Best Computer Monitors Buying Guide

Best Computer Monitors: LCD vs. CRT

This article will focus on helping you choose one of the best computer monitors for your PC.

Monitors are a big part of the computer experience. Think about how you access the imformation on your computer. Yep, it's visual. All of your interaction with your computer comes via the monitor. Why not get the best in resolution, brightness, color, and most importantly size to really enhance your time spent in front of that screen?

With only two major categories (CRT & LCD) to choose from, your mission to find one the best computer monitors will be relatively easy. CRTs have dominated the market in the past, but LCDs with their light weight, small desktop footprint and great picture quality are slowly becoming dominant in the best computer monitors category.

CRT Monitors

Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors have been around decades before the invention of the personal computer. A CRT monitor is basically a television set without the tuner. Let's take a look at some important considerations to keep in mind when selecting a CRT as one of the best computer monitors.

Resolution- Resolution refers to the number of pixels on the CRT that make up the picture. The more pixels displayed the better the quality of the picture. Resolution is commonly given as horizontal pixel width times vertical pixel height. Multiplying horizontal and vertical values together gives you the total number of pixels the CRT uses for a given resolution per frame. You can readily see why a higher resolution results in a better image (more pixels mean a better picture or definition). Unlike a LCD (liquid crystal display), which has a fixed or native resolution, a CRT is capable of generating multiple resolutions.

Size- The size of a CRT is measured diagonally across the screen and may include the front bezel (plastic framing the tube) of the monitor.

Refresh Rate-CRTs create images one line at a time with a beam of electrons that excite phosphor as they strike the front of the CRT. This process continues one line at a time until the frame is completed. How fast the CRT can draw this frame per second is known as its refresh rate and is given in hertz (Hz). Typically a picture is drawn at 60 hertz to trick the human eye into believing it is an image. Sometimes flickering is noticeable on a CRT if the refresh rate is less than 60 hertz. This can cause discomfort or eye strain in some computer users, and may be eliminated by increasing the refresh rate to 70 hertz or more. If you are considering the purchase of a CRT as your monitor, make sure the refresh rate is adjustable for all resolutions the CRT is capable of displaying.

LCD Monitors

LCD monitors are the new kids on the block and much more desirable as one of the best computer monitors. Let's take a look at the considerations needed when contemplating the purchase of a LCD monitor.

Native Resolutions-LCD monitors look their best in what is referred to as their "native resolution". This is set by the manufacturer and is usually directly related to the physical size of the monitor. The larger the physical size the higher the resolution. If you choose to use resolutions other than native, it�s likely your picture will be fuzzy or pixilated. Be sure to match the native resolution of any LCD you are considering purchasing with that of your graphic card's output capabilities.

Size-Just like the CRT the LCD monitor is measured for size diagonally across its screen. However, this measurement is not quite as ambiguous as it is for the CRT. The stated size is what you get with an LCD monitor.

Viewing Angle- Some LCD monitors have poor viewing angles. The viewing angle is the angle at which you can still view the screen clearly while moving perpendicually away its sides, top, or bottom. These are usually stated by the manufacturer for each different viewing angle. The larger the viewing angle the better.

Response Time-One problem with LCD monitors is that of pixel response. It is not as fast as that of the CRT. The faster the response rate of the pixels the less ghosting you will see on your screen. Ghosting is when the previous image displayed lags, and interferes with the display of a new image on the screen. It is critical to select a LCD monitor that has a response rate below 8 milliseconds for the best picture possible. If you are a PC gamer consider buying an LCD with a response rate of less than 5 ms.

Brightness-Brightness is a feature not to be overlooked on an LCD monitor. The brighter the screen the better it will look. A screen brightness of around 700 nibs is standard for a 19" LCD monitor.

CRT vs. LCD COMPARISONS

Some points to keep in mind when selecting one of the best computer monitors.

Advantages of a CRT as One of the Best Computer Monitors

Let's get straight to the most important point. They are cheaper than LCDs.

They have great response time. The average response time for a CRT monitor is 4 milliseconds.

CRTs are reliable. They also have the popular VGA connector.

Multiple resolutions available unlike the LCD which is limited to one.

Advantages of a LCD as One of the Best Computer Monitors

Takes up less room on your desktop

Weighs a lot less than a CRT.

Uses way less power, and therefore puts out less heat.

No flickering, since it uses a completely different way to produce an image than a CRT.

CONCLUSION

It really boils down to how much you are willing to spend to enjoy truly immersive movies, games and other programs on your computer. CRTs are cheap, but the price on LCDs continues to fall. Take a look at some of the best computer monitors here.