With such a huge variety of LCD monitors on offer, you will certainly be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing a new monitor for your desktop. Even better, monitor prices have been dropping to record low prices, while screen sizes seem to get bigger and bigger. How do you know what features to look out for when purchasing LCD monitors however, and how do you find the best monitors on the market?
What Features Should LCD Monitors Have?
To get the maximum benefits from your LCD monitor, it will need to have a few basic features, which can be broken down as follows:
- Screen size - this is the size of displayable area, measured from the bottom corner to the top opposite corner of the display. Sizes range from 17" to 30" in general, with a wide range of size options to consider. Larger screens are ideal for watching movies, while smaller screens are fine for basic office work, especially if you are using your LCD monitor for a dual monitor.
Small: 17", 18", 19"
Medium: 20", 22", 23"
Large: 27", 30", 32" - Resolution - this is the physical number of horizontal and vertical pixels that comprise the LCD matrix of the display. While you can adjust the resolution manually, this usually results in an unclear display. A high resolution is needed for graphics and photography to ensure the best quality image display. A LCD monitor's native resolution is the maximum resolution that it supports. It is recommended to set your displays resolution equal to this native resolution for the best quality picture.
- Aspect ratio - this is the number of horizontal pixels to vertical pixels in a display, earlier versions of monitors featured a 4:3 aspect ratio, while today, the average is a 16:10 or 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
- Contrast - this is the measurement of the difference in brightness from the darkest to brightest portion on the screen. Manufacturers often use the highest contrast ratio on a screen, causing darker blacks and brighter whites. The best bet is to get a monitor with the highest contrast ratio like 50,000:1.
- Brightness rating - this determines the amount of light that is produced by the LCD monitor, and is measured in nits or one candelas per square meter (cd/m2). Generally, in a standard monitor used for general office use, the brightness ratings range from 250 to 350 cd/m2. For watching movies however, a rating of 500 cd/m2 would be best.
- Response time - this is essentially how long the crystals inside the monitor take to change. To show colour on pixels in an LCD screen, a current is applied to change the state of the crystals. The lower the response time, the less blurring occurs on the screen. For gaming and 3D images, a response time of between 2 and 3 seconds is required to get the clearest picture in motion.
- Viewing angles - for LCD monitors used in an office, or even for gaming or movies, you should be able to change the viewing angle. This allows you to position the monitor at the right angle, however with LCD screens the challenge lies in the fact that the display is best seen straight on. The best viewing angle would be around 180 degrees, which would allow the screen to be seen from all areas.
- LCD Stand - the type of stand you get will make a big difference to your monitor. Stands can be adjusted for height, tilt, swivel and pivot, which make it easier for those using their LCD monitors for general work, as a backup monitor, gaming or movies to allow for the best ergonomic position.
What LCD Monitors Are Available to Suit Your Needs?
Now that you know what features to look out for buying a new monitor, all you need to do is browse the range of LCD monitors that we have in online. LCD monitor prices.
