Types of Monitors

In the past two or three years the relatively new liquid crystal diode or LCD monitor has become standard for all new computer installations. The familiar CRT, or tube monitors, are now more expensive and many sizes are no longer even manufactured. All monitors purchased by PCN are LCD monitors at this time. They are now low priced and of high quality, not to mention easier to transport and ship.

Important Features to Consider when Purchasing a Computer Monitor

Screen Size

Size is by far the most important quality to look for in any new monitor. The bigger the screen size the more you can fit on it as well as the easier it is to see. All monitors are measured like televisions, on the diagonal from the upper left corner to the lower right corner or vise versa.

There are price differences between different sizes and many times there is a price break between sizes where the manufacturing industry currently has the most output. You will, however, notice that larger sizes are now quite a bit more affordable than they were even two years ago. For applications where exact color reproduction might not be necessary, Purdue and PCN have access to several types of lesser known brands that will more than fill your basic needs while helping your group keep within its budget!

Screen Aspect Ratio

Screen aspect ratio is another factor that has changed in the past several years. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, most computer screens were built with the familiar 3:4 ratio (sometimes called "Academy Ratio" because this was ratio theatrical films used to be filmed in). Today most new monitors will be "widescreen," or 16:9 ratio. While monitor size continues to be measured by diagonal, it is important to note that perceptually a 19 inch 3:4 ratio screen might look bigger to you than a 16:9 widescreen monitor. Today the 3:4 ratio monitors are only available for order and only for smaller (15 inch or less) sizes, and almost all PCN purchases will be of monitors built in the "widescreen" format.

Resolution

Resolution is another important factor along with size. Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels or dots the monitor can produce both on the horizontal and vertical. For instance 800x600 means the monitor can display 800 dots across and 600 dots up and down.

With the popularity of HDTV, you will often hear resolution abbreviated to "720p" or "1020p." The number refers to the number of horizontal lines in the resolution and how the lines are "painted" onto the screen. For computers this is always "progressive," or updating top to bottom. Monitors that use this short hand are also always of the 16:9 ratio variety. The resolution of a 720p monitor is 1080 x 720. The resolution of a 1080 monitor is 1920 × 1080.
PCN would suggest that for most uses you should make sure to get a monitor with at least
720p resolution and would advise getting a 1080p monitor in most circumstances.

Pitch

Dot or Pixel pitch is a feature that can be important depending on your application. Pitch is the distance between colored dots or pixels on the screen. For most people a pitch of .26mm or smaller is best. If you read documents online for great periods of time the smaller the pitch number the easier it will be on your eyes. However if you are just viewing video then .26mm is fine.

Refresh Rate

Refresh rate is also an important feature to look for. LCD monitors have what is called a response time. This simply means the screen will refresh what you see at a given interval. An LCD monitor will have a response time from 30ms to 20ms. Again the faster the refresh rate the better it will be for your eyes.

Viewing Angle

The angle at which you can view the screen is also important especially if you are going to have multiple people together viewing the same screen. It is important for LCD monitors to have the widest viewing angle from 140 degrees to 180 degrees.

Inputs

Another important feature to look for is the type of input required. Most monitors today come with several types of inputs but there are some with only one type. The type of input required is dependent on what type of output you have on your video card. Today there are two types,
Analog and DVI. The new type, DVI, is the best to use because it uses a digital signal to send the information to the monitor. PCN advices that new monitors purchased include the DVI digital input since even if you're buying your monitor for older computer hardware you might need that DVI connection for use after future computer upgrades.

Video Card compatibility

In the past several years video card compatibility has become less important as most cards will easily handle all the but the most high-end specialty video hardware. Still, it goes without saying that when you are looking at new monitors you should also look at your video card. Make sure that your video card can support the recommended refresh rate and resolution of your monitor. This will help extend the life of both your monitor and your eyes.

Warranty

The manufacturer's warranty is also something to consider when purchasing a new monitor. CRT monitors have a tendency to fail after 3 years and LCD monitors are usually rated from 10 to 50 thousand hours of operation. You can usually find a good 3 year warranty on any monitor purchased today. The longer the warranty the better chance you will have at getting it replaced if and when it does fail.