How to choose a monitor

Other than the CPU, the monitor is probably one of the most integral parts of a computer. The fact that you'll need to be staring at the screen the whole time you are using the computer makes it all the more important to find one that best suits your needs. After all, a good monitor can make a big difference in the overall computing experience, whether it's for work or personal entertainment. Unfortunately, for most people, buying a monitor simply means getting the largest screen they can afford, which may not always be the best decision. There are other factors to consider such as the screen resolution, aspect ratio, connectivity options and response time, among other features.

Your viewing requirements

Know your screen type:
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) are the two most common technologies used in monitors today. Though some people still believe that the boxy CRT displays offer the best color fidelity and contrast, the majority of users now have switched to LCD screens which are a lot slimmer, brighter and come in larger screen sizes. Prices for LCD panels have also become a lot more affordable over the past couple of years, making it even more attractive for the mainstream PC users.

In fact, you will be hard pressed to find a brand new CRT monitor in stores today as most of the display makers have stopped production of CRT screens to focus entirely on their LCD lineup. For this reason, we will be looking at only LCD monitors in this guide.

Know your screen size:
Bigger is not always better. It may not be the ideal choice for everyone. For one thing, your graphics card must be able to support the native resolution of the LCD monitor. Configuring the monitor to display non-native resolutions usually results in poorer image quality, and in some cases, no image at all.

Ultimately, the size of a monitor really depends on what you are using it for. If you are deploying the computer mainly at home for just surfing the Web and checking emails, a 17- or 19-inch panel will do fine. For those who plan to do more work on the PC, a larger 20- or 22-inch widescreen display may be more suitable as the higher resolution allows for better multitasking such as side-by-side document viewing. Widescreen monitors, especially 24-inch and above with full high-definition (HD) resolution, are also popular among computer users who handle video-editing and movie buffs.

Most mainstream LCD displays today range from 19- to 22-inch, so you may want to start your search from there. Monitor screens are typically measured in inches (diagonally across from top left corner to the bottom right corner) and you will find them available in various standard sizes and resolutions.

LCD monitors are generally available in two formats, also commonly known as aspect ratios. Screens with 4:3 aspect ratio used to be the standard format for most monitors. But in recent years, the proliferation of HD content and preference for widescreen panels for multitasking have seen manufacturers producing more widescreen panels with 16:10 aspect ratio. In fact, LCD monitors larger than 20 inches can be found only in the widescreen format.

It is useful to note that unlike CRT monitors which offer a smaller viewable display than its stated size, the actual screen size of LCD monitors is consistent with the given rating. In other words, a 19-inch LCD monitor will give you exactly 19 inches (diagonal) of display real estate.

Connectivity options:
Before buying a monitor, it is important to know what kind of connectivity interface your PC's graphics card can support. The analog VGA connection, which is found in almost all the graphics chipsets in the market today, has been and still is the de facto interface for all LCD monitors. Most of the new LCD panels these days also support the digital DVI connection which provides better-quality images, particularly in larger displays with higher resolution.

Lately, some selected LCD monitors utilize the USB port to connect to a computer. This allows users to easily connect up to six displays (for now) which is great for those who want to create a multi-display environment. Such monitors are, however, currently found in only 19- and 20-inch sizes.

Some premium LCD panels (often 20 inches or larger) may also come with common video interfaces such as HDMI, composite video, component video, S-video and DisplayPort. They are worth considering if you plan to use the monitor as a display for video devices other than the PC.

Brightness, contrast ratio and response time:
There are several specifications you may want to pay a bit more attention to when shopping for an LCD display. For instance, the brightness of the panel, usually given in nits or candelas per square meter (cd/m2), refers to the amount of light that can be produced from the display. Most of the LCD monitors today are rated at around 250 to 300 nits, which should be suitable for most computer usage. However, if you plan to use the screen for watching TV or movies, you may want to opt for a brighter panel.

Contrast ratio is another specification that is commonly found on LCD displays. It indicates the difference in light intensity between the brightest and darkest color. While a higher rating is always desired, the effect can be quite different between panels from one manufacturer to another, even if both have the same contrast ratio. Added to that, manufacturers tend to confuse buyers with hyped-up figures of dynamic contrast ratio which is different from the normal static contrast ratio. Therefore, our best advice is to take the given contrast ratio with a grain of salt and evaluate for yourself which panel gives the best contrast.

The response time or pixel response rate of an LCD display gives an indication of how fast a pixel can change colors. This is generally measured in milliseconds (ms). Most panels these days are capable of a sub-10ms response time which should provide a relatively smooth image for most applications. 5ms or faster displays are usually targeted at hardcore gamers.

Extra features:
Nowadays, some LCD monitors offer additional functions which may or may not be useful, depending on your needs. These extra features can range from onboard speakers and USB hubs to built-in Webcams and TV tuners. Some panels also come with stands that allow you to switch between portrait and landscape modes as well as adjust height, in addition to the standard tilt and swivel.

Most LCD panels offer a three-year manufacturer warranty, but you may want to look out for those which come with zero dead pixel warranty if you are particular about dead pixels on your display. Always remember to test for dead pixels on a panel before purchase as some manufacturer warranty policies may not allow you to change the monitor if you do discover dead pixels later.

Your budget

Budget is, of course, another key factor here. Naturally the larger the screen, the more expensive it will be. There's also the consideration of desktop space. If you have a small computer table, the last thing you want to do is to throw in a big monitor that takes up half the desktop space, leaving you with almost no place for writing or other stuff.