AMD FreeSync Specs Updated, Now Requires 1080p 144Hz And Up
AMD FreeSync Specs Updated, Now Requires 1080p 144Hz And Up
AMD’s FreeSync technology has long been the bar in monitor performance for gaming since its inception in 2015. As an open standard, it manages to keep pace with NVIDIA’s proprietary G-SYNC standards and has contributed to the widespread use of variable refresh rate that eliminates screen tearing at no performance cost.
Monitors have come a long way since then – and Team Red is updating the standard accordingly to reflect the current standard of gaming monitors. Originally, FreeSync monitors could be certified even at the standard 60Hz refresh rate since 120Hz panels were especially rare at the time. Today, 144Hz gaming monitors are common, and some have gone past this number with 240Hz and even 360Hz+ panels.
Here’s the latest requirements for a new monitor to be FreeSync-certified:
Laptop displays | Monitors and TVs | |
FreeSync | Max. Refresh Rate: 40-60 Hz | < 3440 Horizontal resolution: Max. Refresh Rate: ≥ 144 Hz |
FreeSync Premium | Max. Refresh Rate: ≥ 120 Hz | < 3440 Horizontal resolution: Max. Refresh Rate: ≥ 200 Hz ≥ 3440 Horizontal resolution: Max. Refresh Rate: ≥ 120 Hz |
FreeSync Premium Pro | AMD FreeSync HDR on top of FreeSync Premium requirements | AMD FreeSync HDR on top of FreeSync Premium requirements |
AMD noted that FreeSync standards remain unchanged for laptops, whereas monitors and TVs now have a new standard to comply with to gain certification. For example – if a monitor needs to get FreeSync Premium certification, a QHD resolution with a 240Hz refresh rate will meet the standard. Alternatively, if it’s an ultra-wide monitor or features 4K resolution, only 120Hz and above is required.
For FreeSync Premium Pro monitors, it must support HDR on top of the aforementioned targets under the FreeSync Premium standard. Given that this is an updated standard, it’s unclear if AMD may introduce a new FreeSync wordmark (like CPU stickers on laptops) to differentiate between old and new FreeSync standards.
Pokdepinion: About time this gets updated – pretty sure I’ve seen non-gaming monitors that get this certification before.