As the gaming industry stands today, graphics, visual detail, and frame performance are as important as the gameplay itself. As such, it is no wonder why many with high-quality gaming monitors would ask, “does PS5 support AMD FreeSync?”
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is NO. PS5 DOES NOT support AMD FreeSync to smoothen out the stuttering and tears. Instead, it PS5 has its own built-in Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) technology that achieves the same results as the FreeSync. HOWEVER, it works ONLY if your monitor has an HDMI 2.1 input port.
In the following text, I will explain the AMD FreeSync feature in detail and talk about PS5’s alternative to AMD’s FreeSync.
What is AMD FreeSync?
AMD FreeSync is an adaptive sync technology that is essentially designed to make your gameplay smoother.
FreeSync works by synchronizing the refresh rate of your monitor to the frame rate of your gaming device.
If you have ever experienced a Screen Tear or Screen Stuttering, then you would know what FreeSync aims to solve.
This feature is similar to NVIDIA’s G-Sync, however, the lowest Tier of this technology is FREE to use by monitor manufacturers. For this reason, you’ll find AMD FreeSync feature in many affordable gaming monitors.
AMD FreeSync Premium and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro Tiers, however, are licensable technologies and are intended for high-end displays with 120Hz or higher refresh rates.
However, in order for this feature to work on your monitor, the gaming hardware should be compatible.
So Does PS5 Support AMD FreeSync?
Unfortunately, though, PS5 DOES NOT support AMD FreeSync technology. If you connect your PS5 to a monitor featuring AMD FreeSync, it WILL work, but the FreeSync feature will not be utilized.
Perhaps in the future support can be added for this feature, however, as of yet, AMD FreeSync is not supported on PS5.
PS5’s Proprietary VRR Feature
PS5 DOES have its own technology for handling those screen tears and stutters, the Variable Refresh Rate or VRR technology.
VRR is essentially the foundation upon which AMD Freesync is built.
VRR ONLY Works Over HDMI 2.1
Unfortunately, the biggest downside of the PS5’s VRR feature is that it ONLY works with a monitor that has an HDMI 2.1.
PS5 features a native HDMI 2.1 interface and it can support the specs of a monitor with an HDMI 2.1 input.
If you have a monitor with HDMI 2.0 often found on QHD monitors or 4K @ 60Hz monitors, then unfortunately the VRR feature will simply not work.
The same is true if your monitor has the old HDMI 1.4 port.
Take for instance the popular Samsung G55 above. This is a popular QHD monitor with 165Hz refresh rate (and features AMD FreeSync). However, since it does NOT have an HDMI 2.1 port, it will not support PS5’s VRR technology.
AMD FreeSync being a free technology is found on cheaper monitors featuring FHD or QHD resolution at 60Hz or 120Hz refresh rates. Unfortunately, neither FreeSync nor the PS5’s VRR feature will work on these since they have an inferior HDMI port.
HDMI 2.1 port is almost always found on monitors with 4K resolution @ 120Hz refresh rate and they tend to be super expensive.
So to summarize, PS5’s VRR feature can work with ANY monitor at any supported resolution or refresh rate be it FHD, QHD, or 30, 60, or 120Hz SO LONG as it has an HDMI 2.1 port.
