[UPDATE] Official : FreeSync Launched, Dubbed Adaptive-Sync.

[MajorChipHazard]

I can has free-sync?

[dizmo]

The so called next-gen consoles use HDMI. You need displayport 1.3 (I think that is the right version) to get variable framerates. Even if TV's got it, it would do nothing to a console as they can only use HDMI which is a terrible standard. 

But...you do understand that this isn't released yet right?

So by the time it's out and actually adopted, the next console version will be that much closer (4-5 years from the current launch they're slated for replacement), so it's not unrealistic to say that it could be in them.

[samuel]

RIP Mantle and Gsync. Thank you for your efforts, you did not die in vain!

[Equlix]

Since when did a standered being free mean that it would be automatically start being used? and while nvidia has done some really stupid things in the past, spending 5 years and millions on rnd for something that's already obsolete is just insane.

[Poohy14]

now just waiting for what Nvidia is going to do

[nicehat]

Correct me if I am wrong but wasn't it VESA that developed it, not AMD?

 

AMD by way of ATI is one of the biggest names (other than NEC, and Western Digital) that contribute to the VESA standard. AMD has been the major push behind driver control for VBLANK intervals within VESA so as to compete directly with G-Sync. This is AMD's doing.  

[ShiverMePenguins]

Just to re-iterate although people will get upset, Free-sync was developed as a technology for mobile devices (i.e. tablets) to have a better battery life, mainly by reducing the refresh rate in monitors when viewing certain content as a way to save battery life by reducing the amount of energy used by the display. And on that note, it was fairly effective on some of the laptops it's used with according to vesa and amd.

[nicehat]

Just to re-iterate although people will get upset, Free-sync was developed as a technology for mobile devices (i.e. tablets) to have a better battery life, mainly by reducing the refresh rate in monitors when viewing certain content as a way to save battery life by reducing the amount of energy used by the display. And on that note, it was fairly effective on some of the laptops it's used with according to vesa and amd.

 

 

Well, that doesnt explain why since it's inception, even the very first Kabini APU's up to current GPU's supported and still support Freesync out of the box. AMD hasnt gotten around to making a driver to actually make use of it until now. Tablets and mobile devices may benefit with more battery life, but the intent was to make sweeping changes to all display device GPU combinations. 

[LAwLz]

AMD by way of ATI is one of the biggest names (other than NEC, and Western Digital) that contribute to the VESA standard. AMD has been the major push behind driver control for VBLANK intervals within VESA so as to compete directly with G-Sync. This is AMD's doing.  

Nvidia is also a member of the VESA forums.

 

AMD just took the adaptive-sync standard, wrote a driver, packaged it as "FreeSync" and then demoed it. AMD did play a role in bringing us adaptive-sync, but they were not the ones that invented it. That's what I am saying.

They proposed that the eDP standard should be ported to regular DP, they have talked to monitor manufacturers and they pushed for it, but I don't think it's fair to say that "FreeSync launched, dubbed adaptive-sync". Freesync is an implementation of adaptive-sync, not the other way around.

[Notional]

Just to re-iterate although people will get upset, Free-sync was developed as a technology for mobile devices (i.e. tablets) to have a better battery life, mainly by reducing the refresh rate in monitors when viewing certain content as a way to save battery life by reducing the amount of energy used by the display. And on that note, it was fairly effective on some of the laptops it's used with according to vesa and amd.

You got that the wrong way around: VBLANK was developed for laptops for battery saving. VBLANK is the tech behind g-sync and adaptive-sync (freesync). 

[ACatWithThumbs]

Right now, no they don't. Doesn't mean that the next variant won't.

 

While you're right about requiring a monitor that supports it, you're wrong about it costing more. It's a free standard, it costs the manufacturers nothing to implement.

 

3D vision is a joke. 3D in general is largely abandoned in the TV space, it was a gimmick to try and push TV sales and it hasn't taken off.

 

Is it impossible for them to in future editions? Nope, not at all. Extremely easy, in fact.

If they don't have display port now than they won't have it later.(They would also need to have different software to enable support)

The hole point of the console is that it doesn't change.

They would never make a different version that supports more features than the older version.

The standard may be free but not the tech inside.

The module to enable it is more complex than a normal one because it has to communicate with the GPU.

So they have to increase the price if they want to have the same profit.

[dizmo]

If they don't have display port now than they won't have it later.(They would also need to have different software to enable support)

The hole point of the console is that it doesn't change.

They would never make a different version that supports more features than the older version.

The standard may be free but not the tech inside.

The module to enable it is more complex than a normal one because it has to communicate with the GPU.

So they have to increase the price if they want to have the same profit.

That logic makes no sense. TV's don't have DisplayPort, so why would consoles? If TV's added a DP to gain access to Adaptive-Sync, then consoles easily could as well. It's simply a port.

Yes, you're right. It doesn't need to be upgraded. They change from revision to revision. They didn't always, for example, have HDMI now did they?

 

It costs more to have HDMI inside, which they actually have to pay a high licensing fee for, than DP. So I see the cost being minimal if anything at all.

[JackieTran]

Q: What are the requirements to use FreeSync?

A: To take advantage of the benefits of Project FreeSync, users will require: a monitor compatible with DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync, a compatible AMD Radeon GPU with a DisplayPort connection, and a compatible AMD Catalyst graphics driver. AMD plans to release a compatible graphics driver to coincide with the introduction of the first DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync monitors.

 

Will Nvidia GPU's be supported too? If they both do the same job, what's the point of me buying the more expensive GSync monitor...

[martinrox1568]

No, it is not literally the same. With G-sync the monitor's refresh rate synchronizes with the GPU and with freesync the GPU's frame rate synchronizes with the monitor.

umm no. If the monitor is 60hz the gpu wouldn't constantly show 60fps, that's vsync

[Askew]

So if I were to sit at a pc using g sync, and then at a pc using freesync and play a game on both systems will there be a discernable difference?

[ItsLinkNotZelda]

Only compatible with r9 290\x and 260? That kind of sucks if you ask me. Hopefully their next gen cards will all support this. The extra $200 Nvidia is asking as a bit too much.

[AllstaRawR]

Only compatible with r9 290\x and 260? That kind of sucks if you ask me. Hopefully their next gen cards will all support this. The extra $200 Nvidia is asking as a bit too much.

 

As in anything HIGHER than a 260. 260X, 270, 270X, 280, 280X, 290, 290X... Then the other cards with that architecture, so most likely the 7000 series too...

 

EDIT: Huh. Missed some information. Guess it's just the 60's and 90's.

[xAcid9]

As in anything HIGHER than a 260. 260X, 270, 270X, 280, 280X, 290, 290X... Then the other cards with that architecture, so most likely the 7000 series too...

 

No, if you notice the pattern they only listed GCN 1.1 GPU except 7790.

[ItsLinkNotZelda]

As in anything HIGHER than a 260. 260X, 270, 270X, 280, 280X, 290, 290X... Then the other cards with that architecture, so most likely the 7000 series too...

The article says that the 290,290x, 260, and 260x are compatible. Probably because these cards are GCN 1.1 and the rest of the cards are just rebrands.

[Humbug]

Totally different approaches from nvidia and AMD in terms of marketing this. Nvidia marketed it to consumers (us), whereas AMD pushed for industry adoption.

[LAwLz]

So if I were to sit at a pc using g sync, and then at a pc using freesync and play a game on both systems will there be a discernable difference?

The G-Sync monitor would include LightBoost which greatly reduce motion blur. It shouldn't really be any difference other than that.

[ACatWithThumbs]

That logic makes no sense. TV's don't have DisplayPort, so why would consoles? If TV's added a DP to gain access to Adaptive-Sync, then consoles easily could as well. It's simply a port.

Yes, you're right. It doesn't need to be upgraded. They change from revision to revision. They didn't always, for example, have HDMI now did they?

 

It costs more to have HDMI inside, which they actually have to pay a high licensing fee for, than DP. So I see the cost being minimal if anything at all.

You need a different graphics driver for Adpative-Sync and their is no way Sony or Microsoft would make a console with a different port and different driver set.

This would cause a huge backlash that would hurt the console sales immensely.

It also wouldn't benefit a console because 90% of the games run at locked 30FPS.

The game devs would have to take the Adaptive-sync into consideration while developing which they can't do if millions of players don't support it.

I think you don't get that it's more than just a display port that you have to put in the TV/Monitor.

The hole controller which the port is on has to be changed for variable refresh rate to work and that costs a lot of money.

 

 

[coreRoss]

AMD seems to be getting a few wins in... quite impressed with there performance at the moment. Hope they keep it up.

[kuddlesworth9419]

But...you do understand that this isn't released yet right?

So by the time it's out and actually adopted, the next console version will be that much closer (4-5 years from the current launch they're slated for replacement), so it's not unrealistic to say that it could be in them.

And who says there will be a next-next gen console. And even if there was I doubt they will use display port. They will probably still use shitty HDMI as most peasant TV's use HDMI. MasterRaceDisplayPort.

[GuestForeverX]

If adaptive sync(free-sync) is open and free doesn't that mean every GPU should be able to use it? So future Nvidia GPUs, AMD GPU/ APUs, and Intel Integrated Graphics.  Doesn't everyone win?