LFC (Low Framerate Compensation): how VRR keeps working when FPS falls below the monitor's minimum refresh rate

Why LFC matters

VRR — FreeSync, G-Sync and HDMI VRR — matches the monitor's refresh rate to FPS, removing tearing without V-Sync latency. But every panel has a lower bound, usually 40–48 Hz. If FPS falls below it (a heavy scene, a weak GPU, a handheld), VRR disengages without LFC: tearing returns or, with V-Sync, stutter and extra latency.

LFC fixes this by multiplying frames: at 30 FPS with a 48 Hz minimum the driver shows each frame twice and the panel runs at 60 Hz; at 20 FPS, three times at 60 Hz. No new frames appear and the game isn't smoother, but you keep tear-free, even frame delivery.

How to check for LFC

Look at the monitor's specs: a FreeSync badge of any tier since 2024 means LFC support; older base-FreeSync monitors sometimes lacked it. AMD Software shows the VRR range in the display section; on NVIDIA you can watch the monitor's built-in refresh counter. Also go by the range: if the maximum is at least about double the minimum, the driver enables LFC automatically.

Monitors with a hardware G-Sync module repeat frames themselves, so their range effectively starts at 1 Hz. For G-Sync Compatible and FreeSync displays, the graphics driver does it.

• FreeSync, Premium, Premium Pro — LFC required
• 48–144 Hz range or wider — LFC works
• 48–75 Hz range — no LFC
• Cap FPS 3–4 below the maximum refresh rate

LFC and FPS caps

LFC handles the bottom of the range; the top is handled by an FPS cap. If FPS exceeds the monitor's maximum refresh, VRR stops working too. The recommended setup: VRR on, V-Sync on in the driver, and an FPS cap 3–4 frames below the maximum refresh (for example 141 FPS on 144 Hz) — or NVIDIA Reflex, which does it automatically.

LFC matters most on handhelds and weaker PCs, where FPS often sits around 30–45 — exactly where frame doubling kicks in. If a game consistently runs below 30 FPS, LFC won't rescue smoothness; check the FPSHQ calculator for settings that deliver comfortable FPS.