Any peeps here switched from a 1080ti to a liquid cooled vega 64 and Freesync monitor?

bufodr_T

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My current rig is a 5930k @4ghz with an EVGA FE1080ti and EVGA AIO watercooler. It never runs above 43 C under full load. I have an acer 34" ultrawide 3440x1440 freesync display that will oc up to 100hz.
My question is should i sell/trade my 1080ti for a liquid cooled vega 64 so that i can take advantage of Freesync? I currently see screen tearing on some games with the 1080ti on the monitor oc'd to 100hz. I was checking to see if any [H] member have done this and have an improved gameplay experience.
 
Have you tried Fast Sync?

Nvidia/AMD literally solved tearing on traditional displays years ago, but most people don't know about it because it's hidden away in the control panel and disabled by default.

Now, you don't get the buttery frame delivery of adaptive sync, but theres no tearing, and IMO it looks and feels just fine if the game is running over ~60hz anyway.
 
FastSync was an incredible discovery. I can't believe there isn't more press about it.

Yeah. Even today, most "game performance guides" I see leave VSync enabled (or, more rarely, disabled with tearing), which makes me want to throw something at the screen.

Edit: I guess some people run old GPUs, but if you're pre Maxwell/GCN, you still have dynamic VSync via RadeonPro or the Nvidia control panel. If you're on Intel, well, you've got bigger performance problems anyway.
 
Well shewt, I have not done my homework. Thanks for the tip on FastSync. Makes a noticable difference playing BFV
 
Yeah, I wish more people we're trying Nvidia Fast Sync or AMD Enhanced Sync. The concept makes a lot of sense and you can reduce tearing while still not having a lot of lag.

However, I did some experiments with Fast Sync and noticed it caused intermittent hitches. Overall it was really close to working, in terms of the low lag and less tearing, but something was lost in the general smoothness (which is the big benefit of GSync and FreeSync). So I don't know. Definitely try it and see, they may have fixed the hitching issue. But it's for sure a poor man's GSync so don't expect it to be as good as the hardware solution.
 
My current rig is a 5930k @4ghz with an EVGA FE1080ti and EVGA AIO watercooler. It never runs above 43 C under full load. I have an acer 34" ultrawide 3440x1440 freesync display that will oc up to 100hz.
My question is should i sell/trade my 1080ti for a liquid cooled vega 64 so that i can take advantage of Freesync? I currently see screen tearing on some games with the 1080ti on the monitor oc'd to 100hz. I was checking to see if any [H] member have done this and have an improved gameplay experience.

Well, IF enabling Fastsync doesn't work for you. I know a guy over on the Overclockers.co.uk forums called TurboTony. He has both and says that gaming is better on the Vega 64 system with freesync.

I moved the other way, I went from a Vega 64 on a 1440p Freesync monitor to a 1080Ti on the same monitor. The 1080ti is a beast of a card, but, I do miss the fluidity and smoothness while gaming. So I am saving up for Gsync monitor.

And that might be an option for you, rather than buy an AMD card, sell your current monitor and buy a 3440x1440 Gsync monitor.
 
Well, IF enabling Fastsync doesn't work for you. I know a guy over on the Overclockers.co.uk forums called TurboTony. He has both and says that gaming is better on the Vega 64 system with freesync.

I moved the other way, I went from a Vega 64 on a 1440p Freesync monitor to a 1080Ti on the same monitor. The 1080ti is a beast of a card, but, I do miss the fluidity and smoothness while gaming. So I am saving up for Gsync monitor.

And that might be an option for you, rather than buy an AMD card, sell your current monitor and buy a 3440x1440 Gsync monitor.

I love the 1080ti but G sync monitors are super expensive in comparison to freesync. I love the Acer i have. I may look for a lq vega 64 owner that may be interested in trading for my 1080ti.
 
I started my adaptive sync/VRR journey with AMD Fury X and Freesync. It was fantastic, and truly it felt like a giant came changer - literally - like the best gaming experience boosting tech in 10 years. However, I was running 3, 32" Freesync HP Omen displays at 2560x1440, and at some point I had to start turning down settings on games when running them at 7680x1440 - even with a pair of Fury X in crossfire --- down to medium in some games at that resolution because of memory issues (Star Wars Battlefront for example.), or running out of performance headroom on other games so I had to cut down settings and still occasionally be dipping below the 48Hz minimum freesync range (Battlefront 1) --- it was not a problem whatsoever at 2560x1440 with a single monitor - but I had three monitors and I wanted to use them.

At that point I bought a 1080TI, and then a second one, but it felt way worse even though my frame rate count was much higher. Freesync was so good, I was disappointed with the 1080Ti's gaming experience without Freesync and knew I'd either have to go back to AMD, or I'd have to buy Gsync monitors.

Vega launch was close, though, and I liked my 32" monitors so I waited for Vega and bought three (one 64 water cooled, and 2 vega56 to try crossfire).


Vega didn't support crossfire at launch which was a HUGE disappointment and was unannounced - just left up to buyers to find out on their own.
The Vega 64 water cooled wasn't faster than my pair of Fury X which I'd already sold by that point to fund the 1080TI. I would have taken my pair of Fury X back in a heartbeat over the single 64 vega, or even that pair of 1080Ti to get Freesync back. So a single Vega wasn't going to cut it...
Not to mention launch Vega drivers sucked fiercely. I sold the three Vega cards in disgust about three months after launch and wouldn't buy them again ---- period. In fact that experience put a sour taste in my mouth about AMD. The Vegas were trash. Terrible frame rates, freesync was unreliable between driver revisions (it must have cut on and off about 4 times between different driver release and kept breaking, Chrome browser didn't work, facebook or any site with video thumbnails would lock up, JRIVER media player crashed constantly. Eyefinity didn't work, Bezel correction didn't work, crossfire didn't work, and even Wattman settings were constantly resetting on their own (you had to use wattman because MSI afterburner didn't work. PUBG would get 90FPS and then I'd get into a fire fight and hit 8FPS and I'd die. Wolfenstein II (an AMD marketed title) would get 15-30 FPS in strange tunnel areas for no apparent reason. I felt like I was beta testing a junk product. The Vega 56 were louder than any GPU I've had in the last 5-10 years. Just, truly a junk experience all around. It felt like I was pushed back in time to the early 2000's when the AMD products truly had bad drivers. (My Fury X driver experience was actually great, but I bought them about a year after they launched - so the junk Vega experience caught my wholly by surprise, and tainted my enthusiasm for AMD.)


Anyway now I was at a decision point. The Vegas sucked, and I knew I was unwilling to give up freesync or gsync. So it was either rebuy a pair of Fury X and be in the same situation, or cut loose the three 32" Freesync monitors, and the three Vega cards and buy a Gsync monitor to work with the 1080TI cards I had. I decided to move to a Gsync display. That was a good move, and I'm glad I made it. More expensive yes - but less frustrating - and I have a gaming computer because gaming is enjoyable to me after a long day. The last thing I want when I'm wanting to game is to be fighting driver problems.

-------------------------

In my experience, there's no difference in regards to gameplay experience (smoothness or enjoyment) between Freesync and Gsync in their supported FPS range —- but there is a difference in quality of drivers and game support between AMD and Nvidia, yes still in 2017 and 2018 --- and there is a clear difference in the supported range of the adaptive sync/VRR technology with Nvidia having the much bigger range 30hz to 120hz on my current Alienware 34" vs. 48-75hz on my HP Omens.

When both techs are within their range - it's buttery smooth goodness, (smoother feeling than the same FPS without the tech engaged) and I won't be leaving the technology anytime soon willingly. With Gsync I have the frame counter up but I never even look at it, or even know there's a problem until the high 30FPS range (which I never hit unless I'm mining at the same time I'm playing a game). Everything 40FPS to 120FPS feels identical to me. I even sold one of my 1080TI cards and am just using one, because there isn't a single game I have and play that can't play at least 70FPS with all settings maxed on my Alienware 34". And with G-Sync, 70fps is as good as 120fps IMO.


With my experiences, what I suggest you sell your Freesync monitor and buy a G-Sync monitor. I don’t think the Vega 64 will have the power to give you max settings above Freesync range at 3440x1440 the next 3 years.

Look at the Agon 35" for about the cheapest, well reviewed, entry point withG-sync in an Ultrawide. But for ~ $150 more you can get arguably the best G-sync ultrawide monitor out right now which is that Alienware 34" --- it has the lowest input lag of any widescreen monitor, is an IPS, and has the premium monitor guarantee from Dell. No bad pixels policy + a 5 year warranty.


$900 on sale right now.
https://slickdeals.net/f/11760259-a...tor-aw3418dw-949-99-w-dell-mpp?src=SiteSearch
 
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I moved not to an LC version, but a PowerColor Red Dragon. I had been using a Gigabyte Aurous 1080 ti, but basically got bored with a) having the same GPU, b) NVidia's continual shenanigans, c) not being able to use Freesync on my superb monitor.

The experience was... ok. I was expecting reduced performance and lack of overclock-ability, and it was great being able to use freesync, but I wasn't expecting the driver inconsistency or the heat. The Red Dragon card itself is great, but is really pushing the envelope of what's possible with Vega on air. Would my experience had been better on liquid? ...Maybe, but I think the improvement would have been marginal.

Honestly, the best option -- and I'm bereaved to say it -- is go NVidia with a G-sync display. That, or do as I did, and move back to a 1080 ti, keep your freesync display and wait for a hero from AMD later this year (although not holding my breath here).
 
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The next "hero" from AMD is probably 2021 - since the Navi chip is supposed to be a RX580 replacement (mainstream card).
 
The next "hero" from AMD is probably 2021 - since the Navi chip is supposed to be a RX580 replacement (mainstream card).

You just shut your mouth with that eventual likelyhood and let me keep hoping :)
 
Yeah, I wish more people we're trying Nvidia Fast Sync or AMD Enhanced Sync. The concept makes a lot of sense and you can reduce tearing while still not having a lot of lag.

However, I did some experiments with Fast Sync and noticed it caused intermittent hitches. Overall it was really close to working, in terms of the low lag and less tearing, but something was lost in the general smoothness (which is the big benefit of GSync and FreeSync). So I don't know. Definitely try it and see, they may have fixed the hitching issue. But it's for sure a poor man's GSync so don't expect it to be as good as the hardware solution.
I never heard of it before. I just enabled it. I couldn't even find the feature until I looked up how to enable it.
 
You just shut your mouth with that eventual likelyhood and let me keep hoping :)

Hope in vain for the next three years - with increasing disappointment. Only to buy the next AMD hero card and risk attrrocious driver support for the first six months of said card...

OR

Buy this, and enjoy gaming to the fullest measure during these next three years. (and have options to upgrade GPU in the next six month if you see need - and probably one more upgrade option with Nvidia, before three years runs out as well.)

https://slickdeals.net/f/11760259-a...tor-aw3418dw-899-99-ac-rakuten?src=SiteSearch


I know which door I picked, and I wouldn't switch back if you paid me $500.
 
I will continue suggesting Gsync factory refurbished monitors. Cheap and like new!

I do buy my Freesync monitors new though.
 
While FastSync is nice, the "no free lunch" rule still applies and there are tradeoffs. For example, if your framerate isn't consistently close to double the monitor's refresh, strange things happen and frames are dropped like crazy.

I stick with forcing vsync on in NVCP and setting pre-rendered frames to 1. I barely notice any difference in input lag compared to fast sync or borderless.
 
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Hope in vain for the next three years - with increasing disappointment. Only to buy the next AMD hero card and risk attrrocious driver support for the first six months of said card...

OR

Buy this, and enjoy gaming to the fullest measure during these next three years. (and have options to upgrade GPU in the next six month if you seje need - and probably one more upgrade option with Nvidia, before three years runs out as well.)

https://slickdeals.net/f/11760259-a...tor-aw3418dw-899-99-ac-rakuten?src=SiteSearch


I know which door I picked, and I wouldn't switch back if you paid me $500.
My current rig is a 5930k @4ghz with an EVGA FE1080ti and EVGA AIO watercooler. It never runs above 43 C under full load. I have an acer 34" ultrawide 3440x1440 freesync display that will oc up to 100hz.
My question is should i sell/trade my 1080ti for a liquid cooled vega 64 so that i can take advantage of Freesync? I currently see screen tearing on some games with the 1080ti on the monitor oc'd to 100hz. I was checking to see if any [H] member have done this and have an improved gameplay experience.
This guy did something wilder :)

Did the crazy, out with Titan Xp, in with Vega 64 Liquid...
https://hardforum.com/threads/did-the-crazy-out-with-titan-xp-in-with-vega-64-liquid.1960325/
 
I followed that thread and actually had to come here to see if the op was trolling. AMD really screwed up vega. Polaris launch was actually not bad. Vega launch was like tying yourself to a chair and watching the bf v trailer in slow motion.

I've owned a pair of 56s (with full cover blocks) since launch and have been very happy with them. I never used Crossfire right away since I was mining on my second card (abd primary when it wasn't used) so I had no issues there. I went on to buy 4 more 56s and a single 64 and they have all paid themselves off plus a tidy amount.

I've honestly had no issues, and Archaea had to have had some kind of funny system specific issue since they claimed FreeSync was broken in Vega but the rest of us didn't have the issue nor could recreate it. I'm not discounting their beef with the Crossfire launch issue just feel that they had some issues going on the rest of us did not.

Op, I would give it a shot since you already have the FS LCD...It's a game changer. You couldn't pay me to take a 1080Ti to replace a single one of my cards (even with them being paid for). The TI is a beast card but the smoothness of FS is game changing.
 
Freesync didn’t work for others on and off at launch either as discussed in the various threads. So if it was system specific - I wasn’t alone.

I reimaged from scratch several times with windows 10. I tried all the various drivers, beta and prod. I ended up more irritated than I’ve ever been with tech. I couldn’t even get AMDs own freesync demo to work.

I have little doubt they’ve straightened out those issues by now, 10 months after launch, but AMD seriously tarnished their brand to me with that experience. I’m not going back anytime soon. (And you might recall I was considered a bit of an AMD evangelist during the time of the Fury X cards) - so I’m not just some Nvidiot with a grudge to bare.

I will agree with you that if I had a freesync monitor I’d absolutely make sure I was using freesync and not running a Nvidia card and so missing that tech. It’s amazing! But so too is g-sync if you are willing to pay for the monitor premium. The two techs in practice work pretty much identically, and both are fantastic.
 
I've owned a pair of 56s (with full cover blocks) since launch and have been very happy with them. I never used Crossfire right away since I was mining on my second card (abd primary when it wasn't used) so I had no issues there. I went on to buy 4 more 56s and a single 64 and they have all paid themselves off plus a tidy amount.

I've honestly had no issues, and Archaea had to have had some kind of funny system specific issue since they claimed FreeSync was broken in Vega but the rest of us didn't have the issue nor could recreate it. I'm not discounting their beef with the Crossfire launch issue just feel that they had some issues going on the rest of us did not.

Op, I would give it a shot since you already have the FS LCD...It's a game changer. You couldn't pay me to take a 1080Ti to replace a single one of my cards (even with them being paid for). The TI is a beast card but the smoothness of FS is game changing.
I was only referring to the launch. I fear vega will get abandoned in driver land before it should as well. But at present, inflated pricing aside, vega itself isn't bad.
 
Freesync didn’t work for others on and off at launch either as discussed in the various threads. So if it was system specific - I wasn’t alone.

I reimaged from scratch several times with windows 10. I tried all the various drivers, beta and prod. I ended up more irritated than I’ve ever been with tech. I couldn’t even get AMDs own freesync demo to work.

I have little doubt they’ve straightened out those issues by now, 10 months after launch, but AMD seriously tarnished their brand to me with that experience. I’m not going back anytime soon. (And you might recall I was considered a bit of an AMD evangelist during the time of the Fury X cards) - so I’m not just some Nvidiot with a grudge to bare.

I will agree with you that if I had a freesync monitor I’d absolutely make sure I was using freesync and not running a Nvidia card and so missing that tech. It’s amazing! But so too is g-sync if you are willing to pay for the monitor premium. The two techs in practice work pretty much identically, and both are fantastic.

I get you had a bad experience Archaea, happens sometimes. I had a horrible experience with 8800GT cards in SLI and now many years later I have a 1080 which has been a good card, replaced my 290x which I liked as well. But both sides have had horrible drivers that cause all kinds of headaches and Nvidia might be a bit quicker with drivers at times, it doesn't always mean they work well. Doesn't mean the next product will suck nor does it guaranty it will be great either and your always taking a risk when you buy the product early. Always irritating when your computer wont work the way you want it to after spending quite a bit of cash. Shoot I miss Matrox cards they always seemed to have drivers that worked well, at least for me and I miss having a third choice. Now the only thing that will make me hesitant to buy a Nvidia card again is all the games they have been playing lately, since I play at 1440p either side works just fine for that. Guess my advice is dont assume one cant fail and the other can only fail.
 
II've honestly had no issues, and Archaea had to have had some kind of funny system specific issue since they claimed FreeSync was broken in Vega but the rest of us didn't have the issue nor could recreate it. I'm not discounting their beef with the Crossfire launch issue just feel that they had some issues going on the rest of us did not.


My experience with Vega cards has been the same as yours. I have installed a lot, 50+ Vega cards and none of them had any issues. Sorry, I should add that none of them had problems that weren't caused by a faulty card that had to be RMA'd. There were a few problems with the first couple of releases of the Adrenalin drivers but other than, I haven't received any complaints about the cards. AMD have been pretty on the ball with drivers for the last few years.

I also agree with Gideon sometimes things just don't work. I had awful problems when I switched over to Kepler. Terrible driver problems and I got 3 broken cards in row!! EDIT: I had to RMA my 680 3 times before I got a working one. Just bad luck.
 
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1080 Ti is a far superior card to Vega 64 LC - there's no doubt about that. But that's comparing Gsync vs Freesync. If you have Freesync monitor, honestly Vega 64 is going to get you the best experience in most cases. I won't say you should make this switch if you have a 1080 Ti already, though. Better look at Fast Sync if your frame rates are above 100 fps; or lower details if it's dropping below 100 fps.

Fast Sync and Enhanced Sync are good, but they only apply when the frame rate goes over 100 fps. You'll still get tearing when it drops below. If 1080 Ti drops to even 90 or 95 fps, you'll see the tearing. Or if you turn on Vsync, you'll eliminate tearing but see the stutter and input lag. Whereas, your Vega 64 LC might not hold 100 fps as consistently as 1080 Ti, but most people would be hard pressed to notice a difference even if it drops down to 70-80 fps in most cases - variable refresh is just that amazing. On games I play with the controller, even 50 fps feels smooth enough with Freesync!

Games which have dynamic res feature are a decent option too - but variable refresh is simply a must have. Even damn consoles have it nowadays. (Xbox One S/X)

Also, Vega 64 + Adrenalin has been the most stable pairing of graphics card + driver I've ever used. That said, it's not all smooth sailing with Freesync. There'll be the rare game that doesn't support Freesync for some reason. Though to be fair, the only major one is Fallout 4.
 
There'll be the rare game that doesn't support Freesync for some reason. Though to be fair, the only major one is Fallout 4.

You know, I don't think I've had a game 'not support G-Sync'; is there something different about FreeSync that messes with Fallout 4? I know it's worked with both my 1080Ti and the 970 SLI setup that it replaced in G-Sync.
 
You know, I don't think I've had a game 'not support G-Sync'; is there something different about FreeSync that messes with Fallout 4? I know it's worked with both my 1080Ti and the 970 SLI setup that it replaced in G-Sync.
Prior to the first patch, G-Sync didn't work with Skyrim SE for some reason. No other games have not worked with G-Sync. That is the advantage of having a hardware solution.
 
Prior to the first patch, G-Sync didn't work with Skyrim SE for some reason. No other games have not worked with G-Sync. That is the advantage of having a hardware solution.

I don't typically play new games right away- though I did live through the Skyrim launch fiasco with Crossfire!- but everything has just worked, including very old titles.

Syncing and no tearing from 30FPS to 165FPS has been amazing.
 
I just turned my fast-sync on last week, and could not believe how well it worked. So much better than the game softwares v-sync option. I only have 75hz monitors, but the change was welcomed and havent gamed this well in a while.
 
With the coupon on ebay for 15% off i can get a vega 64 for around $475 shipped. I may bite on this and give it a try with my Acer 34" 3440x1440 FreeSync monitor. I paid $400 for it new shipped for Newegg whereas a similar gysync monitor will cost me about 7-800 bones.I know the 1080ti is a beast but will check out and see. Smoother gameplay is what im after, not 200 fps.
 
So no one uses Low Motion Blur anymore?

I've got an older BENQ 120hz monitor with no sync options and forced low motion blur.

From what i understand Low motion blur is better than G-sync if you can keep your fps near or above your refresh rate.

They can't be used at the same time for whatever reason.

I feel like Fast- Sync + low motion blur would be a little more ideal?
 
I thought fast synch only really works when using an adaptive synch tech along side it.

Anyway it crashes my games randomly :(
 
From what i understand Low motion blur is better than G-sync if you can keep your fps near or above your refresh rate.

Assuming that you have no need for variable v-sync, ULMB should always be superior. Probably worth doing on a per-game basis in profiles if that's something you want to use.
 
Assuming that you have no need for variable v-sync, ULMB should always be superior. Probably worth doing on a per-game basis in profiles if that's something you want to use.

But it isn't. All the ULMB monitors I've ever seen sets the brightness of the display down to 1800's carriage lamp levels. I would also agree with the other statements that Vega 64 isn't worth getting or switching to over a 1080Ti unless you have a really high end FreeSync display.
 
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