Scaler Vendors Pledge Support for AMD's Project FreeSync

AMD announced collaborations with scaler vendors MStar, Novatek and Realtek to build scaler units ready with DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync and AMD's Project FreeSync by year end.

"Since the dawn of hardware-accelerated graphics, gamers dreamed of liquid smooth gameplay free of stuttering and tearing," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, Graphics Business Unit, AMD. "AMD's Project FreeSync is aimed at realizing that vision with an open, standardized and license-free approach that will encourage lower prices and wider adoption."

Under the technology partnerships, MStar, Novatek and Realtek each will develop a range of DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync-ready scalers to complement the new monitor product cycle in 1Q15. Monitors equipped with such DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync-aware scalers will allow contemporary AMD Radeon graphics cards to synchronize display refresh rates and GPU framerates via Project FreeSync to enable tearing and stutter-free gaming along with low input latency.

"Our customers are really excited about AMD's FreeSync technology," said Yee-Wei Huang, vice president, Realtek. "The benefits of FreeSync for gaming are clear and we believe adopting the DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync industry standard by VESA is the best approach to make this display technology widely available for everyone."

The new scalers from MStar, Novatek and Realtek also will give monitor vendors access to a comprehensive set of features not available with other dynamic refresh technologies. Example features include: picture scaling, on-screen display (OSD), HDMI/DVI inputs for legacy users and DisplayPort High Bit Rate Audio.

"Project FreeSync is the industry's defining effort to bring smooth gameplay to PC enthusiasts," said Richard Hung, director, iHome SBU - SC, Novatek. "In putting forward the open DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync proposal for ratification, AMD has smartly led the way for Novatek scalers to power a new wave of monitors that affordably offer dynamic refresh rates."

Finally, the initial Project FreeSync-compatible scalers from MStar, Novatek and Realtek will empower monitor vendors with robust DisplayPort receivers accommodating of FHD and QHD panels up to 144Hz, or UHD panels up to 60Hz.

"With an open, industry-standard specification, Project FreeSync and DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync serve as models for consumer-friendly technologies," said Henry Lan, marketing deputy director, Display Group, MStar. "MStar is pleased to join AMD'sProject FreeSync ecosystem with scalers that will bring smooth gameplay to a new generation of displays."

AMD and its display partners intend to reveal Project FreeSync-ready monitors based on any one of the MStar, Novatek and Realtek scalers through a media review program in 1Q15.