FreeSync is the brand name for an adaptive synchronization technology for LCD displays that support a dynamic refresh rate aimed at reducing tearing and stuttering caused by misalignment with content's frame rate.
FreeSync was developed by AMD and first announced in 2014 to compete against Nvidia's proprietary G-Sync. It is royalty-free, free to use, and has no performance penalty.
Video FreeSync
Overview
FreeSync dynamically adapts the display refresh rate to variable frame rates, which result from irregular GPU load when rendering complex gaming content, as well as the lower 23.97/24/29.97/30 fps used by fixed video content. This helps remove stuttering delays caused by the video interface having to finish the current frame, and screen tearing when starting a new frame in the middle of transmission (with vertical sync off). The maximum supported refresh rate range is 9-240 Hz. FreeSync can be enabled automatically by plug and play, making it transparent to the operating system and end user.
Transitions between different refresh rates are seamless and undetectable to the user. The sync mechanism keeps the video interface at the established pixel clock rate but dynamically adjusts the vertical blanking interval. The monitor keeps displaying the currently received image until a new frame is presented to the video card's frame buffer, then transmission of the new frame starts immediately. This simple mechanism provides low monitor latency and a smooth, virtually stutter-free viewing experience, with reduced implementation complexity for the Timing Controller (TCON) and display panel interface. It also helps improve battery life by reducing the refresh rate of the panel when not receiving new images.
Maps FreeSync
Adaptive-Sync
VESA announced Adaptive-Sync as an ingredient component of the DisplayPort 1.2a specification; FreeSync is a hardware-software solution that uses DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync protocols to enable smooth, tearing-free and low-latency gameplay. FreeSync has also been implemented over HDMI.
FreeSync 2 HDR
In January 2017, AMD announced the second generation of FreeSync. Requirements include removing the minimum frame rate, and setting a maximum on screen latency. FreeSync 2 also doubles the color volume with support for wide color gamut color spaces and increased display brightness, enabling direct support of HDR-capable displays by video card device driver and application software. Display's DisplayID/EDID metadata for color primaries and maximum/minimum luminance are used to adjust the tone mapping step when writing to the frame buffer, thus offloading color space and transfer function processing from the OS color management and the video interface circuitry, which reduces output latency.
List of FreeSync monitors
FreeSync-compatible APUs and GPUs
All AMD GPUs starting with the 2nd iteration of Graphics Core Next support FreeSync.
AMD Durango APU in Microsoft Xbox One console. (FreeSync)
AMD Edmondton APU in Microsoft Xbox One S console. (FreeSync 2.0 with HDR)
AMD Scorpio APU in Microsoft Xbox One X console. (FreeSync 2.0 with HDR)
See also
- Mantle
- Vulkan (API)
- GPUOpen
- G-Sync
- Refresh rate
- Variable refresh rate
References
External links
- Freesync Monitors
- AMD FreeSync homepage
Source of article : Wikipedia
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