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Best AMD FreeSync Monitors for Gaming
Zach Cabading
|
April 7, 2019
If you’re a PC gamer, you might spend loads of time and money upgrading the hardware in your PC. You’re on a mission to vanquish your online competitors, and the last thing you want to deal with is lag or screen tearing when you’re in the middle of a high stakes battle.
So you install a new processor, swap out GPUs, and set up a brand new display. Here’s the disappointing part: even after all of those upgrades, you might still suffer from graphical issues.
Were your gaming computer upgrades all for naught? Nah. There’s a good chance that your screen tearing or stuttering issues stem from performance differences between your monitor and your GPU.
They don’t always make for happy roommates. Thankfully, AMD has remedied this problem with its own FreeSync technology. In order to run FreeSync, you’ll need a FreeSync monitor.
How does AMD FreeSync work? And what are the best FreeSync monitors? Let’s get to the bottom of it so that you can once again enjoy a spot-free gaming performance, and battle your strongest foes with ease.
Here’s why screen tearing happens
Screen tearing happens when frame rate and refresh rate are out of sync. Let’s briefly review what frame rate and refresh rate are.
What is frame rate?
A “frame” is the term used to describe a single image in a visual sequence. When you’re galloping through the Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2, the movement of your character is created by a succession of frames.
In one frame, your character is positioned here. In the next frame, your character is ever-so-slightly repositioned there. Frame after frame, your cowboy is repositioned in a very subtle way. When all the frames are played successively at rapid speed, you get the illusion that your cowboy is moving seamlessly through the desert.
Frame rate refers to how many frames your GPU and CPU can produce in a single second. If you have a strong GPU and CPU, you’re able to produce more frames per second. A high frame rate results in better-quality visuals and crisper imagery because a large succession of frames creates a smoother motion effect.
What is refresh rate?
Your computer monitor constantly receives information from your GPU on what to display. Your monitor’s refresh rate refers to how often it’s able to update the display with the new information it receives. Refresh rate is measured by hertz (Hz). The best-quality monitors have higher refresh rates.
Putting the two together
Unfortunately, frame rate and refresh rate don’t always work in tandem. If your GPU’s frame rate is higher than the refresh rate, you’ll suffer from screen tearing. This is when multiple frames are displayed in a single refresh. If your GPU’s frame rate is slower than the refresh rate, you’ll suffer from stuttering [1].
What is a FreeSync monitor?
AMD’s FreeSync technology sets the frame rate and the refresh rate at the same pace.
There are other technologies that unify frame rate and refresh rate, but here’s the problem with them: They restrict your frame rate to whatever your refresh rate is.
For example, if your GPU runs 120 fps, and your monitor refreshes at 60 Hz, then your GPU will be brought down to 60 fps. It stops screen tearing, but at the expense of your wonderfully high frame rate. Your game won’t play as smoothly as it’s capable of, and you won’t get the gaming experience you deserve.
What’s unique about FreeSync is that it not only synchronizes your frame rate and refresh rate but also allows your monitor’s refresh rate to match your GPU’s high frame rate. If your GPU runs 120 fps, your monitor can be brought up to 120 Hz to match it [2].
This technology is made possible because FreeSync is integrated into both your GPU and your computer monitor.
To enjoy the smooth performance of FreeSync, your computer must:
- Have a FreeSync-compatible AMD GPU [3]
- Have an AMD FreeSync monitor
If you don’t have a FreeSync-compatible GPU, you can get one and easily swap it with your existing GPU. But you also need a monitor that has built-in FreeSync technology. You can’t just install this hardware into your monitor. You'll need a PC monitor that’s ready-made for AMD FreeSync.
What are the best FreeSync monitors for gaming?
We’re glad you asked. You’ve got plenty of options to choose from, but we’re here to help you narrow it down. Here are our picks for the best FreeSync monitors for PC gaming.
1. HP OMEN 32-inch gaming monitor
Style and function combine in this amazing FreeSync monitor. The HP OMEN monitor family is built for high-performance PC gaming.
From tower desktops to laptops, from keyboards to mice, this red-and-black gaming line has substance and style that has won over hardcore gamers everywhere. It’s no surprise that there’s an HP OMEN gaming monitor that’s FreeSync-compatible.
The HP OMEN 32 gaming monitor is a big 32-inch display. Its numbers are big, too:
- 2560 x 1440 resolution (very detailed images)
- 3000:1 contrast ratio (wide spectrum of white-to-black color)
- 75 Hz refresh (very fast response to GPU)
- FreeSync-compatible for high performance
The huge resolution is stunning in its own right, but what’s also amazing is that it still holds a high refresh rate. You couldn’t ask for a monitor that has a better combo of crisp detail and speed.
If you’re looking for an immersive and responsive gaming monitor, this is it.
2. HP OMEN 25-inch gaming monitor
If you’re looking for a smaller-sized HP OMEN monitor, you might like the HP OMEN 25 gaming monitor.
This isn’t simply a smaller clone of the HP OMEN 32, as the specs reveal it to be quite different.
- 1920 x 1080 resolution (crisp images)
- 1000:1 contrast ratio (moderate spectrum of white-to-black color)
- 144 Hz refresh rate (ultra-fast response to GPU)
- FreeSync-compatible for high performance
The screen resolution and contrast ratio are good. But what’s amazing is the incredibly fast refresh rate. 144 Hz is a lightning-fast response time.
Granted, there aren’t as many pixels and shades to be accounted for, but 144 Hz is a must-have speed for competitive gamers.
If you play in gaming tournaments or play games with high frame rates like first-person shooters (FPS), this monitor might be one of your best gaming assets.
3. HP 27b curved monitor
The HP 27b display is unique in that it’s a curved monitor. What’s the point of a curved monitor? Well, humans have peripheral vision, which means that we can see a little bit to the side of our main line of sight. A curved monitor positions the edges of the screen so they’re more easily seen by our peripheral vision.
You’ll appreciate this if you’re a competitive gamer, or if you’re a gamer who enjoys total immersion in their game world.
With expanded vision, you’ll better spot incoming combatants and map details, and you’ll also be more enveloped in the game.
The HP 27b display can boast some pretty good specs, too:
- 1920 x 1080 resolution (crisp images)
- 3000:1 contrast ratio (wide spectrum of white-to-black color)
- 75 Hz refresh rate (very fast response to GPU)
- FreeSync-compatible for high performance
This would be a great gaming monitor for you if you’re seeking a more immersive gaming experience and want to really enter the action.
4. HP ENVY 34-inch curved monitor
The HP ENVY 34 curved monitor features a whopping 34-inch display that also happens to be a curved monitor. Your peripheral vision will be pleased, and your experience will be unmatched.
Take a look at the specs:
- 3440 x 1440 resolution (extremely detailed images)
- 3000:1 contrast ratio (wide spectrum of white-to-black color)
- 60 Hz (fast response to GPU)
- FreeSync-compatible for high performance
The massive resolution is jaw-dropping and sure to make every battle, journey, or quest that much more satisfying. When you’re gaming, you’ll have 4,880 pixels in front of you to create intricate combinations of color and detail. So, as far as visual details go, this is the highest-powered monitor on the list.
The only drawback of the HP ENVY 34 is that the refresh rate is actually a bit lower than the other 2 monitors at 60 Hz instead of 75 Hz. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this refresh rate is not bad, especially when you consider the huge number of pixels that have to be redrawn with each refresh.
Also, keep in mind that AMD FreeSync will boost the speed and performance of the computer monitor. Nonetheless, this monitor might be better suited for expansive open-world games rather than games where a high frame rate is essential like FPS games.
In summary
If you’re a hardcore PC gamer, don’t let your hardware hamper your performance. If you’re going to fight your way to the top of the leaderboards, you’re going to need top performance from your processors and your monitor.
Bring home a new monitor with AMD’s FreeSync technology. It’s easy to enable, and you’ll have a lot more fun when you’re not being slowed down by screen tearing or stuttering. Immersive gaming is at your fingertips, and these monitors may be the key to the ultimate experience.
[1] AvaDirect; Frame Rate (FPS) vs Refresh Rate (Hz)
[2] AMD; FreeSync FAQ
[3] AMD; FreeSync Products
About the Author: Zach Cabading is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Zach is a content creation specialist based in Southern California, and creates a variety of content for the tech industry.
