If you’re a gamer who values image quality, you need to learn about FreeSync.
This guide looks at what FreeSync is, how it works, and how it improves your gaming experience.
You’ll also learn about Nvidia’s G-Sync, and see how it differs from AMD’s FreeSync to find out which is the best option for you.
Let’s take a look.
What Is AMD FreeSync?
Screen tearing is the main culprit for the need for technologies like FreeSync. It occurs when your monitor doesn’t refresh as quickly as it needs to, in order to keep up with the output of your GPU.
To fix this issue, we use FreeSync that dynamically refreshes your screen in sync with the current frame rate of your game. With FreeSync enabled, if your GPU’s output drops, so does your display’s refresh rate.
Below is an example of screen tearing and the misaligned elements in games:
Using FreeSync with a monitor that supports the technology can reduce latency and improve your gaming (or movie) experience.
FreeSync Premium
While the standard FreeSync fights against screen tearing and misaligned on-screen elements in games, FreeSync Premium takes things to another level.
On top of fixing the screen tearing problem, it adds low frame rate compensation (LFC) which automatically displays a frame multiple times when your game’s frame rate drops below your monitor’s refresh rate, allowing you to experience smooth gameplay.
FreeSync Premium Pro
Unlike a non-FreeSync HDR monitor, a FreeSync Premium Pro display is different and offers lower input latency by having a game tone map directly to the display, avoiding large in-between steps.
And like FreeSync Premium, FreeSync Premium Pro triggers low frame rate compensation (LFC) if your game’s frame rate falls below your monitor’s refresh rate.
Sadly, not every game supports FreeSync Premium Pro. If you want to check if your favorite game supports it or not, you can check it on AMD’s page.
FreeSync vs. G-Sync
AMD’s FreeSync and Nvidia’s G-Sync are the two mainstream technologies in the market to display smooth pictures.
While they both are designed to achieve the tearing-free effect, FreeSync monitors are widely available in the market, providing users with more options to choose from.
FreeSync’s quality standards aren’t the best, while Nvidia’s G-Sync is way more mature and is overall a more reliable technology than AMD’s FreeSync. The downside, of course, being that G-Sync monitors cost more.
FreeSync Laptops
Even some laptops that feature AMD graphics cards have FreeSync built into their display. You’ll find out whether your laptop has it or not on its spec sheet. Additionally, all the laptops that feature an RX 500-series GPU, support external FreeSync monitors.
FreeSync TVs
If you’re looking for a FreeSync TV, Samsung is the way to go! While these FreeSync TVs can be used with PCs, they’re mainly for those who pair them with Xbox One X and Xbox One S, and unlike PlayStation, they both support FreeSync.
What Do I Need to Enable FreeSync?
Along with a compatible AMD graphics card, you’ll need to buy a compatible monitor with VESA’s Adaptive-Sync support.
FreeSync monitors are generally cheaper than Nvidia’s G-Sync monitors. But despite their lower price tag, FreeSync monitors provide more features that enhance your gaming experiences, such as 4K resolution, high refresh rate, and HDR.
To check the complete list of FreeSync-supported monitors, see AMD’s list.
How to Enable AMD FreeSync?
After you get your hands on a FreeSync-enabled monitor, you’ll need to download the latest AMD Catalyst drivers.
After installing the AMD Catalyst driver, you may restart your computer if necessary, otherwise, follow this AMD’s official instructional video on how to enable FreeSync:
Can AMD Graphics Cards Use G-Sync?
In 2019, Nvidia officially announced that it’ll support open standards, allowing AMD GPUs to use G-Sync.
There are still two big problems with this, though.
Only new G-Sync modules will support the advanced features of HDMI-VRR and Adaptive-Sync over DisplayPort, resulting in AMD users being unable to use the majority of old G-Sync monitors.
Secondly, it’s hard for the users to spot which Nvidia monitors support the open standard, as Nvidia hasn’t done anything to make it easy to spot those monitors.
The Downsides of FreeSync
While it seems like FreeSync is the way to go, it has some downsides that we thought you may want to be aware of to make an informed decision.
You Can’t Use FreeSync With Nvidia GPUs
One problem with FreeSync is that it is only compatible with AMD GPUs, making G-Sync monitors the only option if you want to take advantage of the variable refresh rate technology.
FreeSync Has Looser Standards
This means that not all FreeSync monitors are equal. Some FreeSync monitors may have variable refresh rate that ranges from 40-144Hz and others may not operate outside of 48-75Hz.
While G-Sync monitors, on the other hand, are strictly regulated and are generally more solid. With G-Sync monitors, you can rest assured that when you get a monitor, it’ll operate and fix the stuttering or screen tearing across a wide range of refresh rates.
FreeSync Increases Input Lag
Because it caps your frames at your monitor’s refresh rate, it increases input lag, but not to the point that you won’t be able unable to play your games. Your game may feel smoother, but you’ll definitely feel that your clicks aren’t registering in real-time.
So, Should You Use FreeSync?
From what we’ve learned so far about FreeSync, it’s almost a necessity to enable that FreeSync feature in your game’s video settings.
Because if you don’t, you may have some artifacts or glitches that you wouldn’t be able to easily identify what’s causing them, especially if you don’t know what FreeSync is, which shouldn’t be an issue as you’ve just finished reading this guide about what it is and how it fixes this screen tearing issue.
While FreeSync and G-Sync technologies are great, refresh rate is also there. We’d recommend that you learn about refresh rate as well, to truly get the best possible gaming experience.
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