[TechPowerUp article] FreeSync explained in more detail

[Abwx]

To be honest, I don't think Manufacturers will give this feature "for free". At the begining, they will only enable this on special "Gaming Screen" with a premium price.

Just saying ...

PS: Funny thing is that if nVidia want to have G-Sync on Laptops, they will have to write software that mimics G-Sync behavior. Then it's just like FreeSync ...

That s a trivial feature cost wise for them because the controling
hardware is inside the GPU , to the contrary they ll be happy to add
another feature that is a selling point and whose cost is zero.

Nvidia solution is archaic to say the least , i insist on my opinion
that they went this way as a mean to circumvent an existing patent,
it makes otherwise no sense to add a costly board where a true
integrated solution like freesync is much more cost efficient for
results that will be the same.

 

[ams23]

Yes but freesync will not increase the monitor price while radeons just need a driver update, the only ones on trouble are gforce owners..

Well no, that is nonsensical. Geforce Kepler owners will be the first to have G-Sync technology that has already been adopted and tested by numerous monitor manufacturers, while "freesync" (which is really not "free" at all) has yet to even be demoed on a desktop monitor (let alone be scrutinized by any reviewer), with no firm timeframe in sight with respect to productization, and no firm details about which monitors and/or which GPU's will work to do it. G-Sync is a much better known entity, and will obviously keep evolving and improving over time too.

 

[dacostafilipe]

Btw, you guys should read ATI's US 20080055318 A1 ... http://www.google.com/patents/US20080055318

Interesting part:

... certain prior art techniques allow for dynamic display refresh rates by keeping the pixel period and the horizontal synchronization frequency fixed, while allowing the vertical synchronization front porch time to vary. The vertical synchronization active time (i.e., the duration of each vertical synchronization pulse), vertical synchronization back porch time stay constant. In this manner, the display refresh rate can be varied. This same method could be applied to any display interface. For example, with digital display interfaces any parameter of the vertical blanking (front porch, vertical synchronization, back porch) or of the horizontal blanking (front porch, horizontal synchronization, back porch) can be readily adjusted ...

 

[ams23]

NVIDIA, Intel, and ATI all have patents related to this general issue of display refresh rate synchronization.

 

[Abwx]

G-Sync is a much better known entity, and will obviously keep evolving and improving over time too.

It s not better, quite the contrary , and it wont improve
because improving it would mean infringing the patent
on the post above...

NVIDIA, Intel, and ATI all have patents related to this general issue of display refresh rate synchronization.

Link.??...

 

[BallaTheFeared]

It s not better, quite the contrary , and it wont improve
because improving it would mean infringing the patent
on the post above...

Well either you've used G-Sync and FreeSync side by side and done extensive testing both through personal observations and expensive tools or you're just talking gibberish.

 

[Mand]

Citation needed.

You could try reading this very thread, where I posted direct quotes from a display manufacturer rep.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35987389&postcount=506

 

[Mand]

From the necessary technical modifications...

There s a difference betwwen AMD and Nvidia , it is that the radeons have built in capability in their display engine to manage the refresh rate and vblank timing , wich is not the case with Nvidia where this functionality is ported partly to the gsync board , as already mentioned i suspect that this
has to do with ATI s patenting the principle back in 2006, Nvidia couldnt
implement the functionality in their GPU display engine without infringing
said patent and it is highly unlikely that they didnt knew that the radeons
had it implemented for quite some time.

This is false. Not only does the AMD solution require a compatible display controller, as confirmed by an AMD rep, Nvidia's Kepler GPUs all support variable refresh already.

 

[Imouto]

You could try reading this very thread, where I posted direct quotes from a display manufacturer rep.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=35987389&postcount=506

Those are costs for the G-Sync module and I told you already that FreeSync has been showcased in a dirt cheap convertible without any additional hardware. Both companies have radically different approaches but you seem to push down everyone's throat this "costly development and hardware" mantra.

 

[Mand]

Those are costs for the G-Sync module and I told you already that FreeSync has been showcased in a dirt cheap convertible without any additional hardware. Both companies have radically different approaches but you seem to push down everyone's throat this "costly development and hardware" mantra.

*sigh*

What part about "it doesn't work with existing desktop hardware" is hard for you to understand? The Overlord rep I quoted is totally on board with variable refresh, don't you think if there were a simple, straightforward, easy-to-implement software solution he wouldn't be waiting for Nvidia to come help redesign his boards? Don't you think he'd be rushing FreeSync to market?

To top it all off, an AMD rep confirmed it would require a compatible control board, that don't exist for desktops. How can you continue to cling to the misguided idea that this is simple and easy?

 

[dacostafilipe]

... an AMD rep confirmed it would require a compatible control board, that don't exist for desktops ...

An AMD rep also told that it could be possible to enable the feature with a simple firmware upgrade on some desktop screens.

Now what?

 

[Imouto]

*sigh*

What part about "it doesn't work with existing desktop hardware" is hard for you to understand? The Overlord rep I quoted is totally on board with variable refresh, don't you think if there were a simple, straightforward, easy-to-implement software solution he wouldn't be waiting for Nvidia to come help redesign his boards? Don't you think he'd be rushing FreeSync to market?

What do you expect a partner featured in NV's site to say? Sometimes I can't believe how naive some people likes to look. Again, not the same approach.

To top it all off, an AMD rep confirmed it would require a compatible control board, that don't exist for desktops. How can you continue to cling to the misguided idea that this is simple and easy?

Ain't me the one who thinks that desktop and mobile displays are from different universes and some kind of sorcery is needed to bridge a panel of any kind to a desktop graphics card.

As already posted you can hack your way from a DP graphics card to a eDP display in your own garage. Needing a compatible board does't equal to millions in development.

Not only that, there's no need for a scaler into a monitor at all as shown with a lot of korean displays and other better known brands like Dell.

That said the DP 1.3 spec isn't finished and of course you'd new hardware if you want a new feature but as far as I know it never stopped assemblers from putting new OSDs, connections, features and such into their products. Nvidia is trying to create an artificial need here like it did with extreme tessellation because it's the only one able to deliver right now.

You're reading too much into PR out of parners or NV itself.

 

[96Firebird]

Now what?

Don't believe AMD reps? :hmm:

 

[dacostafilipe]

Don't believe AMD reps? :hmm:

D:

Sir, you have a point!

 

[NIGELG]

Don't believe AMD's AND nVIDIA'S reps? :hmm:

Fixed....

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I'm just glad evil Nvidia released G-Sync, despite it being more costly and inferior to vaporware. If it wasn't for Nvidia AMD would have never realized that gamers actually want a smooth gaming experience.

 

[96Firebird]

Fixed....

Indeed. I like to wait for reviews, both by users and review sites.

 

[McLovin42]

Fixed....

Actually, you just broke it.

Surprisingly enough Nvidia comes through on their "vaporware" and hype more times than not, unlike AMD. I'm loving my 144hz Gsync setup. Will never go back. "Freesync" will be nothing more than forum talk and banter for at least another few years.......

 

[Mand]

Indeed. I like to wait for reviews, both by users and review sites.

And it'll be years before FreeSync can be reviewed, if ever. G-Sync is here now.

What do you expect a partner featured in NV's site to say?

You're reading too much into PR out of parners or NV itself.

Seriously? Anything AMD-related is absolutely true, and anything NV-related is to be dismissed as propaganda? That's really your position, here?

Do I have to remind you that I'm personally an AMD customer, and that I'd have to switch in order to actually take advantage of G-Sync?

 

[Abwx]

This is false. Not only does the AMD solution require a compatible display controller, as confirmed by an AMD rep, Nvidia's Kepler GPUs all support variable refresh already.

You didnt read what i previously mentioned :

My pricing is based on said technical modifications , to be clear the silicon modification of the current panel controlers is trivial, it s just a matter of protocol and ability to use the panel controler as a slave device, as already said the fact that the command hardware is included in the GPU will forcibly render the cost about negligible on the panel side, not so much if the GPU has not this capability, then you ll have to add an interface with a complexe micro controler that will manage the GPU output and render it compatible with the panel caracteristics , actualy it cant be done via software in this latter case...

 

[Imouto]

And it'll be years before FreeSync can be reviewed, if ever. G-Sync is here now.

There will be no APU in the PS4.

Seriously? Anything AMD-related is absolutely true, and anything NV-related is to be dismissed as propaganda? That's really your position, here?

Did I ever quote any AMD rep here? I just pointed actual facts while you relied on NV and its partners PR the whole time.

Do I have to remind you that I'm personally an AMD customer, and that I'd have to switch in order to actually take advantage of G-Sync?

What does that have to do with owning any particular hardware? I'm running an Intel CPU and a GTX 580 right now. Stop bringing this down to a gang fight.

 

[Mand]

You didnt read what i previously mentioned :

I did, and it conflicts with statements from display manufacturers about what is involved.

I think people are vastly underestimating what it takes to get variable refresh working the way G-Sync does.

 

[Imouto]

I did, and it conflicts with statements from display manufacturers about what is involved.

Why plural?

I think people are vastly underestimating what it takes to get variable refresh working the way G-Sync does.

Maybe because AMD approach is different than NV's? Maybe because AMD showcased FreeSync running in a dirt cheap convertible?

 

[Mand]

There will be no APU in the PS4.



Did I ever quote any AMD rep here? I just pointed actual facts while you relied on NV and its partners PR the whole time.



What does that have to do with owning any particular hardware? I'm running an Intel CPU and a GTX 580 right now. Stop bringing this down to a gang fight.

...the hell? What do APUs and PS4 have to do with anything? Certainly nothing to do with FreeSync.

You have not pointed to actual facts, you've pointed to a demo with laptops that has absolutely zero bearing on the capability to do the same thing in desktops. You've repeated what AMD said at that demo, that it's just a matter of a spec update for DisplayPort. That's been investigated by various tech reporters, and it doesn't hold up to scrutiny. That's the facts. I'm sorry to have to say it, but you've bought the deceptive marketing of FreeSync hook, line, and syncer.

Remedying that misinformation is the whole point of the posts I've made here. AMD's claims aren't supported by the actual state of the technology. You can repeat those claims until you're blue in the face, it still doesn't make them right.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

We should see FreeSync around the same time we see the memory subsystem driver rewrite and 7xxx crossfire frame pacing fixes they've talked about for a year.