News: AMD Announces Four New FreeSync Monitors

/files/u166440/benq_xl2730z.jpgAMD claims that Nvidia G-Sync technology can negatively affect FPS

Shore up your homes everyone, it appears that another battle is about to be waged between AMD and Nvidia consumers. The resulting storm is going to be over AMD’s FreeSync and Nvidia’s G-Sync technologies. While AMD announced that four new monitors with FreeSync support are now available, it didn’t stop there. The company went on to claim that Nvidia’s G-Sync can negatively affect a game’s FPS.

Simply put, both technologies allow graphics cards to synchronize the display of a video game’s frame with the output of a video card. In addition, they both eliminate tearing and stuttering in games though AMD claims that, through internal studies, Nvidia’s G-Sync can negatively affect a game’s FPS by 1.14 percent (Alien: Isolation was the game used for the study). For the same study, the company claimed that FreeSync saw an improved affect of 0.16 percent FPS. Another issue that AMD pointed out is that consumers can disable FreeSync (or adaptive sync) off on FreeSync monitors while G-Sync monitors cannot turn off VSync which can reduce the mouse’s latency. 

The company didn’t stop there as it pointed out some of the benefits of manufacturers using its technology compared to Nvidia’s. AMD’s FreeSync will not require a proprietary module, will have no licensing fees, is open source, use DisplayPort, be compatible with standard monitor features (audio, scaling, OSD), and have a refresh rate range of 9-240Hz. All of which would make the tech more appealing to manufacturers compared to Nvidia’s G-Sync which AMD points out requires a proprietary module, charges a licensing fee, is not open source, and has a refresh rate range of 30-144Hz.

But while fanboys can argue to their hearts content about these differences, there are four new monitors that are currently available that supports AMD’s FreeSync tech. The cheapest monitor will be the LG 29UM67 29-inch monitor that will start at $449 and feature 2560x1080 (21:9 ultrawide) resolution with 48-75Hz refresh rate. For $499, there is the Acer XG270HU 27-inch monitor with In-Plane Switching panel, 2560x1440 (16:9) resolution, and 40-144Hz refresh rate. Next is the BenQ XL2730Z 27-inch monitor with a TN Type Panel, 2560x1440 (16:9) resolution, and 40-144Hz refresh rate that will retail for $599. Finally, there is the LG 34Um67 34-inch monitor IPS with 2560x1080 (21:9 ultrawide) resolution and 48-75Hz refresh rate for a starting retail price of $649.

Additional monitors supporting FreeSync will be available soon.

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