Monitor buying guide

Posted on 10 Dec 2009 at 16:30

Gallery

Find out all you need to know about choosing the right monitor

Recommended minimum specifications

Screen size: 19in widescreen

Native resolution: 1,440x900

Inputs: VGA, DVI

Follow the steps to find your ideal specs

A basic 19in LCD monitor with the specifications listed above will cost around £80. It will be fine for typical Windows work, but is likely to have poor viewing angles, so you'll need to sit straight on to get the best quality picture. Colour accuracy may not be very good, so it isn't ideal for colour-sensitive work.

A VGA input enables you to use the monitor with any PC, but may not give you quite as good quality as a DVI or HDMI input. Both are digital connections and require a compatible graphics card, but avoid the need for digital-to-analogue or analogue-to-digital conversions, which can reduce image quality. A digital connection automatically gets the best picture; you won't have to adjust clock or phase settings as you do with an analogue connection. Many DVI and all HDMI connections support HDCP, which lets you watch protected video content such as Blu-ray movies on your monitor. DisplayPort is becoming more popular, but you'll either need a graphics with a matching output or a DVI-to-DisplayPort adaptor.

A larger monitor will be easier on the eye and will have a larger resolution. 20in monitors typically have resolutions of at least 1,680x1,050. Models as small as 22in can have resolutions of 1,920x1,080 (1080p), which provides lots of room for working with multiple windows at the same time. For even higher resolutions, you'll need a larger display. A 30in screen or higher will have a massive resolution 2,560x1,600. You'll need a graphics card with a dual-link DVI output.

If you want better picture quality, look for a monitor with a high contrast ratio. The higher the ratio, the whiter the whites and the blacker the blacks. You'll also be able to see more fine detail in images with high contrast levels. Viewing angles are important, as wider angles mean you don't have to sit directly in front of the monitor to get the best picture. Wider angles also mean that more people can watch the screen at the same time.

Fast response times cut down on ghosting, but don't be blinded by the numbers. A response time of 25ms or quicker is fine for all applications.

Author: Expert Reviews Staff

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User comments

And ....?

This is helpful, as far as it goes. But it does not go nearly far enough. Those of us with skimpy knowledge of hardware but considerable interest in things that we want hardware to do - we need more guidance.

In my case I'm referring to photographic editing. What minimum resolution do I need? What inputs are not an option but vital? What colour controls must it have?

Other, like gamers, video editors [advice could be included with photo specs] and other niche users also need a steer.

By chrisnation on 24 Oct 2011