Windows 11 and variable refresh rate aren't compatible.
Windows 11 and variable refresh rate aren't compatible.
Hey there! I'm writing this for anyone facing this problem and for those who might know a solution. I just installed Windows 11 yesterday and took a bit longer than usual to install my games. I noticed something unusual compared to what I experienced on Windows 10. After turning on G-Sync on my monitor (which isn't a module but works in some ways), I realized I had to run my games in fullscreen mode for them to function properly. Interestingly, fullscreen and borderless windowed settings worked fine on Windows 10, but not on Windows 11. The issue was that everything felt sluggish while the games ran with G-Sync enabled. Even Chrome, Discord, and Spotify seemed to struggle, as if they were running on an old system. After some digging and adjustments, I discovered the problem was related to G-Sync. Once I switched off the variable refresh rate feature, everything ran smoothly again—except for the borderless windowed setting, which I now prefer but without that extra smoothness. So, if you're seeing similar issues while playing games, it might be due to the variable refresh rate. You'll need to disable it for a better experience.
Nvidia GPU is the standard option in the Nvidia Control Panel, unrelated to Windows 11. Perhaps you configured it differently on Windows 10 and overlooked it. You can turn off G-Sync through the Nvidia Control Panel rather than bypassing it by using a borderless windowed mode. In summary, the main distinction between a native G-Synced monitor and compatible ones (such as those with AMD FreeSync) lies in the lowest acceptable frame rate. Native support can operate at much lower FPS—sometimes just 1 Hz—while compatible options typically maintain around 45 Hz, occasionally 30 or even 60. If your game falls below this minimum, performance suffers significantly and the experience becomes poor. Adjust your game settings or resolution so you consistently achieve at least 60 FPS. Additionally, ensure your maximum frame rate does not exceed your monitor’s refresh rate; for instance, with a 144 Hz display, cap your game to 144 FPS (or 140 if needed), preventing G-Sync from functioning correctly when the game exceeds that limit.
I set everything the same way, which is why I didn’t notice it at first and spent a lot of time trying to figure out why my apps were so slow while gaming. Yes, I have an NVIDIA GPU with an RTX 2060 Super, but unfortunately it lacks native G-Sync, leading to flickering in scenes with unstable frame rates—like loading screens. As you mentioned, I limited my FPS cap to 140 even though my GPU can’t reach that speed in most recent AAA titles. I’ll tweak more tomorrow and see if something else is the issue.
Also adjust V-Sync settings in your GPU drivers to global level. Turning on V-Sync in-game can conflict with G-Sync and cause stuttering. Personally, I haven’t seen a difference between W10 and W11 regarding VRR performance. Both are functioning perfectly. I’ve mainly used native G-Sync or certified compatible monitors.
I checked more games now that they're all installed, and the problem I saw only appears in Borderlands 3. It seems it wasn't caused by the operating system or the NVIDIA driver, so probably not an issue with those components. Thanks for the clarification about v-sync!