Choosing a computer monitor

Panel type, resolution, aspect ratio, response time, color accuracy and other factors play a major role in separating great computer monitors from those that are just so-so. Here are some of the most important things that experts say to consider when shopping for a monitor:

  • Resolution consists of the number of pixels displayed in a horizontal row multiplied by the number of pixels displayed vertically. More pixels mean you can see more information on your screen at once. Most monitors allow you to adjust settings to lower resolutions, which can be necessary for people with vision challenges. However, unlike cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, LCD monitors usually work best at what's called their native resolution.
  • A monitor's contrast ratio is the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the deepest black. This specification can help you determine how rich the color will be in on-screen images. Unfortunately, this is another specification without an official standard, so be suspicious of vendor claims.
  • The viewing angle is how far you can move to the left or right (or above and below) of the screen's center and still see a satisfactory image. This specification is important if you are using the monitor for presentations, or if more than one person is viewing at a time. It is also more critical for larger monitors. Again, because there's no official standard for this specification, it's best to try out the monitor yourself if this might be a concern.
  • Consider adjustability features. Some LCD monitors are height-adjustable. They can tilt forward and back, swivel from side to side, pivot between landscape and portrait views and mount on a wall. These features are critical for some users but unimportant for others. Most individual users will set up the monitor and have no further need for any adjustments. Families with multiple users, however, may prefer a monitor that is easy to adjust.
  • Many LCD monitors provide both analog and digital (DVI) connectors. If you have a video card with a DVI output, DVI will often produce a better image than analog (VGA) connections. Note that analog connections are on their way out, but many older PCs only have analog video outputs. Check your video card before deciding on a particular monitor. A few monitors support DisplayPort, a plus for Apple users.
  • Extras like HDMI video inputs and USB ports are nice, if you'll use them. HDMI inputs make it possible to feed a monitor a signal from sources such as a game console, DVD player or Blu-ray Disc player. Most newer monitors have at least one HDMI input. If you have a choice between using HDMI or DVI connections to your PC, use DVI, especially for larger monitors; some are not able to display their maximum resolutions or highest refresh rates over an HDMI connection.
  • Look for HDCP compliance if you plan to watch high-definition movies on your monitor. Windows Vista and Windows 7, Blu-ray players and other high-definition components incorporate a content protection scheme called HDCP, which stands for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection. Its purpose is to prevent video piracy by encrypting the signal between the source and the display device. If you play a high-definition video from a Blu-ray Disc or a computer file, Windows 7 will first check to make sure your monitor is HDCP-compliant. If it isn't, Windows 7 will reduce the resolution. This is only an issue if you plan to use the monitor to view high-definition movies and other content on a Windows 7 or Vista system. Look for monitors with a "Works with Windows 7" logo on the packaging or an HDMI connection. Windows 7 imposes no special requirements on monitors for most other purposes. HDCP-compliant monitors will have an HDCP-compliant DVI input or an HDMI input (all HDMI inputs are HDCP-compliant).
  • Look for a three-year warranty. Although three-year warranties are standard, some manufacturers only provide one-year coverage for some or all models. Manufacturers use warranties as a marketing tool: Longer warranties are often meant to indicate better parts and build quality. A short warranty can be the catch behind a low price.

About dead pixels

A pixel is an individual module made up of three subpixels -- one each of red, green and blue. A screen's resolution (such as 1,920 by 1,080) tells you how many horizontal and vertical pixels make up the screen.

Malfunctioning pixels used to be surprisingly common, but reports have fallen off as manufacturing processes have improved. Still, it pays to be aware of pitfalls. One of the subpixels can be stuck in either lit or unlit mode, the most common problem. A dead pixel most likely means you'll see a tiny red, blue or green dot on your screen.

You might think that a dead pixel would be enough to invoke your warranty, but that usually isn't true: Companies have varying policies on how many pixels must be dead or stuck before they will replace your LCD panel. These policies change often, and can vary by monitor model or screen size. Manufacturers' websites should be a good source for up-to-date information, but reviewers say it can be impossible to find.

System compatibility

Be aware that not all monitors are compatible with all computers. Monitors larger than 27 inches require advanced video cards to drive their higher resolution. Manufacturers post compatible video cards on their websites. If you are considering a large LCD monitor and you have an older computer, be sure your graphics card can support it.

Almost all monitors work with PC and Mac computers. However, recent Macs come with DisplayPort, a newer type of digital connection that renders them incompatible with all but a few monitors. The ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed 24-inch Dell UltraSharp U2412M (*Est. $340) and the 24-inch Asus PA246Q (*Est. $495), Best Reviewed for photo and graphics work, are two monitors with DisplayPort (and a host of other connections) and excellent performance. They cost considerably less than Apple's own 27-inch LED Cinema display (*Est. $900), though both are smaller. The latest Mac computers have replaced the DisplayPort connection with the even newer Thunderbolt port, which is built upon the same specification. Fortunately, the Thunderbolt port is compatible with DisplayPort-equipped monitors.

Panel types

Professional photo and video editors may be interested in panel types. LCD monitors use a variety of flat panels. The panel is what lies behind the LCD monitor's frame. Panels are made by only a few companies, and many monitor brands use the same panel behind different frames and stands -- though differences in other electronics means that performance can still vary from model to model even with the same panel.

Nearly all cheap monitors, and all 3D-capable monitors, use twisted nematic (TN) technology. If you don't use your computer monitor extensively for editing photos or watching movies, or spend hours at a time editing documents or working on spreadsheets, TN panels are a reasonable and inexpensive choice. For gamers, TN panels are preferred because they have a faster response time. When a manufacturer doesn't disclose the type of panel used with a monitor, it's often -- though not always -- reasonably safe to assume it's an inexpensive TN panel.

If you have a bigger budget, experts say two other panel types offer some advantages for certain users. For office use -- especially if you spend lots of time working in word processing, spreadsheet or database programs -- a monitor with a vertical alignment (VA) LCD panel might make sense. That's because a VA panel has a better contrast ratio than a TN panel, easing eyestrain when used for long stretches. VA panel variations include multi-domain (MVA) and patterned (PVA), which may also come in better, high-contrast advanced MVA (AMVA) and super-PVA (S-PVA) versions. While no VA LCD panels are among our Best Reviewed, the BenQ EW2420 (*Est. $280) is one 24-inch AMVA monitor that has received positive mentions from reviewers.

While VA panels have better color reproduction than TN panels, if you do professional photo editing, video editing or other graphics-intensive work, a monitor with an advanced type of in-plane switching (IPS) panel might be worth its premium price. Such monitors have the best color accuracy and wide viewing angles so they can be used effectively in a group setting. Super-IPS (S-IPS), Professional-IPS (P-IPS) and horizontal-IPS (H-IPS) are the best-quality IPS panels. The Asus PA246Q (*Est. $495) is an example of a highly rated 24-inch P-IPS display. More reasonably priced E-IPS (Enhanced IPS) monitors -- such as our Best Reviewed Dell UltraSharp U2412M (*Est. $340) -- are beginning to proliferate in the non-gaming mid-priced segment.

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