FREESYNC VIDEO(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

🦋 FreeSync Video(9) 🦋

okay so this is from the Kernel API Manual bestie, and it's literally all about how FreeSync video modes work. buckle up 💖

✨ NAME ✨

FreeSync Video — the whole vibe of how video formats and their refresh rates get slotted into FreeSync, no cap 🫶

🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

okay so picture this: a userspace application wants to play a video 🎬 and the content follows a standard format definition that usually specifies the FPS for that format. iconic. here's the list of some video formats and the expected FPS for each one, respectively:

  • TV/NTSC — 23.976 FPS
  • Cinema — 24 FPS
  • TV/PAL — 25 FPS
  • TV/NTSC — 29.97 FPS
  • TV/NTSC — 30 FPS
  • Cinema HFR — 48 FPS
  • TV/PAL — 50 FPS
  • Commonly used — 60 FPS
  • Multiples of 24 — 48,72,96 FPS

so here's the tea ☕ — the list of standard video formats is not huge, and it can be added to the connector modeset list beforehand. literally that simple.

with that in place, userspace can leverage FreeSync to extend the front porch in order to attain the target refresh rate 🔥 and the switch happens seamlessly, without screen blanking or reprogramming of the output in any other way. no drama, no flicker, we love to see it 💅

and if the userspace requests a modesetting change compatible with FreeSync modes that only differ in the refresh rate, DC will skip the full update and avoid blink during the transition. main character energy fr fr 👑

example time bestie: the video player can change the modesetting from 60Hz to 30Hz for playing TV/NTSC content when it goes full screen — without causing any display blink 😭✨

and yeah, this exact same concept can be applied to a mode setting change. periodt. 🎀

💜 SEE ALSO 💜

Kernel file

./drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/amdgpu_dm/amdgpu_dm_connector.c

okay that's the whole page, go read the source and slay ✨ 🧚💖

sign-off cuteness: this one lives under ./drivers/gpu/drm/amd/display/..., dated October 2026, and it's the FreeSync Video(9) page — catch you in the kernel group chat 🫶🌸

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