FreeSynccompatible

FreeSync is an adaptive synchronization technology developed by AMD that aims to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering in video content and video games. A monitor is considered FreeSync compatible if it supports this technology, allowing it to dynamically adjust its refresh rate to match the frame rate output by a compatible graphics card. This synchronization prevents the graphics card from sending frames at a speed that the monitor cannot display smoothly, thus creating a more fluid visual experience.

For a monitor to be FreeSync compatible, it must incorporate specific hardware and firmware that allows for variable refresh rate (VRR) functionality. This means the monitor can accept signals from a compatible GPU and adjust its refresh rate on the fly, typically within a defined range. This range is an important specification, as it dictates the lowest and highest refresh rates the monitor can synchronize with. Graphics cards from AMD are designed to work seamlessly with FreeSync compatible monitors, and increasingly, graphics cards from Nvidia also support FreeSync over DisplayPort, though sometimes with limitations or a certification process called G-Sync Compatible.

The benefits of using a FreeSync compatible monitor with a compatible GPU include reduced visual artifacts like tearing, where the top and bottom parts of the screen display different frames, and stuttering, where the video playback momentarily freezes. This results in a smoother, more responsive gaming experience and a more pleasant viewing of video content. The technology is widely adopted across various monitor types and price points.