Intel Smooth Sync Lets Gamers with Fixed Refresh-Rate Monitors Enjoy Low-latency Gaming

btarunr · Jun 9, 2022

With its Arc "Alchemist" graphics solutions, Intel is introducing a new in-house display refresh-rate technology alongside support for VESA Adaptive Sync, which it calls Smooth Sync. This feature is targeted at notebooks and desktops with fixed-refresh rate displays, which lack support for Adaptive Sync. The technology works to counteract the screen-tearing effect caused by the GPU putting out frames at a higher rate than the display's refresh rate, letting gamers set V-sync to "off" in their games, and enjoy the lowest possible input latencies.

The way Intel Smooth Sync seems to work, is that V-sync is disabled in game, the GPU puts out the maximum frame-rate that it can, and then a lightweight dithering filter blurs off the screen-tear zone on the display. The idea is that this filter imposes a far less latency cost than V-sync, so even budget-segment notebooks with fixed refresh-rate displays can enjoy the benefits of low-latency gaming, without the screen-tear. Smooth Sync is a software-level feature that's part of the latest Arc graphics drivers, and will work with Arc "Alchemist" graphics processors.

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docnorth · Jun 9, 2022

Interesting, let's wait to see how it works.

ZoneDymo · Jun 9, 2022

the description makes it sound rather crap tbh, but we will see.

spnidel · Jun 9, 2022

we've got enough ghosting as it is - monitor grey-to-grey ghosting, TAA ghosting, now this???

Chomiq · Jun 9, 2022

Looks like arse.

mahirzukic2 · Jun 9, 2022

ZoneDymo said:
the description makes it sound rather crap tbh, but we will see.

I was just gonna say the same thing. It sounds really bad, what's the catch?

marios15 · Jun 9, 2022

I can achieve the same thing if I use LCD monitor from 2005....so?

DeathtoGnomes · Jun 9, 2022

So are they ditching Xess for this or will they have both?

konga · Jun 9, 2022

DeathtoGnomes said:
So are they ditching Xess for this or will they have both?

...These are completely different technologies for completely different use cases. Why would developing this mean they're ditching xess?

Steevo · Jun 9, 2022

DeathtoGnomes said:
So are they ditching Xess for this or will they have both?

With the below expected performance I bet they are stacking effects until it looks like a 1970s technicolor and jelly smeared lens show.

mouacyk · Jun 10, 2022

in motion, that blur is going to be much more visible

DeathtoGnomes · Jun 10, 2022

konga said:
...These are completely different technologies for completely different use cases. Why would developing this mean they're ditching xess?

Can you tie your left shoe and your right shoe at the same time?

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Intel Smooth Sync Lets Gamers with Fixed Refresh-Rate Monitors Enjoy Low-latency Gaming

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