AMD Announces Freesync 2 With Expanded HDR Capabilities

[Raevenlord]

But no, bar the name, it doesn't have almost anything to do with AMD's renowned Freesync. Instead, according to Videocardz, AMD are apparently expanding the Freesync functionality to more than just an adaptive synchronization technology - it might eventually become a software stack unto itself, embedded within AMD's drivers. This would be a smart move from AMD, since they would be taking advantage of Freesync's brand and name recognition on the market as a way to promote new features.





And what does this "Freesync 2" amount to? Basically, it stands as a way to reduce input lag from HDR processing of an image, by substituting the entirety of the HDR transport and display tone mapping usually needed to render a HDR image by a faster, driver level, Freesync 2 transport (which apparently already includes display tone mapping before the image is sent to the monitor), thus reducing that tone mapping processing time. Another part of the Freesync 2 update is the ability to instantly switch between display modes (SDR and HDR). AMD is also touting Freesync 2 to display "over 2x perceivable brightness and color volume over sRGB", though that honestly looks like more of a byproduct of using an HDR source than a Freesync 2 achievement. We expect to have more information over the coming days.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[R0H1T]

This is what AMD's doing when JHH is counting his Ferraris, innovation

 

[ZeppMan217]

Would've been nice if they added adaptive VSync to the driver as well. For all of Nvidia's stupid proprietary shit, they had this feature for years.

 

[cryohellinc]

This looks exciting, if AMD keeps up this pace, and finally innovation on the market, perhaps next generation of GPU's will make me switch back to AMD? Lets see! All they need to do is release VEGA, and next generation release top end GPU together with Nvidia.

 

[bug]

I don't understand

nixing the entirety of the HDR transport and display tone mapping

What does nixing the transport mean? And isn't tone mapping used to squash a HDR image back into non-HDR space?

 

[Raevenlord]

I don't understand


What does nixing the transport mean? And isn't tone mapping used to squash a HDR image back into non-HDR space?

Indeed. Apparently what this technology does is basically the tone mapping that the display would have to do by itself on HDR content, only at a driver level, before the image is sent to the monitor, thus reducing that tone mapping processing time.

If you look at the third picture, conventional HDR transport is replaced by Freesync 2-specific transport which apparently already includes display tone mapping.

 

[RejZoR]

Would've been nice if they added adaptive VSync to the driver as well. For all of Nvidia's stupid proprietary shit, they had this feature for years.

THIS! Now that I've used Fast V-Sync, it's hard for me to imagine using a graphic card without it (Adaptive V-Sync was still leaving image tearing where Fast didn't). VEGA can be so much more awesome than GTX 1080, but if it has no Fast V-Sync, I don't think I could live with that or even consider buying it. Especially because I already have a high end 144Hz gaming monitor which has no G-Sync or FreeSync. I really have no plans on buying new monitor just 1 year after I bought this gaming one already so relying on FreeSync tech is not an option on any level. But driver feature, most certainly. Fast V-Sync on GTX 980 works beautifully and with it I see absolutely no nee for a hardware solution to counter tearing.

 

[bug]

Indeed. Apparently what this technology does is basically the tone mapping that the display would have to do by itself on HDR content, only at a driver level, before the image is sent to the monitor, thus reducing that tone mapping processing time.

If you look at the third picture, conventional HDR transport is replaced by Freesync 2-specific transport which apparently already includes display tone mapping.

So they're taking functionality the display does in hardware and moving it into the drivers (software). And they claim reducing lag

 

[R-T-B]

I want AMD to introduce NVIDIA style fast vsync so bad...

 

[deemon]

I want AMD to introduce NVIDIA style fast vsync so bad...

Why? It's complete waste of space when we already have superior g-sync and freesync. This fast vsync thing is just utter bullshit. I so badly want my GPU run at 100% all the time and melt my computer .... not. You would be better off buying proper new FreeSync display with Flicker Free lighting and other eye strain reducing technologies. Your eyes will thank you, your computer will thank you, your electricity bill will thank you.

 

[R-T-B]

Why? It's complete waste of space when we already have superior g-sync and freesync. This fast vsync thing is just utter bullshit. I so badly want my GPU run at 100% all the time and melt my computer .... not. You would be better off buying proper FreeSync display.

Because I don't want to fork out money for a new monitor and can handle my thermals just fine?

 

[deemon]

Because I don't want to fork out money for a new monitor and can handle my thermals just fine?

your system specs would indicate you don't need AMD drivers at all.

 

[R-T-B]

your system specs would indicate you don't need AMD drivers at all.

I would consider AMD for a future build if they were:

a.) competitive perfirmance wise
b.) had fast vsync.

I'm a bios modder. I will never buy Pascal due to a signed-bios model. I WANT an AMD card next, so think of this as feedback, not fanboy criticism.

PS: My monitor IS flicker free and blue light filtered, more reason not to replace it.

 

[bug]

@R-T-B Did you really buy a Titan X to pair it with a FHD monitor?

 

[R-T-B]

@R-T-B Did you really buy a Titan X to pair it with a FHD monitor?

On ebay when the crash happened yeah, you can't complain for $300 you know?

I'll admit, it's overkill as fuck. But I don't care, it was too cheap to pass up.

It'll get me past Pascal for now. If NVIDIA continues to lock down their bioses, I'll go AMD next.

 

[bug]

On ebay when the crash happened yeah, you can't complain for $300 you know?

I'll admit, it's overkill as fuck. But I don't care, it was too cheap to pass up.

It'll get me past Pascal for now. If NVIDIA continues to lock down their bioses, I'll go AMD next.

Makes sense, You can probably sell that today for more than $300 (pulled that out of my behind, Idk for how much it goes on ebay these days). But if that deal was so sweet, why didn't you follow it up with a deal for a 4k or QHD monitor? I'd love to have such a monitor, but since I only buy mid-range video cards, I'm not gonna have the power to drive it for a couple more video card generations or so.

 

[R-T-B]

Makes sense, You can probably sell that today for more than $300 (pulled that out of my behind, Idk for how much it goes on ebay these days). But if that deal was so sweet, why didn't you follow it up with a deal for a 4k or QHD monitor? I'd love to have such a monitor, but since I only buy mid-range video cards, I'm not gonna have the power to drive it for a couple more video card generations or so.

I probably will some day, but honestly, I'm fine with FHD for now.

 

[Prima.Vera]

So is like a software emulation for non-native Monitors?

 

[Xzibit]

FreeSync 2 is a baseline (minimal requirements) of tech for monitors sporting the badge.

PCPerspective explains it.

AMD FreeSync 2 Brings Latency, LFC and Color Space Requirements

FreeSync 2 will require monitors to support LFC and thus to have no effective bottom limit to their variable refresh rate. AMD will also instill a maximum latency allowable for FS2, on the order of “a few milliseconds” from frame buffer flip to photon.

The bigger change to FreeSync 2 is on the color space. FS2 will require a doubling of the perceivable brightness and doubling of the viewable color volume based on the sRGB standards. This means that any monitor that has the FreeSync 2 brand will have a significantly larger color space and ~400 nits brightness. Current HDR standards exceed these FreeSync 2 requirements, but there is nothing preventing monitor vendors from exceeding these levels; they simply set a baseline that users should expect going forward.

In addition to just requiring the panel to support a wider color gamut, FS2 will also enable user experience improvements as well. First, each FS2 monitor must communicate its color space and brightness ranges to the AMD driver through a similar communication path used today for variable refresh rate information. By having access to this data, AMD can enable automatic mode switches from SDR to HDR/wide color gamut based on the application. Windows can remain in a basic SDR color space but games or video applications that support HDR modes can enter that mode without user intervention.

Color space mapping can take time in low power consumption monitors, adding potential latency. For movies that might not be an issue, but for enthusiast gamers it definitely is. The solution is to do all the tone mapping BEFORE the image data is sent to the monitor itself. But with varying monitors, varying color space limits and varying integrations of HDR standards, and no operating system level integration for tone mapping, it’s a difficult task.

The solution is for games to map directly to the color space of the display. AMD will foster this through FreeSync 2 – a game that integrates support for FS2 will be able to get data from the AMD driver stack about the maximum color space of the attached display. The engine can then do its tone mapping to that color space directly, rather than some intermediate state, saving on latency and improving the gaming experience. AMD can then automatically switch the monitor to its largest color space, as well as its maximum brightness. This does require the game engine or game developer to directly integrate support for this feature though – it will not be a catch-all solution for AMD Radeon users.