AMD introduced FreeSync back in 2015 as a rival to Nvidia’s G-Sync. FreeSync required an AMD graphics card to work and as of January 2023 there are over 2,700 AMD certified Freesync monitors.

FreeSync is a technology that can be found on certain gaming monitors, laptops, and TVs to assist in combating input latency and stuttering among others. Freesync is available in three categories:

·         FreeSync

·         FreeSync Premium (requires a FHD 120Hz display)

·         FreeSync Premium Pro (requires a FHD 120Hz display)

The following table lists the features that each category offers.

FreeSync	FreeSync Premium	FreeSync Premium Pro
		HDR support
	Low framerate compensation (LFC)	Low framerate compensation (LFC)
Tear-free	Tear-free	Tear-free
Low flicker	Low flicker	Low flicker
Low latency	Low latency in SDR	Low latency in SDR and HDR

Pros and Cons

Following are the pros and cons of using Freesync:

Pros

• Screen tearing and stuttering are significantly reduced, leading to a smoother and more enjoyable gaming experience.
• A cost-effective solution, as it does not require additional hardware like G-Sync, which is Nvidia’s equivalent technology.
• Supports a wide range of monitor models, as long as they are compatible with the technology.
• Helps reduce input lag and improve the overall responsiveness of the display.
• Provides a competitive edge for gamers, as it minimizes distractions caused by visual artifacts.

Cons

• Requires an AMD graphics card to work, limiting its availability to users who own Nvidia GPUs.
• Can only be used with a DisplayPort connection, which means that users with older monitors that only support HDMI may not be able to use it.
• Might cause the monitor’s brightness to fluctuate, which could be distracting for some users.
• May not work well with certain games or applications, as some games have their own internal synchronization systems that may conflict with FreeSync.
• May not work properly if the graphics card is not powerful enough to consistently maintain the desired frame rate.

Requirements

In order to run FreeSync (any kind), you would require an AMD graphics card or APU paired with an AMD certified display (Click here to see the complete list).

PC users would require a USB-C, HDMI or Displayport along with a pairable Radeon Software graphics driver. While the Freesync would have to be switched on from the AMD Radeon Settings software.

Laptop users would require a laptop that contains an AMD GPU and a built in FreeSync display (You can check your laptops specs to find whether your device houses a FreeSync screen and an AMD GPU). Furthermore if your device contains an RX 500 GPU or newer, then an external FreeSync display can also be supported.

TV users can use FreeSync by switching to “Game Mode” on their device’s settings.

Working

FreeSync displays are able to synchronise their minimum and maximum refresh rate with the frame rate of the system’s graphics card thanks to dynamic refresh rate (aka variable refresh rate). The FreeSync range (refresh rate range) can reach the maximum refresh rate of the monitor. However, you can still see some tearing if you aim for maximum frame rates that are higher than your monitor’s refresh rate.

Final words

AMD FreeSync is a technology that synchronizes the refresh rate of the monitor with the frame rate of the graphics card, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering during gameplay. It is a cost-effective solution that can improve the overall gaming experience, but its effectiveness depends on the user’s hardware and individual preferences. If you’re an AMD graphics card owner, FreeSync is definitely worth considering for smoother, more immersive gameplay.

If you have decided on using Freesync, then setting up and configuring Freesync is no hard task at all.

If you are having problems with Freesync, then they can be easily resolved as well.