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If you have an AMD graphics card made in the last couple years and you don’t have a FreeSync monitor, it’s time to upgrade. Once you experience the smoothness and responsiveness of a variable refresh rate monitor, there’s just no going back.
FreeSync is AMD’s branding for its variable refresh rate (VRR) monitor technology. It’s built on top of the open VESA Adaptive Sync protocol as part of the DisplayPort 1.2a spec. If you have a FreeSync monitor, you’ll get variable refresh rates with just about any modern AMD graphics card. If you’re running an Nvidia graphics card, or using another video source (like a game console via an HDMI input), a FreeSync monitor will act just as a normal monitor.
So what is VRR? Basically, a standard monitor is locked to a single refresh rate—that’s the number of times per second that it changes the color and brightness of the pixels on the screen. Your graphics card draws a frame, and then waits until the monitor’s next refresh to display it. This has the effect of making your game jump frame rate between even multiples of the display’s refresh: with a 60Hz monitor, your game will run at 60fps, 30fps, 20fps, 15fps, or 12fps, for example. Disabling vsync will also allow your graphics card to run as fast as possible on any monitor, but it produces an ugly visual artifact called tearing, where the monitor displays partially-drawn frames on top of the previous frame.
With VRR technology (G-Sync or FreeSync), the monitor refreshes whenever the graphics card is done drawing the next frame. So your monitor might max out at 60Hz and your game at 60fps, but if your game is running at 52fps the monitor will refresh at 52Hz, drawing the frame immediately instead of waiting for the next 60Hz cycle. So you’ll see the frame rate your graphics card is capable of, not an unnecessary downgrade to 30fps. This also eliminates screen tearing caused by the GPU sending multiple frames to the monitor when it's still rendering a previous frame.
There are two VRR technologies gamers should know about: G-Sync and FreeSync. G-Sync is Nvidia proprietary technology and only works with Nvidia graphics cards. FreeSync is AMD’s brand for a VRR technology and only works with AMD GPUs. G-Sync requires extra hardware in the monitor, driving monitors costs up, but maintains consistently high quality. FreeSync has no licensing fee and requires no proprietary hardware, and thus monitors are typically cheaper, but quality control is a little less consistent in our opinion.
The bottom line is gamers with AMD graphics cards owe it to themselves to upgrade to a FreeSync display - the difference is truly striking. These are our picks for the best FreeSync monitor at every price range, size, and resolution:
Best 1080p FreeSync Monitor: AOC Agon AG251FZ
AOC’s 25-inch 1080p monitor uses a TN panel for 1ms response times and a crazy-high 240Hz refresh rate. This makes it perfect for competitive twitch gamers and eSports enthusiasts.
But more than that, you get stylish design with slim bezels and pretty good color performance (for a ultra-fast refresh TN panel). And check out all those connections! You get DisplayPort, two HDMI inputs (1.4 and 2.0), VGA, DVI, and a pair of USB ports. AOC even includes a nifty little external wired controller to adjust on-screen controls and toggle between three image modes. There’s a microphone input and headphone output, and a little swing-out hook to hang your headset on too.
At around $450 this isn’t a cheap option, but the best 240Hz monitors usually aren’t, and it’s a full $100 or more cheaper than comparable G-Sync displays.
Best 1440p FreeSync Monitor: Asus MG279Q
This is the FreeSync cousin to our favorite G-Sync 1440p monitor, the ROG Swift PG279Q. You can find cheaper 27-inch 1440p gaming monitors, but you’re not likely to find a better one.
The MG279Q carries the same slick industrial design and thin bezels as the G-Sync model, with the same 144Hz refresh rate. The G-Sync model can be overclocked to 165Hz and this FreeSync one can’t, but that’s not really a difference you’re likely to notice.
You can get this monitor in either an IPS version for around $540 or a TN version for about $480 (model MG278Q). The TN version has a faster pixel response time, but not so much that you’re likely to notice. The wider viewing angles and bigger color gamut of the IPS model make it worth the extra money. You’ll notice that both models cost way less than their G-Sync counterparts.
As for inputs, you get a generous array: DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, two HDMI ports, and two USB 3.0 ports.
Best 4K FreeSync Monitor: LG 27UD68
Most of the 4K monitors that support FreeSync and are marketed toward gamers are TN panels, which have fast pixel response times but poorer color reproduction and viewing angles. However, LG has a great IPS monitor that may not be billed as a “gaming” monitor specifically, but it has most of the same features other 4K gaming monitors do.
It’s got great color reproduction, is nice and bright at up to 350 nits, and even includes a pair of HDMI 2.0 ports that support 4K at 60Hz, so you can plug in a PS4 Pro or Xbox One X and get full resolution (but not HDR). Oh, did I mention it costs well under $500?
Best Ultra Wide FreeSync Monitor: Asus Designo MX34VQ
The Designo MX34VQ may not be billed as a “gaming” monitor, but it is. The 34-inch ultra wide 3440 x 1440 display has a top refresh rate of 100Hz (the best you’ll find in a 1440p ultra wide monitor) and it supports AMD’s FreeSync. This monitor uses a VA panel (somewhere in-between IPS and TN for speed and color), and has a pretty high contrast ratio. The 4ms pixel response time is on par with most high-performance IPS displays.
It’s the extras that make this monitor special though. In addition to the DisplayPort jack and headphone jack, you’ll find three HDMI 2.0 ports. And the base is a Qi wireless charging pad, which is great if you have a compatible Android phone or a new iPhone 8 or iPhone X. One less cable hanging around your desk, right? Asus paid special attention to the audio in this monitor, too—the 8W stereo Harmon Kardon speakers are a cut above the tinny sound you usually get.
All that for about $750. That’s a heck of a deal for a 1440p ultra wide monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate and FreeSync support!
Best Budget FreeSync Option: VIEWSONIC XG2401
The Viewsonic XG2401 is a decent gaming monitor. As we found in our review, it doesn’t have the best black levels and some of its gaming-specific features aren’t that useful. But it does have a fast 144Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time thanks to its snappy TN panel, and a few HDMI and USB ports for those that like to use their monitor as sort of a desk hub.
Perhaps most importantly, it’s only about $260. That’s way cheaper than most 144Hz FreeSync monitors. If you’re on a tight budget, there’s no need to settle for a paltry 60Hz monitor. You can still enjoy super-smooth high refresh rates. Just don’t expect the kind of color accuracy or super-minimal blurring you’ll find in our top 1080p pick above.
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