Buying Computer Monitors - Guide By Elive

Looking at a new monitor for your computer? The specifications you need will depend on what you are going to be doing with your monitor. Below is a basic run down on how to pick the right monitor. The first and most important choice will be the size of the screen. The general size of computer screens will range between 17 to 27 inches, with 22-24 inches the most popular screen sizes. When deciding on the size you should also consider the resolution the monitor will have (how many pixel the screen will display). Many 17 inch monitors will have 4:3 aspect ratios, while 19 & 20 inch monitors will support wide screen viewing. These screen sizes however will unfortunately not offer the high definition 1080p (1920x1080 resolution). 22 inch monitors are the smallest screen size that can support a full HD resolution.

Next is the type of panel technology you go for, and each type has its pros and cons. TN, or Twisted Nematic, panels are the most common and are also the oldest. These panels tend to provide fast response times and are generally less expensive. Their major disadvantages are narrow viewing angles, relatively low brightness, and inaccurate colour reproduction. Vertical Alignment or VA panels offer better viewing angles and generally better blacks and contrast than all panel technologies but can often create viewing lag and ghosting effect.

IPS panels offer better colour reproduction and better viewing angles, but can have lower contrast. These panels also tend to have a slower response time and input lag as well as being more expensive. However, the colour display and the options to calibrate the colours and keep the colours sharp and consistent, even at angles, make them a good choice for those who are in the graphic design profession.

If you play games, refresh rate is something you might want to consider. Most monitors come with a refresh rate of 60Hz, which means you can only see 60 frames per second. A 120Hz monitor provides a smoother gaming experience and allows you to play games in 3D at 60Hz for each eye. However, keep in mind that high refresh rates generally only come on TN panels, so you need to decide whether refresh rate is more important than having a better looking IPS display

Most LCD monitors have an analog and a digital connector. A VGA connector is found on many computer monitors and carries an analog signal. This is the oldest type of connection and will not display high definition content. DVI or Digital Visual Interface is the industry standard for the transfer in digital video content. This is a very common connection type that is limited to the RGB colour space. Display Port is used in a growing number of monitors; this connection is high-bandwidth and supports the thinnest and lightest of monitors. HDMI is now becoming the most common digital connector as it provides superior connectivity & high definition content. Primarily used on televisions, HDMI offers more versatile connectivity with other media devices such as cable boxes, blue-ray players and game consoles. Check to see which type of connector your video card is compatible with before you purchase a monitor.

As a last note, be sure to know what sort of graphics card your device is currently running. Know that if you connect an older PC to a top-of-the-line new monitor, your graphics card will likely need an upgrade to give you the best possible image quality. You can check out our huge online range of computer monitors at http://www.elive.co.nz/monitors.php  and http://www.elive.co.nz/computer-monitors.php .