AMD demonstrates FreeSync over HDMI

[zMeul]

source: http://www.anandtech.com/show/9337/amd-shows-freesyncoverhdmi-concept-at-computex-2015

 

 

The monitor in question is running a running a Realtek TCON, with AMD and Realtek developing the prototype together. The TCON itself is by all indications a bog-standard TCON (i.e. not custom hardware), with the only difference being that Realtek has developed a custom firmware for it to support variable refresh operation and the FreeSync-over-HDMI technology.

On the signaling side, AMD tells us that they're running a custom protocol over HDMI 1.4a. As one might expect, the necessary functionality doesn't currently exist in HDMI, so AMD went and added the necessary functionality to their driver and the Realtek firmware in order for both ends to operate. Compared to FreeSync-over-DisplayPort all other operation is the same from what we're told, so the end result is the same kind of variable refresh support currently found in DPAS-enabled monitors, except now over HDMI instead of DisplayPort.

The goal here from AMD is very similar to what they did with DisplayPort last year. The company wants to introduce variable refresh support into the HDMI standard, making it a standardized (and common) feature of HDMI. The payoff for AMD and their users would be that getting variable refresh support into HDMI would allow FreeSync to potentially work with many more monitors, as DisplayPort is not found in all monitors whereas HDMI is. This is especially the case in cheaper monitors, which of course make up the bulk of monitor sales.

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also, 1st FreeSync monitor to feature 30FPS minimum refresh rate:

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FreeSync over HDMI - this could be really really big if it goes beyond proof of concept and the HDMI standard adopts the new specs

[Humbug]

I guess they will push the required functionality into the HDMI official spec like they did for displayport.

As the article said it's useful because a lot of budget displays which typical gamers use do not have display port.

[Ashaira]

I guess they will push the required functionality into the HDMI official spec like they did for displayport.

As the article said it's useful because a lot of budget displays which typical gamers use do not have display port.

ironically hdmi costs money to implement whereas DP does not.

[zMeul]

ironically hdmi costs money to implement whereas DP does not.

the hell are you talking about? to implement DP, you have to be member of VESA - and that's not free

[Ashaira]

the hell are you talking about? to implement DP, you have to be member of VESA - and that's not free

 

when i went to the hdmi site it said it requires a license fee. on the DP site it specifically said that it does not require a license fee.

Is this wrong or are the dp costs from somewhere else?

[Misanthrope]

1080p 144hz 30 freesync display? Nice I'd like to have freesync without spending a ton on GPUs to keep up.

[zMeul]

when i went to the hdmi site it said it requires a license fee. on the DP site it specifically said that it does not require a license fee.

Is this wrong or are the dp costs from somewhere else?

you mean VESA site? http://www.vesa.org/vesa-standards/

and only DP 1.1a is free: http://www.vesa.org/vesa-standards/free-standards (Not for new designs. Reference only.)

[WereCat]

Really nice. VGA is next

[zMeul]

Really nice. VGA is next

you skipped DVI

[WereCat]

you skipped DVI

I did because it is kind of hybrid. If they make VGA first then DVI will be easy one.

[Notional]

Holy ....

 

This means we might see freesync on PS5 and XB2. Remember if Playstation gets this functionality, all Sony TV's will as well. And if it becomes an HDMI standard, the adoption will be fast.

 

This is why industry standards are so important. You'e never going to see an NVidia tv.

[ThreePinkApples]

Really nice. VGA is next

 

Won't happen. VGA is dead, or soon to die. Remember reading most companies agreeing on getting rid of VGA by 2015 or so

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/241144,intel-announces-the-end-of-vga.aspx

[zMeul]

Won't happen. VGA is dead, or soon to die. Remember reading most companies agreeing on getting rid of VGA by 2015 or so

http://www.pcauthority.com.au/News/241144,intel-announces-the-end-of-vga.aspx

VGA might never die, it's a great legacy port that just works

just as the PS2, even today USB keyboards have issues

 

you can't beat analog

[ivan134]

Hopefully we wont get any more idiots blaming freesync as the reason for not having a 30 fps minimum, but who am I kidding.

[Victorious Secret]

This still requires the HDMI group to approve and implement such a feature, say in HDMI 2.1 or whatever.

Just cause AMD did it doesn't mean they can deploy it. Not with a standard like HDMI.

[Embattled]

1080p 144hz 30 freesync display? Nice I'd like to have freesync without spending a ton on GPUs to keep up.

Yeah but are you really going to be playing games under 30FPS anyways? I'd argue that FS/GS doesn't even matter below 30 bc the experience is going to be bad regardless. 

[Humbug]

Yeah but are you really going to be playing games under 30FPS anyways? I'd argue that FS/GS doesn't even matter below 30 bc the experience is going to be bad regardless.

Occasional dip to 25 or 30fps would be a lot more tolerable with freesync or g-sync. Obviously you don't want to be averaging under 30...

[Glenwing]

This still requires the HDMI group to approve and implement such a feature, say in HDMI 2.1 or whatever.

Just cause AMD did it doesn't mean they can deploy it. Not with a standard like HDMI.

It's possible to do it without having it as part of the HDMI standard. All that is required is that the graphics card and monitor can communicate properly. If they have monitors with custom firmware designed to recognize their special HDMI protocol then it can work fine. As you will note, G-SYNC is not part of the DisplayPort standard and yet it works fine.

[Misanthrope]

Yeah but are you really going to be playing games under 30FPS anyways? I'd argue that FS/GS doesn't even matter below 30 bc the experience is going to be bad regardless. 

 

Its about averages: the only reason I don't run everything maxed in both Witcher 3 and GTA V is because while my average is well over 60 certain densely populated areas often dip into the low 40s often, maybe even high 30s. So right now I wanna average 80 or 90 FPS so my minimum FPS is close to 60 but with Freesynch you can potentially still have a good experience even while it goes in the 40s and such since it's not a binary, multiples of 30.

[Opcode]

Some people wanted to walk up and down FreeSync technology and here we are with a display that matches Nvidia's dynamic range (at least on the low side). With it utilizing an open industry standard it is not going to take long before FreeSync completely overruns the market. Landing FreeSync in consoles alone will put the technology at an adoption point that Nvidia could never reach with their offering. The better implementation will always win.

[decoy11]

I feel like AMD announced HDMI FreeSync too soon unless they already got the ball rolling with the HDMI Forum. If they didn't then they just lit a fire under Nvidia to adapt G-Sync with HDMI if they aren't already working on it and there were already rumors of HDMI G-Sync. I'm willing to bet that a proprietary version of variable refresh rate monitor comes out before any open standard if we look at how long Displayport FreeSync took.

[dalekphalm]

Some people wanted to walk up and down FreeSync technology and here we are with a display that matches Nvidia's dynamic range (at least on the low side). With it utilizing an open industry standard it is not going to take long before FreeSync completely overruns the market. Landing FreeSync in consoles alone will put the technology at an adoption point that Nvidia could never reach with their offering. The better implementation will always win.

Sony and Microsoft would be stupid not to aggressively pursue having AMD implement this on their planned next gen consoles (Or hell - even in a console revision like the "Slim" variant). Sony would especially be able to benefit, since they could team it with "compatibility" on whatever new lineup of HDTV's they were developing.

[Opcode]

Sony and Microsoft would be stupid not to aggressively pursue having AMD implement this on their planned next gen consoles (Or hell - even in a console revision like the "Slim" variant). Sony would especially be able to benefit, since they could team it with "compatibility" on whatever new lineup of HDTV's they were developing.

It certainly would be an all new selling point for both the consoles and displays "make sure you get the PS5 and our new Totum 9000 92" HDTV with FreeSync support!".

[Embattled]

Occasional dip to 25 or 30fps would be a lot more tolerable with freesync or g-sync. Obviously you don't want to be averaging under 30...

If i am even dipping that low I turn down the settings but your mileage may vary.

[Doobeedoo]

So DP would be better option either way while it would work same on any?