Is an iiyama made AMD FreeSync monitor already available in UK?

by Mark Tyson on 31 December 2014, 10:05

Tags: Iiyama

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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.



HEXUS Forums :: 4 Comments

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Damn I was hoping the Asus I bought a couple months back would be the one Richard was talking about last month.
Guys, I need some clarification with regards to this freesync tech. Will the freesync monitors come with a chip embedded in the circuit board like G-sync monitors?. OR is Freesync more like a BIOS update for the AMD gpu's (and maybe firmware update for the monitor)?. I know that Freesync will be useable only by display port connection. So if I have a monitor (regardless if 60Hz, 120Hz and 144Hz)that has DP connection, could I download the AMD Freesync software and make my monitor Freesync capable?. BTW, I have a 144Hz monitor. Thanks for any advice.
canopus72
Guys, I need some clarification with regards to this freesync tech. Will the freesync monitors come with a chip embedded in the circuit board like G-sync monitors?. OR is Freesync more like a BIOS update for the AMD gpu's (and maybe firmware update for the monitor)?. I know that Freesync will be useable only by display port connection. So if I have a monitor (regardless if 60Hz, 120Hz and 144Hz)that has DP connection, could I download the AMD Freesync software and make my monitor Freesync capable?. BTW, I have a 144Hz monitor. Thanks for any advice.

You need to meet a number of requirements first - the monitor needs to be able to support (and very quickly switch between) a variable range of refresh rates, and you need to have a latest generation AMD card (R290, 285 etc. NOT the older R280X, 270 etc.) Then your monitor maker needs to test that they can implement Freesync and maybe produce a firmware upgrade IF they can - chances are some will, while others will just market new monitors without releasing firmware for older ones.