VESA, which is responsible for monitor standards, introduces a logo program for the variable refresh rate of PC monitors and laptops. If monitors meet the prescribed test criteria, they can bear the new “AdaptiveSync Display” and “MediaSync Display” seals.
The new certification program is intended to set “clear standards for consumers”. so that they can better compare the “performance of variable refresh rate displays”.
Over 50 test procedures for certification
Supposedly more than 50 automated display performance tests are the prerequisite for issuing the VESA seal “AdaptiveSync Display”, which also contains the maximum possible refresh rate with active Adaptive-Sync. For example, there is the “AdaptiveSync Display 144” logo for a monitor that supports Adaptive-Sync at up to 144 Hertz.
In the test procedure for certification, however, other criteria would count in addition to the refresh rate. The following are given as examples:
- Refresh Rate
- Flicker
- Gray-to-Gray Response Time *
- Video frame drop
- Video frame rate jitter
*The response time should also take into account limit values for so-called overshoot and undershoot to ensure high image quality.
VESA logo: MediaSync Display (Image: VESA) The refresh rate is irrelevant for the “MediaSync Display” logo, since this only stands for a lack of display jitter in media playback and is less relevant for gaming monitors than multimedia displays.
Monitors must pass all tests
According to the VESA press release, monitors for one of the seals must pass all Pass tests and also be certified according to guidelines for the DisplayPort standard, which includes the technology Adaptive-Sync, which has been part of version 1.2a of the DisplayPort standard since May 2014 and enables variable refresh rates. Adaptive-Sync for AMD FreeSync on Radeon graphics cards and Nvidia G-Sync Compatible on GeForce graphics cards is used to match the frame rate of the graphics card.
For more information on the test conditions and a list of monitors already sporting the new logos, visit the Adaptivesync.org website.
Currently there are only two 27-inch models from LG's Ultragear series in the list: the 27GP850 with QHD and 165 Hz and the 27GP950 with 144 Hz and UHD. More are expected to follow very soon.