What do you mean by 'torn up graphics'?

If you mean that textures are stretching across the screen (and not just blurring if you turn too quickly) then you've got a graphics error, probably caused by heat, not a monitor one.

Oh, and i wouldn't bother with v-sync, especially with a low end card, though that's just my opinion (i don't see much point in locking your output to your refresh rate when you're never going to hit it anyway.