4K on a budget

Going 4K doesn't have to be expensive, not anymore. AOC made sure of that with its new U2879VF Monitor featuring a 28-inch display with a 3840x2160 resolution (@60Hz). The asking price? About $400 when it comes out next month.

At that size and price Combination, you wouldn't expect an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, nor do you get one—AOC opted for a cheaper TN panel. It's a definite concession, but for gamers looking to play titles at a high resolution on a decent sized monitor for not a ton of coin, the U2879VF certainly seems a viable option.

In addition to a high-resolution display, the U2879VF support's AMD's Freesync technology for smooth, stutter-free gameplay. It also boasts a 1ms response time, 1,000:1 contrast ratio (80,000,000:1 dynamic), 300 cd/m2 brightness, viewing angles of 178/170 degrees, and 10-bit color Support (1.07 billion colors).

AOC provides plenty of connectivity options—D-Sub, DVI, HDMI w/ MHL support, and DisplayPort, cables include (save for D-Sub). What you won't find are any USB ports or built-in speakers.

It's pretty basic as far as monitors go—even the stand lacks any fancy ergonomic adjustments—but for the asking price and combination of a 4K resolution with FreeSync support, we imagine this one will find an audience.

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