open **Display > Set up G-SYNC** and enable it for windowed and full-screen mode. On AMD open **Adrenalin > Gaming > Display** and enable **AMD FreeSync** for the panel.

⚠ warningVRR only works at the monitor's native refresh rate. A desktop set to 60 Hz caps the whole chain at 60.
03

Set the limiter to refresh minus three

Prefer the game's own limiter or NVIDIA Reflex, they queue less than an external limiter. Use refresh rate minus three frames so the display never leaves the VRR window.

144 Hz -> 141 fps
165 Hz -> 162 fps
240 Hz -> 237 fps
60 Hz  -> 57 fps
04

Fall back to RTSS only when the game has no limiter

Add the game profile in **RTSS**, set **Framerate limit** to the same number, and leave **Scanline sync** at 0. Never run two limiters at once.

Framerate limit: 141
Scanline sync: 0
tipRTSS profiles are per executable, so a launcher and the game can keep different caps.
05

Get the VSync direction right

Enable VSync in the NVIDIA or AMD driver and disable it in the game menu, then turn on **NVIDIA Reflex: On + Boost** where the game offers it. With a cap below the refresh rate, driver VSync only prevents tearing at the window edges.

⚠ warningFull-screen VSync without the cap puts the render queue right back.
06

Verify the result in the same scene

GPU load should now sit under 99%, the frame time graph should be a flat line, and mouse input should feel steadier. Play for ten minutes: a cap that is too low shows up as visible judder.

tipIf the frame rate sits exactly on the cap and stutters, raise the cap by one or two frames.
Troubleshooting

Common issues

The GPU still sits at 100% load

The cap is not applied. Check the RTSS overlay shows the limit, and that the game runs in fullscreen or borderless - some titles ignore their own limiter in menus and loading screens.

The image tears after the change

Driver VSync is off. Enable it in the driver (not in the game) and keep the cap three frames below the refresh rate.

Frames drop for a second every few minutes

A background app is stealing GPU time. Close browser hardware acceleration and overlays, then set the Windows power plan to Balanced or High performance.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Am I wasting performance by capping?

You trade a few frames for a much shorter render queue. Above 120 fps the smoothness difference is small, the input lag difference is measurable.

Does this help on a 60 Hz panel?

A little. 57 fps with driver VSync is still better than uncapped tearing on 60 Hz.

How to undo this

Set the in-game limiter back to unlimited, delete the RTSS profile, and return VSync to the game menu. The driver's VRR setting can stay on, it does not hurt.

Changelog · 1 entry
  1. 2026-10-30
    First version
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