30-Inch LCD Monitors

30-inch big-screen LCD monitors

Thirty-inch LCD monitors have 2,560-by-1,600-pixel native resolution (WQXGA) and require the use of a high-end video card that supports a dual-link DVI connection. That means a monitor of this size is only an option for power users. If you have the desk space and the means, a 30-inch LCD monitor is a luxury. Some reviewers would enjoy living with a 30-inch monitor; others would not.

We found that comparatively few 30-inch models have been introduced since this report was last updated, which would seem to indicate that the market for these monitors remains fairly small. If you've got the money, there is a clear choice among reviewers at this size: the Dell UltraSharp U3011 (*Est. $1,185) , which scores at the top of the charts in review after review. "The Dell UltraSharp U3011 is an impressive monitor and the most feature-rich 30-incher out there," CNET writes, awarding the monitor an Editors' Choice award. "Simply put, the Dell UltraSharp U3011 is the best 30-inch monitor we've yet seen." PCMag.com calls the display "gorgeous," saying it offers "loads of neat features." The HP ZR30w (*Est. $1,185) also gets good reviews, but at exactly the same price the Dell U3011 offers more features and more critical acclaim.

Keep in mind that monitors this size are designed for still work, not gaming; their response times are too slow to keep up with most games on the market without ghosting.