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Monitor Specs Explained

By: Keith Park, Wed Dec 7th, 2005 10:54:42 PM

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Monitors are no different than any other computer device; they all have specs that for the most part are difficult for the average person to understand. When looking to purchase a monitor however, these specs are very important and one must understand them in order to make an educated buy.

There are currently two types of monitors that are available to consumers, CRT and LCD.

CRT Monitors

CRT stands for cathode-ray tube and is a technology has been around for about 100 years. Until recently, it was the only choice of monitor available to consumers. The CRT technology works by passing an electron beam across the back of the screen illuminating phosphor dots. This is process is repeated from top to bottom many times thus creating a screen image.

LCD or Flat Panel Monitors

LCD stands for liquid crystal display and although it may seem like this is a new technology it has been used in digital watches for years. The technology works by passing an electric current through liquid crystal which is contained between two sheets of polarizing material. There are 2 types of color LCD's, passive matrix and active matrix also known as TFT (thin film transistor). Passive matrix LCD's are the less expensive of the two types.

The Specs

Resolution and Refresh Rates

The resolution is the number of dots displayed on the entire screen. The higher the resolution the smaller everything on the screen will be. This can be a benefit for running multiple applications at the same time but can also be a burden for someone with poor eyesight.

The refresh rate of a monitor is the frequency at which the screen is redrawn. The higher the number the more often the screen is redrawn and the less flicker will occur.

LCD - LCD monitors work best at specific resolutions otherwise known as their native resolution. Changing the resolution to anything other than the native resolution can result in degraded performance such as blurring. Some LCD's are better than others at handling non-native resolutions but it is best to test it at the resolution you are looking for before you purchase. Resolutions run from 1024X768 for low end models to 1600X1200 for high end models.

Because an LCD monitor uses a different technology to display images it does not exhibit the same flicker effect that CRT's experience thus LCD's operate at lower refresh rates, normally around 60Hz to 70Hz.

CRT - The resolution of a CRT is fairly flexible. Most CRT's can display a variety of resolutions with no problems at all. Typical monitor resolutions are 1024X768@75Hz for low end monitors all the way up to 1800X1440@80Hz for more expensive CRT's.

Refresh rates for CRT's will also vary but the minimum refresh rate should be at least 70Hz. Anything below 70Hz and people can start to notice the screen flicker as it is redrawn which can cause eye strain.

Screen Size

The screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner

LCD - For an LCD monitor, the size stated is the actual viewing area available for an image to be displayed; unlike CRT's where the screen size specified is larger than the actual area that can be used for viewing. There is various sized LCD's available ranging from 15" all the way up to 23", generally the bigger the screen size the more expensive it will be.

CRT - For a CRT monitor you need to look at the viewing area size as opposed to the stated size of the monitor. A typical 17" monitor has a viewing area of 16" so the size spec can be a little confusing. This reason for the difference is because of the approximate 1" bezel or frame of the CRT.

Contrast Ratio

LCD - The contrast ratio determines how rich colors will appear on-screen, the higher the ratio the better. Contrast ratios range from 200:1 up to 400:1

CRT - N/A

Viewing Angle

LCD - The viewing angle indicates at what angle the LCD can be viewed vertically and horizontally and still be seen. The range for this spec is 120/100 degrees for lower end models to 170/170 degrees for higher end models.

CRT - N/A --- CRT monitor can be viewed at almost any angle

Brightness

LCD - The brightness states how bright the LCD display will be and ranges from 200 cd/ m 2 to 350 cd/m 2. For the most part, all LCD monitors exhibit sufficient brightness for any type of use.

CRT - N/A

Tube Type

LCD - N/A

CRT - When it comes to CRT's there are two different tube types, traditional or flat. A traditional CRT has a curved screen which can sometimes be affected by glare. A flat CRT has a flat screen which improves clarity and reduces glare.

Dot pitch

This is the space between image pixels on the screen measured in millimeters

LCD - The less space between dots the better and sharper the image will be so the lower the number stated for this spec the better. Dot pitch ranges between .28mm to .24mm in all model categories.

CRT - The less space between dots the better and sharper the image will be so the lower the number stated for this spec the better. Dot pitch ranges between .28mm to .24mm in all model categories.

When considering a monitor for purchase there isn't one specific spec to look for, all of the specs should be taken into consideration together. Generally, an LCD will cost more than a CRT of the same size but LCD's have a longer life span and use less power than a CRT so in the long run an LCD would be cheaper. At the end of the day what it boils down to is what you are going to use the monitor for and how it looks to you. Test out some different settings in the store and ask to see what different applications look like on the monitor, have them fire up a game to see what it looks like. If you are satisfied with how it looks then it is right for you.

About the author: Keith Park has been in the IT industry for the last 7 years and is the author of the website TechCorner PC Resource Zone. Go there for more articles and resources.

Additional resources @ http://mgrcentral.com/computers/default.aspx?stud entid=1575219

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