VESA introduces new AdaptiveSync VRR standard with stringent testing

MW
Mike Wheatley

Video games players have a fourth Variable Refresh Rate standard to look out for after VESA announced a new standard for certifying gaming displays.

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The VESA AdaptiveSync Display Logo will soon appear on certain products, certifying that they have met standards such as a minimum VRR range of 60-144Hz, which is key as it means Low Framerate Compensation can kick in to keep the graphics smooth even when the frame rate falls.

While lots of displays currently promise support for VRR, VESA says there is no standard test for the industry. As a result, it says manufacturers can make this promise based on their own definition of what they think constitutes VRR. There are of course some manufacturer-specific standards, but the likes of AMD’s FreeSync and Nvidia’s G-Sync are also based on varying performance levels.

So VESA is aiming to give more clarity to consumers with its own standards, based on its own VRR testing programme.

Displays must pass a comprehensive and rigorous testing process that comprises more than 50 criteria in order to land the Adaptive-Sync Display Compliance Test Specification. VESA said that under its rules manufacturers will have to send their products to an authorised test centre to be put through their paces in a tightly-controlled environment with an ambient temperature of between 22.5C and 24.5C.

The idea is that by using such stringent standards, VESA can prevent manufacturers from certifying their products under optimal conditions. For example, it’s possible to improve a display’s Grey-to-Grey response time by heating a room to a precise temperature prior to testing.

VESA also said that each Adaptive-Sync Display Logo stamped onto a certified product will also show the display’s maximum frame rate to make it easier for users to match specific video games to the optimal display.

For now, very few displays have met VESA’s standards. Its list of official AdaptiveSync displays includes eight from LG Electronics and just one from Dell.