AMD on a Gsync Monitor?

[uber_m0j0]

Hey all.
I have a question about my Gsync monitor and switching to an AMD card.
My current monitor is the Asus Rog Swift PG279QM paired with a 2080Ti .
When AMD launches their new card next month, I may upgrade to it. My
last red card was an ATi 9700Pro. So it's been a hot minute since I've followed
team red. I'm very happy with my current monitor and don't want to change it out just
to go with an AMD card.

Anyway my question is will AMD's free sync or whatever its called work fine with this monitor?
Thanks!

 

[MrBanana]

It will work since it's adaptive sync.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

You'll be fine. My monitor is also a G-sync monitor and works with my 6700XT. I do think G-Sync is smoother though.

 

[Onasi]

Yeah, it’s just generic VRR and will work. It has a GSync module, but the new models (well, new is relative) are all capable of supporting any GPU, so you’ll be fine. GSync specific features like Reflex Analyzer will not work, of course, but I would assume you don’t care about that since, well, barely anyone does.

 

[redeye]

NO. (it depends.) is it of the era in which acer XB270hu, acer XB280hk were sold?. if yes, most likely will not have VRR on AMD.

if you have a Nvidia GPU, go with the Gsync compatible. but if you’re ever thinking about getting an AMDGPU buy the AdaptiveSync or free sync or VESA VRR…

my acer XB270hu, acer XB280hk are locked in nvidia cards.
i should heeded the ”warning“ when those montiors were display port only . but I didn’t realize that because I tend to only use display port…(but at the time i was using the gtx 980, gtx 2080, gtx1660ti.)

 

[GerKNG]

i have to strictly disagree with every comment so far.
a G-Sync Processor is NOT JUST VRR. It's a proprietary chip driving the Panel and it only works with GeForce GPUs.

 

[Onasi]

@GerKNG
GSync modules started supporting generic Adaptive Sync / VRR since their second (or third) generation like 5 years ago. This one is no exception. Literally from the RTINGS review:

 

[GerKNG]

@GerKNG
GSync modules started supporting generic Adaptive Sync / VRR since their second (or third) generation like 5 years ago. This one is no exception. Literally from the RTINGS review:
View attachment 383484

i know. i even have a G-Sync monitor that does not even have basic VRR and new ones that do. I just said that you can not use the G-Sync Processor with a Radeon GPU because G-Sync is not Freesync.
("It will work since it's adaptive sync.")

 

[Onasi]

I just said that you can not use the G-Sync Processor with a Radeon GPU because G-Sync is not Freesync.
("It will work since it's adaptive sync.")

That’s just… straight up false. I am not even sure what that is supposed to mean? All VRR is now essentially unified under the same standard. MS and VESA forced it. GSync and FreeSync are branding at best nowadays and the only reason manufacturers still use the GSync module (though it is on decline) is to implement other features it has, like Reflex compatibility, out of the box dynamic overdrive and, for Ultimate, theoretically “better” HDR implementation, though that is arguable. Oh, and Pulsar, if it ever actually materializes. There is no practical difference in terms of VRR performance and implementation between GSync module screens, GSync compatible screens, FreeSync screens - what have you. This has been explored multiple times already. And on OPs particular model everything clearly just works without issue in this regard.

 

[kiddagoat]

There are older GSync monitors that do not recognize FreeSync at all. I happen to own one.

The Alienware AW3418DW is a GSync Monitor that only supports it through DisplayPort. It don’t work through HDMI and neither port will show as FreeSync in the AMD Control Panel.

Dell could issue a firmware update for it, but no. You have the buy the newer monitor AW3420DW for adaptive sync support. Again only through DisplayPort.

The OP’s monitor will support both and through either DisplayPort or HDMI.

 

[MrDweezil]

i have to strictly disagree with every comment so far.
a G-Sync Processor is NOT JUST VRR. It's a proprietary chip driving the Panel and it only works with GeForce GPUs.

This is literally true and completely unimportant. Everything you actually care about will work as you expect.

 

[Onasi]

Dell could issue a firmware update for it, but no. You have the buy the newer monitor AW3420DW for adaptive sync support. Again only through DisplayPort.

They couldn’t. The GSync FPGA is a complete black box that comes “as is” and nobody outside of NV has access to its firmware. The HDMI GSync support was implemented on later generation of it.

 

[Klaus1189]

I have a AMD RX7000 card connected to a display with HDMI 2.1 which does not support Freesync, but it supports HDMI VRR. If I would connect an older AMD card without HDMI VRR support (HDMI 2.1 is needed for VRR) it would not work here.

 

[Gasaraki]

@GerKNG
GSync modules started supporting generic Adaptive Sync / VRR since their second (or third) generation like 5 years ago. This one is no exception. Literally from the RTINGS review:
View attachment 383484

But I think he's trying to say that GSYNC is not just VRR. If GSYNC and Freesync was just VVR, then why does anyone need those anymore? GSYNC has more specialize tech that works better than regular VRR. However most monitors with the GSYNC module works with Freesync and native VRR.

 

[Klaus1189]

Also, there is a difference between G-Sync (Ultimate) and G-Sync Compatible ...

 

[Dr. Dro]

Also, there is a difference between G-Sync (Ultimate) and G-Sync Compatible ...

It's basically like this:

G-Sync Compatible - validated VESA AdaptiveSync / AMD FreeSync panel (without an NVIDIA processor on the monitor)
G-Sync - proprietary hardware-assisted variable rate (with NVIDIA processor on the monitor)
G-Sync Ultimate - proprietary hardware-assisted variable rate with high frame rate, ultra-low-latency and HDR/WCG support (with an advanced NVIDIA processor on the monitor)

AMD's FreeSync "Premium" and "Premium Pro" tiers still don't have hardware-assisted variable rate, but AMD imposes a minimum of 120 Hz support at 1080p and low frame rate compensation support for FreeSync Premium, and Premium Pro tier further adds HDR/WCG/low latency support.

 

[tommesfps]

1) Will the monitor Asus Rog Swift PG279QM work with variable refresh rate provided by an AMD Radeon GPU ? Yes, since the monitor support adaptive sync via displayport.
2) [optional] Is the monitor Asus Rog Swift PG279QM equipped with a proprietary G-Sync module to support NVidia G-Sync when a NVidia GPU with G-Sync support is connected? Yes, G-Sync module implemented.
3) [optional] Will a change from NVidia RTX 2080 Ti to AMD RDN4 and therefore G-Sync to FreeSync result in a perceptible difference in gameplay experience? Probably not, since the monitor also support low framerate compensation and the new AMD RDN4 card will potentially be fast enough for almost every game in multiple resolutions to hit a certain level of framerate.
4) [optional] tbc...

 

[Zach_01]

Hey all.
I have a question about my Gsync monitor and switching to an AMD card.
My current monitor is the Asus Rog Swift PG279QM paired with a 2080Ti .
When AMD launches their new card next month, I may upgrade to it. My
last red card was an ATi 9700Pro. So it's been a hot minute since I've followed
team red. I'm very happy with my current monitor and don't want to change it out just
to go with an AMD card.

Anyway my question is will AMD's free sync or whatever its called work fine with this monitor?
Thanks!

I also run a G-Sync certified monitor with a Radeon GPU.
Since your monitor supports VRR (Adaptive Sync) it will be fine.

 

[Onasi]

But I think he's trying to say that GSYNC is not just VRR. If GSYNC and Freesync was just VVR, then why does anyone need those anymore? GSYNC has more specialize tech that works better than regular VRR. However most monitors with the GSYNC module works with Freesync and native VRR.

And I pointed out that said “specialized GSync tech”, which in the case of his screen is just Reflex Analyzer, won’t work with an AMD card. But nobody sane gives a flying fuck about that particular feature. But no, there is no “magic” that makes GSync behave any differently from any other modern VRR implementation. I have no idea where this take has originated. The only thing I can think of was the DWM hack NV implemented years ago for Windowed GSync, but that is completely irrelevant with modern Windows 10 and 11 and how their MPO and VRR implementation bypasses all that - everything will work regardless just fine.

And to answer your rhetorical question - no, there is no need for a GSync module anymore, not really. It’s mostly a way to increase the ASP for vendors these days. Certainly, new OLED screens straight up get nothing from it - the main benefit used to be a well tuned dynamic overdrive out of the box, but display manufacturers mostly got a hang of it for their LCDs and OLED doesn’t use any overdrive at all.

Christ, I am normally the one who kind of plays devils advocate for NV, but in this case this really is just showing how strong the marketing and mindshare is with people still believing that GSync modules do anything special in big 2025.

 

[Zach_01]

FYI I'm using DP (never tried HDMI) and it supports a rate down to 1Hz. Also it works as it should, smoothly with no tear.