Adaptive Sync
Adaptive Sync is a standard that lets a screen change its refresh rate to match the frame rate the source is sending, which removes screen tearing.
On this page 3 sections
Adaptive Sync is a display standard from VESA that lets a screen follow the speed of the picture it is given, instead of refreshing at one fixed speed.
How it works
A normal screen refreshes a fixed number of times a second. A graphics chip sends frames at an uneven pace, so a new frame can arrive halfway through a refresh. The screen then shows parts of two frames, which is called tearing, or it repeats an old frame, which looks like stutter. With Adaptive Sync the screen waits for each new frame and refreshes when it arrives, so the two stay in step.
What the numbers mean
- Supported range: a screen works only between a lowest and a highest refresh rate, such as 48 to 144 times a second. Outside that range it behaves like a normal screen.
- Related names: graphics chip makers run their own certification programmes on top of the standard, and HDMI has a similar feature called Variable Refresh Rate.
What it does not promise
Adaptive Sync does not raise the refresh rate or the frame rate, and it does not speed up pixel response. It needs support from the screen, the graphics source and the cable or port in between. It also does not remove stutter caused by a source that cannot make frames fast enough.