I did some digging, it looks like nvidia laptops with Optimus feature can’t use an external adaptive sync monitory since they’re tethered to the iGPU. Only laptops that manually allows you to select the Nvidia card as a discrete video adapter will work with external gsync monitors.
Mesa and Kernel have to both support them at the same time, (Bleeding edge Kernel and Mesa) but with this, it’s literally turn it on in nvidia-settings.
AMD touts that LFC is AMD cards only, but that could be challenged if LFC also works on NVIDIA GPUs.
Also, for newcomers to FreeSync, consistent frame times are very important to avoid jerkiness or flicker. A wide refresh range is also very important.
And that’s the big difference. It’s literally some nvidia-settings GUI tweaks away for making the settings stick for the session, and some xorg.conf tweaks to make it permanent. No worrying about upstream kernel or mesa.
I can make a short section on it in my ViewSonic VX3211-4K-MHD review once my replacement X79 processor arrives.
Protip: Unigine Valley works better in OpenGL on Windows as opposed to DirectX 11 for G-Sync compatible FreeSync. DirectX 11 frame times are too inconsistent for smooth output to the display in that specific benchmark, but OpenGL runs smoothly. LFC also works as intended on Nvidia cards as long as your frame times are consistent.
To be fair, it does have CEC, but I’d really pick DisplayPort over HDMI any day.
Plus it prevents me from accidentally buying a IoT-ridden smartTV rather than a dumb monitor.
If I recall correctly, LFC (I’m using it as a general term here) is done with both G-Sync and FreeSync setups. The difference is that AMD does it on the driver/GPU side, whereas Nvidia was using their G-Sync chip on the monitor.
It should be possible for Nvidia to add a driver-side or GPU-side implementation of LFC for non-G-Sync monitors, right?
I am right there with you. I hate when old and since surpassed standards stick around for little reason.
And as for CEC I have never encountered a properly working version of it. Almost anything claiming compatibility will power on just fine with the set top box but never off again so you still need two remotes or to press the button on the TV… HDMI Consumer Electronic Control my ass.
Yes, and they did in fact do that. We were all theorizing that Nvidia half-assed their VRR implementation by not doing LFC, but they managed to use their entire ass, both lobes.
As for HDMI, you aren’t going to see many TVs with displayport ports, and I want VRR in the living room too. I want VRR everywhere. Even in the bathroom, where I do my poopies.
It’s up to the algorithm in the driver to determine whether to double frames or not. A driver also will have trouble averaging out inconsistent frame times, where a G-Sync module can cope with inconsistent frame times, cause it’s not the driver, it’s the GPU sending refresh rate directly.
Took the chance to install this on my system using a Cinnamon DE, and unfortunately, Cinnamon constantly forcing composition means FreeSync is a no go on Cinnamon. You’ll have to switch to Kwin which has the ability to fully shut off the compositor.