AMD Announces FreeSync, Promises Fluid Displays More Affordable than G-SYNC

[Captain_Tom]

I disagree. Think about it - only GCN 1.1 cards support freesync. But all of nvidia's cards support g-sync. Obviously there's some kind of a component that does the hardware communication, that Amd decided to integrate into their newer cards while nvidia decided to keep it external. Both options have pros and cons.
Maybe the 980 has the hardware built in and doesn't need the external solution.

Wrong. Everything GTX 650 and up supports it.

 

[Phobia9651]

Still waiting for this monitor:
24-25 inch size
IPS/AHVA/PLS display panel
WQHD resolution
120-144 Hz refresh rate
1 ms response time
AdaptiveSync support
no PWM flickering
(quasi) bezelless design

Come on LG.Display/Samsung/AU.Optronics I know you can do it!

 

[Yorgos]

Coherent proof requested, otherwise post is invalid. Seen enough posts saying things are possible with 'x' hardware when they're not.
Also, proof of it happening plus actual critical dissection by neutral source required.
If the above requirements can't be fulfilled, then its little more than Trolling.

What we can say is the adaptive v-sync pathway looks to be better for all involved (except perhaps Nvidia).

there is a link to a forum where an actual nvidia customer that claims it.
http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Graphics-Cards/Mobile-G-Sync-Confirmed-and-Tested-Leaked-Alpha-Driver

I disagree. Think about it - only GCN 1.1 cards support freesync. But all of nvidia's cards support g-sync. Obviously there's some kind of a component that does the hardware communication, that Amd decided to integrate into their newer cards while nvidia decided to keep it external. Both options have pros and cons.
Maybe the 980 has the hardware built in and doesn't need the external solution.

I don't see anything that you can actually disagree.
I am not writing any opinion.
What I am saying is that nVidia is not telling you that G-sync is out there with a different name.
They have not invented the wheel, they are trying to re-invent it and charge you for it.
The part about GCN or GM1xx or GM2xx or some vliw architecture to support some-Sync technology goes like this:
If the eDP vX.X is supported by some GPU, then that GPU is able to support this some-Sync.
Now, the DisplayPort that you have on your monitor is very different from the eDP. The standard make the adaptive refresh rate optional which means that noone bothered to adjust it to their monitors and gpus.
On the other hand, eDP is something that can save you a lot of power by forcing the makers to give you control over the refresh rate of your screen. It is not the same as DP but it is NOT optional. It has more features because it is on special devices.

for example, fec (forward error correction) is optional on the 802.3-2008 IEEE standard, but no-one bothers to support it except a few companies that sell IPs or h/w in research centers or data centers... not to customers like you and me.

 

[Yorgos]

Wrong. Everything GTX 650 and up supports it.

as I said before, everything that implements that particular feature of the standard supports it.

 

[ZoneDymo]

Still waiting for this monitor:
24-25 inch size
IPS/AHVA/PLS display panel
WQHD resolution
120-144 Hz refresh rate
1 ms response time
AdaptiveSync support
no PWM flickering
(quasi) bezelless design

Come on LG.Display/Samsung/AU.Optronics I know you can do it!

waiting for the same but then in 32/34 inch

 

[Captain_Tom]

waiting for the same but then in 32/34 inch

Make it 5K Ultra Wide and then we are talking.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Still waiting for this monitor:
24-25 inch size
IPS/AHVA/PLS display panel
WQHD resolution
120-144 Hz refresh rate
1 ms response time
AdaptiveSync support
no PWM flickering
(quasi) bezelless design

Come on LG.Display/Samsung/AU.Optronics I know you can do it!

No they cannot. At least not with those panel types you wrote. Currently not even crappy TN panel can go 1ms - and that's even g.t.g.. Only ones capable at this moment to go 1ms or even less are the defunct Plasma or CRT monitors. The LCDs just cannot switch that fast. Is pure physics and chemistry.

 

[AsRock]

Minimum required 40FPS on some monitors does not make me happy at all.
Currently, to have always above 40FPS on 1440P you got to have enough GPU horsepower to use decent settings on many new games. Otherwise it won't be worth it much.

Hoped to see is in the low 30s. Anyway, with a new top end gen of AMD cards this shouldn't (hopefully) be the case if performance are as leaked.

What i have read on their site it's any thing above 29fps, but you do say some so better watch out.

I'll wait until 40" HDTV's have it as i have no interest going back to a lil monitor any time soon, by that time hopefully shit will have matured.

 

[aasim]

Big thumbs up for AMD. You did great by delivering an giving technology without charging any premium. Really nice to see someone doing efforts and making them open for others..

Last but least i am Nvidia user, but hate when they make everything closed like PhysX, Gsync

'Currently own 750ti hope it will soon get adaptive sync as the new mobile gpus of Nvidia got.

 

[ZoneDymo]

What i have read on their site it's any thing above 29fps, but you do say some so better watch out.

I'll wait until 40" HDTV's have it as i have no interest going back to a lil monitor any time soon, by that time hopefully shit will have matured.

the minimum is 9 fps of the technology.
Its the monitors that dont go that low.
Televisions I think all go down to 24 fps

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Well all the pieces are coming together for a couple of upgrades to my pc ie an rd 390x and a BIG pixel screen now if I could just step out of poverty im onit, i wwould consider swapping a kidney for three 4ks and a few gpus any offers.

 

[1d10t]

*Forgot login pass to TPU

Yeah,thank you AMD for bring us some affordable technologies
Goodluck for G-Sync though...

Well all the pieces are coming together for a couple of upgrades to my pc ie an rd 390x and a BIG pixel screen now if I could just step out of poverty im onit, i wwould consider swapping a kidney for three 4ks and a few gpus any offers.

 

[NympH]

Now we just need some monitors....

 

[newconroer]

Good to see it finally rolling out - however I feel a bit mislead. Unless I misunderstood it previously, their version of this adaptive v-sync, was to be able to run on any monitor. All it required was an AMD *FreeSync* compatible GPU or APU.
Now I come to find out that you have to purchase a monitor where they've baked adaptive v-sync support into the Display port 1.2 connection.

• That's a strike against it because like G-sync, it costs you more money.

• Adaptive v-sync will be standard on Display port 1.3 any ways, so don't rush out and buy a monitor that supports FreeSync, unless you really like the monitor itself. When 1.3 hits, your selection will increase.

• Lastly, this advanced adaptive v-sync craze, is really aimed at the mainstream gamer who knows very little about frame rendering times and frame latency. The problem is that frame latency, frame time and other variables of frame rending mechanics, is only now being discussed in GPU and performance reviews.

It's not common knowledge, and I question how they expect to sell people on the idea that FreeSync makes your game smoother, when most people didn't even notice their gaming was 'unsmooth' to begin with.
Additionally, FreeSync is far from automatic at the driver level. If a lot of people still struggle to know or find their Catalyst Control Panel...or what a monitor OSD is, where does that leave them when trying to fiddle about setting up FreeSync?



Once you do some research and learn a bit about how an image is rendered, you find out that for the most part, you can achieve the same affect as Gsync/Freesync, without needing to buy additional hardware.
Making use of tools such as Radeon Pro, RTSS and CRU (to create custom resolutions), is the key to helping you achieve a much smoother experience - all while using the same hardware you currently own.


Setting up a custom monitor resolution and/or capping your frame rate, takes about the same amount of time as it does to enable FreeSync.
The former option is all free, the second is costly.



EDIT: In addition to what I posted, the arguments over market share are laughable. This 'technology' is not game breaking. While I wouldn't call it a gimmick, it's not some new architecture that will take us into a grand age of computer graphics and performance.
It's a bonus feature if nothing else and not every monitor, GPU or APU is going to support it.

 

[semantics]

I think it's a real feature to IQ just like AA is. Some are more sensitive to such things than others, it's a feature i'd list as sorta like physx on high, you probably wouldn't care if you never had it but if you had it and it was removed you'd notice and would maybe care.

Latency from v-sync is such a fake issue when playing games online and a non issue when you're playing single player games. If people really cared so much that they had to turn off v-sync because of the latency they choose their monitors more carefully to take a look at overall monitor latency along with steps to reduce overall system latency, meaning turning off things in bios etc.

The issue was keeping sync without the stutter of 15,30,60 fps locks adaptive vsync debut by nvidia gave you sync when you could afford it turned it off when it would probably cause stutters a minor solution. G-sync, freesync and adaptive sync(really confusing name choice imo) are solutions with greater scope.

 

[Relayer]

Atm, all that freesync is a 'ati and intel' gpu technology. With g-sync being a nvidia gpu technology.

Without either camp budging, this may end up turning into a monitor battle as well. With monitors coming with either freesync, _or_ g-sync only (thus locking in the consumers choice of graphics manufacturer).

The only real hope for consumers, is if monitor makers start shipping monitors with both freesync and g-sync enabled in the same monitor.

If nVidia wants variable refresh in laptops, they'll support it.

 

[Relayer]

Had a bit of a thought, Since AMD has to certify all monitors to be freesync. They have pretty much locked up freesync to AMD only gpu's. Since g-sync module could possible be updated firmware to support it, but since freesync software is as it stands amd proprietary software. AMD in sense has done same thing everyone rips on nvidia for, they just did it under everyones nose's.

A monitor doesn't have to have the Freeesync branding to work on AMD cards. There is no DRM check, or anything. Asus is supposed to be releasing a compatible monitor that's not Freesync certified but will work just fine.

 

[Relayer]

As a gamer who always maintains 60fps, is there anything about Gsync or FreeSync that can do anything positive for me, or is it only intended for people that experience frame rates that fall below 60 during gaming?

I think it will be even more useful for people who have 120+Hz monitors. There's a big space between 60Hz and 120Hz-144Hz (Freesync is actually cetified to 240Hz) where Gsync/Freesync can improve the gameplay experience.

 

[Relayer]

This is all good news basically. Anandtech has a nice article on it (kinda kybosh the whole G-Sync perf hit though - the hit is ludicrously small, as to be imperceptible). The point is, will it make G-Sync cheaper? - Maybe a a wee bit but G-Sync only works for Nvidia, Free-Sync only works with what supports DP1.2a (which notably isn't supported by R9 280/X or 270/X - bummer for some).

If you buy Nvidia currently, you probably don't mind paying a bit more for G-Sync - after all it is cheaper than buying a new AMD GPU and Free-Sync monitor. If you have a GCN 1.1(?) gpu now, it's great for you as well.

There's no needs for folks to get all antsy about it and leap to either sides defence.

Salesperson: How about an $800 TN monitor to go with your $1000 graphics card?
Customer: Can I, please?


I'm hoping you'll be able to get a 390 w/ a 1440p Freesync capable monitor for $1000.

 

[Relayer]

So after all of that, seeing that last image..... we still are not out of the woods.....

Either you get tearing or you get input lag, im sure tis all mitigated a little but damn it, why cant we just have neither already?

Limit your FPS to the refresh rate.

 

[P-40E]

This is BS! They are purposely not allowing support for freesync on the R9 270 models and R9 280 models because that will make it also work with 7000 series cards! This is not fair to people who bought brand new R9 series cards! When you buy a new product you expect it to be current! This is very shady for AMD to do this! And because of this little marketing stunt I will never buy from AMD again! I was going to buy a R9 290 this spring instead of the GTX 970. But I am now going to buy the GTX 970! And I will throw my R9 270 in the trash where it belongs! or just give it away to anyone that needs it if they pay the shipping.

 

[Relayer]

This is BS! They are purposely not allowing support for freesync on the R9 270 models and R9 280 models because that will make it also work with 7000 series cards! This is not fair to people who bought brand new R9 series cards! When you buy a new product you expect it to be current! This is very shady for AMD to do this! And because of this little marketing stunt I will never buy from AMD again! I was going to buy a R9 290 this spring instead of the GTX 970. But I am now going to buy the GTX 970! And I will throw my R9 270 in the trash where it belongs! or just give it away to anyone that needs it if they pay the shipping.

Are you certain that it's not simply that the display controllers aren't capable? I think you might be mistaken and overreacting.