I was over at my friend’s house the other day and I noticed that his Fifa 21 game looked a lot better on his TV than it did on mine! He didn’t seem to be experiencing any sort of stuttering, and the picture on the screen just looked smooth and crisp.
I started talking to him about my game not looking as good and he said something about FreeSync to me.
I wasn’t too sure what he was talking about to be fair, so I just smiled and nodded along. As soon as I got home though I did some digging around about FreeSync. I learned that this feature reduces all the lag when you’re gaming.
This all got me thinking… would FreeSync work on my Xbox Series X console because I really liked the idea of this lag-free, picture-perfect gaming experience.
I did some further reading and this is what I found out…
Does the Xbox Series X support FreeSync? Yes, the Xbox Series X does support FreeSync. It has the same setup as the Xbox One S and Xbox One X. But you have to make sure that you connect a FreeSync compatible monitor to your Xbox Series X to enjoy all of the benefits.
You might be wondering what FreeSync is, or how you set up FreeSync on the Xbox Series X or maybe you’re thinking about whether or not you need it at all! So, let’s not waste any more time, let’s dive right into FreeSync, so you can find out all of the important answers you need to know.
What Is FreeSync on an Xbox Series X?
FreeSync is an adaptive technology that syncs your monitor’s frame rate with your content’s frame rate.
To explain it simply – if your monitor refreshes at 120hz but your GPU is only sending content at 60Hz, or vice versa, then you’ll experience lag. With FreeSync, you can synchronize your monitor’s refresh rate with your GPU/CPU’s content rate to get rid of that lag.
FreeSync on the Xbox Series X allows you to enjoy effortless gameplay, without annoying disruptions. This is what I want when I’m gaming and I bet it’s what you want too.
How many times have you died in a gunfight in Call of Duty: Warzone that you know you could’ve won, if only your game hadn’t lagged? We’ve all been there…
Connecting to FreeSync on your Xbox Series X will help you to get rid of that daft lag, and it will allow you to win those Battle Royals, and have a smoother overall gaming experience.
Now that you know what FreeSync is, let’s talk about how you can take advantage of it on your Xbox Series X console.
How Do You Get FreeSync On An Xbox Series X?
To set up FreeSync on your Xbox Series X you need to… connect the Xbox Series X console to the TV via the HDMI 2.1 port, then follow the additional steps below to finish setting up FreeSync on your console.
Follow these steps to turn FreeSync on:
Step 1: Go into the settings on your Xbox.
Step 2: Click on TV and Display options.
Step 3: Click on video modes.
Step 4: Make sure that you have allowed variable refresh rate, check the box.
That’s it!
You’re ready to play your games with FreeSync on.
Now, before you start gaming, there is one more thing you need to consider to make FreeSync work – does your TV or monitor support FreeSync?
This is important because if your TV/monitor doesn’t support FreeSync then you won’t experience the benefits of it. This brings me to my next point.
Does Your TV Support FreeSync?
FreeSync won’t work with just any and every TV. That’s just not how it works. Your TV needs to support FreeSync, and variable refresh rate (also known as VRR), before you can even consider switching FreeSync on.
How do you know if your TV supports FreeSync and VRR? It’s simple.
Most FreeSync TVs and monitors will come with a FreeSync logo on the box and most usually come with a sticker too. Any TVs/monitors that don’t have these two marks will not support FreeSync.
Gaming monitors are really your best option though. If you can get one for your Xbox Series X, then do it. You won’t regret it. They are specifically made for you to have a no-lag experience.
But before we get into gaming monitors, let’s talk about how high of a refresh rate you can get with FreeSync. And if there are any other types of FreeSync options available to you that will improve your gaming experience even more!
Are There Any Other Types of FreeSync Options Available?
When it comes to refresh rates, there are a couple of options at your disposal. You can have FreeSync at 60Hz, but I don’t think you will notice a huge difference with that.
You should go with a monitor that has FreeSync Premium (120Hz) or FreeSync Premium Pro (120Hz + HDR) for the best experience. At 120Hz you’ll notice a massive difference between your 60Hz non-FreeSync monitors and the new gaming monitor that you’ll buy.
For me, a 27-inch Premium 120Hz monitor did the trick.
Speaking of gaming monitors, let’s talk about the best ones that support FreeSync.
What’s The Best Gaming Monitor For The Xbox Series X That Supports FreeSync?
At first, you might think that gaming monitors are very expensive, and some are, I cannot deny this. But remember, gaming monitors can easily last you for a decade or more, if they are well looked after. So, you’ve got to think of them as long-term investments.
For example, I’m writing this article on a BenQ gaming monitor that I bought 6 years ago. And it still works amazingly well. I also use my computer for almost 9-10 hours every day, so it does get a hammering.
So, trust me when I say, a gaming monitor will be the best investment you will make if you’re serious about using FreeSync.
But which gaming monitor is the best one that supports FreeSync?
There are so many monitors to choose from that it can feel a bit overwhelming. I did some digging, and found these 3 gaming monitors that would work perfectly for you.
Samsung Odyssey G7 32” – Around $750
The Samsung Odyssey G7 is one of the best FreeSync Premium Pro compatible gaming monitors out there. It is practically a gamer’s dream to play on this monitor.
Every aspect of this monitor looks like it is from another world. I mean it, from the infinity core lighting, that looks like your monitor’s running on a nuclear reactor, to the insane 240Hz refresh rate, it has a 1ms response time and a QLED display, and not to mention the 1000R curvature it comes with. This machine is awesome!
Looks like your monitor’s running on a nuclear reactor!
So, if you’re looking to splurge on a gaming monitor, this is it.
But, it has some limitations as well:
It’s not always color accurate. So, if you’re planning on using this monitor for things like photo editing or video editing work, you’d be better off buying some other monitor. But if you’re just gaming this monitor will do your games justice!
Resolution: 2,560 x 1,440
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Max Frame Rate: 240Hz
Take a look at this epic Samsung monitor here.
DELL 27” 4K UHD Gaming Monitor S2721QS – Around $300
If the Samsung Odyssey G7 32” is a little outside of your budget, then this next monitor could be what you’re looking for. The DELL 27” 4K UHD Gaming Monitor S2721QS strikes a good balance between providing great value and a bargain price.
It is a 27-inch UHD 4K monitor, so, you will not only enjoy playing games on it, you will also have an incredible movie experience when you use it to watch films on.
It does have FreeSync enabled, but the problem is it only supports 60Hz. So, you could say that it only supports the very basic FreeSync feature.
Dell’s S2721QS gaming monitor Strikes a good balance between Great value and a bragain price!
So, if you mostly play games like GTA V, Witcher 3, or Far Cry, then you will be more than satisfied with this monitor.
But if you play First Person Shooter (FPS) games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Rainbow Six Siege, etc. then a higher refresh rate is what you need and this may be a deal-breaker for you.
Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Max Frame Rate: 60Hz
Fancy gaming on one of Dell’s finest gaming monitors? Then pop over to Amazon to check out some of the 5-star reviews this monitor is getting.
GIGABYTE M27Q Gaming Monitor – Around $250
Looks-wise, this monitor looks like every other monitor out there. It has the best parts that every gamer likes – fast response times, FreeSync Premium compatibility, and popping colors so you can see your enemies in dark corners.
But here’s the mind-blowing part about this monitor – with FreeSync Premium, it can get you up to a 170Hz refresh rate!
So, the only thing that will be holding you back from dominating Warzone lobbies is how much time you are willing to spend to up your skill level.
The mind blowing thing about this monitor… It has FreeSyn Premium… at up 170Hz!
If you’re a gamer like me who loves FPS games, then this is the perfect monitor for you.
I do wish this was a 4K monitor, but then I don’t think it would be as inexpensive as it is right now if the monitor had built-in 4K.
Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Max Frame Rate: 170Hz
Gaming is in Gigabyte’s blood, so you know you’re gonna get a top monitor, check it out along with all its 5-star reviews here.
So which monitor is the right one for you?
Well, that depends on 3 important questions:
- What size monitor do you want?
- What kind of refresh rate would you like to have?
- What kind of budget do you have?
I recommend going with a monitor that is above 21 inches in size because this size will give you more than enough screen space to see everything you need to see. Plus, this screen size isn’t overly massive, so it won’t dominate your gaming desk and room!