Monitors for Desktop Computers

You won't need to print stuff so often. Larger monitors are common and much less expensive now. There are two types, CRT and LCD, and they have quite different displays.

CRT MONITOR. Flat tubes, fine dot pitch, higher resolution and refresh rates have done wonders for CRT image quality. Prices are dropping and reliability is much higher. Compared to an LCD panel, CRT color accuracy is 2-3 times better and maximum resolutions are higher. CRT main weaknesses are size, weight, and power consumption.

LCD FLAT-PANEL. The newest LCD panels look bright, sharp and colorful. They offer a small footprint and consume a third less energy than CRT monitors. Sales are increasing but remain less than 20% of the monitor market. LCD main weaknesses are higher prices, color accuracy, image quality, and viewing angle.

VIDEO SUPPORT. A larger monitor lets you use a higher resolution. The amount of video memory available controls what screen resolution you can use and how many colors you can display. Your video card or integrated video needs 4 megabytes of video memory to display 24-bit color up to 1280x1024 resolution. More video memory may be preferable, depending on how you use your PC. To find out how much video memory you have, open Control Panel, Display. Click on the Settings tab. Click on the Advanced button and select the Adapter tab.

BUYING A CRT. For a sharp display, get a dot pitch of 0.26 mm or smaller. Avoid screen flicker and eye strain. Get a CRT with a 75Hz refresh rate for a monitor up to 17" and 85Hz for larger monitors. Consider the current best seller, the 19" CRT, or the more cost-effective 17" CRT. Compared to a 14" CRT, a 17" has 47% more screen area and a 19" has 86% more. You'll get a steady screen without any flicker, more room for windows, great readability and beautiful colors without any eyestrain. It's an entirely new and wonderful experience.

Unlike CRTs, LCD panels have a fixed resolution. It's called the Native Resolution, or what it was designed for. The Native Resolution is usually the highest resolution the LCD panel can handle. When you buy a LCD panel that is designed to work at 1024x768 resolution, you have to use it at that resolution to have a clear, undistorted image. If you try to set the display to a lower, 800x600 resolution, fonts will appear deformed and the image may become fuzzy. If resolution switching is important, it's best to get a CRT.

These comparisons ignore the fact that a CRT can display much higher resolutions. A quality 17" LCD will display 1280x1024 where as a quality 19"(18" Viewable) CRT will display 1600x1200 resolution comfortably. This is a 30% increase in your Windows desktop area for a CRT over a LCD, with an "equivalent viewable size".

For a LCD panel, bigger isn't necessarily better. Unlike a CRT, you shouldn't pick a LCD flat-panel monitor based on viewable size. You should select a LCD flat-panel monitor based on a Native Resolution that you plan to use. For a given resolution, smaller LCD panels produce better image quality because of its tighter pixel pitch. Smaller LCD panel sizes generally come with a lower price as well.

So, if you want to use a Native Resolution of 1024x768, get a 15" LCD. If you want to use a Native Resolution of 1280x1024, get a 17" LCD. Ignore the higher priced, larger 18/20" LCD panels that use 1280x1024 resolution.

Brightness is not a concern with CRT monitors. But LCD panels are "backlit" and have different levels of brightness. The brightness rating for a LCD panel may be called 'nits' or 'cd/m2', and it commonly ranges from 70 to 250. Higher values indicate a brighter display.

Get a LCD flat-panel monitor that can display unlimited colors. Some are only capable of hundreds or thousands of colors. Most CRT monitors can display unlimited colors.

A CRT has superior color saturation with the ability to offer a broader range of the color spectrum. Color intensive programs like photo editing, gaming or desktop publishing, for example, may be better displayed on a CRT.

You may see ghosting or other visual effects when there is movement on a LCD screen. The pixel response time measures the time it takes for a pixel to change. A faster response time reduces streaking and ghosting. Look for a response time of 25 milliseconds or less.

Contrast ratio is a major determinant of picture quality. The eye sees contrast as an important element of overall sharpness. Look for a 400 to 1 contrast ratio or better in a LCD panel.

A CRT screen can be viewed from a very wide angle. A LCD panel has a smaller viewing angle, needing to be viewed more directly from the front. Newer LCD models have wider view angles but be sure to check this before buying.

While a CRT can have an occasional dead phosphor dot, dead sub-pixels are VERY common on LCD monitors. Check the manufacturer's specification and understand the return policy before you buy.



	Return to ARTICLES FROM DOG MONITORS FOR DESKTOP COMPUTERS By Ron Jefferies January 2003 Give your eyes a break! Get a larger monitor. Everything will be easier to read. You won't need to print stuff so often. Larger monitors are common and much less expensive now. There are two types, CRT and LCD, and they have quite different displays. SUMMARY CRT MONITOR. Flat tubes, fine dot pitch, higher resolution and refresh rates have done wonders for CRT image quality. Prices are dropping and reliability is much higher. Compared to an LCD panel, CRT color accuracy is 2-3 times better and maximum resolutions are higher. CRT main weaknesses are size, weight, and power consumption. LCD FLAT-PANEL. The newest LCD panels look bright, sharp and colorful. They offer a small footprint and consume a third less energy than CRT monitors. Sales are increasing but remain less than 20% of the monitor market. LCD main weaknesses are higher prices, color accuracy, image quality, and viewing angle. VIDEO SUPPORT. A larger monitor lets you use a higher resolution. The amount of video memory available controls what screen resolution you can use and how many colors you can display. Your video card or integrated video needs 4 megabytes of video memory to display 24-bit color up to 1280x1024 resolution. More video memory may be preferable, depending on how you use your PC. To find out how much video memory you have, open Control Panel, Display. Click on the Settings tab. Click on the Advanced button and select the Adapter tab. SELECTING A NEW MONITOR BUYING A CRT. For a sharp display, get a dot pitch of 0.26 mm or smaller. Avoid screen flicker and eye strain. Get a CRT with a 75Hz refresh rate for a monitor up to 17" and 85Hz for larger monitors. Consider the current best seller, the 19" CRT, or the more cost-effective 17" CRT. Compared to a 14" CRT, a 17" has 47% more screen area and a 19" has 86% more. You'll get a steady screen without any flicker, more room for windows, great readability and beautiful colors without any eyestrain. It's an entirely new and wonderful experience. BUYING A LCD. These are some facts you need to know about LCD flat-panel monitors. NATIVE RESOLUTION Unlike CRTs, LCD panels have a fixed resolution. It's called the Native Resolution, or what it was designed for. The Native Resolution is usually the highest resolution the LCD panel can handle. When you buy a LCD panel that is designed to work at 1024x768 resolution, you have to use it at that resolution to have a clear, undistorted image. If you try to set the display to a lower, 800x600 resolution, fonts will appear deformed and the image may become fuzzy. If resolution switching is important, it's best to get a CRT. VIEWABLE SIZE You'll often see comparisons about CRT and LCD viewable size. A 15" LCD is the same as 17"(16" viewable) CRT, or a 17" LCD is the same as 19"(18" Viewable) CRT, etc. These comparisons ignore the fact that a CRT can display much higher resolutions. A quality 17" LCD will display 1280x1024 where as a quality 19"(18" Viewable) CRT will display 1600x1200 resolution comfortably. This is a 30% increase in your Windows desktop area for a CRT over a LCD, with an "equivalent viewable size". HOW TO CHOOSE For a LCD panel, bigger isn't necessarily better. Unlike a CRT, you shouldn't pick a LCD flat-panel monitor based on viewable size. You should select a LCD flat-panel monitor based on a Native Resolution that you plan to use. For a given resolution, smaller LCD panels produce better image quality because of its tighter pixel pitch. Smaller LCD panel sizes generally come with a lower price as well. So, if you want to use a Native Resolution of 1024x768, get a 15" LCD. If you want to use a Native Resolution of 1280x1024, get a 17" LCD. Ignore the higher priced, larger 18/20" LCD panels that use 1280x1024 resolution. BRIGHTNESS Brightness is not a concern with CRT monitors. But LCD panels are "backlit" and have different levels of brightness. The brightness rating for a LCD panel may be called 'nits' or 'cd/m2', and it commonly ranges from 70 to 250. Higher values indicate a brighter display. COLORS Get a LCD flat-panel monitor that can display unlimited colors. Some are only capable of hundreds or thousands of colors. Most CRT monitors can display unlimited colors. A CRT has superior color saturation with the ability to offer a broader range of the color spectrum. Color intensive programs like photo editing, gaming or desktop publishing, for example, may be better displayed on a CRT. RESPONSE TIME You may see ghosting or other visual effects when there is movement on a LCD screen. The pixel response time measures the time it takes for a pixel to change. A faster response time reduces streaking and ghosting. Look for a response time of 25 milliseconds or less. CONTRAST Contrast ratio is a major determinant of picture quality. The eye sees contrast as an important element of overall sharpness. Look for a 400 to 1 contrast ratio or better in a LCD panel. VIEWING ANGLE A CRT screen can be viewed from a very wide angle. A LCD panel has a smaller viewing angle, needing to be viewed more directly from the front. Newer LCD models have wider view angles but be sure to check this before buying. DEAD PIXELS While a CRT can have an occasional dead phosphor dot, dead sub-pixels are VERY common on LCD monitors. Check the manufacturer's specification and understand the return policy before you buy. Visually compare LCD panels in a showroom before buying one. Return to ARTICLES FROM DOG