AMD FreeSync is a know-how discovered on particular gaming displays, gaming laptops (opens in new tab)and TVs to assist battle display tearing, stuttering and enter latency (the time between while you transfer your finest gaming mouse (opens in new tab) and when the cursor really strikes) throughout fast-paced video games and video.
Launched in 2015, FreeSync is AMD’s various to Nvidia G-Sync (opens in new tab) and requires an AMD (together with third-party branded (opens in new tab)) graphics card (opens in new tab). There are over 2,000 FreeSync-certified shows as of June 2022. The function is available in three tiers: FreeSync, FreeSync Premium and FreeSync Premium Professional.
FreeSync vs. FreeSync Premium vs. FreeSync Premium Professional
There are three kinds of FreeSync: FreeSync, FreeSync Premium (introduced in January 2020) and FreeSync Premium Professional (renamed from FreeSync 2 HDR in January 2020).
| FreeSync | FreeSync Premium | FreeSync Premium Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Tear-free | At the very least 120Hz at FHD decision | HDR help |
| Low flicker | Low framerate compensation (LFC) | At the very least 120Hz at FHD decision |
| Low latency | Tear-free | Low framerate compensation (LFC) |
| Low flicker | Tear-free | |
| Low latency in SDR | Low flicker | |
| Low latency in SDR and HDR |
You’ll find a record of each FreeSync monitor right here (opens in new tab).
How Does FreeSync Work?
Display screen tearing is an unwelcome impact (see picture above) that makes the on-screen picture look disjointed. It’s the results of the sport’s body price (the speed at which the sport shows frames) failing to match the show’s refresh price (the frequency at which the show redraws the display). FreeSync shows have a dynamic refresh price (often known as a variable refresh price or VRR), permitting it to sync its minimal and most refresh charges with the body price of the system’s AMD Radeon graphics card. That refresh price vary, often known as the FreeSync vary, can go as excessive because the monitor’s most refresh price. Nonetheless, should you search max body charges which can be larger than your monitor’s refresh price, you should still see some tearing.
All variations of FreeSync are based mostly on VESA’s Adaptive-Sync protocol, so it really works over DisplayPort (which additionally works over USB Kind-C) and HDMI ports. For a show to be FreeSync-certified, it should move AMD’s testing course of, which seems at its Adaptive-Sync help vary, brightness, shade vary and extra.
The finest gaming displays (opens in new tab) usually include both a taste of FreeSync or G-Sync. Some basic use {and professional} displays additionally use one in all a majority of these Adaptive-Sync, in addition to sure laptops and TVs (extra on these beneath).
FreeSync vs. G-Sync
FreeSync is AMD’s tackle Adaptive-Sync, just like Nvidia’s G-Sync (opens in new tab). Identical to you want an AMD GPU to make use of FreeSync, you want an Nvidia GPU (it may be third-party branded) to make use of G-Sync.
One key distinction is that along with DisplayPort (which additionally works over USB-C), FreeSync works with HDMI. G-Sync solely works with DisplayPort, except LG’s G-Sync Suitable TVs, which work over an HDMI connection to a supported PC. For a take a look at which port is best for gaming, see our DisplayPort vs. HDMI (opens in new tab)evaluation.
Efficiency-wise, we have discovered negligible discrepancies between customary FreeSync and G-Sync. For an in depth exploration of the efficiency variations, see our FreeSync vs. G-Sync (opens in new tab) article.
FreeSync is constructed on an open customary, and show makers do not should pay AMD a licensing price or for {hardware} modules to include it. Contrastingly, to make use of G-Sync, monitor makers should pay for Nvidia’s proprietary chip, which replaces the scaler they’d usually purchase. Because of this, FreeSync displays are normally cheaper than G-Sync ones. Nonetheless, Nvidia is preventing again with G-Sync Suitable displays, that are licensed to run G-Sync regardless of missing the {hardware} as a typical G-Sync show. Many G-Sync Suitable shows are additionally FreeSync-certified, and we have discovered that quite a few FreeSync displays may also run G-Sync Compatibility regardless that they don’t seem to be licensed to take action. To learn the way, take a look at our directions for how one can run G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor. (opens in new tab)
FreeSync Premium
Whereas all kinds of FreeSync battle in opposition to display tearing, flickering and low latency, FreeSync Premium kicks issues a notch up by requiring a 120Hz refresh price or larger when working at FHD, aka 1080p (opens in new tab) (1920 x 1080), decision. It additionally provides low body price compensation (LFC). With LFC, in case your sport’s body price drops beneath the monitor’s lowest supported refresh price, frames mechanically show a number of occasions. This implies you’ll keep in your monitor’s supported refresh price vary and, due to this fact, preserve easy gameplay.
There are at the moment greater than 300 FreeSync Premium displays, in line with AMD.
FreeSync Premium Professional
FreeSync Premium Professional, often known as FreeSync 2 HDR till January, targets these with HDR (opens in new tab) content material (for HDR suggestions, see our article on selecting the finest HDR monitor (opens in new tab)).
A FreeSync Premium Professional show ought to differ from a non-FreeSync HDR monitor by providing decrease enter latency by having video games tone map on to the show, circumnavigating massive in-between steps. It additionally guarantees over 400 nits brightness with HDR.
And like FreeSync Premium, FreeSync Premium Professional mechanically prompts LFC if the sport’s body price dips beneath the monitor’s refresh price.
Players ought to be aware that not all video games help FreeSync Premium Professional. Right here’s each sport that works with FreeSync Premium Professional (opens in new tab).
What You Have to Run FreeSync
To make use of any type of FreeSync, you want a FreeSync-certified show and a PC with an AMD graphics card or APU (opens in new tab). Alternatively, you’ll be able to pair a FreeSync show with an Xbox Sequence X or Xbox Sequence S (no PlayStations).
For PC players, your system will want a DisplayPort, (which additionally works over USB-C) or HDMI connection, plus the suitable Radeon Software program graphics driver (opens in new tab). Supported graphics are all AMD GPUs, together with third-party branded ones, from 2012 (Radeon HD 7000) and on and any AMD Ryzen-series APU.
To make use of a PC monitor’s FreeSync, it’s a must to flip it on in AMD Radeon Settings software program.
For FreeSync TVs, it’s a must to activate its Sport Mode by getting into the Settings menu.
FreeSync Laptops
Some laptops operating AMD graphics have FreeSync constructed into the show. They’ll say so on their spec sheet.
As well as, any laptop computer with an RX 500-series or newer GPU helps exterior FreeSync displays.
Right here’s a listing of each FreeSync laptop computer (opens in new tab).
FreeSync TVs
Samsung has dozens of TVs with FreeSync. In fact, you may pair these shows with a gaming PC (opens in new tab), however they primarily goal these with an Xbox Sequence X or Xbox Sequence S, which each additionally help FreeSync (sorry, PlayStation followers).
You activate a TV’s FreeSync operate by activating the Sport Mode in its Settings menu.
Right here is each FreeSync TV (opens in new tab) at the moment accessible.
This text is a part of the Tom’s {Hardware} Glossary (opens in new tab).
Additional studying: