When attempting to choose the right monitor, there are a number of things to take into consideration. Merely selecting one that looks kind of cool isn’t enough. Instead, this is the kind of thing that requires a bit more thought on your part.
Of course, you may sit there wondering exactly what you need to look out for, so I’ll help. By the end, you should have a better idea of what to look out for.
Understand Your Needs
First, you must take into account why you need the monitor. What I mean by this is whether it’s for gaming, work, doing graphical art and even the space that you have available. All of this is important as it does narrow down the options that you should then look at.
You will often find that the stores that you buy from will tell you what the monitor is best for. Pay close attention as it does make a real difference.
Understand The Resolution And Aspect Ratio
As you look at the details of the monitor, notice what the resolution and aspect ratio is for each model.
The resolution relates to the dimension of the screen with it written in the number of pixels. With this aspect, you should not really look at anything that comes in under a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080. The aspect ratio of the best monitors is then written in a format such as 16:9. This refers to the ratio of pixels in both the horizontal and vertical.
You will also note that there’s a tendency for a full HD monitor to be the same shape as your TV screen. It does then mean that a monitor in the same kind of 16:9 ratio is ideal for gaming as well as perhaps watching movies via your monitor.
But What About Other Resolutions?
Here’s where it can get tricky. While the resolution I mentioned above is the minimum you should go for, there’s also several other options out there. More high-end monitors will have resolutions in the range of 2,560 x 1,440 and then you have the 4K monitors out on the market as well.
These 4K monitors are huge and are very expensive, but you only require them if detail is important. The average person just browsing online won’t have to push the boat out this far with a monitor.
Are There Other Ratios?
While there are less options with the ratios compared to the resolutions, they are still out there. If you are serious about gaming, then a ratio of 21:9 will give your games an even more dramatic appearance as the monitor is very wide. Once again, if you are only using it to browse, then this isn’t required.
Understand The Refresh Rate
You will also notice that the listings mention the refresh rate. What this refers to is the number of times that the monitor refreshes in a second. You will notice that the number is listed in Hz. The easiest way to think of this is that the higher the number then the smoother the image.
When buying a monitor, I’d recommend never going for anything that falls below 60Hz. Doing so would have such a negative impact on your viewing experience.
You may also notice monitors with refresh rates that are between 120Hz and 200Hz. This does mean they give an ultra-smooth experience. The only problem with this is that it’s aimed at gamers and your machine must have a powerful graphics card to cope with it all.
The Response Time
The response time refers to the length of time it takes a pixel to change color. This is more of an old problem and should never have any effect on new monitors. However, you might still want to check if the monitor has a response time between 1-4ms as anything else can lead to you experiencing a ghosting effect on the screen.
Aside from those key things, you need to make sure that you get an LED monitor. This works with a backlight and it does provide a better balanced image that’s easier to adjust. They also use a liquid crystal display and this is viewed as giving a clearer picture. Of course, you should always see the monitor model in action before you buy so you feel quite happy with its display.
I said that buying a monitor involved more than picking one you like. The good news is that there are not too many different things to take into consideration. This makes it a whole lot easier to get to grips with buying the right one for your needs as long as you take your time choosing.
