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HP OMEN 16 AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS VRR Screen Tearing Fix

The HP OMEN 16 is a gaming laptop with a high-refresh-rate display that supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology. Despite this, some users experience screen tearing — a visible horizontal split in the image where two frames appear simultaneously — during gaming sessions.

This guide explains how to eliminate screen tearing on the HP OMEN 16 with the AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS processor.

HP OMEN 16 AMD display VRR and screen tearing troubleshooting

Why Screen Tearing Occurs

  • FreeSync or VRR not enabled in AMD software or Windows
  • Game FPS exceeding the maximum refresh rate of the display
  • V-Sync disabled in the game with no VRR active
  • AMD Radeon driver not configured for the active GPU
  • Game running on the integrated Radeon 780M instead of the discrete GPU

Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Enable AMD FreeSync in Radeon Software

FreeSync is the AMD implementation of VRR and must be explicitly enabled:

  1. Open AMD Radeon Software (right-click the desktop or find it in the Start menu).
  2. Go to Display settings.
  3. Toggle AMD FreeSync to On.
  4. Also enable Radeon Anti-Lag to further reduce input and display latency.
HP OMEN 16 AMD Radeon Software FreeSync and GPU settings

Fix 2: Enable VRR in Windows Display Settings

Windows 11 also has a VRR toggle that works alongside AMD FreeSync:

  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Advanced display.
  2. Toggle Variable refresh rate to On.
  3. This applies VRR to all supported full-screen and windowed applications.

Fix 3: Cap FPS at or Below the Display Maximum

FreeSync operates within a specific range (for example, 48–165Hz). When FPS goes above the maximum, VRR cannot keep up and tearing occurs:

  • Enable in-game frame rate cap set 5–10 FPS below the maximum refresh rate.
  • Alternatively, enable Radeon Chill in AMD Radeon Software to set a minimum and maximum FPS target.

“Enabling FreeSync in Radeon Software and capping FPS to 155 in the Radeon overlay eliminated all tearing. I had VRR on in Windows but forgot to enable it in AMD Software as well.”
— Luqmanul, competitive FPS player

HP OMEN 16 AMD driver settings showing FreeSync enabled and FPS cap

Fix 4: Force the Game to Use the Discrete GPU

If the game runs on the integrated Radeon 780M instead of the discrete RX 7000 series GPU, VRR may not function correctly:

  1. Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
  2. Add the game and set it to High performance.
  3. Alternatively, open Radeon Software, go to Gaming > Global Graphics, and ensure the correct GPU is selected for gaming workloads.

Fix 5: Update the AMD Radeon Driver

Open Radeon Software, go to the Updates section, and install any available driver update. AMD regularly improves FreeSync stability and game compatibility in monthly driver releases.

About the Author
Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has spent over 15 years troubleshooting Windows hardware and driver issues across major laptop brands. He writes practical, step-by-step guides for everyday users at softwaredriverdownload.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the HP OMEN 16 still show tearing with FreeSync enabled?
Tearing with FreeSync enabled usually means the FPS is going above the maximum refresh rate of the display. FreeSync only eliminates tearing within its supported frequency range. Cap your frame rate 5 to 10 FPS below the panel maximum to keep the FPS within the FreeSync window.
Should I use V-Sync or FreeSync on the HP OMEN 16?
Use FreeSync instead of traditional V-Sync. FreeSync eliminates tearing without the input lag penalty of V-Sync. If FPS drops below the FreeSync minimum range, some implementations enable V-Sync as a fallback — check the FreeSync Low Framerate Compensation option in Radeon Software.
What is the FreeSync range of the HP OMEN 16 display?
The FreeSync range varies by display panel variant. Common configurations are 48 to 144Hz or 48 to 165Hz. Check the HP OMEN 16 product page for your specific panel specification. Keep your in-game FPS within this range for tear-free output.
Does enabling VRR in Windows settings replace the AMD FreeSync toggle?
No, they work together. The Windows VRR toggle applies to the operating system level, while the AMD FreeSync toggle in Radeon Software applies at the driver level. Both should be enabled for full VRR support across all applications including the Windows desktop and windowed games.

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