Display symptoms

What is screen tearing?

Tearing is a visible break where parts of different frames appear together because frame presentation is not synchronized with display refresh.

QUICK EXPLANATION

Check synchronization and variable refresh settings

Tearing often appears as a horizontal split during motion. It is different from blur, which can come from pixel response, motion or camera movement.

Synchronization can reduce tearing, but may change latency or frame-rate behavior.

Result: The symptom is easier to compare during the same fast camera pan in the same game.

How to check it

Test the game's V-Sync option or a supported variable-refresh feature one at a time. Restore the previous setting if the result feels worse.

Check: Repeat the same camera pan and check whether the visible split is reduced.

Sources & page details

Reviewed 2026-09-26

These are general explanations; available features and results vary by game, graphics hardware, driver and display.