AMD's alternative to G-Sync, FreeSync?

[WYP]

Amd lately have been quiet on the topic of variable refresh rate, or rather Nvidia's G-Sync Technology. At CES today, AMD have a short demo of a free alternative to this Technology.

Apparently there is a current VESA standard for controlling VBLANK intervals and if the GPU's display engine and the monitor support it, then you can get a G-Sync equivalent with no additional hardware.

AMD simply need driver support for them to implement controlled VBLANK timing (or "FreeSync" as AMD call it). AMD claim this is already in the Latest Catalyst drivers, but the controls are not exposed to us end users.

Below is an excerpt from AnandTech's artice

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.

If what AMD say is true and all current generation AMD tech is compliant with this controlable VBLANK standard, then they will eventually be capable of FreeSync when it is ready(which includes both the PS4 and the XB1).

All in all, AMD seem to have worked out a potential G-Sync killer but only time will tell if it will become the new standard.

Source - AnandTech

 

[SieB]

Lol, someone from the OCUK forums sent AMD Roy a tweet a couple of weeks ago saying "when you come up with an alternative to Gsync call it FreeSync." Looks like they liked the sound of the name :lol:

 

[cooperman]

Lol, someone from the OCUK forums sent AMD Roy a tweet a couple of weeks ago saying "when you come up with an alternative to Gsync call it FreeSync." Looks like they liked the sound of the name :lol:

:lol:

 

[barnsley]

Oh my.
I wonder how Nvidia will react?
actually on second thoughts I don't. We all know where this thread will be going...

 

[SieB]

Oh my.
I wonder how Nvidia will react?
actually on second thoughts I don't. We all know where this thread will be going...

Lol, there's no need to say anything, the article speaks for itself.

But on a serious note, the only thing Nvidia can do is not charge for Gsync.

 

[barnsley]

Lol, there's no need to say anything, the article speaks for itself.

But on a serious note, the only thing Nvidia can do is not charge for Gsync.

Exactly . A win for all!

 

[SieB]

Exactly . A win for all!

It's to late for Nvidia to not charge for it though unfortunately. They already have the deals with manufacturers and hardware patents for the Gysnc part of the monitors.
Hopefully someone can do a modified driver or come up with some other way for Nvidia users that implements what AMD are using.

 

[GoogalyMoogaly]

Oh noes! It's going to be implemented in AMD drivers...
So little chance this will work for a good few iterations then?

I see there's also some mention of it requiring a DisplayPort connection

 

[Remmy]

Wow, they kept that one quiet didn't they Seems like they've pulled a fast one on Nvidia, I don't know how they could respond to that.

 

[Tripp]

good guy amd. i will probably end up getting a gsync monitor at some point, as my monitor was a cheap lcd. but am glad amd have stepped up, creates competition which in turn is good for all of us

 

[iiBetrayforAR]

Sounds noice.

 

[Wraith]

Wouldn't put it past AMD if they just waited until nVidia went public and started manufacture before revealing their own free version.

 

[hmmblah]

Lol, someone from the OCUK forums sent AMD Roy a tweet a couple of weeks ago saying "when you come up with an alternative to Gsync call it FreeSync." Looks like they liked the sound of the name :lol:

If that is true (no reason to doubt it) that is gold! I wish so badly that nVidia would work with the rest of the industry and push open standards instead of doing proprietary tech.

 

[SeekaX]

interesting. If this is going to be as good as gsync then this will obviously take over.
nvidia can't make gsync free, well they could but i doubt they would send out gsync modules for free
oh well, i already have a vg248qe, so as long as there is no soon release date i will still get a gsync module.

 

[Excalabur50]

Nice to see that AMD don't reach into peoples pockets as deeply as the other team does and yet still manage to do things as well.

 

[NeverBackDown]

So if this actually goes through. Nvidia fans get the great G-sync. While AMD fans get Mantle,TrueAudio, and FreeSync.. Sounds like an easy win to me?

 

[Zoot]

Amd lately have been quiet on the topic of variable refresh rate, or rather Nvidia's G-Sync Technology. At CES today, AMD have a short demo of a free alternative to this Technology.

Apparently there is a current VESA standard for controlling VBLANK intervals and if the GPU's display engine and the monitor support it, then you can get a G-Sync equivalent with no additional hardware.

If that much is true, particularly the part about the open standard and the lack of any new hardware needed, then this would really make G-Sync look totally irrelevant.

The jury is still out on how they'll both perform though.

 

[barnsley]

interesting. If this is going to be as good as gsync then this will obviously take over.
nvidia can't make gsync free, well they could but i doubt they would send out gsync modules for free

Haha you never know, they might have a change of heart ;D

 

[Dicehunter]

So if this actually goes through. Nvidia fans get the great G-sync. While AMD fans get Mantle,TrueAudio, and FreeSync.. Sounds like an easy win to me?

Suddenly an R9290X is looking very appealing ^_^

 

[barnsley]

Suddenly an R9290X is looking very appealing ^_^

Didn't you say no more messing around with your pc? ;D


Also this probably couldn't come at a worse time, AMD GPU prices are already a bit high thanks to greedy sellers mining crypto miners and this won't help lower them again :l.