FreeSync


FreeSync is an adaptive synchronization technology for liquid-crystal displays that support a variable refresh rate, aimed at avoiding tearing and reducing stuttering caused by misalignment between the screen's refresh rate and the content's frame rate.
FreeSync was developed by AMD and first announced in 2014 to compete against Nvidia's proprietary G-Sync. It is royalty-free, free to use, and has no performance penalty.

Overview

FreeSync dynamically adapts the display refresh rate to variable frame rates, which result from irregular GPU load when rendering complex gaming content, as well as the lower 23.97/24/29.97/30 fps used by fixed video content. This helps remove stuttering delays caused by the video interface having to finish the current frame, and screen tearing when starting a new frame in the middle of transmission. The range of refresh rates supported by the standard is 9–240 Hz, although monitors might have narrower limits. FreeSync can be enabled automatically by plug and play, making it transparent to the operating system and end user.
Transitions between different refresh rates are seamless and undetectable to the user. The sync mechanism keeps the video interface at the established pixel clock rate but dynamically adjusts the vertical blanking interval. The monitor keeps displaying the currently received image until a new frame is presented to the video card's frame buffer, then transmission of the new image starts immediately. This simple mechanism provides low monitor latency and a smooth, virtually stutter-free viewing experience, with reduced implementation complexity for the timing controller and display panel interface. It also helps improve battery life by reducing the refresh rate of the panel when not receiving new images.

Technology

The original FreeSync is based over DisplayPort 1.2a, using an optional feature VESA terms Adaptive-Sync. This feature was in turn ported by AMD from a Panel-Self-Refresh feature from Embedded DisplayPort 1.0, which allows panels to control its own refreshing intended for power-saving on laptops. AMD FreeSync is therefore a hardware–software solution that uses publicly-available protocols to enable smooth, tearing-free and low-latency gameplay.
FreeSync has also been implemented over HDMI 1.2+ as a protocol extension. HDMI 2.1+ has its own variable refresh rate system.

FreeSync 2 HDR

In January 2017, AMD announced the second generation of FreeSync. Requirements include removing the minimal frame rate and setting a maximum on screen latency. FreeSync 2 also doubles the color volume with support for wide color gamut color spaces and increased display brightness, enabling direct support of HDR-capable displays by video-card device driver and application software. Display's DisplayID/EDID metadata for color primaries and maximal/minimal luminances are used to adjust the tone mapping step when writing to the frame buffer, thus offloading color space and transfer-function processing from the OS color management and the video interface circuitry, which reduces output latency.

List of supported monitors

BrandModel numberSizeNative resolutionInterfaceColor depthAspect RatioFreeSync rangePanelRef
AcerBE240Y24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–75 HzIPS
AcerED242QR White24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 1.4, VGA816:948–75 HzVA
AcerED242QRA Black24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI8 16:948–144 HzVA
AcerGF24624 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 1.4, DP 1.28 16:955–75 HzTN
AcerNitro VG240Y24 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI 1.4, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
AcerXF240H24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzTN
AcerGF27627 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 1.4, DP 1.28 16:955–75 HzTN
AcerV27727 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
AcerXF270H27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzTN
AcerXZ27127 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
AcerXZ321Q32 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
AcerXF290CB29 in2560 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2821:948–144 HzAH-IPS
AcerBX340C34 in2560 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2821:948–75 HzAH-IPS
AcerXZ350CU35 in2560 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2821:948–144 HzVA
AcerXF240YU24 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:940–144 HzTN
AcerBE270U27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.2816:940–75 HzIPS
AcerXF270HU27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:940–144 HzIPS
AcerXG270HU27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:940–144 HzTN
AcerXZ271U27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, MiniDP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
AcerXZ321QU32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, MiniDP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
AcerBX340CK34 in3440 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.21021:930–75 HzAH-IPS
AcerXR341CK34 in3440 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.21021:930–75 HzAH-IPS
AcerH277HK27 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
AcerBX320HK32 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
AOCG2260VWQ622 in1920 × 1080 816:948–75 HzTN
AOCC24G124 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI 1.4, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–144 HzSVA
AOCG2460VQ624 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–75 HzTN
AOCG2460PF24 in1920 × 1080 816:935–144 HzTN
AOCAG251FZ25 in1920 × 1080 816:948–240 HzTN
AOCG2770PF27 in1920 × 1080 816:935–146 HzTN
AOCC3583FQ35 in2560 × 1080 821:945–160 HzMVA
AOCAG241QX24 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:930–144 HzTN
AOCAG322QCX32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzMVA
AOCQ3279VWF32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–75 HzMVA
AOCQ3279VWFD832 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.210 16:948–75 HzIPS
AOCU2879VF28 in3840 × 2160 1016:940–60 HzTN
ASUSMG248Q24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:940–144 HzTN
ASUSXG258Q25 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.28 16:948–240 HzTN
ASUSMG278Q27 in2560 × 1440 816:935–144 HzTN
ASUSMG279Q27 in2560 × 1440 816:935–90 HzIPS
ASUSXG32VQ32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, MiniDP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
ASUSMX34VQ34 in3440 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2821:948–100 HzSVA
ASUSXG35VQ35 in3440 × 1440 HDMI 1.4, DP 1.2821:948–100 HzMVA
ASUSMG24UQ24 in3840 × 2160 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2816:940–60 HzIPS
ASUSMG28UQ28 in3840 × 2160 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzTN
ASUSVP28UQG28 in3840 × 2160 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzTN
BenqXL2730Z27 in2560 × 1440 816:940–144 HzTN
BenqEX3501R35 in3440 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2821:948–100 HzAMVA
BenqBL2420U24 in3840 × 2160 HDMI 2.0, DVI, DP 1.2816:940–60 HzIPS
Crossover27V27 in2560 × 1440 816:940–60 HzAH-IPS
Crossover27 FAST 14427 in2560 × 1440 816:935–144 HzAH-IPS
Crossover32S32 in2560 × 1440 816:934–75 HzMVA
Crossover434K43 in3840 × 2160 1016:942–60 HzAH-IPS
Crossover494K49 in3840 × 2160 1016:9??–60 HzAH-IPS
DellS2418HX24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 2.0, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
DellS2418NX24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 2.0, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
DellAlienware AW2518HF25 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI 2.0, DP 1.28 16:948–240 HzTN
DellSE2717H27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA16:948–75 HzIPS
DellS2718H27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 2.0, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
DellS2719DM27 in2560 × 1440 2xHDMI 2.0816:948–75 HzIPS
DellUP3218K32 in7680 x 4320 2xDP 1.21016:940–60 HzIPS
EIZOFS273527 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:935–90 Hz or 56–144 HzIPS
HPOmen 25 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, DP816:9??–144 HzTN
HP27fw 27 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
HP27X 27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
HPEnvy27 in3840 x 2160 HDMI, DP 1.2, USB-C10 16:9??–60 HzIPS
HPEnvy32 in2560 × 1440 816:948–70 HzIPS
HPOmen 32 in2560 × 1440 816:948–75 HzMVA
HPPavilion 32 32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–75 HzMVA
IiyamaXUB2395WSU-B123 in1920 × 1200 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA816:1048–75 HzIPS
IiyamaGB2488HSU-B224 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:935–144 HzTN
IiyamaG2530HSU-B125 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP, VGA816:948–75 HzTN
IiyamaB2791HSU-B127 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP, VGA816:955–75 HzTN
IiyamaGB2788HS-B127 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP, VGA816:945–144 HzTN
IiyamaB2783QSU-B127 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.28 16:948–75 HzTN
IiyamaGB2760QSU-B127 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.28 16:948–144 HzTN
IiyamaXUB2792QSU-B127 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.210 16:948–70 HzIPS
IiyamaGB2888UHSU28 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DP, VGA1016:935–60 HzTN
LenovoL27i-2827 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 1.4, VGA8 16:9??–75 HzIPS
LenovoY27f27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI 1.4, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzMVA
LG22MP68VQ-P22 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, VGA816:940–75 HzIPS
LG23MP68VQ-P23 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, VGA816:940–75 HzIPS
LG24MP68VQ-P24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, VGA816:940–75 HzIPS
LG27MP68VQ-P27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, VGA816:940–75 HzIPS
LG29UC8829 in2560 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG29UM60-P29 in2560 x 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG29UM6729 in2560 × 1080 821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG29UM6829 in2560 × 1080 821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG34UM6734 in2560 × 1080 821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG34UM6834 in2560 × 1080 821:940–75 HzAH-IPS
LG34UC79G34 in2560 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2821:950–144 HzAH-IPS
LG34UC8834 in3440 × 1440 1021:955–75 HzAH-IPS
LG34UC9834 in3440 × 1440 1021:948–75 HzAH-IPS
LG38UC9938 in3840 × 1600 HDMI, DP 1.2824:1052–75 HzAH-IPS
LG27MU6727 in3840 × 2160 1016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
LG27UD8827 in3840 × 2160 1016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
LG27UD6827 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
MbestSM270QHD16527 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–165 HzTN
MecerM2A1R27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.216:948–144 Hz
MSIOptix G24C24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:990–144 HzVA
MSIOptix MAG24C24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix G27C27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:990–144 HzVA
MSIOptix G27C227 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix MAG27C27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix MPG27C27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix AG32C32 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–165 HzVA
MSIOptix MAG27CQ27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix MPG27CQ27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix AG32CQ32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
MSIOptix MAG341CQ34 in3440 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2821:948–100 HzVA
NixeusNX-EDG2727 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, DVI816:930–144 HzIPS
NixeusNX-VUE2424 in1920 × 1080 816:930–144 HzTN
Philips226E8QDS22 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA, DVI8 16:948–75 HzIPS
Philips226E8QJA22 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
Philips226E9QHAB22 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA8 16:948–75 HzIPS
Philips276E9QJAB27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–75 HzIPS
Philips279X6QJSW27 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–60 HzMVA
Philips328C7QJSG32 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–144 HzMVA
Philips328E8QJAB532 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–75 HzVA
Philips328M6FJMB32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, VGA816:948–144 HzSVA
Philips349X7FJEW34 in3440 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4821:940–100 HzVA
PixioPX277 27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:955–144 HzIPS
PixioPX277 27 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:930–144 HzIPS
PixioPX32932 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2816:948–144 HzVA
SamsungS24E370DL24 in1920 × 1080 816:9??–60 HzIPS
SamsungS24F350FHM24 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA16:948–72 HzIPS
SamsungC24FG7024 in1920 × 1080 16:970–144 HzVA
SamsungS27F35027 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA16:948–60 Hz IPS
SamsungS27E370DS27 in1920 × 1080 816:9??–60 HzIPS
SamsungU24E850R24 in3840 × 2160 816:940–60 HzIPS
SamsungU24E590D24 in3840 × 2160 816:940–60 HzIPS
SamsungU28E850R28 in3840 × 2160 1016:940–60 HzTN
SamsungU28E590D28 in3840 × 2160 1016:954–64 HzTN
SamsungU28H75028 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DP 1.21016:9??–60 HzTN
SamsungU32E85032 in3840 × 2160 816:940–60 HzIPS
SamsungU32H85032 in3840 × 2160 1016:940–60 HzVA
SamsungU32J59032 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzVA
SamsungLC24F390FHWXXL23.5 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, VGA816:960 HzVA
Wasabi MangoUHD42042 in3840 × 2160 1016:942–60 HzAH-IPS
Wasabi MangoUHD55055 in3840 × 2160 1016:9??–60 HzAH-IPS
ViewsonicVX2701mh27 in1920 × 1080 816:9??–144 HzTN
ViewsonicVX2257-mhd22 in1920 × 1080 816:948–75 HzTN
ViewsonicVX2457-mhd24 in1920 × 1080 816:948–75 HzTN
ViewsonicVX2757-mhd27 in1920 × 1080 816:948–75 HzTN
ViewsonicXG240124 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, DP 1.28 16:948–144 HzTN
ViewsonicXG240224 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, DP 1.28 16:948–144 HzTN
ViewsonicXG253025 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DP 1.28 16:948–240 HzTN
ViewsonicXG270127 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, DP, mini-DP816:924–144 HzTN
ViewsonicXG3202-C32 in1920 × 1080 HDMI, DVI, DP 1.2816:924–144 HzVA
ViewsonicVX3258-2KC-MHD32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI, DP 1.28 + 16:948–144 HzMVA
ViewsonicXG340134 in3440 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2821:940–60 HzIPS
ViewsonicXG2700-4K27 in3840 × 2160 HDMI, DP 1.21016:940–60 HzAH-IPS
ViotekGN24C24 in1920 × 1080 2xHDMI, DP 1.21016:9??–144 HzVA

BrandModel numberSizeNative resolutionInterfaceColor depthAspect RatioFreeSync rangePanelRef
AOCAGON322 QC431.5 in2560 × 1440 VGA, HDMI 1.4, 2.0, 2x DP 1.210, HDR40016:948–146.05 HzVA
ASUSXG32VQR32 in2560 × 1440 HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2, MiniDP 1.28, HDR40016:948–144 HzVA
ASUSXG49VQ49 in3840×1080 10, HDR40032:948–144 HzVA
BenqEX3203R31.5 in2560 × 1440 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.410, HDR40016:948–144 HzVA
LG32GK850F-B31.5 in2560 × 1440 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.210, HDR40016:940–144 HzVA
LG34GK950F-B34 in3440 × 1440 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.410, HDR40021:948–144 HzAH-IPS
SamsungC27HG7027.0 in2560 × 1440 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.410, HDR60016:948–144 HzVA
SamsungC32HG7032.0 in2560 × 1440 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.410, HDR60016:948–144 HzVA
SamsungC49HG9048.9 in3840 × 1080 2x HDMI 2.0, DP 1.410, HDR60032:948–144 HzVA

FreeSync-compatible APUs and GPUs

All AMD GPUs starting with the 2nd iteration of Graphics Core Next support FreeSync.
NVidia 10-series, 16-series and 20-series GPUs with driver version 417.71 or higher support FreeSync.
Console APUs: