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AMD on dynamic refresh rates with Project Freesync

LtMatt

LtMatt

LtMatt

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New information regarding FreeSync comes to light from AMD's Robert Hallock. Well worth a read.

Q. In comparison to Nvidia G-Sync; what are the advantages and disadvantages to FreeSync?
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A. There are three key advantages Project FreeSync holds over G-Sync: no licensing fees for adoption, no expensive or proprietary hardware modules, and no communication overhead. The last point is Particularly important from a performance perspective, as Project FreeSync does not need to poll or wait on the display in order to DETERMINE When it's safe to send the next frame to the monitor. Project FreeSync uses DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync protocols to pre-negotiate supported min / max refresh rates During Plug and Play, Which means frame presentation to the user will never be delayed or impaired by Time-Consuming two-way hand shakes.
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Q. How about compatibility?
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A. Project FreeSync will utilize DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync protocols to enable dynamic refresh rates for video playback, gaming and power-saving scenarios. All AMD Radeon graphics cards in the AMD Radeon HD 7000, HD 8000, R7 or R9 Series will support the Project FreeSync for video playback and power-saving Purposes. The AMD Radeon R9 295X2, 290X, R9 290, 260X R7 and R7 260 additionally feature updated display controllers that will support dynamic refresh rates During gaming.

AMD APUs codenamed Kaveri, Kabini, Temash, Beema and Mullins overpriced feature the Necessary hardware capabilities to enable dynamic refresh rates for video playback, gaming and power-saving Purposes. All products must be connected to a display That & Q DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync.

As far as games go, we know that some titles May for whatever reason not cooperate with dynamic refresh rates, so we'll allow users to toggle Project FreeSync in the driver. Operating system support will INITIALLY be brought to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1.
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Full Interview
http://www.sweclockers.com/artikel/...ngsfrekvenser-med-project-freesync/2#pagehead
 
That's all well and good, but when can we actually start having it at home? There doesn't seem to be a lot of news floating around regarding Freesync ready screens?
 
6-12 months for retail monitors.

Now that the DP spec has been amended with DPAS, scaler vendors must update their firmware/scaler roadmaps to incorporate the spec, which will lead to DRR-ready scalers that monitor vendors can incorporate, which will ultimately lead to DRR-ready monitors.

The spec paves the way for R&D on working hardware. :)
 
Tute said:
That's all well and good, but when can we actually start having it at home? There doesn't seem to be a lot of news floating around regarding Freesync ready screens?
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Did you read it? :p

Q. When can we expect to be able to try FreeSync for ourselves and when will the technology be available for end-users?
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A. We expect Project FreeSync-ready monitors to be available in retail within 6-12 months, and prototypical monitors suitable for tradeshows or press demonstration to be ready within 4-10 months.
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mmj_uk said:
Aren't there any disadvantages compared to G-sync then or did they just dodge that question?
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There's one clear disadvantage to some- it's AMD, not Nvidia :p

And because it's AMD, it would obviously be less reliable :D:rolleyes::p

On the serious note...I'm only interested to know for 21:9 monitors, support for Freesync or Gsync, which would come first?
 
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Adaptive-Sync needed some clearing up, what it does and how it works. Thanks for doing that Thracks. :)
 
No actual new info on how it works, considering it is supposed to be an open standard, wonder why they are being so cagey
Though it does say that the gpu and monitor have to pre-negotiate the frame rate
 
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Nice article, some nice info clarifying some of the things that have been mentioned previously.

The points that stand out for me are.

R9 295x2, 290x, 290, R7 260x 260 and kavari, kabini, Temash, Beema and Mullins only for in game support. 7000, 8000, other R9 and R7 cards only get support during video playback.
This clarifies why there were limited cards mentioned in the first FAQ.


Question:
We are told you are using triple buffering. There are some obvious drawbacks to this.
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Answer:
Project FreeSync does not require extensive buffering, because the need for such techniques is virtually eliminated when you can match the display timings to the framerate of the GPU on the fly. Within the range of refresh rates supported by a compatible display, Project FreeSync will allow the absolute minimum input lag with single- or double-buffered rendering.
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You just have to love the way that the answer doesn't actually answer the question :), the same with the advantages and disadvantages to G-Sync. They mention advantages but nary a word on disadvantages.

One other thing that made me chuckle a bit.

no expensive or proprietary hardware modules
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fair enough, but earlier he said...

Make no mistake, providing dynamic refresh rates to users still takes a lot of ‘secret sauce’ from the hardware and software ends of our products, including the correct display controllers in the hardware and the right algorithms in AMD Catalyst.
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Isn't that a complete contradiction? you don't need proprietary hardware, except we are using secret proprietary hardware and software.:D
 
Random Guy said:
Due to the open nature of FreeSync, is it not something that Nvidia can also take advantage of?
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Its an interesting thing, because as I read this new article Freesync itself is not a an open standard, the open standard is VESA Adaptive-Sync. FreeSync is AMD's hardware and software implementation that utilizes this open standard.

There would be nothing to stop Nvidia making their hardware suitable to use the VESA Adaptive-Sync, but not Freesync as this is AMD's own hardware and software.
 
Random Guy said:
Due to the open nature of FreeSync, is it not something that Nvidia can also take advantage of?
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this latest Q&A makes this even less clear - adaptive sync is an open standard, but Project Freesync requires specific AMD hardware that is built in to only the very latest AMD cards - AMD say they are working with monitor builders to enable project freesync... so presumably Nvidia would need to do something similar to get their version of adaptive sync working, or they would need to copy AMD's freesync hardware

the former seems unlikely given that they already have gsync on the way and the latter could land them in seriously hot water or licencing the hardware from AMD (which we know from past experience is never going to happen)

using words like "secret sauce" in relation to both hardware and software doesn't make it sound very open

edit: ninja'd by bru, but +1 to what he said
 
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Quote:
A. We expect Project FreeSync-ready monitors to be available in retail within 6-12 months, and prototypical monitors suitable for tradeshows or press demonstration to be ready within 4-10 months.
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Almost the same problem as Gsync aka most people will need new monitors. I mean if models out there now with DP 1.2a like U2421 4K could do Freesync why does it take 6-12 months?


In the end up apart from cost saving thier in the same boat as Nvidia and for most of us getting rid of vsync requires more money and monitors. This is why i frown deeply upon AMD's attempt to out blow Nvidia on Freesync because people will need to go AMD with displayport. One costs less one costs more yet both require a new monitor anyways and AMD hardware. Yet you would think listening to AMD they managed to bottle jesus himself.
 
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Random Guy said:
Due to the open nature of FreeSync, is it not something that Nvidia can also take advantage of?
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I remember that being said about Mantle when it first came about.

gsync next month, freesync in 6-12 months more likely 12 and it has disadvantages, think I know which monitor I'll be buying next month :D
 
Ayahuasca said:
I remember that being said about Mantle when it first came about.

gsync next month, freesync in 6-12 months more likely 12 and it has disadvantages, think I know which monitor I'll be buying next month :D
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A Gsync monitor with DP 1.2A would be the smart choice. No one really wants to be binded to one camp or the other for the lifetime of thier monitor.
 
Nvidia will support this as going forward over the years just about all monitors will have this feature compared to a select few with a G-Sync module. I think the bigger question will be whether Nvidia continue on with G-Sync. If G-Sync is better they may well do so.
 
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