The gaming world is going gaga over FreeSync technology launched by Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD, Financial). It is an open software standard for PC games. The software has been designed by AMD and offers effortless motion while also deleting image tearing. The good part is that the frame rate remains intact and makes the gameplay better. This feature resembles the VSync setting, which the user can manually enable to prevent tearing, while gaming. In addition, v-sync h holds a game’s frame rate to 60 per second and can impact smoothness. FreeSync aims at offering the benefits of VSync, albeit not disturbing the amount of frames per second and overall gaming performance.
As the name suggests, the FreeSync takes a dig at the costly GSync of Nvidia Corporation (NVDA, Financial), its direct competitor. However, AMD has not only received good response to its product, but Nvidia is definitely in trouble with analysts who have downgraded its ratings. With AMD’s technology doing well and being cheaper, it won’t be long before computer companies opt for it, good news for investors and shareholders.
The launch of FreeSync
The first and probably the most important aspect that you need to know about FreeSync is that a few things are a prerequisite to run the software; they are an AMD graphics adapter with Display Port Adaptive-Sync 1.2, the latest Catalyst driver (at least 15.2 Beta) and a monitor that supports the FreeSync standard. The FreeSync software aptly uses the Adaptive-Sync feature in the DisplayPort specification and any manufacturer can use it absolutely free of charge. Until now displays like of Acer (ASIYF, Financial), BenQ, LG (LG, Financial), Samsung (SSNLF, Financial) and Viewsonic (VIEW, Financial) are said to be available on it. AMD also said that around 20 monitors will have this technology built inside them by the end of this year.
FreeSync Vs. GSync
In the year 2013, Nvidia had launched GSync, a hardware-level feature only for some select monitors that allowed the system’s graphics card to decide the monitor’s refresh rate. In normal cases, the display is already set to a fixed refresh rate like 60Hz, but the game appears much more dynamic and vivid. Even the frame rates bounce quite well depending on the action’s demand on the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit).
Most PC gamers fear three major issues when two kinds of hardware come up with contrasting display methods: Input lag, stutter and screen tearing. If you opt for something like VSync (a graphics modifier in every PC game) you can be sure of them being flawed solutions. When VSync is off, your graphics card shows frame rates at its maximum ability. However, that leads to screen tearing which is a disturbing visual. It very briefly splits your image in to two.
Even with VSync on, problems like stutter and input lag prevail. In order to achieve a smoother frame rate and to eliminate tearing, frames are created and presented to your eyes on a schedule the monitor dictates. So, when your graphics card is ready to send that new frame, the 60 Hz monitor holds it for another few milliseconds before displaying. This prevents screen tearing and comes out the animation of a frame lasting longer than it is meant to last.
Though Nvidia’s GSync solved that problem, the monitor prices increased a bit. AMD may make it affordable though. With its FreeSync technology, the R-Series Radeon cards and the Display Port 1.2a spec proved miraculous, with lower and more reasonable pricing.
Nvidia’s loss AMD’s gain
Goldman Sachs (GS, Financial) analyst James Covella placed a $20 price target on the stock, downgrading its rating on Nvidia. This shows an 11.03% downside to the last closing price. Nvidia, a company listed on NMS, has a current market cap of 12.32B and on an average over the past three months has seen 59,46,250 shares trade hands on a daily basis.
However not everything seem rosy for Nvidia as AMD surges ahead with its innovative technology at a price much less than Nvidia. This move will certainly dent the clientele of Nvidia and drive AMD ahead towards gaining back its lost glory in the tech world. It will be worth watching out how FreeSync pans out for AMD and help the company surge ahead of competition.
