Screen Tearing Test
Detect horizontal screen tearing during motion. Test patterns reveal whether your monitor and GPU are properly synchronized via VSync, G-Sync, or FreeSync.
Why use this motion tool
Moving stripe patterns
Vertical stripes sweeping horizontally make tearing obvious — any horizontal discontinuity is a torn frame.
Speed presets
Toggle between 60, 120, 240, and 480 pixels per second to stress different refresh rates and sync modes.
Framerate counter
Real-time FPS display shows whether your browser is matching the monitor's refresh rate or running wild.
Sync mode detection
Visual cues tell you whether VSync is clamping FPS to refresh rate or adaptive sync is engaged.
What is motion
Screen tearing is a horizontal discontinuity in the image, caused by the GPU sending a new frame to the monitor while the monitor is still rendering the previous one. The top half of the screen shows the old frame, the bottom half shows the new frame, and the seam between them is the visible tear.
Tearing happens when the GPU's frame rate doesn't match the monitor's refresh rate. With VSync off, the GPU renders as fast as possible and tears appear whenever frames arrive mid-refresh. With VSync on, the GPU waits for the monitor's vertical blanking interval, eliminating tears but introducing input lag.
Adaptive sync (NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync, VESA AdaptiveSync) solves this by dynamically matching the monitor's refresh rate to the GPU's frame rate. No tears, minimal input lag. But adaptive sync requires a compatible monitor, a compatible GPU, and a DisplayPort or HDMI 2.1 connection. Many systems are misconfigured and tear even with the hardware present.
How to test
Step 1: Open the test in fullscreen
Maximize the browser or press F11. Background tabs throttle FPS and produce false tearing.
Step 2: Watch the moving stripes
A clean sweep shows continuous vertical lines. Any horizontal discontinuity is a torn frame.
Step 3: Try different speeds
Tearing is more visible at higher sweep speeds. Test 240 and 480 pixels per second for maximum visibility.
Step 4: Toggle VSync
Open your GPU control panel and toggle VSync on/off. Re-test to see tearing appear and disappear.
Step 5: Verify adaptive sync
If you have G-Sync or FreeSync, enable it in the GPU control panel and confirm the monitor's OSD shows it active.
Common causes of motion issues
VSync disabled
Without VSync, the GPU sends frames as fast as it renders them, tearing whenever a frame arrives mid-refresh.
Refresh rate mismatch
GPU running at 100 FPS on a 60Hz monitor produces tearing every refresh. VSync or adaptive sync fixes this.
Adaptive sync not configured
G-Sync/FreeSync requires enabling in both the GPU control panel and the monitor OSD. Skipping either leaves you with tearing.
Wrong cable
Adaptive sync over HDMI requires HDMI 2.1; older HDMI only supports it on some FreeSync monitors. Use DisplayPort when in doubt.
Frequently asked questions
Testing tips
- Use DisplayPort for adaptive sync — HDMI support is limited and inconsistent.
- Enable adaptive sync in both the GPU control panel and monitor OSD.
- Test in fullscreen mode — windowed apps don't always respect VSync.
- Set a frame cap slightly below your refresh rate to keep adaptive sync engaged.
Related tools
G-Sync vs FreeSync vs VSync: Which Eliminates Tearing Best
You're playing a fast-paced shooter and notice horizontal tears in the image — the top half of the screen shows one frame, the bottom half another. The seam jumps every time you turn the camera. That's screen tearing, and the fix depends on which sync technology you use: VSync, G-Sync, or FreeSync. Each has tradeoffs in tearing, input lag, and hardware requirements.
VSync is the original solution. The GPU waits for the monitor's vertical blanking interval before sending a new frame, ensuring the monitor never receives a frame mid-refresh. Tearing disappears, but the GPU may be forced to wait, adding up to 16ms of input lag at 60Hz. Worse, if the GPU can't sustain the refresh rate, VSync drops to half refresh (30Hz on a 60Hz monitor), producing stutter. VSync is free, universal, and mediocre.
G-Sync (NVIDIA) and FreeSync (AMD, now standardized as VESA AdaptiveSync) take the opposite approach: instead of clamping the GPU to the monitor, they adjust the monitor to the GPU. If the GPU renders at 100 FPS, the monitor refreshes at 100Hz. At 75 FPS, 75Hz. Tearing disappears with minimal input lag because the monitor is always in sync with the GPU. The tradeoff is hardware — you need a compatible monitor and a compatible GPU.
Test your setup with our screen tearing test. Watch the moving stripes — any horizontal discontinuity is a torn frame. Toggle VSync in your GPU control panel and re-test. If you have adaptive sync hardware, enable it in both the GPU control panel (NVIDIA Control Panel > Set up G-Sync; AMD Adrenalin > Display > FreeSync) and the monitor OSD. Confirm with the monitor's on-screen indicator (most G-Sync monitors show a notification when adaptive sync activates).
The cable matters. Adaptive sync over DisplayPort works on almost all modern monitors and GPUs. Adaptive sync over HDMI requires HDMI 2.1 on the monitor and GPU side; older HDMI only supports FreeSync on select AMD-compatible monitors. When in doubt, use DisplayPort. Also set a frame cap slightly below your refresh rate (e.g., 141 FPS on a 144Hz monitor) to keep adaptive sync engaged even when the GPU could render faster.
For competitive gaming, adaptive sync is non-negotiable — VSync's input lag is a real disadvantage in fast-paced shooters. For single-player games and general desktop use, VSync is fine. Verify your full motion pipeline with our refresh rate test and ghosting test alongside the tearing test. A 144Hz adaptive sync monitor with low overdrive gives you the smoothest possible experience — no tears, minimal blur, and minimal lag.
Run the screen tearing test now
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