If you apply this tip to the right games, and if you’re among those with anything from a mid-high range to even a lower-end PC, you might have just found a real gamechanger.

Not every game needs to maximize FPS. In single-player titles, or even some multiplayer games where raw reactivity isn’t everything, sacrificing a few frames in order to push the graphics higher is a choice far too few people actually consider. What I want you to realize is that there’s an option which can literally be a gamechanger if used in the right circumstances: Half V-Sync.

Why on earth would I want that, you ask? Let’s take an example.

In Red Dead Redemption 2, on my laptop I can either run at 60 FPS on medium-low settings, or I can use Half V-Sync and lock to 30 FPS but with Ultra settings. In this kind of game, the slower pace and cinematic immersion make the second option actually more enjoyable. You trade a bit of fluidity for breathtaking visuals and perfect stability.

And this isn’t only for people with modest PCs. Even high-end rigs benefit:

A player with a 144 Hz monitor usually wants 100–144 FPS. But in games like Cyberpunk 2077 with Path Tracing or Alan Wake 2, the framerate will swing all over the place unless you lower the graphics. With Half V-Sync, the game locks cleanly at 72 FPS Ultra, which feels smoother than fluctuating between 80 and 120, AND you can pump graphics much more than your usual standard.

With a 240 Hz monitor, Half V-Sync means a rock-solid 120 FPS instead of chasing unstable highs. For many, that stability with Ultra graphics is far more rewarding than 200 FPS with settings dialed back.

Or take Microsoft Flight Simulator and Starfield: games that demand so much from any GPU that even a 4090 can’t keep frame times consistent. Locking them at a lower, stable rate makes the experience much more immersive and far less stuttery.

That’s the real beauty of Half V-Sync: it’s not about giving up performance, it’s about choosing consistency and visual quality when the type of game allows it. And once you experience it in the right title, you’ll understand why it’s a hidden gem almost nobody talks about.


And...friends,
Don’t worry about the drop in FPS. The reason is simple: the human brain is far more powerful than you think, and in this case you can actually turn what looks like a “downgrade” into an advantage. But it’s not really a downgrade at all—otherwise I wouldn’t be recommending it.

Visual perception is deeply tied to emotional perception. If the strength of a game lies in its visual quality and immersion, your brain will immediately recognize that the slight loss in FPS is more than justified by the huge emotional gain you get from higher graphics settings and deeper immersion.