Will G-Sync monitors ever support FreeSync?

[DoyleB]

Since NVIDIA is now unlocking their GPUs to other variable refresh technology, will monitor manufacturers unlock their G-Sync monitors to enable variable refresh with other graphics cards? I’m sure it wouldn’t be g-sync, but since the monitors are variable refresh capable, would supporting FreeSync be as simple as a firmware update? While this may not make sense for Nvidia, it would make a lot of sense for monitor manufacturers because they would truly support both GPUs. 

 

I recently purchased a Acer X34 (before the Nvidia announcement), and would like the option of buying an AMD card and still have the benefits of a variable refresh monitor. 

[Skiiwee29]

Not likely. G-sync is proprietary technology manufactured by Nvidia themselves and sold to monitor vendors to include there chip in the display to enable G-sync. 

[Glenwing]

8 hours ago, DoyleB said:

would supporting FreeSync be as simple as a firmware update?

Even if it were, updating firmware on monitors is not simple

[mxk]

I doubt it. Freesync was easier unlocked from nvidia because it's more software based, so really the only barrier was nvidia closing off g-sync to just nvidia cards. 

 

People already said it but I'll say it again, G-sync is a chip and that makes it a little more hardware based than freesync so it's not as easy as just unlocking the feature set.

[DoyleB]

4 minutes ago, mxk. said:

I doubt it. Freesync was easier unlocked from nvidia because it's more software based, so really the only barrier was nvidia closing off g-sync to just nvidia cards. 

 

People already said it but I'll say it again, G-sync is a chip and that makes it a little more hardware based than freesync so it's not as easy as just unlocking the feature set.

I understand that G-sync has a module that monitor manufacturers license from Nvidia, but since the monitor panel is capable of variable refresh, could the monitor support FreeSync as well?

[mxk]

17 minutes ago, DoyleB said:

I understand that G-sync has a module that monitor manufacturers license from Nvidia, but since the monitor panel is capable of variable refresh, could the monitor support FreeSync as well?

It might be able to but it's really made specifically for nvidia stuff.

 

Do you have a g-sync display and are wanting to buy vega 7 or something?

[DoyleB]

3 hours ago, mxk. said:

It might be able to but it's really made specifically for nvidia stuff.

 

Do you have a g-sync display and are wanting to buy vega 7 or something?

Yeah, as I stated in my original post, I just bought an Acer X34 monitor for Christmas... then CES happened announcing nvidia supporting FreeSync (which I imagine could hurt G-Sync monitor sales), and AMD announced Radeon VII. 

[asand1]

Most people wouldn't pay the extra $200 for a Gsync panel unless they expressly wanted to run a GeForce card. With you being the rare exception there is no market for that. Furthermore, the panel would have to be shipped back to the manufacturer for a firmware update for freesync.

[DoyleB]

9 hours ago, asand1 said:

Most people wouldn't pay the extra $200 for a Gsync panel unless they expressly wanted to run a GeForce card. With you being the rare exception there is no market for that. Furthermore, the panel would have to be shipped back to the manufacturer for a firmware update for freesync.

I doubt I’m a rare exception. I imagine anyone who has bought a g-sync monitor would like to have the option of picking their next graphics card based on the performance and price rather than being locked in because of the monitor that they already own. It used to be just something that had to be dealt with because either adaptive sync tech would lock you in (FreeSync or G-Sync) but now some FreeSync monitors will work with nvidia.

 

With that new information, I would probably buy a G-sync “certified” monitor so I’d have the freedom to pick because even if at the day of purchase an nvidia gpu makes the most sense it doesn’t mean nvidia will have the best card during the next upgrade (people probably upgrade GPUs more often than monitors). 

 

Because of that I think many people will make a similar decision. This potentially will hurt g-sync monitor sales. The fact that it could hurt sales is the only reason I would think monitor makers would consider unlocking FreeSync if it’s technologically feasible. 

[asand1]

3 hours ago, DoyleB said:

I doubt I’m a rare exception. I imagine anyone who has bought a g-sync monitor would like to have the option of picking their next graphics card based on the performance and price rather than being locked in because of the monitor that they already own. It used to be just something that had to be dealt with because either adaptive sync tech would lock you in (FreeSync or G-Sync) but now some FreeSync monitors will work with nvidia.

 

With that new information, I would probably buy a G-sync “certified” monitor so I’d have the freedom to pick because even if at the day of purchase an nvidia gpu makes the most sense it doesn’t mean nvidia will have the best card during the next upgrade (people probably upgrade GPUs more often than monitors). 

 

Because of that I think many people will make a similar decision. This potentially will hurt g-sync monitor sales. The fact that it could hurt sales is the only reason I would think monitor makers would consider unlocking FreeSync if it’s technologically feasible. 

Illogical, who would pay a $200 premium for Gsync in a monitor and then worry about value with the GPU. If you bought the Gsync monitor you've proven that value is not important, therefore AMD GPUs are not your market.

[asand1]

Regardless if your GPU can push the frames then async is not needed anyway. Dropping well below the refresh of the monitor is where tearing happens.