VSync - Recommended enabled or disabled?

[Majkel]

I think the title says it all - I mostly play games on my system and I would like to know what this function really is and what performance impact it has when enabled (besides frame cap).
I noticed that when it is disabled scene on the screen sometimes gets 'desynchronized' (i.e. upper half of the scene is like somewhat 'nudged' compared to the lower half), especially when the player moves fast or camera makes rapid movements (reckon that is why it is also called 'vertical synchronization').

So the question is - should it be enabled or disabled ?

 

[Jekyll and Hyde]

Hi Mate,

Well what you are seeing with it disabled is tearing, and I have had my fair share of that with games and so I stick to having it on and for me on 64-Bit Vista it does not have any problems or adverse effect on games.

So to answer your question I'd have it enabled, but usually for FPS only, although I had one game Sudden Strike Arms for Victory that needed it on, as the tearing was terrible, I thought it unusual to have to have it on for an rts but.........it was required :D

 

[Everlong]

Games like CSS I leave it off, as I generally get around 200fps and as it's quite an old game, there's minimal tearing.

Games like Crysis Warhead and Farcry 2 I keep it enabled, like I don't reach 60fps, so might as well limit my framerate to my refresh rate, though I found a lot more graphical glitches in Crysis Warhead without vsync enabled.

 

[AstaLaVista]

with me, it depends on the game I am playing, some of them I notice a difference in lag, slowness & mouse stuttering when I don't have it on, on others... no difference what so ever.

Play it by ear and enable/disable if you notice major changes.

 

[AllMac]

I have it always ON, no matter what game.