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Running an emulator in perfect 50 Hz on a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor

Posted: 27 Dec 2020 11:46
by sandord
I've just figured out how to run STeem in perfect 50 Hz on my FreeSync compatible monitor, which supports 49-60 Hz.

Normally, Windows won't let me select anything but 60 Hz and 30 Hz but by using the following trick in my NVidia Control Panel it could set up a Windows resolution for 50 Hz.

This results in a much smoother experience since normally, 50 Hz to 60 Hz conversion is done and that generally looks quite bad (think of how bad watching US soccer in the EU looks on the tele). However, please take into account that most LCD displays are not able to display perceived motion as smooth as a CRT. See https://blurbusters.com/faq/lcd-motion-artifacts/ for more details.

So you'll just need a cheap FreeSync compatible monitor that does 50-60 Hz (no need for higher refresh rates).

Just go check if your current monitor (if it isn't too old) is FreeSync compatible (or even GSync compatible). Mine did and it wasn't an expensive buy at all. Really recommended!

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And proof that the monitor really runs in 50 Hz:

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Finally, I had to turn on VSync in the emulator.

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Re: Running an emulator in perfect 50 Hz on a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor

Posted: 27 Dec 2020 18:11
by sandord
I wonder if there would be a way to run a real ST through a scan converter (like the Open Source Scan Converter (OSSC)) on a FreeSync monitor @50 Hz.

Re: Running an emulator in perfect 50 Hz on a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor

Posted: 29 Dec 2020 22:16
by alexh
You don't need to have a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor to do this if your monitor has a HDMI input. The spec mandates 50Hz input refresh rate and for close to a decade now I've been sending native panel resolution, 50Hz, vsync'd output to my monitors which have HDMI. Just follow the same guide here to add a 50Hz video mode.

This doesn't work via VGA input on most of my monitors which are limited to 60Hz minimum refresh via analog.

Re: Running an emulator in perfect 50 Hz on a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor

Posted: 30 Dec 2020 06:44
by sandord
alexh wrote: 29 Dec 2020 22:16 You don't need to have a FreeSync/G-Sync monitor to do this if your monitor has a HDMI input. The spec mandates 50Hz input refresh rate and for close to a decade now I've been sending native panel resolution, 50Hz, vsync'd output to my monitors which have HDMI. Just follow the same guide here to add a 50Hz video mode.

This doesn't work via VGA input on most of my monitors which are limited to 60Hz minimum refresh via analog.
Great, I didn't know that! My first monitor that has had HDMI is also this FreeSync monitor. This means that an OSSC would run at 50Hz everywhere.