Hi Radeon users,
If you're running an AMD Polaris\Vega equipped graphics card and Crimson driver vers 17.7.2 and up you will have the option to choose to use AMD's Enhanced Synch in Radeon Settings\Gaming\Global settings.
This setting works exactly as Nvidia's FastSynch setting does.....it uses a 3rd graphics buffer to allow the GPU to essentially "unsynch" from the monitor's refresh rate but to "synch" the displaying of graphics frames to the monitor's RR to allow the GPU to run at it's highest attainable speeds but not create "tearing" in the graphics onscreen as long as the game FPS is at\above the monitor's RR but will also allow the GPU to run unsynched to the monitor's RR to maintain FPS if the game FPS drops below the monitor's RR at the expense of some slight screen tearing.
This is the latest attempt to use Nvidia's\AMD's FS\ES to give a user the most benefit(s) of GSynch\FreeSynch on non-GSynch\FreeSynch monitors OR to give a user the best of using FS\ES along w\ GSynch\FreeSynch to essentially provide tearing-free gameplay across the entire range of a GSynch\FreeSynch-equipped monitor w\ minimal loss of FPS.
I have been using this since I've installed this Rx Vega 64 graphics card but in doing so I've also found some quirks to avoid when doing so while playing AHIII (and should apply to other games that have in-game v-synch application).
I found that if you're using the AHIII in-game v-synch setting then the game settings will override the driver ES setting and will cause some minor, random stuttering from the driver trying to use both synching settings at the same time along w\ FreeSynch enabled....when the monitor's RR starts to drop below the set RR in Windows (or the native monitor RR if the monitor is set at this RR in Windows....in my case this is 90Hz as this coincides w\ the upper FreeSynch range of my monitor's FreeSynch...Asus MG279Q Gaming Monitor).
So I went in AHIII Video Settings and checked the box to disable V-synch in-game to see if the driver's ES is active and operating then restarted the game.............
I can report that Enhanced Synch is active and operational in the Crimson driver (using 17.9.3 at this time) and it works very well at that. It unlocked the GPU from the monitor's RR of 90Hz and allowed the GPU to run at it's highest speed possible (1625 MHz GPU\945 MHz mem @ 100% GPU usage) at a max of 144 FPS (the true max monitor's RR @ 144Hz).....all w\o ANY screen tearing at all. The graphics frames were synched (verified by the prop spin up graphics on engine start up) and all at very high in-game and driver graphics settings (used the same settings as I have been using to date). Yes, this Rx Vega 64 graphics card can push some very high graphics settings at very high FPS but you WILL need to be watercooled to run consistently at\near these settings. My box hit 52*C on the GPU w\ CPU hitting 58*C w\ 120mm rad fan @ 1945 rpms\240mm rad fans @ 1844 rpms\water pump speed @ 1925 rpms on the upper end under this load which shows it can handle this beast pushing out this kind of power\heat (my 120mm\240mm rad setup was designed to handle 423W of heat output, EKWB recommended a 120mm\360mm rad combo @ 554W heat output using estimated output of this CPU, mobo, ref air graphics card combo overclocked @ 395W heat output). The only issue that I saw w\ this card running at these speeds\GPU loads was the screen transitions from control inputs weren't quite as smooth, most likely due to the GPU being pushed to it's very limits w\ no GPU overhead left, but were very playable....as long as there weren't a lot of players in the area. When player count started rising then the RR\FPS would start dropping due to the GPU speeds dropping off under this load but all stayed fairly smooth thruout as mentioned above. I saw the FPS drop as low as 92 FPS from 144 FPS but witnessed not 1 screen tear....all this occurred w\o FreeSynch being used as the RR\FPS never dropped below 90 (the upper FreeSynch range of my monitor).
So AMD's Enhanced Synch does indeed work as advertised and it will allow your vid card to hit it's maximum performance numbers as long as the temps can be controlled.
I then went back in AHIII's Video Settings, unchecked the disable v-synch box (to enable the in-game v-synch settings to take effect) then went into Radeon Settings\Gaming\Global settings and reset "Wait for Vertical Refresh" setting from Enhanced Synch to Off, unless the Application Specifies (this instructs the driver to use the in-game v-synch setting and lock the GPU to the monitor's set RR of 90Hz as set in Windows) as this setup allows the very same very high graphics settings to be used w\ the FPS locked @ 90 FPS which unloads this Rx Vega 64's GPU to the tune of approx. 53%-85% usage in game. This guarantees absolute butter smooth gameplay regardless of GPU load as FreeSynch is also active which guarantees a 1:1 synch ratio between GPU\monitor so all control inputs\screen transitions are butter smooth and lag-free.
Ain't nothing more beautiful as watching this AMD Rx Vega 64's GPU\mem auto-adjust to varying game loads while staying locked on 90 FPS across the board while outputting some of the best looking, sharpest graphics imagery\scenery I've witnessed in almost every situation I have encountered to date while playing AHIII..................
It is this aspect of FreeSynch that is IMHO the only reason to not use AMD's Enhanced Synch. AMD's FS\ES will work together very well as long as the in-game v-synch is disabled....but you will lose a little smoothness during screen transitions from inputting control inputs using Enhanced Synch due to the GPU being unlocked from the monitor's RR and under full GPU load but not enough to cause the screen graphics to visually tear AND you won't have FreeSynch enabled as long as your frame rate exceeds your monitor's RR (or FreeSynch's upper operational range)................
So in closing, from my experiences I would make a recommend to use AMD's Enhanced Synch if you don't already have a FreeSynch-equipped monitor OR if you want the absolute balls-to-the-wall max GPU performance numbers at a constant 100% GPU load regardless w\ minimal\no screen tearing. Graphics settings choices will determine how much of an effect will be incurred to the max GPU performance numbers as always.
If it weren't for the fact that I have already experienced how FreeSynch actually performs on my box w\ AHIII prior and have grown accustomed to it I'd have stuck w\ Enhanced Synch but using FreeSynch at a constant 90Hz\FPS w\ my watercooled AMD R9 FuryX graphics card prior and now on a watercooled AMD Rx Vega 64 graphics card using very high graphics settings both in-game AND driver side in tandem is very hard to give up from an overall performance\in-game experience standpoint.....I just can't do it as the differences are too noticeable to me in favor of FreeSynch w\ in-game VSynch over FS\ES w\o in-game VSynch.
My 2 cents on this..............
