[Fudzilla] BenQ and Viewsonic F[r]eeSync monitors in time for holidays

[Gloomy]

Just read a hint that next catalyst will come with freesync support. More precisely that next driver will bring new features and more performance to 290X, 290 and 285 cards.

Source?

 

[Stuka87]

There are only 2 graphics card companies..... One supports Freesync, one supports Gsync. Freesync locks you into AMD, Gsync into Nvidia.

I'm failing to see how one is "more flexible" than the other. Unless Nvidia supports Freesync, you're still locked into one company....

Freesync doesn't lock you into anything. Its part of a ratified standard that is free for anybody to use. I am sure Intel will support it at some point, and nVidia is free to as well if they chose.

GSync however DOES lock you into nVidia. It will never work with anything else.

Plus a month from now there will be a LOT more FreeSync displays for sale from multiple vendors and still only one decent GSync display that is horribly overpriced (The Swift).

 

[Headfoot]

You, good Sir, appear to be in the wrong thread.

The purpose of this thread is not to make wild blanket statements about different panel types.

It's (apparently) to make wild blanket statements about a new monitor technology that is not yet on the market and has not been professionally reviewed yet.

First page my friend. You are right though that its apparently a blanket statement thread

 

[RussianSensation]

Endlessly crapping on TN is immensely tiring. You DO realize that there are high quality TN panels, low quality TN panels, high quality IPS panels, low quality IPS panels; right?

It's simply unproductive to categorize so strongly on the panel type. Gotta figure out actual color shift and color reproduction traits per panel. Sorry the world doesn't fit into nice little boxes but that's how it goes

There are no good TN monitors above 28" in size, and in general only 1 good one - the Swift. The Swift is overpriced, too small for many of us, doesn't have 4K, has quality control/dead pixel issues and overheating problems, poor market availability too. So overall, TN is a failure for high end or multi-monitor PC gaming. I don't want to spend $1000 to play on a 24" monitor. This is not 2005 anymore. There is no comparison in the emersion factor between a small monitor vs. 30-40" or triple monitors. For larger screen sizes or multiple monitors, TN fails due to color shift; and it also fails hard for movies due to inferior colors and black levels. There is a niche segment of gamers who either use 3D or have to play at 120-144Hz and get major motion sickness from minimal ghosting that must use TN.

This reminds me of LED movement's marketing stating for years how LEDs have caught up to plasma in IQ but even a 2007-2008 Pioneer Kuro is better in IQ than any backlit LCD/LED in 2014, because current LCD/LED gech is just an inferior technology for IQ, no matter how they spin it. Same with TN vs. IPS/VA if you care about good whites, blacks and colors.

Otherwise, nearly every VA and IPS panel in modern monitors without high input lag is superior. Your argument would be stronger if the market was literated with swift-like monitors spanning from 23-37" sizes but there is no such thing.

For someone going large 4K monitor or multi-monitor TN is inferior. That's one major disadvantage of G-Sync monitor choices at the moment, there are also flickering issues with G-Sync monitors:

http://techreport.com/news/27449/g-sync-monitors-flicker-in-some-games-and-here-why

Then there is the fact that if we support a closed priprietary G-Sync, it will not force NV to adopt an open standard. If FreeSync is as good, by voting with or wallet we can hopefully force NV to adopt it and then for X years we don't have to think about what GPU vendor to buy. Right now supporting G-Sync is synonymous with supporting vendor lock. Supporting FreeSync is the exact opposite as it has a chance to become the industry standard.

 

[digitaldurandal]

For someone going large 4K monitor or multi-monitor TN is inferior

I have an IPS for the center and TN for both sides. If I need color accuracy I use the IPS. During gaming you should not be actively looking at the TN so the color shift is not really noticeable in the peripheral vision. Also when buying 3 panels you can save a lot of money by getting TNs for the sides. I think some users will still get 3 IPS out of principle but really most of us don't need color accuracy on every monitor, one exception being editors.

 

[burninatortech4]

Just read a hint that next catalyst will come with freesync support. More precisely that next driver will bring new features and more performance to 290X, 290 and 285 cards.

Any loving for the 260x? It's GCN 1.1 like Hawaii.

 

[sontin]

Freesync doesn't lock you into anything. Its part of a ratified standard that is free for anybody to use. I am sure Intel will support it at some point, and nVidia is free to as well if they chose.

GSync however DOES lock you into nVidia. It will never work with anything else.

Plus a month from now there will be a LOT more FreeSync displays for sale from multiple vendors and still only one decent GSync display that is horribly overpriced (The Swift).

Next month?

It's not even clear if there will be monitors in Q1 at all.

 

[digitaldurandal]

Next month?

It's not even clear if there will be monitors in Q1 at all.

http://wccftech.com/amd-freesync-monitors-shipping-decemberjanuary-driver-coming-december/

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/36048-freesync-monitors-to-show-up-in-november

I believe there are additional sources that have been posted on this very board.

 

[Phynaz]

Any more updates on this rumor?

 

[jackstar7]

Any more updates on this rumor?

I'm hopeful that the Omega drivers release will come with some additional info regarding Freesync progress.

 

[Teizo]

http://wccftech.com/amd-freesync-monitors-shipping-decemberjanuary-driver-coming-december/

http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/36048-freesync-monitors-to-show-up-in-november

I believe there are additional sources that have been posted on this very board.

Not hating, but using those two sites as reliable resources is laughable.

1) November has come and gone, and 2) Holiday shopping is nearing it's close.

Unless they are going to pull a Jason Voorhees, they better get moving.

 

[SolMiester]

LOL, man I take my hat off to the patience and dedicated AMD fans. Must seem an age sometimes for AMD tech to finally get here!

 

[jackstar7]

LOL, man I take my hat off to the patience and dedicated AMD fans. Must seem an age sometimes for AMD tech to finally get here!

For myself, I'm just being patient to see what comes of Freesync vs Gsync so I can set an upgrade path. I'm hoping Freesync is at least a "good enough" solution and that the rumors of a 3440x1440 IPS panel with that tech will come to market. I don't mind sitting on my money in the meantime.

 

[f1sherman]

Not hating, but using those two sites as reliable resources is laughable.

1) November has come and gone, and 2) Holiday shopping is nearing it's close.

Unless they are going to pull a Jason Voorhees, they better get moving.

According to Richard Huddy, it was "Available in 6-12 months" a month ago

And now it's Q1. So I guess that's an improvement.

But AMD has no response to GM204 other than price slashing
(and admirably so some driver copycat efforts, but this only cements the fact that they have no hardware to respond with)
so in this kind of market-bleeding, backs-against-the-wall situation I wouldn't trust everything they say.

The more I look at it the more it seems like yet another "STABLE THROUGHOUT 2015 (H1)" kind of situation.

Trouble is, even if they pull this one through,
do I get the new monitor and get myself locked with AMD/FreeSync or do I lock myself with NV/Gsync.
My next monitor simply has to have this feature.

 

[tidy]

.

 

[Spanners]

LOL, man I take my hat off to the patience and dedicated AMD fans. Must seem an age sometimes for AMD tech to finally get here!

Not that I'm an AMD "fan" as they are a for profit company and that would be juvenile but isn't the tech coming in pretty much the time-frame specified originally? I think you can keep your hat on.

 

[Z15CAM]

I've owned several Viewsonic Analog 120 Hz VGA monitors in the past and I will never buy another Viewsonic Display again.

Granted they worked like gang busters but died a month after Warranty Expired.

The $300 Korean QNIX 2710 Samsung IPS 1440p Matt Dvi-D display is what I use now and very pleased with it.

 

[Zstream]

I've owned several Viewsonic Analog 120 Hz VGA monitors in the past and I will never buy another Viewsonic Display again.

Granted they worked like gang busters but died a month after Warranty Expired.

The $300 Korean QNIX 2710 Samsung IPS 1440p Matt Dvi-D display is what I use now and very pleased with it.

I've had two viewsonic monitors mvpa panel I think or some version of ips that worked like a charm for over 7 years. I think all hardware has a percentage being faulty.

 

[SolMiester]

Not that I'm an AMD "fan" as they are a for profit company and that would be juvenile but isn't the tech coming in pretty much the time-frame specified originally? I think you can keep your hat on.

Freesync was alledgedly coming a year ago, and released just when NV released G-Sync to muddy the waters.
I guess while NV users may pay more, at least they have enjoyed the tech for a good period already.
I personally think its a bit out of order to claim a better product with no overhead when it still doesnt have a consumer monitor or a professional review.

 

[bystander36]

FreeSync is the tech that talks to the A-Sync capability of the display. This is why Nvidia can support adaptive sync no problem they just have to make their hardware and software stack capable of doing it. Nvidia could call their version 'Nsync.

BTW if Nvidia truly believed that G-Sync is the superior solution then they would haven no issues also supporting A-Sync. Offer both, the inferior according NV and their own.

You are missing the point. If Nvidia chooses not to support A-sync, then they effectively make A-sync an AMD only option, unless you plan to buy an Intel discrete GPU.

It doesn't matter if A-sync's tech is open, it has to be supported by Nvidia to matter.

 

[bystander36]

Freesync doesn't lock you into anything. Its part of a ratified standard that is free for anybody to use. I am sure Intel will support it at some point, and nVidia is free to as well if they chose.

GSync however DOES lock you into nVidia. It will never work with anything else.

Plus a month from now there will be a LOT more FreeSync displays for sale from multiple vendors and still only one decent GSync display that is horribly overpriced (The Swift).

Unless Nvidia supports it, you are locked into AMD for discrete graphics cards. How can you not get that?

 

[3DVagabond]

At least the option is there for nVidia. If they decide not to (not likely in the long run) then that's their decision to lock their customers out of an open option.

Assuming it works I can only think of 2 reasons for nVidia not to support variable refresh through adaptive sync. 1) They can't. Their hardware isn't capable of supporting it. 2) They don't feel they can compete without their vendor locked standards.

I really doubt it's #2. They wouldn't miss out on that market segment which is looking like it will have wider support than G-Sync. Maybe at this point in time they simply can't do variable refresh without the G-Sync module in the monitor?

 

[Bateluer]

Source?

The Catalyst 14.12 Omega drivers released today.

 

[Bateluer]

Unless Nvidia supports it, you are locked into AMD for discrete graphics cards. How can you not get that?

Because FreeSync is part of the industry standard port and interface. If Nvidia wants to be 100% compliant with that standard, they will support it. It just might take them a generation to realize that GSync is dead. Nvidia is a very arrogant company, they don't like to eat crow.

 

[RussianSensation]

Because FreeSync is part of the industry standard port and interface. If Nvidia wants to be 100% compliant with that standard, they will support it. It just might take them a generation to realize that GSync is dead. Nvidia is a very arrogant company, they don't like to eat crow.

To me it matters a great deal that FreeSync is an open standard and GSync is closed/proprietary. As I mentioned before, if we buy a GSync monitor, we are backing a closed standard and essentially supporting NV's locking practice. This means it's not by choice that FreeSync becomes locked to AMD but because of our support for the closed standard giving power to NV to ignore FreeSync. However, if we all only start buying FreeSync, NV will have no choice but to support FreeSync, thus ultimately solving the gamer's locked in dilemma over time. Therefore, I cannot in any shape or form support the idea of locked GSync unless it proves superior overall. If NV is so confident it is superior, they would support both standards and the market would choose on their own. Instead, NV is pulling an Apple in telling us what we need and what we want.

Considering GSync monitors are offered in so few TN panels, which happen to be overpriced to boot, so far GSync is off to a poor start to begin with. Being first in this case doesn't negate FreeSync because GSync has hardly made it to high end / quality screens. Some gamers equate Mantle as a locked in standard to GSync but that is not the same. AMD doesn't lock one into using Mantle as you have a choice to run the game in DX, you can throw an AMD card out and buy an NV card and your PC will still work as intended. In the beginning, buying a FreeSync monitor does lock you into AMD but at least there are prospects that supporting this standard will eventually make it an open standard accepted by Intel and NV. Supporting GSync is the complete opposite. If GSync was like Mantle then it would mean an NV card would support both a proprietary and an open standard, meaning it would give you the choice which tech to use in future FreeSync + GSync monitor.

The other side point of supporting GSync means buying NV cards for the next X years you own that monitor. That is a big thing to ask given how overpriced NV cards have been for the last 5 years. By backing GSync then, I am also asked to massively compromise on price/performance for the next X years. I have a feeling that most people backing GSync are those who have been buying mostly or only NV anyway. For them even if FreeSync was as good and cheaper, they would still choose GSync and continue to pay more for NV cards generation after generation. But then I really don't understand why those gamers even care about FreeSync.

I have to ask though why has GSync failed to take off despite beating FreeSync to market? Even on enthusiast forums like ours gamers are refluctant to buy GSync monitors. Why is that? Clearly either gamers are reluctant to support a proprietary monitor standard or GSync monitors are priced too high or there are too few good GSync monitors worth buying or some combination.