WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 The tech industry has a funny way of trying to make things seem exciting. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.320 If you've updated your product, just slap a bunch of impressive sounding words 00:00:08.320 --> 00:00:15.360 to the end of the name. I'm looking at you, Apple, and your upcoming iPhone 12 Pro Max Ultra Signature Deluxe. 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:21.020 But this is just what AMD has done with the latest revisions of their FreeSync 00:00:21.020 --> 00:00:24.300 variable refresh rate technology. If you're unfamiliar with FreeSync, 00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:28.080 you can learn more about it up here. But in a nutshell, it's a method 00:00:28.080 --> 00:00:32.000 for syncing up your graphics processor with your screen's refresh rate 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.640 in order to prevent the screen tearing and stutter that can occur as a result of your GPU, 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:40.600 not constantly pushing out the same amount of frames when you're playing a game. 00:00:40.600 --> 00:00:43.720 And unlike NVIDIA's variable refresh rate technology, 00:00:43.720 --> 00:00:47.120 G-Sync, AMD's FreeSync is an open standard 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:52.120 that's free to implement, hence the name, FreeSync. 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:56.920 Now, the original FreeSync standard you know and love is still around and is still quite useful. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:01.440 However, it lacks support for high dynamic range or HDR, 00:01:01.440 --> 00:01:06.320 which is increasingly popular for helping games look their best by providing better contrast 00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:11.280 and colors that pop. So in 2017, AMD came out with a revision 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:14.680 called FreeSync 2 HDR, which made it rather clear 00:01:14.680 --> 00:01:18.620 that it was a second gen technology and supported HDR. 00:01:18.620 --> 00:01:23.420 But, confusingly enough, that label is no longer around. 00:01:23.460 --> 00:01:27.580 Instead, we now have three tiers of FreeSync. 00:01:27.580 --> 00:01:31.340 Beyond the base version we're used to, there's now FreeSync Premium, 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:35.340 a label that indicates a monitor has a couple of specific additional features. 00:01:35.340 --> 00:01:41.980 First off, a monitor needs to support a minimum refresh rate of 120 Hertz at 1080p resolution 00:01:41.980 --> 00:01:46.660 rather than the usual 60. Secondly, the display has to provide something called 00:01:46.660 --> 00:01:50.860 low frame rate compensation or LFR. 00:01:50.860 --> 00:01:54.020 You see, a display can only turn its refresh rate down 00:01:54.020 --> 00:01:58.500 so much if your GPU is struggling. Let's say that your GPU is only spitting out 00:01:58.500 --> 00:02:03.060 around 30 frames per second, but your monitor can only go down to 48. 00:02:03.060 --> 00:02:07.740 This would render FreeSync ineffective, so what LFR does is force the display 00:02:07.740 --> 00:02:12.900 to show some frames more than once, essentially turning one frame into two, 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:17.620 so those 30 frames coming from your graphics card are treated as 60 by the monitor, 00:02:17.620 --> 00:02:22.440 preventing stuttering and tearing. So any monitor you buy with FreeSync Premium 00:02:22.440 --> 00:02:26.360 will be a 120 or greater Hertz model with LFR, 00:02:26.360 --> 00:02:31.480 but there's a third, higher tier, called FreeSync Premium Pro, 00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:34.680 which, guess what, is basically 00:02:34.680 --> 00:02:38.320 a rebadged FreeSync 2 HDR, okay. 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.240 All right then. In addition to the refresh rates and LFR requirements 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:49.160 of FreeSync Premium, Premium Pro supports HDR without huge latency increases 00:02:49.160 --> 00:02:55.120 and also requires what AMD refers to as meticulous color and luminance certification. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:00.000 I'd like to get me some of that. But yeah, those are some pretty vague words, 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.880 and it's not totally clear exactly what AMD means by that. 00:03:03.880 --> 00:03:10.160 However, it seems like these displays should at least get between 400 and 600 nits of brightness, 00:03:10.160 --> 00:03:14.900 not necessarily enough for true HDR, as we explained in this video, 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:18.440 but still more than you might see on a more run-of-the-mill monitor. 00:03:18.440 --> 00:03:22.240 So let's say you're interested. What do you need to get your FreeSync flavor 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:26.360 of choice up and running? Well, although FreeSync is an open standard, 00:03:26.360 --> 00:03:32.200 it's still AMD's own implementation of the adaptive sync technology in the DisplayPort spec. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:36.480 So you'll need an AMD graphics card, though it should be noted it'll work over 00:03:36.480 --> 00:03:41.180 an HDMI port as well as DisplayPort. Of course, you'll need a compatible monitor as well, 00:03:41.180 --> 00:03:45.640 but while FreeSync and FreeSync Premium should work with just about any game, 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.120 FreeSync Premium Pro needs specific support 00:03:49.120 --> 00:03:53.200 built into each individual game for the HDR features. 00:03:53.200 --> 00:03:58.120 So check out the list of FreeSync Premium Pro compatible games on AMD's website 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:02.860 to make sure the title you wanna play is supported before you take the plunge. 00:04:02.860 --> 00:04:07.600 Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm really in the mood for a Premium Pro kind of lunch, 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:11.160 something like Applebee's. All right, that's it for this video. 00:04:11.160 --> 00:04:15.800 Thanks for watching. Like the video if you want to. Dislike it if you want to do that. 00:04:15.800 --> 00:04:19.560 Check out our other videos and comment below with video suggestions. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:22.840 Also, don't forget to subscribe and follow. 00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:26.320 You almost forgot, didn't you? That's okay. 00:04:26.320 --> 00:04:29.400 I forgive you. See you next time.