What Should I Buy? - Monitor
The monitor and video card work hand in hand to give you a good picture.
When shopping for a new monitor you must also take into consideration which
video card you have and match your monitor to that card.
Video graphic standards:
The most common video graphic standards include VGA and SVGA. If you have
an older PC, you may have anything from MDA, Hercules, through EGA.
- Make sure you know what your video graphic standard is before you buy a
new monitor. Your video card and monitor should match on this one. SVGA
would be your best choice. It's good for multimedia and better on your eyes.
- Be careful not to mix older video cards with newer monitors. They won't work
together. VGA and SVGA monitors will not work with MDA, Hercules, CGA, or
EGA graphic cards.
Color:
The more the merrier. Today's monitors can display from 256 through 16 million
colors which is called
true color.
The video card also has a lot to do with this. To get a high quality
multimedia picture you need 16 million colors.
Resolution:
Look for the highest you can afford. The higher the resolution, the better
the picture.
Dot pitch:
the smaller the number or the closer together the dots are, the better. A
.28mm dot pitch will give you a sharp, crisp image.
Refresh rate:
indicates how often the image on your monitor is updated. The higher the number,
the less flickering of the picture. 60-70 Hz are good numbers here. You must
match the refresh rate of your video card and monitor.
Interlaced
vs.
Non-interlaced:
An interlaced monitor updates half the picture at a time. First the even-numbered
rows, then the odd-numbered rows. This produces an annoying flicker of the
picture. These should be avoided at all costs. Most monitors are non-interlaced
which means the entire picture is updated equally.
Video bandwidth:
This describes the "largest" video signal your monitor can use. The higher
the number, the better. 65-75 MHz are good numbers here.
Flat screen:
This provides a clearer picture. Most monitors have a convex surface that
is curved toward you. This distorts the picture ever so slightly. The flat
screen eliminates this problem. These cost more, but can reduce eye strain.
Multisync:
This type of monitor can support different video graphic standards. These
typically cost more.
Size: The bigger the better. However, the bigger the monitor, the more
they cost. 15 inch is a good place to start.
Multimedia:
Some monitors include built-in speakers right in the monitor. If you are
limited on desk space this could be the way to go. However, if you are a sound
connoisseur, you may want to purchase your speakers separately. These monitors
do cost more.
Energy Star:
These monitors conserve energy which saves you money. Since your monitor
uses more energy than any other part of your PC, it is a good idea to get
this feature.
Finally, you should treat shopping for a monitor like shopping for a car. Try
it out before you buy it. Use it in the store and make sure you like it. Run
some software and make sure the picture is crisp and clear. You should buy
only when you are satisfied with overall picture quality.