Acer Announces XG270HU Monitor with AMD Freesync

[HM_Actua1]

Pay for flicker.

there you go another "know" it all.

I have 3 Gsync monitors. No flickering to report here.

 

[GhostRyder]

I heard FreeSync is free...

I also heard G-Sync is ~350$ more expensive...

The original G-Sync Module installs and the module itself ranged from $250-$350 depending on if you bought the kit separately.
Second, are you really trying to reference that by just showing the high refresh monitors, the Acer with Freesync is a 1440p 144hz monitor while the two cheaper listed ones are 1080p 144hz monitors and the 1440 144hz monitors listed are all more expensive. So what you have basically shown is that the Freesync monitor is cheaper...

then AMD probably should not use the word 'free' to begin with.

Because AMD said they were giving monitors out for free right?

there you go another "know" it all.

I have 3 Gsync monitors. No flickering to report here.

Yes I have used G-Sync as well and never seen any flickering, not sure where that has been coming from since one of my friends at the LAN event bring his Swift to every meeting and never said there was anything wrong other than I think one bug that was patched awhile ago regarding SLI.

I guess I want to see more Freesync monitors on the market. I really am not sure I will buy in personally mostly because since both sides are making the monitors variable refresh only work with their GPU's whatever you buy unless you want to sell and buy again is going to lock you to a brand unless you want to lose the usage of the tech. I think it would be cool to have a monitor that supports both though I am not sure where the likelihood of that will come into play.

 

[Xzibit]

Yes I have used G-Sync as well and never seen any flickering, not sure where that has been coming from since one of my friends at the LAN event bring his Swift to every meeting and never said there was anything wrong other than I think one bug that was patched awhile ago regarding SLI.

PCPerspective - A Look into Reported G-Sync Display Flickering
comment section has links to more flickering issues and examples.

A few final points before we go:

• This is not limited to the ROG Swift. All variable refresh panels we have tested (including 4K) see this effect to a more or less degree than reported here. Again, this only occurs when games instantaneously drop to 0 FPS, and not when those games dip into low frame rates in a continuous fashion.
• The effect is less perceptible (both visually and with recorded data) at lower maximum refresh rate settings.
• The effect is not present at fixed refresh rates (G-Sync disabled or with non G-Sync panels).

 

[GhostRyder]

PCPerspective - A Look into Reported G-Sync Display Flickering
comment section has links to more flickering issues and examples.

Thanks, had not heard much about it or experienced it. But then again I do not own a Gsync monitor and device capable of displaying Gsync so its something I probably won't see at a LAN event.

 

[semantics]

The "Free" part of Freesync lead people to believe that their current monitors could possibly support it. This was further exacerbated when AMD PR suggested that some monitors currently on the market would meet the specs to run it. At the end of the day for 99% of users if you wanted G-sync or Freesync you are going to have to buy a new monitor, and the monitors are expensive. Freesync monitors have yet to be actually priced and sold so people saying that Freesync will be cheaper than G-sync are baseless. Currently we know G-sync monitors cost a premium(on top of already pretty expensive base models) we'll see if Freesync is the same.

 

[john_]

then AMD probably should not use the word 'free' to begin with.

Probably my English are really bad and I don't realize that the word sync means monitor. Right?

 

[xfia]

Probably my English are really bad and I don't realize that the word sync means monitor. Right?

short for synchronize.. the purpose of gsync and freesync is to eliminate associated problems with traditional vertical sync. the common problem with vertical sync is input lag. a early attempt for a fix was from nvidia with adaptive vertical sync that automatically turned vertical sync on and off depending on if frames are rendered at or below your monitors refresh rate.

 

[john_]

The "Free" part of Freesync lead people to believe that their current monitors could possibly support it. This was further exacerbated when AMD PR suggested that some monitors currently on the market would meet the specs to run it. At the end of the day for 99% of users if you wanted G-sync or Freesync you are going to have to buy a new monitor, and the monitors are expensive. Freesync monitors have yet to be actually priced and sold so people saying that Freesync will be cheaper than G-sync are baseless. Currently we know G-sync monitors cost a premium(on top of already pretty expensive base models) we'll see if Freesync is the same.

I agree that we don't know the price for Freesync monitors, directly, but there is a chance we know it indirectly.
Asus MG279Q 27" 120Hz IPS Panel Gets VRR
I am no expert in monitor pricing but at PCPer they do find the price more than good
CES 2015: ASUS MG279Q 27-in 2560x1440 IPS 120 Hz Variable Refresh Monitor | PC Perspective

Even better? The price! ASUS said this panel will ship in late Q1 of this year for just $599!

With AMD not having a "whitelist" and supporting even monitors that don't have the Freesync sticker on them, the prices should be almost identical between Freesync and VRR monitors, if not identical.

 

[renz496]

how so? the Sync is free, the monitor is not.
Can I not sell a car and throw in some free winter tires in the deal without people then assuming the entire car is free as well?

when AMD first come up with the term 'free' in freesync it was suppose to be totally free. yes even the monitors. no need to get new GPU because the existing tech already in AMD gpu for three generations (back then some people even speculate that 5k and 6k probably going to get freesync). no need to upgrade your monitors because you only need to get it firmware updates to make it work. but things get change little by little as they progress. like only GCN 1.1 parts will get the fressync on games.

 

[renz496]

Because AMD said they were giving monitors out for free right?

no. they said you just need firmware updates. and voila. you got freesync working for you. but as i said things gradually change bit by bit as they progress. if it was really as easy as firmware upgrade when they first talk about freesync back in early 2014 AMD might not need to propose DP1.2a spec to VESA.

 

[AsRock]

Well if if it was just down to a firmware update it be more up to the manufacture to support your monitor which i think in most cases wont anyways. which is hardly AMD's fault.

 

[Prima.Vera]

So let me get this right. If I buy this FreeSync monitor, I would still not be able to use this feature since I own an nVidia card, right?

So why in the world they say is FREE ?!?

 

[HumanSmoke]

So let me get this right. If I buy this FreeSync monitor, I would still not be able to use this feature since I own an nVidia card, right?
So why in the world they say is FREE ?!?

Like a lot of things advertised as free, the devil is in the fine print.

 

[GhostRyder]

So let me get this right. If I buy this FreeSync monitor, I would still not be able to use this feature since I own an nVidia card, right?

So why in the world they say is FREE ?!?

Because its AMD's fault NVidia decided not to support the variable refresh standard...

no. they said you just need firmware updates. and voila. you got freesync working for you. but as i said things gradually change bit by bit as they progress. if it was really as easy as firmware upgrade when they first talk about freesync back in early 2014 AMD might not need to propose DP1.2a spec to VESA.

If they had the updated scaler it was possible but its up to the manufacturer. Freesync is dependant still on the manufacturer pushing the updated firmware to monitors IF they have the scaler ability to do it similar to what was shown on the mobile displays originally.

Freesync is what it is, AMD is not adding proprietary hardware to the monitor itself with their logo on it to up the cost which is the main difference hence "FreeSync". AMD is not specifically adding cost to the monitor with a piece of equipment they are providing...

 

[john_]

I am waiting the person with the ZX Spectrum and the B/W TV from the 50's to come and complain that Freesync is not Free for him.

 

[jigar2speed]

Wow, some Nvidia fanboys are seriously not making sense in this thread.

 

[HumanSmoke]

I am waiting the person with the ZX Spectrum and the B/W TV from the 50's to come and complain that Freesync is not Free for him.

Screw that new-fangled technology, I'm still waiting for adaptive sync for this

 

[xfia]

how is it amd's fault that nv didn't use a vesa standard? nv made the first move and a monitor absolutely has to have the extra stuff.
they call it freesync because it uses vesa standard and a monitor only has to be adaptive sync capable and not be branded as freesync with more stuff in the monitor to make it work.
they where obviously hinting a lot to manufacturers how they want it all to go down but just like anything open source they don't have full control.
we just have to wait and see how manufacturers implement the standard.. it could very well hurt nv if monitors started getting branded as something like adaptive sync supported by amd's freesync.
what would really make nv sweat is if manufacturers started supplying updates on websites for monitors that can use adaptive sync.. what if amd out and says the next consoles will support it. very soon the gamer mentality will be having to have zero screen tearing with zero input lag and why even settle for less when its very possible.
gsync does have a problem with a extra frame of latency that matters with lower frame rates so the future of gsync looks a little grim to me when it cost more to manufacture and dues have to paid to nv.
http://support.amd.com/en-us/search/faq/216

 

[ZoneDymo]

Wow, some Nvidia fanboys are seriously not making sense in this thread.

well atleast its only some right

 

[HumanSmoke]

how is it amd's fault that nv didn't use a vesa standard?

Well, obviously it isn't. Nvidia chose (at least for the moment) not to use the technology that is available, so that's on them

nv made the first move and a monitor absolutely has to have the extra stuff.

For the previous year there hasn't really been another option. Going forward there will be, and if Adaptive Sync/FreeSync offers everything that G-Sync does, then you'd have to assume that G-Sync will become marginalized since the cost of module+licensing will be higher that a modified controller board supporting DP 1.2a - especially if the T-CON manufacturers build in a degree of future proofing by having the boards DP 1.3 compatible - as seems to be the case.

we just have to wait and see how manufacturers implement the standard..

That will be the interesting part. The T-CON module to enable Adaptive Sync/FreeSync don't seem any more expensive than the present fully functioned units. In theory there shouldn't be much of a price increase based on the boards.

what would really make nv sweat is if manufacturers started supplying updates on websites for monitors that can use adaptive sync..

You mean firmware updates? From what I've read so far that will likely depend upon whether the vendor actually intended for forward compatibility. Some controllers can't be firmware updated to DP 1.2a/1.3 from 1.2, but 1.2a should be firmware upgradable to 1.3. You might have better luck dredging though the VESA documentation as I just tended to look at T-CON vendors ( If the monitor can't be firmware updated, there is still a good possibility that sourcing a 1.2a/1.3 T-CON and fitting it to an existing monitor should be possible - something to take into consideration rather than tossing an otherwise perfectly good monitor).

 

[xfia]

thanks I didn't about modifying a monitor
there is also brand loyalty in the matter.. I have seen many people say they want a nvidia gpu even if amd will save them money or let them get a stronger gpu.
what I never liked about nvidia gpu's is the 770's having 2gb of vram.. kinda weak if you want to sli and that extra gig of vram in a 280x-79xx has always been better for running mods and crossfire so I could never understand the brand loyalty if your budget falls into that bracket.

 

[HumanSmoke]

thanks I didn't about modifying a monitor

It's not difficult. Just a bit of research. T-Con swap-outs became the "in thing" when 120Hz arrived on the scene alongside cheap Korean IPS 2560x1440 monitors. Overlord became somewhat synonymous with retrofitting of Yamakazi Catleap's, Shimian's (which I use), and a host of other Korean panels. This will give you an idea of how easy the operation is

there is also brand loyalty in the matter.. I have seen many people say they want a nvidia gpu even if amd will save them money or let them get a stronger gpu.
what I never liked about nvidia gpu's is the 770's having 2gb of vram.. kinda weak if you want to sli and that extra gig of vram in a 280x-79xx has always been better for running mods and crossfire so I could never understand the brand loyalty if your budget falls into that bracket.

Some people do have an unwavering allegiance, but as a general rule you should buy the best you can for the money you're spending. I tend to buy Nvidia, and more often than not EVGA cards, simply because I upgrade often and these hold their value in the resell market. EVGA's warranty is serial based, so the card can pass through many owners but the warranty is tied to the board not the original owner and documentation. Transferable warranties add value to the sale even if it is largely illusionary since cards don't usually fail within the warranty timeframe, and any warranty claim means sending the card halfway around the world ( shipping cost).

Having said that, I wouldn't get hung up too much on the GTX 770 or the 280X - they are firmly in the budget conscious realm of a previous generation of architecture. If you were considering a 1920x1080 maybe, but it isn't a good match (performance or price) for an expensive 2560x1440 panel. As for vendor specificity, anyone running current Nvidia hardware only has G-Sync as an option, but I wouldn't bet against the next round of releases (from both AMD and Nvidia) having DP 1.3 support now that the spec is finalized. It would seem rather short-sighted not to include it.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Multiple people need banned for their trolling/shilling. This is out of control even for an AMD thread (which brings out the whackadoodles).

 

[lordogre]

then AMD probably should not use the word 'free' to begin with.

Its the feature that doesn't cost the monitor vendors to implement the feature rather than adding another piece of hardware to the panel and raising the cost for Manufacturers/Vendors. If you think freesync means its a free panel you are brainless. Also to note that VESA calls the spec as Adaptive sync not free sync, i am pretty sure when new DP spec was released it mentioned Adaptive sync not free sync. I am not sure if its the Manufacturers or TPU that are still calling it Freesync.

 

[renz496]

Its the feature that doesn't cost the monitor vendors to implement the feature rather than adding another piece of hardware to the panel and raising the cost for Manufacturers/Vendors. If you think freesync means its a free panel you are brainless. Also to note that VESA calls the spec as Adaptive sync not free sync, i am pretty sure when new DP spec was released it mentioned Adaptive sync not free sync. I am not sure if its the Manufacturers or TPU that are still calling it Freesync.

Why TPU still call them FreeSync? because that is what AMD named their solution for variable refresh rates tech. some people assume adaptive sync=freesync which is false. Adaptive Sync is the VESA standard needed for the variable refresh rates. FreeSync is AMD own implementation to make variable refresh rates to work with their supported card. so before calling other people brainless educate yourself first about Adaptive Sync/FreeSync. also i never talk about giving free monitors. only talk about AMD should not use the word "Free" when the solution is not really free especially to end user.