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