AMD FreeSync - AMD's Free G-SYNC Alternative

[thedigitalmilk]

Instead of calling it "Free-Sync" they should have called it "Hahagof*ckyourselfNvidia-Sync"

[Torand]

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"

 

From what I can see it appears to be an industry standard? I've updated the original post with the link to the VESA standard.

 

But here's the linky anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Video_Timings

 

So possibly it could be just a current plug and play technology? With a driver/software update of course.

[Derangel]

This seems to work more like Nvidia's adaptive vsync than G-sync. As long it still requires vsync to be running it will not be a perfect solution, nor match G-sync. Vsync running adds lag no matter how it is implimented and this does nothing to solve that. So essentially it is a better version of Adaptive Vsync. A software solution is never going to match a hardware one. All that aside, it is nice to see some attention being given to vsync on both sides. I despise using vsync but in many games it is unavoidable.

[Torand]

This seems to work more like Nvidia's adaptive vsync than G-sync. As long it still requires vsync to be running it will not be a perfect solution, nor match G-sync. Vsync running adds lag no matter how it is implimented and this does nothing to solve that. So essentially it is a better version of Adaptive Vsync. A software solution is never going to match a hardware one. All that aside, it is nice to see some attention being given to vsync on both sides. I despise using vsync but in many games it is unavoidable.

 

Not quite, its still a hardware level implementation, they are just using software to activate and then apply control. I thought that at first, when the article mentioned that it was software at first, I had the same thoughts "Well its no better than adapted VSync", but then they went on to explain how it integrates with functions in the monitor, such as VBLANK and receiving command signals from the GPU.

[TopWargamer]

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

Good thing I'm GCN ready.

[LAwLz]

From what I can see it appears to be an industry standard? I've updated the original post with the link to the VESA standard.

 

But here's the linky anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Video_Timings

 

So possibly it could be just a current plug and play technology? With a driver/software update of course.

Just because it is a VESA standard does not mean all existing hardware supports it. Hopefully a lot will, but there is no guarantee.

 

If they don't mess this up it will be great. I will reserve my judgement until we get several reviews out though.

[ACatWithThumbs]

From what I can see it appears to be an industry standard? I've updated the original post with the link to the VESA standard.

 

But here's the linky anyway: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Video_Timings

 

So possibly it could be just a current plug and play technology? With a driver/software update of course.

No this is just the standard for the fixed 60hz/16ms timing.

If all the screens would support VBLANK then we wouldn't need a G-sync module because that's what it does.

It works because they're using the Toshiba Satellite Click which is a tablet:

In the case of the Toshiba Satellite Click, the panel already supports variable VBLANK.

And as you can see here AMD only mansions mobile devices because TV's and Monitors don't have VBLANK built in.

 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).

 

[Derangel]

Not quite, its still a hardware level implementation, they are just using software to activate and then apply control. I thought that at first, when the article mentioned that it was software at first, I had the same thoughts "Well its no better than adapted VSync", but then they went on to explain how it integrates with functions in the monitor, such as VBLANK and receiving command signals from the GPU.

 

I doubt it is a full hardware solution. Most likely it is something supported on the firmware level on the panel's PCB and either the firmware or driver level on the GPU. It is better than a pure software solution like I initially thought but I'm not convinced that it will solve all the problems with vsync. It is a step in the right direction though, especially if AMD starts working with the big monitor manufactures to get support going. If it's a firmware level thing it shouldn't affect the price of displays at all since there won't be any additional hardware that they need to include and also it won't be something they need to pay to license.

[afa7336]

Interesting and nice. But something I found disturbing to say the least was the quote that they've had this for years (well several generations) in the hardware. Thats fucked up that it took Nvidia coming out with something, for AMD to get off their collective asses and push it out! I'm not totally convinced until we see more reviews, mainly because we're seeing it on what are laptops/notebooks/ultrabooks whatever and not in a system with external monitors. But this would be epic.

[bob345]

Cool for laptops an such. Too bad it won't work on normal monitors.

[Xorbot]

WE KNEW THIS WAS COMMING!

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

 

It was called Free Sync likely because it rhymes with V-Sync and G-Sync.

 

Much like how G-mail rolls off the tongue because it rhymes with E-mail, or the Tribes 2's T-mail in-game messaging system.

[Fetzie]

It was called Free Sync likely because it rhymes with V-Sync and G-Sync.

 

Much like how G-mail rolls off the tongue because it rhymes with E-mail, or the Tribes 2's T-mail in-game messaging system.

 

Also because it is free, and G-Sync isn't.

[MagnetSh0CK]

Yay now I don't have to mod my Asus 248qe for g sync, and I can stick with AMD...Life is good

[Derangel]

Cool for laptops an such. Too bad it won't work on normal monitors.

 

There is no reason it won't work on normal monitors. It just won't work on monitors out now unless they happen to have support built in already.

[LAwLz]

Also because it is free, and G-Sync isn't.

This isn't free either.

[TheProfosist]

If its actually a vesa standard nvidia could use this too. I belive it is as they have been doing this stuff on phones for a while. Im gald to see it coming to laptops as I already run my thinkpads display at 50hrz.

[neon]

So Nvidia purposefully developed a proprietary technology that there was already an industry wide standard for but was not implemented, all for what?  So it can extort licence fees from everyone and because only Nvidia cards will ever support it, and so it can hold control over AMD and Intel.

 

I was all for G-sync but now that it just turns out to be a proprietary solution I'm more than irked, Nvidia is basically acting like Sony.

 

I'm glad there is this solution using VBLANK which is already part of the standard and just needs simply to be implemented into monitors and to software, so both AMD and Intel can use it to the same effect as G-sync, an open to all solution is always preferable to proprietary nonsense.

[Materi]

YEY, i have been waiting for this since tom's hardware had a couple of AMD guys for a visit and one of them told that they would counter G-sync. it's sooooo much better in my eyes because it's free and availebole for everyone with a compatibole monitor and GPU (maby even nvida?). to the one's saying g-sync might be better you might be right but i don't want to tie myself down to Nvidia for 4-5 years (yeah i dont buy a new monitor every year. as linus said himself it's better to buy a really good one a hold on to it.). and this also means that AMD won't be locked out of a market share, but might actually steal it. 

 

i just have to point out, do any one but me cinda want to watch linus torvalds say "f**k you nvidia" becaus it cinda feels like this is AMD saying "F**k you Nvidia and keep that G-s*** for yourself"

 

P.s. sorry about the REALLY bad english, but i'm tierd and it's not my native language. 

[jbro1232]

Just thinking out loud, would this help towards the frame stuttering issues when x-firing?

[Derangel]

Just thinking out loud, would this help towards the frame stuttering issues when x-firing?

 

No. That has nothing to do with vsync.

[jbro1232]

No. That has nothing to do with vsync.

 

I suppose they would be restricted on what they can do with this firmware / software development, but is it out of the realms of possibility that they can instruct the monitor to only refresh the screen when a complete frame has been rendered, and not for a partial frame? Thus helping (but not fixing) this issue?

[JohnnyGrey]

As awesome as this is, anyone notice that the image on the left actually looks better?

[Derangel]

I suppose they would be restricted on what they can do with this firmware / software development, but is it out of the realms of possibility that they can instruct the monitor to only refresh the screen when a complete frame has been rendered, and not for a partial frame? Thus helping (but not fixing) this issue?

 

The frame time/microstuttering issue with CFX is a driver problem and has to due with how the cards talk to each other. It has been a problem since crossfire was created. AMD's new version of CFX used in the 290 and 290x fixes the problem and they will be rolling out a driver sometime soon to finish fixing it for other cards.

[Sidiox]

I am really wondering how this pans out. There must be a reason why NVIDIA made such a special chip for it

[Fetzie]

I am really wondering how this pans out. There must be a reason why NVIDIA made such a special chip for it

 

Personally, I reckon its because they thought they'd make some money out of it.