AMD sets higher speed standards for FreeSync monitors

From PC World: AMD’s FreeSync anti-tearing adaptive sync technology is a more popular standard than Nvidia’s G-Sync, if only because the former doesn’t require pricey additional hardware to meet its more stringent demands. But AMD isn’t letting just any screen claim to work. A new set of higher standards for FreeSync-compatible screens has been released.

For the regular, no-frills version of FreeSync, most smaller monitors will need at least 144Hz of refresh rate in order to be certified compatible with FreeSync. “Smaller” in this case means under 3440 horizontal lines of resolution, basically under a 34-inch ultrawide like those popular Alienware OLEDs.

For FreeSync Premium (which just means “peak performance”), smaller screens need to be 200Hz or better, while larger screens need at least 120Hz. And to hit FreeSync Premium Pro certification, displays need to both hit those size/refresh rate requirements and support FreeSync HDR (High Dynamic Range).

The bar remains lower for laptops. FreeSync certification will be granted to laptops with refresh rates as low as 40Hz….though I haven’t seen an LCD monitor below 60Hz in this century. FreeSync Premium will require 120Hz, no matter the screen panel size, and FreeSync Premium Pro once again requires FreeSync HDR capabilities.

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