diff --git a/aesthetics/.config/picom.conf b/aesthetics/.config/picom.conf
index 8a56ae89..786b8e5d 100644
--- a/aesthetics/.config/picom.conf
+++ b/aesthetics/.config/picom.conf
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ glx-no-rebind-pixmap = true;
 use-damage = true;
 
 # * Tearing
-vsync = true;
+# https://github.com/yshui/picom/issues/1265
+vsync = false;
 
 # don't unredirect all windows when there is an opaque fullscreen window (true
 # maximizes performance but disables compositing)
diff --git a/root/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/my-xorg.conf b/root/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/my-xorg.conf
index 7408a38c..a42cd4f7 100644
--- a/root/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/my-xorg.conf
+++ b/root/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/my-xorg.conf
@@ -42,3 +42,16 @@ EndSection
 
 # * GPU
 # handled by optimus-manager; not recommended to mess with
+
+# TODO for now am doing manually; see fixtear script
+# https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA/Troubleshooting#Multi-monitor
+# fix screen tearing
+# only keep screen section
+# Section "Screen"
+#     Identifier     "Screen0"
+#     Device         "Device0"
+#     Monitor        "Monitor0"
+#     Option         "ForceFullCompositionPipeline" "on"
+#     Option         "AllowIndirectGLXProtocol" "off"
+#     Option         "TripleBuffer" "on"
+# EndSection
diff --git a/scripts/bin/fixtear b/scripts/bin/fixtear
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..d5af99a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/bin/fixtear
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA/Troubleshooting#Avoid_screen_tearing
+# fixes screen tearing (tested and this works if applied correctly)
+
+# had to run this with monitor connected then disconnect monitor then reconnect
+# just sticking with that because it's easy, otherwise would need to specify
+# both displays:
+# https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA/Troubleshooting#Multi-monitor
+nvidia-settings --assign CurrentMetaMode="nvidia-auto-select +0+0 { ForceFullCompositionPipeline = On }"
+
+# can validate with: nvidia-settings --query CurrentMetaMode
diff --git a/scripts/bin/gpu-switch b/scripts/bin/gpu-switch
index b76642de..c91abc40 100755
--- a/scripts/bin/gpu-switch
+++ b/scripts/bin/gpu-switch
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
-# probably won't use this much (will just stay in hybrid mode)
+# pretty much only use nvidia mode; too many issues hybrid mode; would use
+# integrated only for battery saving
+# arg: (integrated|hybrid|nvidia)
 
 echo "Run 'sudo prime-switch' after X stops."
 echo "Press anything to continue"
diff --git a/scripts/bin/helpers/xenv.sh b/scripts/bin/helpers/xenv.sh
index bed2bc64..e1552212 100644
--- a/scripts/bin/helpers/xenv.sh
+++ b/scripts/bin/helpers/xenv.sh
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ export QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR=1
 
 if monitor_is_hidpi; then
 	export MONITOR_IS_HIDPI=true
+	export POLYBAR_DPI=192
 
 	export QT_ENABLE_HIGHDPI_SCALING=1
 
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ if monitor_is_hidpi; then
 	# export GDK_DPI_SCALE=0.5
 else
 	export MONITOR_IS_HIDPI=false
+	export POLYBAR_DPI=96
 fi
 
 # * WM and Polybar