FreeSync variable refresh rate support rolling out to Xbox insiders now
FreeSync support for the Xbox One has just got one step closer with the announcement that the variable refresh rate technology is rolling out to Xbox Insiders now.
The technology, which is already available on AMD’s PC graphics cards, is a way of eliminating the screen tearing that can occur when a game is unable to maintain a stable framerate.
However, this will be the first time the technology is available for consoles, and can maintain the illusion of a consistent framerate, even when it drops as low as 45Hz. The exact range supported by FreeSync will vary from monitor to monitor, but AMD has a handy database on its site which should tell you what your monitor is capable of.
Speaking of monitors, yours will need to support FreeSync over HDMI in order to use it with the console, since it lacks a DisplayPort connector. The technology is available on all three versions of the Xbox One.
How to enable FreeSync on Xbox One
At the moment you can only get Freesync on the console if you’re part of the Xbox Insider Program. To do so you’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub app on your console. Once you’ve got it you can open up the ‘Insider content’ menu and select the ‘Test FreeSync’ quest.
Once you’ve done that, you can toggle the variable refresh rate option in the ‘Advanced video modes’ section of the ‘Display & sound’ menu.
Depending on which game you’re playing, you might not see too much of a benefit. Many Xbox One games utilise what’s known as a ‘dynamic resolution scaling’, where the resolution scales up and down to maintain a consistent framerate. Since you no longer need a consistent framerate with FreeSync, you should use any graphical option that prioritise resolution over frame rate. The names of these vary per game, but look out for options that promise ‘native 4K’ or ‘prefer framerate’.
There’s no word yet on an official release date, but since this preview is open to everyone we imagine it’ll be available pretty soon.
Which do you prefer, high framerates or high resolutions? Let us know @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
