Wednesday, August 29th 2018

NVIDIA GPUs Can be Tricked to Support AMD FreeSync

by
btarunr
 Discuss (94 Comments)
Newer generations of NVIDIA GPUs such as "Pascal" and "Maxwell" meet or exceed the hardware requirements of AMD FreeSync, as they feature DisplayPort 1.4 connectors that include the features of DisplayPort 1.2a, required for VESA adaptive sync. In a bid to promote its own G-SYNC technology, NVIDIA doesn't expose this feature to monitors or software that support FreeSync. Redditor "bryf50" may have found a way around this. The trick is deceptively simple, however, you'll need games that support on-the-fly switching of rendering GPUs, and an AMD Radeon graphics card at hand.

When poking around with system settings in "Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth," bryf50 discovered that you can switch the "rendering GPU" on the fly, without having to physically connect your display to that newly selected GPU. You can start the game with your display connected to VGA1 (an AMD Radeon GPU), and switch the renderer in-game to VGA2 (an NVIDIA GPU). FreeSync should continue to work, while you enjoy the performance of that NVIDIA GPU. In theory, this should allow you to pair your high-end GTX 1080 Ti with a $50 RX 550 that supports FreeSync, instead of paying the $200+ G-SYNC tax.
Sources: Reddit, PC Perspective

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94 Comments on NVIDIA GPUs Can be Tricked to Support AMD FreeSync

#51
StrayKAT
cucker tarlsonWell,IS freesync really working properly ? Or is it just one guy in one game screaming "it works!" ? Maybe it's the monitor osd malfunction,displaying freesync mode when it's not active.
Not sure how all displays work. I can easily test it just by tapping the resolution status on my TV. If Freesync is running, it'll say so.. and have a fluctuating Hz number.. i.e. quick switches between 58-59hz, for example. Kind of useful to always have this fps type of counter on tap).
Posted on Reply
#52
cucker tarlson
StrayKATNot sure how all displays work. I can easily test it just by tapping the resolution status on my TV. If Freesync is running, it'll say so.. and have a fluctuating Hz number.. i.e. quick switches between 58-59hz, for example).
I've seen the monitor osd say it's in g-sync mode,and g-sync indicator displayed on the scrren, and it still wasn't working, the refresh rate conter was dead on 165 and I could see it wasn't working, when frames are out of sync with hz I see that immediately. That's why I'm very skeptical about the the certainty people just take it with that "it works".
Posted on Reply
#53
StrayKAT
cucker tarlsonI've seen the monitor osd say it's in g-sync mode,and g-sync indicator displayed on the scrren, and it still wasn't working, the refresh rate conter was dead on 165. That's why I'm very skeptical about the the certainty people just take it with that "it works".
Fair enough.

That's happened to me, but just in one case... Bethesda (because they bake Vsync into FO4/Skyrim and it interferes.. if not outright causes strange behavior).
Posted on Reply
#54
Vayra86
cucker tarlsonWell,IS freesync really working properly ? Or is it just one guy in one game screaming "it works!" ? Maybe it's the monitor osd malfunction,displaying freesync mode when it's not active. Only way is the verify that empirically, readings can be wrong.
True, it might just be fake
Posted on Reply
#55
cyneater
Why can't there be an open standard that works with all monitors.
Rather than Team Red and Team Green.

PC master my ass.

More like backwards greedy companies.
Posted on Reply
#56
cucker tarlson
medi01Are you at least paid for spreading anti-AMD FUD, or are you doing it for free?
the fact that the monitor's osd is displaying freesync mode does not mean freesync is working properly,get it through your skull before you end up writing another BS comment.
Posted on Reply
#57
StrayKAT
cucker tarlsonthe fact that the monitor's osd is displaying freesync mode does not mean freesync is working properly,get it through your skull before you end up writing another BS comment.
Well, I agreed with that.. although I just have one experience (Vsync interfering). I can see it happening elsewhere.. like untested foolery in this reddit article.
Posted on Reply
#58
medi01
cucker tarlson...my empty skull....needmonez...
I mean, I'd expect fanboi to be able to state so. So you are a paid shill, huh. That is sad, I feel for you.
Posted on Reply
#59
cucker tarlson
medi01I mean, I'd expect fanboi to be able to state so. So you are a paid shill, huh. That is sad, I feel for you.
It's not even the fact that I have any particular dislike for AMD or any of their products, I just don't want to be associated with your type.
StrayKATWell, I agreed with that.. although I just have one experience (Vsync interfering). I can see it happening elsewhere.. like untested foolery in this reddit article.
I've seen it many times. It was either windows game bar interfering, or more commonly, windows not properly recognizing the display as primary. That is why there really should be room for skepticism until this is proven to be working. Sad you can't get trolls like medi01 to understand that,only thing to they seem to get off on childish stuff. Maybe they should get back to the sandbox instead of coming here. :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#60
Vayra86
medi01I mean, I'd expect fanboi to be able to state so. So you are a paid shill, huh. That is sad, I feel for you.
cucker tarlsonIt's not even the fact that I have any particular dislike for AMD or any of their products, I just don't want to be associated with the your type.
Get a room kiddos
Posted on Reply
#61
medi01
Vayra86Get a
Sense of appropriate comment to the right person, I get it your feelings about Huang are strong, but still.
Posted on Reply
#62
cucker tarlson
medi01Sense of appropriate comment to the right person, I get it your feelings about Huang are strong, but still.
Oh,he's right about the person,don't worry about that.
Posted on Reply
#63
Mysteoa
cucker tarlsonthe fact that the monitor's osd is displaying freesync mode does not mean freesync is working properly,get it through your skull before you end up writing another BS comment.
Did you when and read the source? The person tested with the Freesync windmill demo and some games.
Posted on Reply
#64
cucker tarlson
MysteoaDid you when and read the source? The person tested with the Freesync windmill demo and some games.
What source ? There's no sourcing in the OP, it only says

"When poking around with system settings in "Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth," bryf50 discovered that you can switch the "rendering GPU" on the fly, without having to physically connect your display to that newly selected GPU. ", mentions one guy and one game. I guess there is a picture of a windmill tho, so it has to be legitimate.
Posted on Reply
#65
Vayra86
MysteoaDid you when and read the source? The person tested with the Freesync windmill demo and some games.
True but that is no guarantee it will work on all other games too. Its a hack, and it may even be a temporary one..

I'd refrain from running off to the store for a cheap AMD card ;)
cyneaterWhy can't there be an open standard that works with all monitors.
Rather than Team Red and Team Green.

PC master my ass.

More like backwards greedy companies.
There are many of those.

And you know what they say about standards...

Posted on Reply
#66
cucker tarlson
Vayra86True but that is no guarantee it will work on all other games too. Its a hack, and it may even be a temporary one..
That too,very much so.
Posted on Reply
#67
renz496
GreiverBladewell, duh... of course they can.. and i am 100% sure, even without needing a AMD gpu to do the trick ... well ... unlike G-Rapsync errrr G-Sync, Freesync is royalty free open standard so Nvidia could even support it if they weren't total greedy @$$



uh? ... well ... with G-Sync you don't even need a second GPU to pay more :laugh:


and here i was about to answer to that : what waste? if not used (SLI/CFX aren't technically useful lately ) PCIeX X16 slot are a waste of space... well i do have 2 X16 and 3 X1 completely free well i don't like SLI and i don't need a soundcard, PCIeX SSD are too expensive and not many daughter card use a X1 and are useful to me.
then why after a few years it is still not "hacked" by people? this work around using APU is fine proof simple software hacked will not going to let nvidia GPU suddenly capable of supporting VESA DP VRR. while it is sad that nvidia did not want to support open standard i still believe nvidia hardware was lacking something to truly support VRR the way AMD does with Freesync. anyway if you look at another perspective nvidia is not that "greedy" for not supporting VESA display port VRR spec. if they really want to crush AMD and get all the sales from AMD just support Vesa VRR and people will have one less reason to own AMD GPU.
Posted on Reply
#68
dir_d
If you look around WCCF Tech tried the trick and made a video about it, and it did actually work. What this tells me is that if Nvidia wanted to they could support both. I think they should and let the consumer choose Gsync or Freesync or maybe just a ULMB monitor.
Posted on Reply
#69
Enterprise24
SetsunaFZerodo I see a NGreedia Hotfix driver incoming
Ahahahahahaha they will fix anything that is good for their customers but bad for their business.

Hidden method to activate dithering just got "fixed" not too long ago. I ask them and they said "That is the result of a bug in how the control panel was meant to work. I can't do anything other than accept your feedback here." The short answer is enjoy your color banding. We will not fix it.
Posted on Reply
#70
GreiverBlade
renz496then why after a few years it is still not "hacked" by people? this work around using APU is fine proof simple software hacked will not going to let nvidia GPU suddenly capable of supporting VESA DP VRR.
oh .... you only did retain the part you highlighted in bold ...

the "why" in you question is answered by : "unlike G-Rapsync errrr G-Sync, Freesync is royalty free open standard so Nvidia could even support it if they weren't total greedy @$$ "
there is no "hacking" to be done it's not "they don't let poor little Nvidia use it", it's rather a "Nvidia does not support it because they want to sell more G-Sync modules"
renz496anyway if you look at another perspective nvidia is not that "greedy" for not supporting VESA display port VRR spec. if they really want to crush AMD and get all the sales from AMD just support Vesa VRR and people will have one less reason to own AMD GPU.
mmhhh ... oh so they aren't supporting it to give a chance to AMD and not utterly crush them? how nice of them
renz496i still believe nvidia hardware was lacking something to truly support VRR the way AMD does with Freesync.
mhhh ... i seriously doubt it ... they could support the VESA VRR or Freesync (which base on VRR ) without any hitch ... but they wouldnt get 200$+ per user who want it, as if a 900$ 2080 and a1500$ 2080Ti werent enough (ok ok .. previously it was a bit cheaper per card ... a 550-600$ 1070 wasn't so bad ... or so i thought ... )
Enterprise24Ahahahahahaha they will fix anything that is good for their customers but bad for their business..
i look forward to the "latest" driver release that will gimp my 1070 performance in an attempt to convince me that i need to upgrade to a 2070 or above.... to get a Vega 64 instead ...
Enterprise24Hidden method to activate dithering just got "fixed" not too long ago. I ask them and they said "That is the result of a bug in how the control panel was meant to work. I can't do anything other than accept your feedback here." The short answer is enjoy your color banding. We will not fix it.
which explain why i usually run my card with a 6 month old driver ... the "latest" are usually "fixing" thing that does not need to be fixed or bring some instability ... talk about driver superiority :laugh:
Posted on Reply
#71
Slizzo
cyneaterWhy can't there be an open standard that works with all monitors.
Rather than Team Red and Team Green.

PC master my ass.

More like backwards greedy companies.
There is an open standard, it's just that no one uses it: VESA Adaptive Sync.
Posted on Reply
#72
GreiverBlade
SlizzoThere is an open standard, it's just that no one uses it: VESA Adaptive Sync.
while freesync is also one ... just like VESA VRR (adaptive sync) who serve as a base ...
Posted on Reply
#73
krykry
cyneaterWhy can't there be an open standard that works with all monitors.
Rather than Team Red and Team Green.

PC master my ass.

More like backwards greedy companies.
Actually freesync is an open standard (I think), if Nvidia wanted, they could implement it, but for reasons obvious they would never do something that doesn't benefit them.
Posted on Reply
#74
bug
krykryActually freesync is an open standard, if Nvidia wanted, they could implement it, but for reasons obvious they would never do something that doesn't benefit them.
FreeSync is not a standard, it's a specification. AdaptiveSync (which FreeSync is based on, I think) is the standard. But even that, it's actually an optional extension to the DisplayPort standard. If it was folded into the main spec, the problem would be largely resolved.
Posted on Reply
#75
GreiverBlade
bugFreeSync is not a standard, it's a specification. AdaptiveSync (which FreeSync is based on, I think) is the standard. But even that, it's actually an optional extension to the DisplayPort standard. If it was folded into the main spec, the problem would be largely resolved.
actually it's classed as a standard.
Stable release: FreeSync 2.0 / 3 January 2017; 19 months ago
Developed by: Advanced Micro Devices
Operating system: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One
Original author: Advanced Micro Devices
Initial release: 19 March 2015; 3 years ago
License: Open standard, Royalty-free


and it is based on VESA VRR,just like G-Sync, (which is Adaptive Sync) only G-Sync need a add on card in the monitor ... and we all know why ... (hint 200$+ )
Variable refresh rate display technologies include several industry standards and proprietary standards:
  • AMD FreeSync
  • Nvidia G-Sync
  • VESA Adaptive Sync
  • HDMI 2.1 VRR
  • Apple ProMotion (ah? apple do some promotion? what price reduction? 1%? oh ... proprietary display technology, i get it... )
Adaptive-Sync
VESA announced Adaptive-Sync as an ingredient component of the DisplayPort 1.2a specification; FreeSync is a hardware–software solution that uses DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync protocols to enable smooth, tearing-free and low-latency gameplay. FreeSync has also been implemented over HDMI.
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