AMD Shows First Displays with FreeSync Support

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 06/05/2014 03:30 PM | source: | 19 comment(s)

AMD announced a competitive and affordable solution to tackle Nvidia's Gsync, it goes under the name FreeSync also known as Adaptive Sync. AMD right now is demonstrating desktop monitors and no longer laptops supporting the technology. Freesync will make the monitor dynamic as well. G-Sync and FreeSync will get rid of screen tearing and tiny sync stuttering/pulsing.

The protocol FreeSync / Adaptive Sync will be embedded into DisplayPort 1.2a and eDP (embedded Displayport), there is a catch though, manufacturers of monitors are free to decide wether or not to support the technology. At Computex there are supported monitors on display, AMD however will not reveal the manufacturers just yet. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) already announced the addition of 'Adaptive-Sync' to its popular DisplayPort 1.2a video interface standard. So you guys know, Nvidia does more or less the same thing, yet it requires a 200 USD module to be embedded into a compatible monitor.

AMD claims that as long as the manufacturer will stick to the Displayport 1.2a standard it will support FreeSYnc/ Adaptive Sync and as such that would be free. We do have some reservations about that statement as the monitor definitely needs to be compatible with the standard, and that requires R&D and the right hardware scaler to back that up. That or AMDs implementation could add additional CPU overhead to do a lot of stuff on the software side of things. We are not sure yet as to how that will pan out.

If you like to learn more about the 'overall' technology, have a peek at our G-Sync article. Both companies use different methodologies, but the outcome is nearly similar. FreeSync / Adaptice Sync monitors will be available in Q4 of this year. The photo is courtesy of Tweakers.net (see source link).

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SetsunaFZero
Member

Posts: 88
Joined: 2010-04-10

#4833676 Posted on: 06/05/2014 04:46 PM

wonder if some Manufactures will release Firmware updates for there current monitors

TheDeeGee
Senior Member

Posts: 8861
Joined: 2010-08-28

#4833689 Posted on: 06/05/2014 05:03 PM

wonder if some Manufactures will release Firmware updates for there current monitors

I doubt a DisplayPort 1.1 monitor can be Firmware Upgraded to 1.2a. Pretty sure it's still hardware based.

Fierce Guppy
Senior Member

Posts: 120
Joined: 2008-10-09

#4833902 Posted on: 06/05/2014 08:50 PM

That's fine. Gamers are free to avoid monitors from manufacturers that don't support adaptive sync.... It would be more profitable to them that they do, and early adopters will get the most attention.

orky87
Senior Member

Posts: 156
Joined: 2010-03-27

#4833973 Posted on: 06/05/2014 11:19 PM

I bet nvidia won't use this technology simply because they're too proud of Gsync, they may even add a new feature (ie, gimmick) and use that to justify the existence of Gsync.

Another thing is the cost. Gsync was never cheap to begin with and now looks like a complete rip off next to FreeSync. I doubt nvidia will have enough time to cover the cost bringing this thing (Gsync) to market.

edit: But kudos to nvidia for actually looking at how to fix screen tearing and coming up with a solution, even though it cost as much as a single entry level GPU.

scatman839
Senior Member

Posts: 14123
Joined: 2004-11-19

#4833993 Posted on: 06/06/2014 12:01 AM

Damn, optional standard, means many will avoid it or charge more for its inclusion.

I'd need to see it in a TV though.

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