The FreeSync 2 evolution from AMD has been a game changer. Especially for the gamers out there. The concept was announced back in 2017 during the CES 2017. However, the actual development of the technology and the products based on it has been visible only since the last few months. In fact, FreeSync monitors alone will not be enough to bring forth all the benefits associated with the FreeSync 2 technology. It also needs a capable and supported graphics controller. That is precisely why we set out to list the best FreeSync 2 graphics cards that support the new adaptive refresh technology.
FreeSync and FreeSync 2 – An Overview
Source: AMD
We have been focussing on the graphics cards with the 144 Hz refresh rate. If you are playing a game that is heavy on resources, you will need to have access to a graphics controller that maintains tear free performance and eliminates the stuttering effects. Of course, you monitor needs to have a variable refresh rate and supports the LFC requirements, but it cannot handle it alone, without the active support of a capable graphics card.
FreeSync is all about providing variable refresh rate for the monitors, and graphics controllers. Your game will not skip frames or experience tearing or stuttering effects when your game jumps the refresh rates. The FreeSync 2 is what would add another layer of additional premium features.
FreeSync is not an upgrade to FreeSync. It is just an add-on that improves the functionality of FreeSync compatible devices a little ahead. The significant differentiators that FreeSync 2 adds includes are High Dynamic Range performance, Latency, and low frame rate compensation.
Also Read: Best FreeSync 2 Monitors List
Best FreeSync 2 Graphics cards
With that background knowledge, let us foray into the best graphics cards with support for FreeSync 2. Please note that almost all graphics cards that support FreeSync also support FreeSync 2 features. Of course, they need to be hooked up to a FreeSync 2 capable monitor for the efficiency.
AMD Radeon RX 550
Check on Amazon Check on Newegg
The AMD Radeon RX 550 one of the prime and best entry-level options among the best FreeSync 2 enabled graphics cards. With a base clock speed of 1100 MHz and memory capacity of 7000 MHz, it can be one of the excellent choices if you have a FreeSync monitor.
A few features we found exciting include
- The best option for budget users
- It has DVI-D, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort ports
- Recommended PSU would be 400 Watts
- The VRAM rating of the graphics card is 2GB GDDR5
AMD Radeon RX 570
Check on Amazon Check on Newegg
Are you looking for a cost-effective graphics cards for your needs? Then, the AMD Radeon RX 570 should be an ideal choice for you. The AMD 5xx series does support CrossFire technology.
Some salient features worth mentioning can be
- An excellent choice for 1080p/4K gaming and quite stable at that.
- You have access to 60+ FPS and high/ultra picture settings.
- It will support AMD CrossFire if your game supports it.
- A boost clock speed of 1310 MHz and core clock speed of 1168 MHz.
- The ports include 2x DVI, HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
- A full range of designs at your disposal.
- A cooler performance
Even though the card is best for 1080p gaming but can be an issue concerning higher resolutions, it can be a power hog if you are using it in an overclock mode.
AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
Check on Amazon Check on Newegg
The Vega Series of AMD Radeon graphics cards are a strong competitor to the high-end GPUs coming from NVidia. However, the performance and pricing have given rise to speculations. It is one of the best options for a FreeSync 2 enabled monitors.
What made us include it in our list of best FreeSync 2 graphics cards? We assume these reasons should suffice –
- It can be your best companion for your high-resolution FreeSync monitors.
- The core clock speed of 1156 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1471 MHz.
- The ports include HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
- The VRAM capacity of the graphics card is 8GB HBM2
It works excellent with FreeSync monitors but appears to be a little heavy on power usage.
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
Check on Amazon Check on Newegg
An excellent high-performance Graphics controller offers you a higher bandwidth regarding memory. It uses HBM2 memory technology, thereby making it one of the best options for your needs in high-end gaming.
Some of the features that the graphics card offers you include
- It uses efficient HBM2 memory technology, ensuring higher memory bandwidth
- You have access to a boost clock speed of 1546MHz and a base clock speed of 1247MHz
- It performs excellently in resource-hungry games.
- Buying it with a FreeSync enabled monitor will help you save money.
- The recommended power is 750 Watts making it a little power hungry.
AMD Radeon RX 580
Check on Amazon Check on Newegg
The graphics card can play the latest versions of the games with highest settings in Full HD resolution. If you are looking for the cost-effective options for the best FreeSync 2 enabled graphics cards, the AMD Radeon RX 580 should be your best option.
What are the features that make it one of the excellent choices? We found these –
- A tremendous Full HD performance and a decent option for 1440p resolution
- Excellent value for money option.
- Steady performance at 60+ FPS and maxed picture settings
- A base clock speed of 1366 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1386 MHz.
The graphics card can be your best option for full HD performance, but it has been found to be a power hog in most aspects.
The Concluding Thoughts
Gaming has been taking over all other tasks that we have been working with while on a PC. The graphics cards we have featured above should fulfill most of your needs in making your gaming an enriching experience.
We assume we have helped you in choosing the best graphics cards if you are looking for FreeSync 2 compatibility. In fact, it should be understood that you need to invest in an equally capable monitor for the best experience regarding stutter-free gaming.
