AMD showcases Enhanced Sync, available for most modern Radeon GPUs

[Cal Jeffrey]

Why it matters: AMD addresses low-latency issues associated with Vsync with latest Radeon software. "Enhanced Sync" turns off Vsync whenever frame rate drops below your monitor's refresh rate eliminating stutter and input lag.

In gaming, there is a lot of talk about frame rates. Typically, higher fps is better. However, once the frame rate exceeds the monitor’s refresh rate, the chances of the game producing video artifacts increases — usually in the form of screen tearing. Likewise, when fps drop below the refresh rate, the game experiences input lag and stutter.

To combat this problem vertical syncing more commonly known as Vsync was created. Without getting into the technical details, Vsync essentially synchronizes a game’s frame rate to the monitors refresh rate. This creates a much smoother experience graphically. It does this by pausing the GPU if it finishes drawing a frame when the monitor is in the middle of refreshing.

The downside to Vsync is increased latency and stutter when the fps drop. And that's why more advanced technologies that rely on better monitors also exist, namely G-Sync (for Nvidia GPUs) and FreeSync, though this require actual hardware support.

Most recently AMD has been touting an additional software solution that they believe can enhance what Vsync already provides. Enhanced Sync enabled games can run with an uncapped frame rate and still experience the same tear-free gaming that Vsync offers. Enhanced Sync does not replace Vsync, but rather works with it.

“Enhanced Sync disables Vsync when frame rate drops below a monitor’s refresh rate, thereby minimizing stutter. Enhanced sync technology delivers liquid-smooth gameplay by focusing on latency at a low framerate.”

The above video shows how to enable Enhanced Sync, but it goes rather fast, so I'll recap it for you:

Go to your Radeon settings and under the gaming tab, select Global Settings. Look for the option that says “Wait for Vertical Refresh,” and click it. In the sub-menu, click Enhanced Sync. You can also set it for games individually by selecting them instead of Global Settings.

Enhanced Sync is available with the latest Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition drivers (version 17.7.2 and above), which you can download here. The technology supports games that use DirectX 9, 10, 11, 12, and Vulkan. There is no support for OpenGL.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/75212-amd-unveils-enhanced-sync-adrenaline-v-1772.html

 

[VitalyT]

And couple years from now there will be Super Enhanced Sync from AMD.

In the shortage of progress, just give the old s. new name, has been AMD's approach for many years now, re-branding after re-branding, selling as new.

 

[NimbusTLD]

So... It's the same as nvidia's adaptive sync as far as I can tell?

 

[MSIGamer]

I love how they can always market what is essentially the same as turning off v-sync automatically as 'liquid-smooth gameplay eliminating stutter and input lag' /facepalm
You'll still have terrible tearing with this feature if your gpu can't keep up with the monitor's refresh rate, which is the whole reason you're using v-sync in the first place.

 

[Evernessince]

And couple years from now there will be Super Enhanced Sync from AMD.

In the shortage of progress, just give the old s. new name, has been AMD's approach for many years now, re-branding after re-branding, selling as new.

So... It's the same as nvidia's adaptive sync as far as I can tell?

And these two comments are why we read the article.

First, this software solution was just added with the latest AMD drivers as stated right in the article. Zero rebranding.

Second, Nvidia's adaptive sync still locks the monitors refresh rate to the V-Sync cap and turns off the lock when the GPU isn't producing enough frames. Given the tests I've seen of adaptive sync, it introduces lag and stuttering.

Compare that to Enhanced Sync discussed in the article, which provides the benefits of V-Sync but allows your GPU to produce frames over the V-Sync cap, thus eliminating the lag associated with V-Sync while still getting rid of tearing. When below the V-Sync cap, the frame-rate is unlocked.

Enhanced Sync is clearly a superior implementation on paper to any software only solution Nvidia has.

I love how they can always market what is essentially the same as turning off v-sync automatically as 'liquid-smooth gameplay eliminating stutter and input lag' /facepalm
You'll still have terrible tearing with this feature if your gpu can't keep up with the monitor's refresh rate, which is the whole reason you're using v-sync in the first place.

Incorrect, as tearing and latency are gone if you can maintain your monitor's refresh rate. No other software only solution can boast this.

 

[BSim500]

Second, Nvidia's adaptive sync still locks the monitors refresh rate to the V-Sync cap and turns off the lock when the GPU isn't producing enough frames. Given the tests I've seen of adaptive sync, it introduces lag and stuttering.

Compare that to Enhanced Sync discussed in the article, which provides the benefits of V-Sync but allows your GPU to produce frames over the V-Sync cap, thus eliminating the lag associated with V-Sync while still getting rid of tearing. When below the V-Sync cap, the frame-rate is unlocked.

Enhanced Sync is clearly a superior implementation on paper to any software only solution Nvidia has.

I think your information is a little out of date. nVidia Control Panel has shown 5 settings for ages:-

- Off ("Allows a GPU to render unconstrained by refresh rate and will scan out from multiple rendered frames in a single refresh interval. Causes screen artifacts like tearing, but has very low latency and high performance")

- On ("Limits the GPU render rate to the maximum refresh rate of your display and avoids tearing. However can have longer latency and lower performance due to render rate. Also can stutter if GPU render rate falls below the fresh rate")

- Adaptive ("Limits the GPU render rate similar to VSync ON, however if render rate drops below the refresh rate will allow tearing. Good compromise between latency and visual clarity.")

- Adaptive Half ("Limits the GPU render rate to 1/2 the max refresh rate of the monitor. Can reduce stutter for games with low FPS")

- Fast ("GPU renders unconstrained similar to VSync OFF, but does not tear since frames in excess of the refresh rate of the monitor are dropped. Delivers latency that is very close to VSync OFF with no tearing")

Far from being "never seen before and totally superior to the competition", AMD's "Enhanced Sync" has finally caught up with nVidia's "Fast Vsync" setting that was introduced over 2 years ago...

 

[hahahanoobs]

"available for most modern Radeon GPUs"

Is there a support list? I couldn't find one on AMD site.

 

[Evernessince]

I think your information is a little out of date. nVidia Control Panel has shown 5 settings for ages:-

- Off ("Allows a GPU to render unconstrained by refresh rate and will scan out from multiple rendered frames in a single refresh interval. Causes screen artifacts like tearing, but has very low latency and high performance")

- On ("Limits the GPU render rate to the maximum refresh rate of your display and avoids tearing. However can have longer latency and lower performance due to render rate. Also can stutter if GPU render rate falls below the fresh rate")

- Adaptive ("Limits the GPU render rate similar to VSync ON, however if render rate drops below the refresh rate will allow tearing. Good compromise between latency and visual clarity.")

- Adaptive Half ("Limits the GPU render rate to 1/2 the max refresh rate of the monitor. Can reduce stutter for games with low FPS")

- Fast ("GPU renders unconstrained similar to VSync OFF, but does not tear since frames in excess of the refresh rate of the monitor are dropped. Delivers latency that is very close to VSync OFF with no tearing")

Far from being "never seen before and totally superior to the competition", AMD's "Enhanced Sync" has finally caught up with nVidia's "Fast Vsync" setting that was introduced over 2 years ago...

It is. Have you seen the Nvidia forums about "Fast"? It doesn't fix tearing and introduces latency (despite it's claims otherwise). It's not as bad as adaptive at least. Nvidia needs to fix the latency issue it has with it's alternate V-Sync methods, it's been a problem for some time now.

It's exactly why I said the AMD method is better "on paper". If it proves to have issues like this, it's as worthless as the Nvidia options.

 

[VitalyT]

Yeah, nobody reads past the title.

 

[TechCat]

Second, Nvidia's adaptive sync still locks the monitors refresh rate to the V-Sync cap and turns off the lock when the GPU isn't producing enough frames. Given the tests I've seen of adaptive sync, it introduces lag and stuttering.

Compare that to Enhanced Sync discussed in the article, which provides the benefits of V-Sync but allows your GPU to produce frames over the V-Sync cap, thus eliminating the lag associated with V-Sync while still getting rid of tearing. When below the V-Sync cap, the frame-rate is unlocked.

Enhanced Sync is clearly a superior implementation on paper to any software only solution Nvidia has.

I think your information is a little out of date. nVidia Control Panel has shown 5 settings for ages:-

- Off ("Allows a GPU to render unconstrained by refresh rate and will scan out from multiple rendered frames in a single refresh interval. Causes screen artifacts like tearing, but has very low latency and high performance")

- On ("Limits the GPU render rate to the maximum refresh rate of your display and avoids tearing. However can have longer latency and lower performance due to render rate. Also can stutter if GPU render rate falls below the fresh rate")

- Adaptive ("Limits the GPU render rate similar to VSync ON, however if render rate drops below the refresh rate will allow tearing. Good compromise between latency and visual clarity.")

- Adaptive Half ("Limits the GPU render rate to 1/2 the max refresh rate of the monitor. Can reduce stutter for games with low FPS")

- Fast ("GPU renders unconstrained similar to VSync OFF, but does not tear since frames in excess of the refresh rate of the monitor are dropped. Delivers latency that is very close to VSync OFF with no tearing")

Far from being "never seen before and totally superior to the competition", AMD's "Enhanced Sync" has finally caught up with nVidia's "Fast Vsync" setting that was introduced over 2 years ago...

No not the the same plus Freesync/Freesync2 w HDR for FREE trumps nVidia.

 

[dimiav]

Second, Nvidia's adaptive sync still locks the monitors refresh rate to the V-Sync cap and turns off the lock when the GPU isn't producing enough frames. Given the tests I've seen of adaptive sync, it introduces lag and stuttering.

Compare that to Enhanced Sync discussed in the article, which provides the benefits of V-Sync but allows your GPU to produce frames over the V-Sync cap, thus eliminating the lag associated with V-Sync while still getting rid of tearing. When below the V-Sync cap, the frame-rate is unlocked.

Enhanced Sync is clearly a superior implementation on paper to any software only solution Nvidia has.

I think your information is a little out of date. nVidia Control Panel has shown 5 settings for ages:-

- Off ("Allows a GPU to render unconstrained by refresh rate and will scan out from multiple rendered frames in a single refresh interval. Causes screen artifacts like tearing, but has very low latency and high performance")

- On ("Limits the GPU render rate to the maximum refresh rate of your display and avoids tearing. However can have longer latency and lower performance due to render rate. Also can stutter if GPU render rate falls below the fresh rate")

- Adaptive ("Limits the GPU render rate similar to VSync ON, however if render rate drops below the refresh rate will allow tearing. Good compromise between latency and visual clarity.")

- Adaptive Half ("Limits the GPU render rate to 1/2 the max refresh rate of the monitor. Can reduce stutter for games with low FPS")

- Fast ("GPU renders unconstrained similar to VSync OFF, but does not tear since frames in excess of the refresh rate of the monitor are dropped. Delivers latency that is very close to VSync OFF with no tearing")

Far from being "never seen before and totally superior to the competition", AMD's "Enhanced Sync" has finally caught up with nVidia's "Fast Vsync" setting that was introduced over 2 years ago...

No not the the same plus Freesync/Freesync2 w HDR for FREE trumps nVidia.

No... He ia right... That's AMD's answer to Fast Sync.
Freesync\2 is irrelevant to that... It's a hardware related not software