Article Number: GPU-754
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
AMD Product Family Compatibility | |
AMD Radeon™ R9 380 Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 M395X Graphics |
Radeon™ RX 480 Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 M385 Graphics |
Radeon™ RX 470 Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 M380 Graphics |
Radeon™ RX 460 Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 M270X Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 Fury X Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 360 Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 Fury Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 290X Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 Nano Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 290 Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 390X Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R9 285 Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 390 Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R7 260X Graphics |
AMD Radeon™ R9 380X Graphics | AMD Radeon™ R7 260 Graphics |
Radeon™ RX 550 Series Graphics | Radeon™ RX 570 Series Graphics |
Radeon™ RX 580 Series Graphics | Radeon™ Vega Frontier Edition Version |
Radeon™ RX Vega Series Graphics |
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