Will Nvidia Ever Support Freesync ?

Dicehunter · 4 Oct 2015 at 09:54

As Freesync isn't really to do with AMD and is just using the open standard of display port as all it would take on Nvidia's part would be a driver update, Could we ever see them actually support it considering they are both basically the same ?

Simon Belmont · 4 Oct 2015 at 09:56

Dicehunter said:
As Freesync isn't really to do with AMD and is just using the open standard of display port as all it would take on Nvidia's part would be a driver update, Could we ever see them actually support it considering they are both basically the same ?

Agree would be great if Nvidia support freesync also. Win win for everyone and more sales.

pgi947 · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:00

I can't see it happening any time soon, making their own add in board - as crazy as it sounds - gives them more freedom for future improvements then waiting on a standard to change.

Each to their own, you can't go wrong with either choice (provided you pick your FS monitor wisely).

Marine-RX179 · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:06

Doubt it.

I think the only way we will have monitor that's not tied to Freesync of Gsync is that monitor manufacturers making the monitors being able to support both, but that would also mean the £150 price premium for the Gsync module.

It would be good if Nvidia can just provide the manufacturer with the Gsync modules at just cost price, but I doubt that will happen neither.

triss · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:07

Dicehunter said:
As Freesync isn't really to do with AMD and is just using the open standard of display port as all it would take on Nvidia's part would be a driver update, Could we ever see them actually support it considering they are both basically the same ?

I thought the add in board they use atm for gsync was because there own gpu's dont have the right hardware?

If so a simple driver update wont enable freesync

FloppyPoppy · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:15

Don't see it happening as Gsync is superior and has more flexibility for the future.

triss said:
I thought the add in board they use atm for gsync was because there own gpu's dont have the right hardware?

No the aib is not needed down to lack of gpu hardware more monitor hardware and thus why it has more flexibility than the amd alternative ( not slating free sync here )

Wrinkly · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:17

I certainly hope so. It has never been smart to ignore industry standards.

Mtom · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:35

They will but not soon. As i see it they don't want it at all, but they won't have a choice later.
As adaptive sync (not freesync) is an open standard, and works without any added hardware i think in a few years almost every new monitor leaving the factories will support it. They could go on with the gsync but it will be (as it is now) a high priced niche market.

jupiter_man · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:40

Dont think they will do that, it will made so many loyal green fans go mad

Freddie1980 · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:50

Dicehunter said:
As Freesync isn't really to do with AMD and is just using the open standard of display port as all it would take on Nvidia's part would be a driver update, Could we ever see them actually support it considering they are both basically the same ?

I think Nvidia kind of embraces it but not officially in laptops. Laptops with Gsync don't have the hardware module as far as I'm aware and the adaptive sync process is all done in the software like AMD's freesync. Roff will probably be able to clarify this but this is how I understand it.

flopper · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:58

Dicehunter said:
As Freesync isn't really to do with AMD and is just using the open standard of display port as all it would take on Nvidia's part would be a driver update, Could we ever see them actually support it considering they are both basically the same ?

when the ceo resigns maybe

Freddie1980 · 4 Oct 2015 at 10:59

flopper said:
when the ceo resigns maybe

Jen is one of the founders of Nvidia, he ain't going nowhere.

evsknight · 4 Oct 2015 at 11:00

Doubt it for the forseeable future, otherwise how would they sell their GSync module for the supported monitors?

Watlinguk · 4 Oct 2015 at 11:03

I think they have the market share to be bullies in that market. In all fairness they come to market with a great product along time before AMD had the tech ready.

UTmaniac · 4 Oct 2015 at 11:17

Freddie1980 said:
Jen is one of the founders of Nvidia, he ain't going nowhere.

So, where is he going?

nashathedog · 4 Oct 2015 at 11:52

Marine-RX179 said:
Doubt it.

I think the only way we will have monitor that's not tied to Freesync of Gsync is that monitor manufacturers making the monitors being able to support both, but that would also mean the £150 price premium for the Gsync module.

It would be good if Nvidia can just provide the manufacturer with the Gsync modules at just cost price, but I doubt that will happen neither.

I'd be willing to pay it if I could afford too.

My perfect monitor at the moment would be a 3440x1440 100hz IPS 21:9. There on the shop front here at OCUK with either Free or Gee.

If I was spending the money they want (around a grand or so?) and had the option to pay an extra hundred or two for one that ran both sync's I would.

andybird123 · 4 Oct 2015 at 12:41

Marine-RX179 said:
Doubt it.

I think the only way we will have monitor that's not tied to Freesync of Gsync is that monitor manufacturers making the monitors being able to support both, but that would also mean the £150 price premium for the Gsync module.

It would be good if Nvidia can just provide the manufacturer with the Gsync modules at just cost price, but I doubt that will happen neither.

You only have to take one look at the pricing of things like the Asus 21:9 Gsync monitor to see that the cost of the Gsync module itself probably has little bearing on the pricing of the monitors... everyone involved in that supply chain probably has quite a big chunk they could afford to cut if competition were an issue

Gregster · 4 Oct 2015 at 13:11

Tom Peterson did state that they had no intention of supporting A-Sync and will be sticking with G-Sync and seeing where the lions share of the market is buying and prices of the G-Sync monitors not dropping, it is evident that the majority are happy with G-Sync.

If I am truthful, seeing how G-Sync has changed my gaming experience for the better, I hope they stick with it for eternity (or at least till the next best thing).

mmj_uk · 4 Oct 2015 at 13:16

pgi947 said:
I can't see it happening any time soon, making their own add in board - as crazy as it sounds - gives them more freedom for future improvements then waiting on a standard to change.

Not to mention more control over quality.

Monitor manufacturers throwing DP1.2a into cheap monitors is the sort of thing which has given AMD their image of being a cheap brand, it's all well and good pushing open standards but once it's out there you have no control over quality and it will reflect more badly on AMD's FreeSync than actual monitors.

Seanspeed · 4 Oct 2015 at 14:10

The biggest reason for Nvidia to keep supporting Gsync is that it locks people into buying Nvidia cards for the forseeable future. People tend to keep monitors longer than they keep GPU's, so having a Gsync monitor now almost guarantees them another GPU sale in 1-4 years time from that customer.

Which is exactly why I'm skipping out on all this proprietary nonsense til we've got a standard. I've got nothing against Nvidia, my past two cards have been Nvidia and they've been fantastic, but I dont want to be locked into buying an Nvidia card if the situation comes up and I'd find an AMD GPU would better suit my upgrade needs later on.

Likewise for Freesync. It's not *technically* proprietary, but it effectively is, so I wont be going down that route, either.

It's kind of crap. Great new technology that I cant take advantage of. And I feel it's going to be a while before Nvidia does jump on the Freesync bandwagon for the reasons I stated. It'll happen eventually, especially when Freesync monitors mature and become more common and AMD market the hell out of how they're cheaper and more common than Gsync. At that point, Nvidia will have lost their advantage and risk losing market share to AMD, and it will be better to cut losses and at least nullify AMD's advantage by going Freesync as well.