Nineteen- to 24-inch LCD Monitors

Best general-purpose LCD monitors for home and office

While 19-inch monitors are still commonly available, larger-screen LCD monitors are proliferating as prices drop and even basic video cards begin to work smoothly with them. Among general-purpose monitors, the Dell UltraSharp U2412M (*Est. $340) is a top choice. It has 1,920 by 1,200 pixel resolution, which offers a little extra screen resolution due to its 16:10 ratio. Reviews say the E-IPS display is beautiful, with good color reproduction and contrast. The LED backlight allows the monitor to be extra slim and use less power.

The Dell U2412M has a sturdy, adjustable stand that can put the monitor in portrait mode and a DisplayPort plug, handy for Apple computer users and unusual in a monitor at this price point. It does not, however, have an HDMI port, so anyone looking to view HD video will need to use a lower-resolution connection or buy an HDMI-to-DVI adapter. Reviewers note that the color range displayed by the U2412M is more limited than that of more expensive professional models like the Asus PA246Q (*Est. $495) . The Dell U2412M's slow response time -- common to monitors with IPS panels -- makes it a poor choice for hard-core gamers, though it's faster than many monitors designed for everyday use.

If you're hoping for something a little less expensive, reviewers say you should give serious consideration to the Asus ML239H (*Est. $150) , another 23-inch IPS display. Reports say it has a bright, vivid display, accurate colors, detail in dark images and wide viewing angles. You won't find a DisplayPort connector, but an HDMI port is on board, so if you want to view high-def content at its full resolution you're all set. Like the Dell U2412M, the Asus ML239H uses a LED rather than a less energy-efficient cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), which provides a thin profile. On the downside, there's no height adjustment, and the Asus ML239H's response time is too slow to appeal to hard-core gamers.

Best gaming monitors

Gamers who play first-person shooters, racing titles or other games with fast-moving action are typically willing to forgo the very best screen quality in order to get faster response times and less ghosting. That makes less expensive twisted nematic monitors a better choice for the serious gaming crowd than IPS and MVA monitors, which are otherwise better rated in most reviews; see What to Look For for a more complete explanation of LCD panel technologies.

Among monitors that reviewers deem top choices for serious gamers, the 24-inch Gateway FHX2402L (*Est. $220) has a 2 ms response time, making it speedy even among TN screens. In addition, the FHX2402L draws praise for its picture quality compared to less expensive TN monitors. Color, brightness and detail all come in for compliments. The FHX2402L also has a good selection of connections if you're a PC user (as most hard-core gamers are): HDMI, DVI and VGA.

Screen uniformity is the biggest downside of this LED backlit monitor, with some darker spots and light leakage at the edges noted in reviews. The monitor does not adjust much, and the base is lightweight; it can possibly even move while you are typing if it is not on a solid surface. But as Maximum PC's Amber Bouman writes, "Overall, it was easy to ignore the FHX2402L's few drawbacks, as it consistently produced such vivid and sharp images and detail."

If you're looking for a slightly less expensive 2D TN model, users at Newegg.com suggest the Asus VH236H (*Est. $190) , which has been selected as a Customer Choice Award Winner for two years in a row. Professional reviews are a little more restrained, with complaints such as a poor menu system and lack of ergonomic options being voiced by some reviewers, such as Eric Franklin at CNET. Still, Franklin calls the Asus VH236H "a great-performing 23-incher with a welcome low price" (it is now even less expensive). Connectivity is good, with HDMI, DVI and VGA all accounted for, and the resolution supports HD video. The backlight is a conventional CCFL.

Best 3D monitors

For gamers and movie watchers who want a full 3D experience from their monitor, experts nearly unanimously recommend the Asus VG236H (*Est. $470) , which includes not only a good monitor but the NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit, which retails for around $130 if bought separately. Even with that cost factored in, the Asus VG236H is expensive compared to other 23-inch twisted nematic monitors, but reviewers say its features make it worth the price, assuming you'll use the Asus VG236H to view 3D.

The Asus VG236H 3D LCD can operate at a 120 Hz refresh rate (via DVI), the minimum refresh rate required for flicker-free 3D. Reviewers add that the higher-than-standard refresh rate makes a noticeable difference in image movement and smoothness even in 2D mode as a result. "If you're the kind of person that cares about squeezing every last FPS out of your box -- regardless of how you feel about 3D -- don't even bother reading the rest of this review, just run, don't walk, to the store and get this 120Hz display," writes Brian Klug of AnandTech.com.

The 2 ms response time is plenty fast enough for gamers, and most reviewers say it doesn't take a monster PC to run the Asus VG236H monitor at a good speed and resolution in 3D, even with resource-hogging games. You do have to have an NVIDIA-powered graphics card in order to use the 3D Vision Kit, however.

Color balance on the Asus VG236H monitor is excellent in most tests. "It's easily one of the best-looking TN panels we've tested. The colors are vivid, images are clear, and text is sharp," writes HotHardware.com's Mathew Miranda, adding that it is clearer and brighter in 3D than some other monitors in their tests. Some reviewers noticed a slight greenish tinge to the color, and like many TN monitors, the Asus VG236H display washes out details when you get to the very, very dark and very, very bright ends of the spectrum. Some dislike the screen's glossy finish.

The monitor is also available without the bundled 3D hardware as the Asus VG236HE (*Est. $310) ; for those who don't mind the inconvenience of buying everything separately, purchasing that monitor and the NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit on your own can save a few dollars -- as long as you shop carefully.