LCD Monitor Buying Guide

You are looking to buy a new computer monitor. Congratulations, your computer monitor is the most important element of your computer setup, besides the CPU itself; after all, you stare at your monitor all day long. CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) monitors used to provide the best images on the market, but LCD monitors’ technology has caught up. In addition to image quality, LCD monitors aren’t as bulky or contain the amount of lead CRT monitors do, so LCD monitors have definitely become the monitors of choice.

LCD monitors are some of the best on the market and offer a wide range of options. They're great for saving space, reducing glare, providing a great picture, and are energy efficient. However, before you rush to purchase the cheapest (or most expensive) model, you should know a few things.

LCD monitors come in a range of different configurations, including screen size, resolution capabilities and much more. Knowing what's what will help you get the right solution for your computing needs.

Screen Size: As they say, bigger is better. Nowhere is this truer than in the world of monitors and televisions. LCD monitors allow you to have a very large screen, without the bulk of an old style CRT monitor eating up your desk space. The larger your monitor, the larger the images will appear, and the more space you'll have on your desktop. However, as the size goes up, so does the price. The size you end up purchasing will ultimately be dictated by the capabilities of your wallet. 17-inch LCD monitors are rapidly becoming the standard, though 19-inch monitors are not far behind. Additionally, you can find 20-inch, 24-inch and even 30-inch models available. Larger monitors are ideal for graphic designers, while businesses and home users can get away with smaller monitors. Dual 17-inch LCD monitors are ideal for businesses or anyone that opens multiple applications and windows at once.

Resolution: Not all LCD monitors offer the same resolution capabilities. While it is true that you can set your resolution to the setting you desire, each monitor is built with one specific resolution setting in mind. Changing that will reduce your picture quality, sometimes significantly. The larger the monitor, the higher your resolution should be; for instance, a 20-inch monitor with a resolution of 1920x1080 is great. Any resolution lower than 1280x should not be considered for purchase. High resolution capabilities are vital to web designers, graphic artists and gamers, while business users will want a monitor that provides crisp, clean text.

Aspect Ratio: Many LCD monitors today are widescreen monitors. Before you shell out your hard earned cash, though, make sure that you are getting the right aspect ratio. For a widescreen monitor, an aspect ratio of 16:9 is what you want. Any ratios less than that will give you sub quality viewing, especially for movies and gaming applications. Finding a 16:9 aspect ratio is actually not very difficult; the majority of LCD monitors sold today are in this format. You should still check the box to ensure you're getting what you think you are.

Response Time: Once upon a time, CRT monitors beat out LCD monitors hands down in response time. Response time is the time it takes the monitor to refresh the image and show changes. This has a huge impact in gaming and movie watching, though it has less impact in environments that are more static. Today, CRT's no longer dominate that area and LCD's are a viable option for gamers and movie watchers. The faster the response time, the better; look for a monitor that offers 8ms-12ms (milliseconds) or less. Response time is vital to any animators, in order to ensure clean rendering and previewing. You can also advance your visual experience with upgraded video cards.

Color Capability: While it may sound counterintuitive, you'll need to check the number of colors your potential LCD monitor can produce. LCD's still have not caught up with CRT's in this area, though they have made some headway. Look for an http://www.superwarehouse.com/lcd_monitors.cfmLCD monitor that can produce at least 16.7 million colors.

Contrast Ratio: Contrast ration is the difference between the brightest white and deepest black in regards to light intensity. This spec is somewhat over-hyped by manufacturers, but definitely make sure you get an LCD monitor with a contrast ratio of 400:1 or higher.

Connection: You need to make sure that your monitor and computer have the same cable connection. Most new model LCD monitors have a DVI connection, though many older computers have a VGA port. Older LCD monitors are much more likely to have a VGA termination, as well. If the plugs don't match, you can purchase an adapter or secondary cable (some LCD monitors come with two types of cables) in order to connect the monitor to the computer.

Now that you understand what features to look for, you will be able to choose the right monitor for your needs without over-paying. Keep in mind that LCD monitor technology improves over time but by no means rapidly advances like computer system technology (quickly leaving you with outdated products). So make sure you find a monitor with a screen size and specifications you will be happy with for several years to come! Additionally, if you spend a lot of time in front of your computer monitor you might want to consider certain monitor accessories such as monitor arms and monitor stands which are created to adjust the monitor’s height and tilt in order to match your personal comfort.