AMD Demonstrates Prototype FreeSync Monitor

[Leadbox]

PcPer

frame rates wavering between 40 FPS and 60 FPS

I'm sure this will please those who were dissappointed by the lack of variability in AMD's last demo with the laptops.
Not bad for a quick hack job

 

[gorobei]

primary point of note:

The demo system is powered by an AMD FX-8350 processor and Radeon R9 290X graphics card. The monitor is running at 2560x1440 and is the very first working prototype of the new standard. Even more interesting, this is a pre-existing display that has had its firmware updated to support Adaptive Sync. That's potentially exciting news! Monitors COULD BE UPGRADED to support this feature, but AMD warns us: "...this does not guarantee that firmware alone can enable the feature, it does reveal that some scalar/LCD combinations are already sufficiently advanced that they can support some degree of DRR (dynamic refresh rate) and the full DPAS (DisplayPort Adaptive Sync) specification through software changes."

 

[NTMBK]

Firmware change alone? Nice! That should speed up the time to market on these, and make monitor vendors more likely to adopt it.

 

[NostaSeronx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-aV4ryKdE

Stare at one monitor then the next for the best effect.

 

[3DVagabond]

Interesting how PCPer posted a video about G-Sync in the Free-Sync article. Why didn't they post a vid of the Free-Sync demo?

 

[antihelten]

If anyone's curious, the monitor appears to be a variant of the Crossover 27QW (a catleap rebrand). Only difference from the 27WQ (visually at least), is the stand and the color of the bottom bezel, as far as I could tell.

Perhaps not terribly interesting, since well probably never see that exact model with the appropriate firmware, but it does indicate that you don't need some super expensive, fancy scalar, seeing as Catleap monitors are generally among the cheapest for their category.

 

[BrightCandle]

I still can't find a major manufacturer that is intending to upgrade an existing monitor, I rang around a whole bundle of them and sent out a lot of emails. The answer none from all of them.

Good to see it actually works and I'll take AMDs word for it that this is varying the refresh rate as the demonstration has no indication of frame rate. Still wondering how they do it, the implementation details do matter.

 

[Leadbox]

If anyone's curious, the monitor appears to be a variant of the Crossover 27QW (a catleap rebrand). Only difference from the 27WQ (visually at least), is the stand and the color of the bottom bezel, as far as I could tell.

Perhaps not terribly interesting, since well probably never see that exact model with the appropriate firmware, but it does indicate that you don't need some super expensive, fancy scalar, seeing as Catleap monitors are generally among the cheapest for their category.

Thank you, spent the last hour googling trying to find the monitor :$
So that's an IPS monitor then?

 

[Wild Thing]

Good to see a working prototype...after reading this thread many people thought it wouldn't happen.^_^
[Redacted]


I think we should leave the past.... well, in the past. Please post something more constructive instead of trying to bring in the naysayers with your post.


-Rvenger

 

[antihelten]

Thank you, spent the last hour googling trying to find the monitor :$
So that's an IPS monitor then?

The Crossover 27QW is 2560x1440, IPS, 27 inch, and I would guess 60hz.

 

[Leadbox]

Good to see it actually works and I'll take AMDs word for it that this is varying the refresh rate as the demonstration has no indication of frame rate. Still wondering how they do it, the implementation details do matter.

It's most likely repurposed PSR type functionality. So some data packet is being sent ahead of every frame
Here are some Dave Baumann quote on the matter:

Just in case the other posts are not clear, Freesync has no additional latency and there is no "guesswork" involved.

As I said in the other post, the comment about "guessing" is erroneous. The GPU knows the range of refresh rates on the panel and will send the VBLANK the moment the frame is rendered. The only time something different happens is when a frame rendering takes too long and falls outside the length of the longest range and the previous frame is re-presented until the next frame finally finishes and will be sent ASAP.

" I heard that the freesync method always has a single frame buffer, meaning the image you are seeing is technically always one frame delayed from what is actually happening"

I do not know where this come from, but this is not the case. Freesync is aware of the refresh rate range from the display initialization and the VBLANK signal is sent as soon at the frame is ready to present and the display is refreshed with that frame.

The Crossover 27QW is 2560x1440, IPS, 27 inch, and I would guess 60hz.

Thank you.

 

[TeknoBug]

Yup I imagine any monitor with DDC/CI should be capable of firmware updating.

I still think Nvidia are trolling with the expensive G-sync crap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-aV4ryKdE

Stare at one monitor then the next for the best effect.

Took me 3 seconds to see the difference.

 

[Flapdrol1337]

http://www.anandtech.com/show/7385/nixeus-nxvue27d-27-a-450-wqhd-256x1440-ips-led-dponly-monitor-

 

[Creig]

Here's a link to a 20 second Youtube clip somebody shot of the FreeSync side-by-side display at Computex 2014.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-aV4ryKdE

It shows what you'd expect it to. The windmill demo again playing smoothly on the FreeSync equipped system and hitching on the non-FreeSync computer. As long as it's a legit prototype setup, it at least showcases the possibililty of FreeSync coming to mass market. It's hard to tell anything from just a Youtube video, however.

I had to laugh, though, when I read one of the comments:

"Pretty sure this video is dedicated to Mand from anand's forum."

Agreed.

Warning issued for member callout.
-- stahlhart

 

[96Firebird]

Does that video show a static 40FPS @ 40Hz, vs a static 40FPS @ 60Hz? Do the framerates change? There is so little information, yet people keep posting the same video...

 

[Creig]

Does that video show a static 40FPS @ 40Hz, vs a static 40FPS @ 60Hz? Do the framerates change?

According to PCPer:

the demo is up and running and functions with frame rates wavering between 40 FPS and 60 FPS

There is so little information, yet people keep posting the same video...

This isn't the same video that was posted previously. As you can plainly see, these aren't laptops this time. FreeSync is being demoed on desktop monitors. So it looks like AMD is still on track to getting FreeSync up and running.

 

[Mand]

About time, AMD.

I'm very curious as to the details. What monitors are compatible? What monitors will be updated? What ones won't? Is this a display manufacturer decision alone?

At least we can start having a conversation about FreeSync, now.


So, after watching the video several times, I think it's worth diving into it.

Am I correct in thinking that the stuttering of the non-FreeSync windmill isn't constant? Meaning, the size and frequency of the skips varies? Because if so, that would indicate that they are doing a variable framerate for the video, with a static refresh rate on the non-FreeSync display. That's important to identify, since the last windmill demo didn't have a variable framerate from the GPU. PCPer says it is variable, and based on this video I have no reason to doubt it. Can anyone confirm what I'm seeing? It's a bit hard to trust Youtube in this situation to not provide some kind of distortion that would affect things, given how much variable refresh tech relies on "in person" viewing.

 

[parvadomus]

Wonder what "Mand" has to say now...
ED : nice now that we can talk about FreeSync, I will say that "WE TOLD YOU"

Infraction issued for member callout.
-- stahlhart

 

[Flapdrol1337]

Does that video show a static 40FPS @ 40Hz, vs a static 40FPS @ 60Hz? Do the framerates change? There is so little information, yet people keep posting the same video...

pcper says "wavering" between 40 and 60, no way to check it ofc, unless they brought a 240 fps gopro or something.

Would also be better at showing the smoothness, filming on 30 fps should reintroduce stutter, and that video indeed doesn't look perfectly smooth. I reckon it would be if you saw it in person.

 

[Mand]

Wonder what "Mand" has to say now...
ED : nice now that we can talk about FreeSync, I will say that "WE TOLD YOU"

I don't give a damn. Say you told me so all you want. All I wanted was an accurate discussion: by providing new information, AMD has changed what an accurate discussion means, and I will go with the actual information that they provide, no matter what it says.

I am highly interested in variable refresh tech. I don't care how we get it. I just don't like it when a company doesn't represent their progress accurately, which AMD until today hasn't been doing. Now they are, and that's a good thing.

This isn't just some bash-AMD-hate-rarrrgh fest. I want FreeSync to succeed, but until today they had absolutely nothing to convince me that it would. Now they do, and that's a good thing.

What more do you want from me?

 

[Creig]

About time, AMD.

I'm very curious as to the details. What monitors are compatible? What monitors will be updated? What ones won't? Is this a display manufacturer decision alone?

At least we can start having a conversation about FreeSync, now.

Why is it "about time"? So far they've given an outline of their proposal, a general overview of the hardware requirements and are currently working on prototypes. It will be released when ready.

 

[Mand]

Why is it "about time"? So far they've given an outline of their proposal, a general overview of the hardware requirements and are currently working on prototypes. It will be released when ready.

By "about time" I mean that their first demo should never have happened, because it didn't show what they claimed it showed, they had conflicting and confusing reports about what would and would not be required, and yet they still managed to convince people they had a reason to not buy an Nvidia card for G-Sync.

Five months later, we have an actual demo. They should have led with that, not with trying to present false information to undercut Nvidia because they got beat to market.

 

[Leadbox]

By "about time" I mean that their first demo should never have happened, because it didn't show what they claimed it showed, they had conflicting and confusing reports about what would and would not be required, and yet they still managed to convince people they had a reason to not buy an Nvidia card for G-Sync.

Five months later, we have an actual demo. They should have led with that, not with trying to present false information to undercut Nvidia because they got beat to market.

So a good bit of marketing from AMD then?
That's a refreshing change

 

[Mand]

So, any comments on this bit?

Am I correct in thinking that the stuttering of the non-FreeSync windmill isn't constant? Meaning, the size and frequency of the skips varies? Because if so, that would indicate that they are doing a variable framerate for the video, with a static refresh rate on the non-FreeSync display. That's important to identify, since the last windmill demo didn't have a variable framerate from the GPU. PCPer says it is variable, and based on this video I have no reason to doubt it. Can anyone confirm what I'm seeing? It's a bit hard to trust Youtube in this situation to not provide some kind of distortion that would affect things, given how much variable refresh tech relies on "in person" viewing.

I'd far rather get into an actual discussion than finger-pointing.

 

[Paul98]

Great news