LG OLED C1/C2 VRR On or Off? Decide Per Game

Quick answer

Choose VRR per game. Keep it when variable frame delivery looks smoother and dark-scene flicker is acceptable. A stable fixed-refresh mode is a valid alternative when a title holds its target or flicker outweighs the benefit.

Decision table

What the game does	Starting choice	Compare before saving
Holds a stable 60 or 120 fps	Either VRR or matching fixed refresh	Motion and input feel at the same checkpoint
Varies within the supported VRR range	Try VRR	Tearing, frame-time spikes and dark scenes
Flickers only in loading screens	Judge gameplay separately	Whether brief transitions outweigh smoother play
Pulses distractingly throughout dark gameplay	Try fixed refresh after flicker diagnosis	Tearing, stutter and latency with the chosen sync mode

A 30 fps game remains 30 fps; VRR does not create frames. A console's 40 fps mode may require 120 Hz output. Confirm the particular game's supported output rather than assuming that enabling a system switch changes every title.

One repeatable comparison

Pick a demanding checkpoint, a dark scene and a loading transition. Record source, resolution, refresh, HDR and game/driver version.

Keep those settings fixed and compare VRR on with VRR off. On PC, verify G-SYNC/FreeSync on the intended display. On PS5 and Xbox, check the console's output status and the game's support.

Where the platform exposes a limiter, try one cap the demanding scene can sustain, with headroom below the refresh ceiling appropriate to the sync setup. Do not stack game, driver and overlay limiters.

Compare fixed refresh with V-Sync; on PC, optionally compare without V-Sync if tearing is an acceptable trade-off. Console games may not expose these controls. Use available quality/performance modes instead.

Judge frame-time consistency, tearing and input feel, not just average FPS. Stop a flickering comparison if it is uncomfortable.

Save a choice per game

Use a per-application GPU profile where supported. On consoles, distinguish a game setting from a system-wide switch that affects other games. Recheck after substantial game, driver or firmware updates.

OLED Control does not manage game frame pacing or GPU profiles. Avoid changing Black Level or OLED protection to compensate for a synchronization preference.

When the problem needs diagnosis

For dark-gray pulsing, follow the VRR flicker guide. For full-screen black flashes or reconnections, use the C1 G-SYNC signal-drop guide. These are different failure modes.