But it only works if the monitor has the hardware for it?

But it only works if the monitor has the hardware for it?

Is that the same as Gsync?

Is that the same as Gsync?

Probably. Why can't they make something that's between the two ends of the cable so it can be used on all DisplayPort Monitors.

The monitor has to support Displayport 1.2a but I don't think it requires specific hardware. It does require firmware changes obviously to account for variance in the frame display. So I doubt any previously released monitors will ever get support. But it should work on the last few generations of AMD hardware + a monitor that has support for it.

The monitor has to support Displayport 1.2a but I don't think it requires specific hardware. It does require firmware changes obviously to account for variance in the frame display. So I doubt any previously released monitors will ever get support. But it should work on the last few generations of AMD hardware + a monitor that has support for it.

Guess i'm stuffed then, since mine only supports 1.1a.

I dunno I might not even be right although I'm inclined to believe AMD over random forum users but a guy over at overlock.net posted this.

I REALLY don't want to have to have the FreeSync discussion again, because that horse has been beating to death on this forum; by myself and a few others. So let me just sum it up this way, and if you don't believe me check the forums here for the sources.... VBlank is an OPTIONAL standard within DP 1.2a - Just because a device has 1.2a doesn't mean it has the OPTIONAL VBlank feature. Any display that is going to use it WILL need an ASIC (scaler), just like we see with G-Sync. AMD has said they won't develop this, and they want display vendors to do it. Nvidia did it themselves, thus G-sync module. The one time FreeSync was "shown" was actually proof of concept demo using eDP on a very specific notebook. The hardware to do variable refresh rate on a desktop display hasn't been developed yet outside of G-Sync, which is an ASIC. "FreeSync" would require its own ASIC - who is going to develop that at who's expense? I literally can not stress enough, outside of paper, FreeSync doesn't exist. The hardware for it doesn't exist yet, the supply chain of vendors don't exist, hell AMD doesn't even have VBlanking enabled on their GPUs even! Although I heard a rumor that someone did dig into their driver and found a disabled option for VBlank to work.

Maybe Hilbert or someone can look into this from AMD itself because the original press release AMD definitely made it sound like there would be no hardware required + their current GPU's are capable. Like I said I'm inclined to believe in AMD over some random forum poster but I really don't know enough about monitors to say.

Is that the same as Gsync?

It sounds more like an official version of what AMD announced as "Free-Sync" a few months back. They pointed out that VESA already incorporates most of what is required for this feature, without all of the specialized hardware and licensing fees that Nvidia's Gsync requires (somewhat unnecessarily it seems now). But yeah, the end result is Gsync features built into all devices conforming to VESA and displayport spec.

Do you think VG248qe has 1.2a standard? I mean i will be ready for AMD Freesync?

Do you think VG248qe has 1.2a standard? I mean i will be ready for AMD Freesync?

No, not only does the 248QE not have 1.2a but now, from what i'm reading, freesync does require VBLANK support on the scalar chip. So it does technically require hardware although anyone can integrate it via ASIC chip as oppose to having to go through Nvidia. So Freesync monitors should be significantly cheaper. Although I have no idea if they will be better at doing what they are supposed to do or how the input lag would workout. So basically I guess this is how it goes: AMD Freesync Requirements - Monitor w/scalar chip with VBLANK support + Any Graphics card that supports it. Scalar chip can be ASIC (which is significantly cheaper than an FPGA) and it can be developed by anyone which should also drive down costs. Nvidia G-Sync Requirements - Nvidia supported GSync Monitor (FPGA implementation although Nvidia could eventually switch this to a ASIC implementation as well) + Nvidia graphics card that supports it. AMD's solution should be cheaper when it eventually comes out (it could be a while). Nvidia's solution should be upgradable in the future via firmware (why else would they use an FPGA?). One may be better than the other in terms of performance. Nvidia's FPGA carries some beefy hardware (ram and stuff) so I'm not sure what exactly it's doing but maybe it could lead to lower input lag. Dunno, until one of these companies discloses more stuff on what's going on it's like impossible to say.

News-item updated with a QA/FAQ from AMD.

There is a big difference between AMD's and Nvidia's implementations. AMD's predicts the framerate, nvidia doesn't predict the framerate. So i'd rather take nvidia's implementation.

There is a big difference between AMD's and Nvidia's implementations. AMD's predicts the framerate, nvidia doesn't predict the framerate. So i'd rather take nvidia's implementation.

That's not true. It's a baseless assumption. Both work the same at the low level.

Is that the same as Gsync?

No. It's not the same as G-Sync. G-Sync is "proprietary" and will only ever work with NVidia hardware. Adaptive-Sync is now part of the DisplayPort 1.2a standard and can be used by both AMD and NVidia, if NVidia chooses to support it.

Nvidia has its own Adaptive Sync.

I REALLY don't want to have to have the FreeSync discussion again, because that horse has been beating to death on this forum; by myself and a few others. So let me just sum it up this way, and if you don't believe me check the forums here for the sources.... VBlank is an OPTIONAL standard within DP 1.2a - Just because a device has 1.2a doesn't mean it has the OPTIONAL VBlank feature. Any display that is going to use it WILL need an ASIC (scaler), just like we see with G-Sync. AMD has said they won't develop this, and they want display vendors to do it. Nvidia did it themselves, thus G-sync module. The one time FreeSync was "shown" was actually proof of concept demo using eDP on a very specific notebook. The hardware to do variable refresh rate on a desktop display hasn't been developed yet outside of G-Sync, which is an ASIC. "FreeSync" would require its own ASIC - who is going to develop that at who's expense? I literally can not stress enough, outside of paper, FreeSync doesn't exist. The hardware for it doesn't exist yet, the supply chain of vendors don't exist, hell AMD doesn't even have VBlanking enabled on their GPUs even! Although I heard a rumor that someone did dig into their driver and found a disabled option for VBlank to work.

That guy is a blow-hard, and I don't think he really gets it. Not until competing products start coming out, that is. I fully expect Nvidia to cave on this one since AMD's solution will end up being cheaper than their own, and by a sizable-enough portion. Also, it allows hardware vendors to support more potential customers than with Nvidia's proprietary setup.

Right in nVidia's stomach... AMD opted to OPEN STANDARD their sync technology, guess what. Everyone wants it. I hope nVidia learns this.

That's not true. It's a baseless assumption. Both work the same at the low level.

It's not baseless, look at their witepaper for freesync. Nvidia the monitor waits for the gpu to set the VBI; freesync the driver guesses the VBI. Granted it has to be an assumption because amd's freesync is still a paper launch product. Plus freesync absolutely won't have the main advantage that gsync has with its direct communication, g-sync is no lag because of it. Gsync is absolutely superior for gaming.

Right in nVidia's stomach... AMD opted to OPEN STANDARD their sync technology, guess what. Everyone wants it. I hope nVidia learns this.

I want it so bad, soon as i pay my 6gb 780 on Thursday this'll be next on the list.

Right in nVidia's stomach... AMD opted to OPEN STANDARD their sync technology, guess what. Everyone wants it. I hope nVidia learns this.

freesync is open to amd users just like gsync is available to nvidia users whats so open about freesync exactly?

freesync is open to amd users just like gsync is available to nvidia users whats so open about freesync exactly?

It's just as open as Mantle and we know that it's open because AMD said so in a slide so it must be true.