DPete27 wrote:I still can't find anything that says there is special/proprietary hardware inside every FreeSync display though. Also, how are vendor-specific HDMI extensions handled?
There has to be logic in the controller for VRR and custom HDMI extensions (firmware) of the monitor used to enumerate functionality.
We only know a few details about that custom hardware. We know that HDMI and DisplayPort are electrically different signaling methods and have different enumeration properties. We know the HDMI FreeSync specification isn't public, which is telling. We know that the HDMI FreeSync standard is different and incompatible with the HDMI VRR 2.1 hardware. We really know nothing about the corresponding register or registers enabled in the controller to turn on the VRR or the supporting logic for that VRR. People assume it's VESA VRR logic being enabled, but there is no proof of that, AMD has never claimed that, and frankly even if it were it doesn't really fix things. Software copyrights and patents are a thing.
Are they part of the firmware data for the display?
Yes, they would be, but their function is to manipulate hardware registers and enable functionality in the hardware itself. HDMI did not have hardware VRR logic when FreeSync HDMI came into existence, AMD had to create that themselves. As noted above we only know a few details about that logic. HDMI has since created VRR as part of their 2.1 specification and as noted, that 2.1 VRR does not use the FreeSync HDMI vendor-specific enumeration or the hardware logic AMD built. The Samsung TV in the opening post has two different VRR standards built into the controller and firmware.
Does a VESA Adaptive Sync display with FreeSync HDMI extensions then lock Nvidia out of using VESA Adaptive Sync in that display? What about Display Port?
This question is confusing in its phrasing. I think I know what you're asking. I guess we'll find out.
The Assumptions:
A hypothetical monitor has a controller and supporting firmware that speaks the VESA DisplayPort and the HDMI language. (These are two different languages).
That hypothetical monitor also has the accompanying logic for VESA VRR ("FreeSync") and AMD HDMI FreeSync.
That hypothetical monitor also has a physical connection for DisplayPort and HDMI.
What can NVIDIA do in that situation?
NVIDIA only has one option in that situation, to implement the optional hardware and firmware support for DisplayPort VESA VRR into their cards. That would allow for VESA VRR to function over the DisplayPort. NVIDIA cannot take advantage of the proprietary AMD HDMI FreeSync logic available on the HDMI port.
Keep in mind that it would take more than just hardware and firmware support for VESA VRR in NVIDIA cards. VESA VRR was not built with gaming in mind. LFC is not part of the VESA VRR standard and this functionality would also have to be built by NVIDIA into their driver suite. The GSync module with its CPU and RAM are a hardware solution that has reduced the software management side for NVIDIA.
We'll ignore NVIDIA eDP laptops for now, just to keep the conversation from ballooning, but recognize there's some sort of sauce over there.
Samsung confirmed to us that some of its 2018 TVs will support HDMI 2.1’s VRR (variable refresh rate) as well as FreeSync at up to 120Hz. What do you make of that? Since HDMI 2.1 spec contains VRR, does that do away with the need for AMDs vendor specific HDMI extensions? It sounded from the 2015 TR article linked above that AMD fully anticipated the need for their HDMI extensions to become obsolete as soon as the HDMI spec included VRR.
In premise, yes. HDMI 2.1 VRR means that NVIDIA now has access to an HDMI VRR solution. Now it's just a matter of timing (did the standard finalize in time for their next GPU) and business goals (do they want to support it). We don't know the answer to either of those questions.
In premise that means that AMDs VRR solution could go away, except there's an entire ecosystem of support for HDMI FreeSync. AMD cards and AMD-powered consoles also can't do HDMI VRR yet either. Those cards can do HDMI FreeSync and their is already an installed base of monitors and TVs supporting that proprietary standard. It could take years before HDMI FreeSync exits the market and who knows, standards are funny, HDMI FreeSync may continue to linger longer than any of us expect.
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