Do I need freesync?

[CyeJames]

I'd like to buy a new 4K monitor for gaming and After Effects and was wondering if I definitely need freesync. I've got a RTX 2070 super if that helps. Thanks

[zeusthemoose]

If you have a 2070 super, then you don’t. FreeSync is for amd cards and gsync is the version for Nvidia. Not required but nice to have. FreeSync won’t do anything for you unless it’s also certified to work with gsync.

[Sorenson]

Its really nice to have. FPS drops otherwise cause noticeable hitches and stutters if you have Vsync on, and tearing if you have Vsync off. This is a problem even if you have the average frame rate over 60fps. Lets say your average was 65 fps in the game and you dipped into the 50s during demanding scenes. With Vsync on, every time your frame rate dipped under 60fps the refresh rate would be cut all the way down to 30. This is because when you leave the 60hz vsync range it gets cut in half to 30hz. this adjustment causes a noticeable hitch. However, if you have freesync, when you drop to 57 fps, your display just shows 57 frames. 

[Vapare]

You don't NEED it. It's more of a luxury than a necessity. I have a freesync monitor on my 1080ti and I barely even notice any difference. I wish I would have gone for a more cheaper solution than buying the monitor I have now because, in my experience, it hasn't been worth it. There can be a difference between non-free vs free monitors, but nothing that would justify a price hike for the feature if you do other things than just gaming.

 

Then the point comes down to cost. If the price is right, go for it. If getting a better deal on a freesync monitor that fits your needs beyond gaming is cheaper than one that doesn't have freesync, I would go for the freesync monitor. Otherwise, imho, not worth it.

 

Edit: Freesync monitors can be used with Nvidia cards if it is approved by Nvidia. Freesync isn't just exclusively AMD anymore.

Edited July 3, 2020 by Vapare
Clarification on someone's statement.

[Sorenson]

2 minutes ago, zeusthemoose said:

If you have a 2070 super, then you don’t. FreeSync is for amd cards and gsync is the version for Nvidia. Not required but nice to have. FreeSync won’t do anything for you unless it’s also certified to work with gsync.

nope all you have to do is check this box on non-certified monitors

[zeusthemoose]

34 minutes ago, Sorenson said:

nope all you have to do is check this box on non-certified monitors

I’ve heard it doesn’t work well on non certified monitors. Is that not true?

[Sorenson]

3 minutes ago, zeusthemoose said:

I’ve heard it doesn’t work well on non certified monitors. Is that not true?

not at all, that was nvidia marketing. When it first came out many reviewers looked into it and found that only like the crappiest/defective freesync monitors had issues. Otherwise, it worked just the way it would with an AMD card. I've used it on 3 non-certified monitors and had no noticeable issues at all. 

[zeusthemoose]

1 minute ago, Sorenson said:

 

Oh, I didn’t know that. Thank you!

[Doobeedoo]

If you're getting a new monitor yeah get one that has it. 

[SolarNova]

12 hours ago, CyeJames said:

I'd like to buy a new 4K monitor for gaming and After Effects and was wondering if I definitely need freesync. I've got a RTX 2070 super if that helps. Thanks

'need' .. no

'want' ..probably.

[CyeJames]

Thanks for all the comments and advice guys. This was one of the things that was really making it difficult to choose a monitor. Id see a really good monitor with everything that I needed but no freesync and pass on it. So if I dont need it that should make finding a monitor easier now. Thanks again