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AMD FreeSync - AMD's Free G-SYNC Alternative

Torand

 

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AMD has been relatively silent on the topic of NVIDIA’s variable refresh rate G-Sync technology since its announcement last year. At this year’s CES however, AMD gave me a short demo of its version of the technology.

 

Using two Toshiba Satellite Click notebooks purchased at retail, without any hardware modifications, AMD demonstrated variable refresh rate technology. According to AMD, there’s been a push to bring variable refresh rate display panels to mobile for a while now in hopes of reducing power consumption (refreshing a display before new content is available wastes power, sort of the same reason we have panel self refresh displays). There’s apparently already a VESA standard for controlling VBLANK intervals. The GPU’s display engine needs to support it, as do the panel and display hardware itself. If all of the components support this spec however, then you can get what appears to be the equivalent of G-Sync without any extra hardware.

 

In the case of the Toshiba Satellite Click, the panel already supports variable VBLANK. AMD’s display engines have supported variable VBLANK for a couple of generations, and that extends all the way down to APUs. The Satellite Click in question uses AMD’s low cost Kabini APU, which already has the requisite hardware to support variable VBLANK and thus variable display refresh rates (Kaveri as well as AMD's latest GPUs should support it as well). AMD simply needed driver support for controlling VBLANK timing, which is present in the latest Catalyst drivers. AMD hasn’t yet exposed any of the controls to end users, but all of the pieces in this demo are ready and already available.

 

The next step was to write a little demo app that could show it working. In the video below both systems have V-Sync enabled, but the machine on the right is taking advantage of variable VBLANK intervals. Just like I did in our G-Sync review, I took a 720p60 video of both screens and slowed it down to make it easier to see the stuttering you get with V-Sync On when your content has a variable frame rate. AMD doesn’t want to charge for this technology since it’s already a part of a spec that it has implemented (and shouldn’t require a hardware change to those panels that support the spec), hence the current working name “FreeSync”.

 

 

AMD’s demo isn’t quite as nice as NVIDIA’s swinging pendulum, and we obviously weren’t able to test anywhere near as many scenarios, but this one is a good starting point. The system on the left is limited to 30 fps given the heavy workload and v-sync being on, while the system on the right is able to vary its frame rate and synchronize presenting each frame to the display's refresh rate. AMD isn’t ready to productize this nor does it have a public go to market strategy, but my guess is we’ll see more panel vendors encouraged to include support for variable VBLANK and perhaps an eventual AMD driver update that enables control over this function.

 

In our review I was pretty pleased with G-Sync. I’d be even more pleased if all panels/systems supported it. AMD’s “FreeSync” seems like a step in that direction (and a sensible one too that doesn’t require any additional hardware). If variable VBLANK control is indeed integrated into all modern AMD GPUs, that means the Xbox One and PS4 should also have support for this. Given G-Sync’s sweet spot at between 40 - 60 fps, I feel like “FreeSync” would be a big win for AMD’s APUs.

 

 

Full credit for the article goes to AnandTech:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7641/amd-demonstrates-freesync-free-gsync-alternative-at-ces-2014

 

 

 

If they can pull this off, it will be amazing.

 

The power saving idea on the notebooks is also a great addition and use of the technology, leaving the display in an idle, non refreshing state when there is no update in frames from the GPU. Not to mention, in theory this doesn't have a limit on what panels it can support as its just enabled at the factory (right? i think?).

 

Looks interesting none the less. Although AMD does not yet have a clear target for market release (time & date) or product names, etc.. But here's to the future! :)

 

 

 

EDIT: added information & article extract. Elaborated slightly. 

 

EDIT 2: Here is the Wiki listing for the VESA VBLANK standard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Video_Timings

 

EDIT 3: Please read this thread before commenting [ http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/99660-the-real-difference-between-free-sync-vs-g-sync/ ]. Gives you a better understanding of the technology, this article is just bringing the fact that it exists and basic information. 

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WE KNEW THIS WAS COMMING!

I just named it wrong, R-Sync.Damn.

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Too bad I have an Nvidia GPU..

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If this really does end up happening I really can't see how G sync will even compete...

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AMD... Just one upped Nvidia a little bit right?

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og come on, I was so going for a 780, and now I'm thinking about going 290....

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I love how this is just soooooo much better than G-Sync, because it works with every display.

THIS SIGNATURE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

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So to all of you AMD haters, HAH, we get both Mantle AND essentially G-Sync, oh, and Bitcoin mining. WHAT NOW!?

They're better at OpenCL too.

The prices of AMD cards will rise even higher!Let's hope not though.

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Wow... Go AMD go! :D

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So to all of you AMD haters, HAH, we get both Mantle AND essentially G-Sync, oh, and Bitcoin mining. WHAT NOW!?

Maybe you should call the fire department.

Quote me to get a reply!

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yeah, i was wondering why nvidia has to built a chip inside the monitor and not use some special software for this...

 

im too lazy to read caus i watch the nvidia press conferenc right now (coincidence? :D) but can anyone tell me if you can use it with a nvidia gpu? ^^

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I love how this is just soooooo much better than G-Sync, because it works with every display.

It doesn't they say the Display has to support it also which isn't the case for every screen.

Only panels with the VESA support it !

"The GPU’s display engine needs to support it, as do the panel and display hardware itself"

RTX2070OC 

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"Free-Sync". Love it.

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This is essentially AMD giving Nvidia the finger.

 

Gif related:

5JyuWms.gif

 

So to all of you AMD haters, HAH, we get both Mantle AND essentially G-Sync, oh, and Bitcoin mining. WHAT NOW!?

 

Don't forget h.264 recording with RadeonPro on the horizon.

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yeah, i was wondering why nvidia has to built a chip inside the monitor and not use some special software for this...

 

im too lazy to read caus i watch the nvidia press conferenc right now (coincidence? :D) but can anyone tell me if you can use it with a nvidia gpu? ^^

 

No reason I can see why you can't. It's based off an existing technology in monitors called VBLANK. They are utilizing that existing ability for the monitor to receive instructions from the GPU on when to send the next frame or what to do next. It just being enabled via software, a driver update.

 

I think I've got it right, someone please correct me if i haven't/missed something.

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Welp, now if Mantle is a huge success, this will be a HUGE game changer for AMD and Nvidia

 

Which is great news. Hopefully AMD's new APUs are a success as well. 

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I love this news so much I want to have it's babies!

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even though it's killing AMD and you actually loose money by mining bitcoins

Not sure what you are talking about. I agree it is hurting AMD's ability to produce enough GPUs to get them into gamer's hands, but I'm making money mining when I do (70% of the time, which is when I'm not on my PC). 

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No reason I can see why you can't. It's based off an existing technology in monitors called VBLANK. They are utilizing that existing ability for the monitor to receive instructions from the GPU on when to send the next frame or what to do next. It just being enabled via software, a driver update.

 

I think I've got it right, someone please correct me if i haven't/missed something.

 

That sounds about right. It is using a pre-existing industry standard feature to do the same thing as nVidia's 200 dollar daughter-board.

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