Last month AMD Gaming Scientist Richard Huddy declared, in a presentation at PDXLAN, that monitors equipped with AMD's FreeSync Technology would make it to retail before Q1 2015. He went on to say that there was already a vendor shipping such monitors at that time (mid-November) but there wouldn't be driver support in AMD graphics cards until this month. While we don't know what monitor he was talking about at that time, it might have been a certain iiyama monitor that has hit retail in the UK already, as revealed by Fudzilla.
The first AMD FreeSync compatible monitor to hit retail here in the UK is the iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU-B1. It is available and in stock, at the time of writing, at Overclockers.co.uk, listed at £389.99 inc VAT, and at Scan for £387.94 inc VAT. This is a 4K (3,840 x 2,160) resolution monitor with a 28-inch diagonal. The TN panel has a response time of 1ms (GTG) and a specification that lists "Reduced input lag (1 chip solution)".
Fudzilla says that it is listed at Overclockers as supporting "FreeSync/Adaptive Sync," but perhaps that is on some other specs page, as I can't see it. This monitor has been available for a couple of months already and some HEXUS readers might have already bought it for its other qualities/value. However the key thing to note is that an update to its firmware enabling FreeSync is said to have been scheduled for release. When the update will be made available isn't known at this time. Tom's Hardware spoke to an iiyama rep who knew about the FreeSync update but didn't know about any release schedule - as the PR manager is on a seasonal break.
iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU-B1 28" 4K 60Hz 1ms Gaming Widescreen LED Monitor specs
- Display Screen Size: 28" (70.8cm)
- Resolution: 3840x2160
- Aspect ratio: 16:9
- Panel Type: TN
- Brightness: 300cd/m2
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Typ)
- Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 10,000,000
- Resolution: 3840x2160 (Only over DisplayPort at 60Hz)
- Response Time: 1ms (GTG)
- Viewing Angle (H / V ): 170 ° / 160 °
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI (30Hz), 2x DisplayPort (60Hz), 1x DVI, 1x Analogue
- USB Hub: Yes
- Speakers: Yes
- PIP, POP
- Height adjust stand
- Blue light reducer
- Flicker Free Technology
- Reduced input lag (1 Chip Solution)
- Warranty: 3yr
For further specifications take a look at the Scan retail page. Please remember that the firmware download to enable FreeSync isn't confirmed to be available at this time. So don't make a buying decision based upon this not officially confirmed extra capability of the iiyama ProLite B2888UHSU-B1.
