FREESYNC OVER HDMI IS HERE!!!

[Prysin]

 

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One of the big things to come out of Computex last year was our exclusive preview of a new project by AMD: being able to bring variable refresh rate technology through HDMI rather than via the more traditional method, DisplayPort. At the time, the demo seemed limited to a single monitor using a custom protocol between the standard GPU and a Realtek TCON with custom firmware to enable it. HDMI by default does not support the commands for a variable refresh rate, but the custom protocol additions made it possible with AMD wanting to move the standard in order to do so. At the time we were told that AMD wasn’t looking to produce the monitors needed to drive it, but wanted to open the standard up so any monitor manufacturer. In December, AMD announced that several manufacturers had stepped up to the plate, including Samsung, LG and Acer, with Samsung seeming to commit to more retail models than the others. Today’s announcement is a culmination of that effort.

 

 

Quote

The CF390 (23.5-inch and 27-inch) and CF591 (27-inch only) are two panels that differ primarily in screen size and IO capabilities, but offer a couple of distinct features: FreeSync-over-HDMI support and an 1800R curve. This means that the circle that defines the curvature of the panel has a radius of 1800 mm (70.866 inches), which is much tighter than other panels on the market (2700R or 3000R typical). These panels are a mix of high quality and FHD resolution, promoting a 3000:1 contrast ratio and 119% sRGB coverage on the CF591 models.

The VA panels use a circular stand, they support 16.7 million colors (8-bit per channel), and have a rated brightness of 250 nits. The CF591 27-inch model is available in silver and white, whereas the CF390 models are black/glossy only. The CF591 also has DisplayPort, two HDMI 1.4 ports, D-Sub and audio in, whereas the CF390 models are solely D-Sub and HDMI. No word if either monitor has additional USB functionality.

Quote

These new monitors will be available in the US, Europe and Asia in March, with other regions coming in April. They require an AMD variable refresh rate capable graphics card to enable the mode. Currently Samsung has the refresh rate listed as '60 Hz', not stating the Freesync minimum or maximum refresh rates supported

 

Now this is frikkin exciting. Sadly these are 8-bit panels, and not 10-bit HDR panels. BUT, Freesync over HDMI. FUCKING AWESOME.

I hope there will be potential firmware updates to existing monitors to allow freesync over HDMI, if the controller and panel supports it.

 

Anyway, what do you guys think?

 

 

Source: http://anandtech.com/show/10104/freesync-over-hdmi-samsung-monitors-cf591-cf390

[don_svetlio]

RiP G-sync?

[EzioAuditore]

Kreygasm

[sushisharkjl]

Most Freesync-compatible displays have either DVI or Displayport, what's the breakthrough here? Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of using HDMI if I can help it.

[Kobathor]

1 minute ago, sushisharkjl said:

Most Freesync-compatible displays have either DVI or Displayport, what's the breakthrough here? Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of using HDMI if I can help it.

Up until these monitors, Freesync wouldn't function over HDMI or DVI. Now it will.

[vanished]

So do you think we'll see it in TVs at some point?  I'm being kind of picky here but if I play a movie at 24 fps, I'd like it to actually be 24 fps and not faked on a 60 hz panel

[sushisharkjl]

Just now, Kobathor said:

Up until these monitors, Freesync wouldn't function over HDMI or DVI. Now it will.

That makes doesn't make sense though, aren't Displayport and HDMI electronically compatible? DVI does make sense though.

 

Well I found tonight's Google research project bois

[Trixanity]

2 minutes ago, sushisharkjl said:

Most Freesync-compatible displays have either DVI or Displayport, what's the breakthrough here? Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of using HDMI if I can help it.

That HDMI is the most ubiquitous display standard today, particularly on cheaper displays where you often won't find display port. Also, dvi does not support freesync. You're confusing variable refresh rate with high refresh rate. 

[Prysin]

1 minute ago, sushisharkjl said:

Most Freesync-compatible displays have either DVI or Displayport, what's the breakthrough here? Maybe it's just me but I'm not a fan of using HDMI if I can help it.

This is now being worked towards being a VESA standard. HDMI is the most widely used display connector in the world atm... Neither Freesync or G-Sync has been able to push variable refresh rate over HDMI until now....

 

Now, imagine if your TV can get Freesync..... 50" 60-75Hz OLED screen WITH FREESYNC... just, imagine....

Because now, with HDMI.... it is a possibility....

[Prysin]

2 minutes ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

So do you think we'll see it in TVs at some point?  I'm being kind of picky here but if I play a movie at 24 fps, I'd like it to actually be 24 fps and not faked on a 60 hz panel

Freesync is controled by drivers.... it wont kick in unless it is a game.

[Kobathor]

3 minutes ago, sushisharkjl said:

That makes doesn't make sense though, aren't Displayport and HDMI electronically compatible? DVI does make sense though.

Well I found tonight's Google research project bois

You can adapt DP to HDMI, and HDMI to DP- but I don't think they're the same. That's why HDMI 2.0 is worse than DP 1.3. DP also carries data signals, Thunderbolt signals, and other things HDMI doesn't do.

 

Do research it, I don't know much on the topic of display connectors.

[vanished]

Just now, Prysin said:

Freesync is controled by drivers.... it wont kick in unless it is a game.

so video player software, whether it be actual software like VLC for example or a program of some sort running on a bluray player, cable box, etc. will have to be updated to use it then.

[sushisharkjl]

1 minute ago, Prysin said:

This is now being worked towards being a VESA standard. HDMI is the most widely used display connector in the world atm... Neither Freesync or G-Sync has been able to push variable refresh rate over HDMI until now....

 

Now, imagine if your TV can get Freesync..... 50" 60-75Hz OLED screen WITH FREESYNC... just, imagine....

Because now, with HDMI.... it is a possibility....

I know that HDMI is the most widely used connector, but it's also licensed by a stupid company (much like G-Sync), which is (I think) the proximate reason why it has not supported VRR. The reason I'm confused is because this tech is not going to make previously non-Freesync displays support Freesync.

1 minute ago, Trixanity said:

That HDMI is the most ubiquitous display standard today, particularly on cheaper displays where you often won't find display port. Also, dvi does not support freesync. You're confusing variable refresh rate with high refresh rate. 

No, I'm not. I thought DVI was able to use variable refresh rate, thank you for correcting me.

[Prysin]

Just now, Ryan_Vickers said:

so video player software, whether it be actual software like VLC for example or a program of some sort running on a bluray player, cable box, etc. will have to be updated to use it then.

dont think AMD has any sort of video player added to their freesync list...

videos run off the intergrated h.264/h.265 decoder.... whilst it does use the GPU, i do not think it fires up "the right things" inside of there to trigger a driver response in any way.

 

GPU drivers know the difference between hardware accelerated web videos, local playback through MPC/VLC/iTunes/whatever and actual D3DX/OpenGL games....

[sushisharkjl]

5 minutes ago, Kobathor said:

You can adapt DP to HDMI, and HDMI to DP- but I don't think they're the same. That's why HDMI 2.0 is worse than DP 1.3. DP also carries data signals, Thunderbolt signals, and other things HDMI doesn't do.

 

Do research it, I don't know much on the topic of display connectors.

Hm. Looks like they are not electronically compatible; Displayport 1.2 has roughly 1.7x the data capacity of HDMI 1.4. Displayport on its own is not capable of carrying data other than sound, whereas HDMI is able to carry two-way audio and Ethernet.

 

Displayport is not inherently able to carry Thunderbolt, it's just that when Apple introduced the Mini-Displayport standard and popularised Thunderbolt, they integrated their Thunderbolt controller into the port.

[Prysin]

3 minutes ago, sushisharkjl said:

I know that HDMI is the most widely used connector, but it's also licensed by a stupid company (much like G-Sync), which is (I think) the proximate reason why it has not supported VRR. The reason I'm confused is because this tech is not going to make previously non-Freesync displays support Freesync.

No, I'm not. I thought DVI was able to use variable refresh rate, thank you for correcting me.

actually, VRR is dependent on the monitor controller and panel. NOT the cable per say (although cable bandwidth DO matter). Also, HDMI is a VESA standard. VESA is the industry standard for monitors and a few other things, like RAM.... Meaning it is open for everyone to use and implement. Nobody can say "you cannot use HDMI cuz this is our tech"... it is an open technology open to any company that wishes to use it. Although, you may have to join the VESA consortium? which is basically a just "sign up here" for companies to get their newsletters and other info....

 

Either way, electrically, what limits HDMI is bandwidth.

HDMI 1.4a supports 4K at 30Hz or 1080p at 120Hz.....

HDMI 2.0 supports 4k at 60Hz and 1080p at god knows what Hz.

 

HDMI 2.0 is nearly twice the bandwidth of HDMI 1.4a

 

you can read more about HDMI here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Version_1.4

[sushisharkjl]

Just now, Prysin said:

actually, VRR is dependent on the monitor controller and panel. NOT the cable per say (although cable bandwidth DO matter). Also, HDMI is a VESA standard. VESA is the industry standard for monitors and a few other things, like RAM.... Meaning it is open for everyone to use and implement. Nobody can say "you cannot use HDMI cuz this is our tech"... it is an open technology open to any company that wishes to use it. Although, you may have to join the VESA consortium? which is basically a just "sign up here" for companies to get their newsletters and other info....

 

Either way, electrically, what limits HDMI is bandwidth.

HDMI 1.4a supports 4K at 30Hz or 1080p at 120Hz.....

HDMI 2.0 supports 4k at 60Hz and 1080p at god knows what Hz.

 

HDMI 2.0 is nearly twice the bandwidth of HDMI 1.4a

 

you can read more about HDMI here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#Version_1.4

HDMI is a VESA standard? I thought the VESA standard was Displayport and HDMI is owned by some consortium, hence why all products that use HDMI are required to pay a license fee.

 

The HDMI licensing may be one factor as to why the HDMI bandwidth is so low ATM, since that one consortium is probably sitting on their arse all day doing nothing until the market forces them to.

 

 

[Monkey Dust]

I wonder if this was developed with the next gen consoles in mind? Getting it out now gives it chance for TV manufactures to pick it up so it's a selling point for the PS5 and XBOXTwo60 (or whatever MS calls it).

[SurvivorNVL]

Now I just need nVidia to start supporting it.

[Prysin]

2 minutes ago, SurvivorNVL said:

Now I just need nVidia to start supporting it.

3 years minimum before Nvidia starts supporting Freesync IF AT ALL.

Not a day sooner.

[VagabondWraith]

4 minutes ago, SurvivorNVL said:

Now I just need nVidia to start supporting it.

nVidia's not gonna support Freesync. Not while G-Sync is alive and well.

[Prysin]

Just now, VagabondWraith said:

nVidia's not gonna support Freesync. Not while G-Sync is alive and well.

however, Intel has said they are willing to support freesync... If intel backs it (with their HUGE array of iGPU equipped CPUs), Nvidias G-Sync will be insanely irrelevant. Freesync would have a larger market share of potential users, and also cheaper to make (no proprietary module) for the manufacturers.

 

There would be A LOT of shitty Freesync monitors, but there would be more of them, as it is simply a question of enabling firmware settings in the controller and i bet most 60Hz panels DO support the tech to some degree....

[vanished]

53 minutes ago, Prysin said:

dont think AMD has any sort of video player added to their freesync list...

videos run off the intergrated h.264/h.265 decoder.... whilst it does use the GPU, i do not think it fires up "the right things" inside of there to trigger a driver response in any way.

 

GPU drivers know the difference between hardware accelerated web videos, local playback through MPC/VLC/iTunes/whatever and actual D3DX/OpenGL games....

Yeah, so there's got to be some teamwork between driver makers and software devs, etc.

[Bouzoo]

Are you even excited about this? I didn't get where you stand from the title.

 

On a serious note, what exactly is the resolution of those things? And that stand... blah.

[DocSwag]

Personally... I don't give a crap since I can just use it over displayport... but it might be useful to some people.

On another note... freesync tvs