You may have heard something about FreeSync, or AMD’s new competitor to Nvidia’s G-Sync. What is FreeSync, and why should you care? Let’s find out.
Ok, I know what you’re thinking — what exactly is FreeSync? How does it work? While there are several products that go by the name of FreeSync or adaptive sync, I’m referring specifically to AMD’s version of adaptive sync technology.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at how FreeSync works, how it compares to G-Sync ,and whether or not it’s worth using.
What is AMD FreeSync?
FreeSync is a synchronisation technology for your monitor to counter two problems that can occur with monitors. The first issue they try to solve is the tearing issue that occurs between a graphics card and the monitor. This problem can be seen when there are fast moving objects on the screen and when your mouse moves over these areas.
FreeSync is AMD’s own display technology, which aims to do away with screen-tearing and stuttering. FreeSync is a technology which allows for your graphics card and monitor to talk with each other in a different way. It allows you to take advantage of something called variable refresh rates. A variable refresh rate means your monitor will match the frame rate outputted by your graphics card. This allows for a smoother gaming experience and less screen tearing while in game.
When a game’s FPS varies from frame to frame, FreeSync is there to help with a smoother experience. With AMD’s FreeSync technology, you get the best of both worlds: breath-taking visual fidelity alongside the low latency and plug-and-play compatibility. You’ll experience perfectly smooth gameplay that keeps up with your multi-display gaming for a breathtaking out-of-the-box experience.
Check out the Best Monitor For MacBook Air reviewed by themacios team.
However, as games get more complex and require a stronger GPU to run at higher frame rates, adaptive sync can become an absolute lifesaver. Some titles, like Grand Theft Auto V and Crysis 3, will crash your system if you enable V-Sync on a non-FreeSync monitor. In these games, adaptive sync gives you the benefits of smooth frame rates without the disadvantages of overbearing V-sync. This is what adaptive sync is meant for: practical use.
What FreeSync really does?
FreeSync is a technology that works with AMD video cards to sync your display’s refresh rate to the card. This means that your monitor will auto-adjust the refresh rate depending on what frame rate you’re getting in your game. If the frame rate is higher than the refresh rate, FreeSync will enable V-Sync, which will help to eliminate tearing. For example, if you’re running at 60 frames per second, and you have a monitor that supports 120Hz (FreeSync range), V-Sync will help keep your frames from going above that 60 mark. This means no more tearing.
Do you know What Monitor refresh rate and Is 60hz good for Gaming?
LFC or low framerate compensation is a feature that allows FreeSync monitors to change their refresh rate dynamically with your framerate. Using LFC, you can bypass the maximum and minimum refresh rate limits set by VRR, FreeSync monitors should allow for a minimum of 30Hz and a maximum of 144Hz.
FreeSync enabled monitors have some major advantages over regular adaptive sync monitors. The first is performance. FreeSync monitors do not use the Nvidia architecture for adaptive sync. This means that the electronics components are not quite as complicated and less latency is introduced through the monitor. They’re also generally cheaper than their G-Sync counterpart.
Can FreeSync work with HDMI?
FreeSync is more than just a technology. It’s a hands-on solution that brings end-users incredible benefits of high-quality gaming, and the best visual experience, with minimal effort. Virtually all FreeSync certified displays support the most popular display connections – including HDMI – for long-term flexibility.
Do I need a FreeSync monitor? Is it worth it?
FreeSync is a software add on in which your monitor will sync with your computer’s graphics card. This is a huge advantage for gamers because when this system is in place, the rendered frames will be displayed on your screen as soon as they are ready, rather than after a delay.
Moreover, you won’t get the usual stuttering and tearing that comes along with using a frame rate that is not compatible with your monitor’s refresh rate. Take that issue away, and you have less latency between you and the game character.
FreeSync was a technology created specifically to solve the typical tearing problems that occur in games. To do this, it allows players’ graphics cards to sync with the frame rate of their monitors. If you own a monitor that supports FreeSync, then all you need is an AMD graphics card and you should be able to sync in just one click!
This technology is especially useful for people who are affected by screen tearing regularly because it solves the issue in the most efficient way possible.
FreeSync is AMD’s attempt to make the video game world a better place, and preventing screen tearing in games is the most important thing they can do.
What happens if you use FreeSync with Nvidia?
Now when I am gaming say Battlefield 4 or Gta 5, I have no screen tearing. In fact it is a huge improvement over the gsync. No lag, ghosting or other issues. The freesync range is 48-240hz. If you get Nvidia make sure it has LFC support and freesync compatibility.
Nvidia’s G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync are two of the biggest names in the refresh-rate field. Even those with basic PC hardware knowledge know that they’re incredibly similar products. But they aren’t without differences, and actual implementation of one over the other can have serious performance effects on AMD systems when playing games using both technologies.
What happens when you hook up a FreeSync monitor to an Nvidia GPU? Let’s find out. We hooked up and tested ten monitors: nine of which worked, and one that didn’t.
Is FreeSync good for gaming monitors?
FreeSync is a dynamic refresh rate technology that eliminates screen tearing and also reduces input lag. It does this by matching the display update rate to the graphics card’s frame rate. With FreeSync enabled, any game you play will look better because it will be displayed without tearing or stuttering. You’ll enjoy fluid game play and high frame rates that were impossible with ordinary fixed-sync monitors.
If you’re playing at 4k 60 fps on a 144Hz monitor with FreeSync enabled, your graphics card will adjust the frame rate up and down to make sure that you’re getting 60 frames per second, thus removing any screen tearing or stuttering. There are some differences between FreeSync and G-Sync, but if you have either technology it means you’ll be able to play in glorious 4K without any stuttering or screen tearing.
When you experience tearing or stuttering in your favorite games or video, a revolutionary technology called FreeSync can help. Unlike V-Sync, which can add lag and frame-rate drops to your gaming experience, FreeSync offers tear-free and stutter-free gameplay that feels smoother and more responsive than traditional fixed refresh rate monitors. With FreeSync, dynamic refresh rates are determined by your graphics card, not the fixed refresh rate of your monitor.
How to enable FreeSync
In order to enable FreeSync, you must first ensure that you have the latest graphics card drivers for your AMD graphics card (www.amd.com). After ensuring that, follow these steps:
Three steps to turning on FreeSync: 1. In the AMD Radeon software, go to Global Settings, then under Display enable FreeSync. 2. Set your monitor to FreeSync mode (usually labeled as just “FreeSync”). 3. Apply system changes by clicking “yes” and waiting for the computer to restart
Unlike traditional monitor technologies, FreeSync requires no hardware modification of your AMD graphics card or APU. Current AMD graphics cards and all-in-one processors with integrated graphics support VESA’s Adaptive-Sync. This means you most likely already have everything you need to experience the magic of FreeSync.