Though technology can be one of an Agent's greatest assets, it doesn't always work according to plan. It's imperative that you have a clear view of the battlefield when you hop into a VALORANT match, so if you've encountered any issues when it comes to your monitor, hopefully I can provide some assistance.
What are refresh rates and VSYNC?
In case you needed a quick refresh, refresh rates determine how many times your display is illuminated per second. This shouldn't be confused for FPS, Frames Per Second, which reflects how often images can change from one to the next.
The VSYNC setting will determine whether Windows will allow games (and other applications) to display images at an FPS that exceeds the refresh rate.
Why do refresh rates and VSYNC matter?
For an optimum experience, you'll need to change your computer's graphic settings to allow for higher refresh rates. If you have VSYNC disabled, you may see visual artifacts and other issues while playing (which means not all frames are being rendered properly).
How do I change my refresh rate?
Thankfully, it's pretty simple, and can be accomplished using the following methods depending:
Windows 10
- Open Settings
- Click System
- Click Display
- Click Advanced display settings
- Click Display adapter properties for Display 1 (or whichever display you'll be gaming on)
- Click the Monitor tab
- Under Monitor Settings, use the drop-down menu to select the desired refresh rate
- Click OK, and then test your settings
NVIDIA Control Panel
- Right-click on your Windows desktop and select NVidia Control Panel
- Click Change Resolution
- Check the refresh rate and select the appropriate screen refresh rate from the drop-down menu
- Click OK, and then test your settings
ATI Catalyst Control Center
- Right-click on the Windows desktop and select Catalyst Control Center
- Click the Graphics menu, then select Desktop Properties
- If you have multiple monitors, ensure that you have the correct one selected in the dropdown menu under the Mode and Color buttons.
- In the Refresh Rate drop-down menu, select the preferred refresh rate
- Click OK, and then test your settings.
What if I use AMD Radeon?
AMD doesn't allow APP modification when it comes to refresh rate settings, so please follow the Windows 10 method.
How do I enable VSYNC?
NVIDIA
- Click the Start button or Windows icon
- Type NVIDIA control panel into the search bar
- Press Enter on your keyboard
- Click Manage 3D settings
- Under I would like to use the following 3D settings, scroll down until you see Vertical sync
- Select Vertical sync to choose Force on from the drop-down menu
AMD RADEON
- Click the Start button or Windows icon
- Type AMD Radeon Software into the search bar
- Press Enter on your keyboard
- Click the cog wheel in the top right
- Click the Graphics tab
- Under Wait for vertical refresh rate, choose Always on
In-Game Settings
Something that is worth keeping in mind is that both NVIDIA and AMD settings will default to Use application settings. This means that it will honor whatever settings are selected in-game.
If you'd like to rely on your in-game settings, VALORANT has VSYNC options that you can toggle on and off. If you select Always On for NVIDIA/AMD in-game, then VSYNC will remain on when appropriate.
To enable VSYNC in-game, you can go to Settings -> Video -> Graphics Quality, and set VSYNC to ON.