HOW TO ENABLE AMD FREESYNC IN LINUX

This article provides information on how to enable/disable AMD FreeSync as well as limitation when running Linux.

Checking System Compatibility With AMD FreeSync

AMD FreeSync is supported on the following Linux distribution:

• Ubuntu 16.04.3

AMD FreeSync is supported the following AMD graphics products

Please note that you must have a Display Port Freesync compatible monitor.

FreeSync over HDMI is not currently supported

To verify that your system supports FreeSync, please follow these steps:

• Run 'DISPLAY=:0 xrandr --prop'
• The output will show EDID information for all displays. Noteworthy parameters are the following:
• freesync_capable
  • 0 = display does not support FreeSync
  • 1 = display supports FreeSync
• freesync
  • 0 = FreeSync is currently disabled
  • 1 = FreeSync is currently enabled
• Display hot-plug/unplug is not fully supported with FreeSync; please start your system with the FreeSync display connected.

Enabling/Disabling AMD FreeSync

In order to enable FreeSync, please run the following terminal command:

• DISPLAY=:0 xrandr --output DisplayPort-# --set "freesync" 1
  where # is your display's number (e.g., DisplayPort-0).

In order to disable FreeSync, please run the following terminal command:

• DISPLAY=:0 xrandr --output DisplayPort-# --set "freesync" 0
  where # is your display's number (e.g., DisplayPort-0).

You can check what enumeration your FreeSync display receives beforehand by entering the same command used to check FreeSync support.

Limitation of AMD FreeSync on Linux

• For FreeSync to work in OpenGL applications, V-Sync must be turned ON. If V-Sync is OFF, flipping may not occur hence FreeSync will not be engaged. Please note that if the individual application does not have V-Sync options, you can set it globally by modifying /etc/amd/amdrc (change the parameter ‘OGLWaitVerticalSync’  from 1 to 3)
• FreeSync should not be engaged on desktop or video playback
• FreeSync enable setting is set on a per-display connection basis
• FreeSync enable setting does not retain after display hotplug or system restart (e.g., need to manually re-enable FreeSync via terminal command)
• In multi-display configurations, FreeSync will NOT be engaged (even if both FreeSync displays are identical)
• FreeSync via HDMI is not supported for this feature. Only DP FreeSync displays will work.

Currently AMD Freesync is supported on the following applications

• Phoronix test suite (PTS)
• Unigine Valley
• Unigine Heaven
• Metro Last Light
• Civilization 5
• Witcher 2
• DOTA2
• TF 2
• Counter Strike Source
• Rocket League
• Ark Survival Evolved
• XCOM2
• glxgears