The future of variable refresh rates

CakeMonster

Golden Member
Nov 22, 2012
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I did some research about variable refresh rates since I plan on getting a 1080. I found that there are some issues with both Freesync and Gsync at the moment. For one, they both prefer (or require) Full Screen mode. Borderless is a big deal for me, so, well, that sucks. Also, from the bugs people are reporting they both seem a bit like they're still not really finished, and that some shortcuts are being taken either out of laziness or because the Windows driver model is a challenge.

So, where are we going? Is there any indication that Windows or major OS's will receive general variable refresh rate support, so that it applies to everything and not just games? And in that case, would we need a whole new technology and hardware? Or are we in for several years more of unsatisfactory proprietary techs that have huge limitations in user friendliness and will disable itself or crash if you don't use it exactly how its supposed to be used?

Bonus question, what are the best fallback options if for some reason it doesn't make sense for someone to get a *sync monitor? The new "fastsync"? Adaptive vsync? No vsync? (can tearing be reduced somehow?)
 

Raising

Member
Mar 12, 2016
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What bugs ?

Gsync works in window mode borderless included, haven't experienced any problems yet..
 

Eymar

Golden Member
Aug 30, 2001
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What bugs ?

Gsync works in window mode borderless included, haven't experienced any problems yet..

Yeah Gsync works great in almost any configuration (windowed, borderless, surround, sli). The only problem is tearing would occur above refresh rate which is now fixed by fast sync I think (haven't tested, most games don't go above 144hz for me).
 

Raising

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Mar 12, 2016
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Yeah Gsync works great in almost any configuration (windowed, borderless, surround, sli). The only problem is tearing would occur above refresh rate which is now fixed by fast sync I think (haven't tested, most games don't go above 144hz for me).

How is that even a problem when you can easily enable a fps limiter like in msi afterburner ?
 

selni

Senior member
Oct 24, 2013
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What bugs ?

Gsync works in window mode borderless included, haven't experienced any problems yet..

Windowed gsync is basing refresh rates off the window "on top" which is usually but not always right. It's 99% likely to be a third party software issue (notifications or something), but I've seen windowed gsync drop back to very low refresh rates - presumably because it's picking up the wrong window.
 

MajinCry

Platinum Member
Jul 28, 2015
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If you have an AMD GPU, you could always use RadeonPro to enable Triple Buffering and VSync, if ya want decent framerates and no tearing.

Won't hold a candle to Freesync, since that's proper monitor hardware, but better than nothing.

I'd like to know if there will be 5:4 Freesync monitors. I refuse ta go rectangular.