AMD FreeSync drops 60 Hz in the name of immersion — 144 Hz new minimum spec for tear-free gaming

Given the rapid developments happening in monitor technology over the last few years, AMD is taking the opportunity to advance its FreeSync adaptive refresh rate tech by introducing new minimum frequencies across the board — except for laptop displays.

In AMD's announcement of the new FreeSync minimum requirements for desktop monitors, Team Red explains that vanilla FreeSync certifications will not only be granted to displays with refresh rates above 144 Hz, while FreeSync Premium and FreeSync Premium Pro start at 120 Hz for resolutions above 3440 pixels wide and 200 Hz for monitors less than 3440 pixels wide.

Going forward, FreeSync Premium Pro uses the same frame-rate and resolution minimums as FreeSync Premium, but it also adds HDR support on top of that.

As for notebooks and laptops, normal FreeSync support still operates between 40–60 Hz, while FreeSync Premium and Premium Pro require at least 120 Hz, with Premium Pro demanding HDR again — nothing new here.

AMD also confirmed that it would not be dropping support for older FreeSync displays. The new certification specifications only apply to new models, so no need to return that UPERFECT 2K 120 Hz portable FreeSync gaming monitor just yet.

AMD cites the growing popularity of not only high-refresh rate monitors but also ultrawide monitors for the change to the minimum requirements. It's worth noting that the notebook FreeSync specifications make plenty of room for low-powered APUs with iGPUs, like the Asus ROG Ally and its Ryzen Z1 Extreme (curr. $699.99 at Best Buy), which supports FreeSync Premium Pro.