Review: AMD FreeSync With the Acer XG270HU Monitor

So, am I right to assume that you're looking to replace your 2x 780Ti GPUs? Because if so:
A. Why? Are you actually encountering performance problems?
B. How do you not have enough money to get into G-sync?

Also, I wouldn't expect the 390X to compete with Titan X. If they release a 395X, that might do it.

 

The PC perspective article talks about how the G-Sync module uses its on-board memory to buffer the two frames and remove ghosting. Freesync doesn't do this unless the monitor manufacturer specifically implements a timing controller that handles it. In the case of the BenQ XL2730Z, it has a anti-blur feature but it kicks freesync off.

http://www.pcper.com/files/review/2015-03-19/ghost1.jpg

The BenQ and the Swift have the exact same panel.

Regardless it's pretty cool that AMD is pushing standards. Hopefully Nvidia adds support at some point so I can just buy a monitor and not worry about what GPU I have.

 

Well when u have more open standard it will give more responsibility to monitor makers so quality range is going to be wider than g-sync`s. I am eager to get Freesync monitor but I will wait one that has working ghosting reducer while VRR on. It is interesting to see how this tech will mature.

 

A. Maybe he sees a bigger picture with open standards, not everyone's into proprietary stuff especially when there's a choice.

B. How can you assume he's loaded, maybe he has got a loan to buy what he could and anyway that's his business don't you agree?

Lastly, your expectations sound like AMD have lost already but the reality is 50/50. No one knows which way it'll swing atm.

 

I'll just add this from the pcper article, as it is important to understand the differences between G-sync and Freesync as the real difference kicks in when FPS is below the minimum refresh rate of the monitor.

 

From what I heard, Titan X is 36% faster than the R9 290x at 4K.
http://www.techspot.com/review/977-nvidia-geforce-gtx-titan-x/page11.html

and from latest leak says R9 390x is 60% faster than 290x at 4K.
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/more-radeon-r9-390x-specs-leak.html

And if you put Titan X as Ref. performance. Number will go like this.

4K resolution
290X => 73.5%
Titan X => 100%
390X => 117.5%
:nerd:

 

Yes..

Because I want to support a standard and not proprietary hardware added to a monitor (g-sync) that adds a pretty high premium price tag.. My other issue with g-sync monitors is that they almost all have only one connectivity option, display port. I typically run several pc's at the same time doing various tasks.. I also play my PS4 and Xbone on my pc monitor... I cant do that with a g-sync monitor..

What I want is a 27-28" 120-144hz 1440p variable refresh rate monitor that has display port, dvi and hdmi connectivity options... And so far I haven't found that with g-sync..

 

I'm looking for a 2560x1080p 144hz 1ms monitor. Whether it's free or g sync will probably determine what my next graphics card will be.

 

Xb270hu

I noticed that all the graphs in this article were of the XB270HU (IPS G-Sync) monitor and not the XG270HU (TN Freesync) monitor. Why is that?

 

So totally waiting for a freesync display that does 20hz. I can just imagine 30fps capped games being an annoyance.

 

On that note, I would not even play 30fps limited games.
But I agree that 40Hz min is quite low as too many games have sections where fps may drop below 40.
30Hz as minimum working refresh is target for me. Minimum upper refresh fro me is 144 and 1440p. This screen is almost perfect for me.

 

Yeah I'd rather not play 30fps limited either tbh. Now waiting for 10bit ips panel with 2xhz-120hz tho I will be fine with 75 upper limit too. I like em colors

 

lol at the guy talking about brain cells and IQ. Get some manners to start with you spoiled bigot.

 

Are you going to review the XB270HU?

 

Now that FreeSync/GSync have become reality, I am thinking what's their REAL advantage over 144Hz/high MHz monitors?
Yes I know:
Vsync thats as responsive as Vsync OFF, but how noticeable is 144Mhz tearing.. really. I know it's there...

 

Stutter occurs when FPS and refresh rate are mismatched whether VSync is on or off. VSync on pushes back frames causing the "soft sync stutter" Hilbert frequently mentions in his G-Sync / FreeSync reviews where frametimes jump between 1 / refresh rate and 2 / refresh rate. G-Sync / FreeSync solve both by giving us the fluidity of VSync on @ refresh rate now equal to FPS without the input lag associated with VSync on.

The real advantage - fixed refresh rate should never have existed with sample-and-hold technology such as LCD in the first place. We understand this was because CRTs had to refresh their screen at a constant speed but now this isn't the case.

The funny thing, however, is that we used to assume that only CRTs needed to constantly refresh the screen so as to avoid artifacts (phosphor decay in the case of CRT which leads to flicker if not excited in time during the next refresh). This assumption has been proven false first with the overclockable Korean monitors (changing the refresh rate caused a change of color with the 2013-(early)2014 PLS panel batch), and now with G-Sync and FreeSync. If LCD panels don't get refreshed in due time, the pixels will fade away, causing flicker. Granted, the effect would be more extreme in CRTs given that phosphor decay happens extremely fast ~1-2ms so the CRT has to keep drawing the image, but this raises the question as to whether LCD can really be called a "non-refresh" technology.

 

That would depend on frame delivery and it's consistency (Vsync off)

No stutter with relatively even frame delivery. This is smooth as it gets:



This is problematic, less so on high fps:

 

More importantly, where are the drivers?

 

No mention of the Ghosting issue mentioned in the PCPer review and some others? Could be a disaster for this "standard" if additional hardware is required in Freesync monitors to resolve this issue.

Seems that may be the case since Nvidia states in the PCPer article:

Ghosting Concerns: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Displays/AMD-FreeSync-First-Impressions-and-Technical-Discussion

Example video comparison:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-ylLnT2yKyA

Edit: Someone did post on the Ghosting issue and included a jpeg. I've also added video comparison.