Choose a Screen TFT-LCD (08-04-2005)

Choose a TFT-LCD (08-04-2005)

Now that you've made ​​the decision to replace your "old" CRT for a stylish new TFT-LCD , it is important to know which to choose the monitor that best suits your needs.

There are several brands on the market, models and sizes of TFT-LCD, and at first glance, seem all the same fool who thinks that. In fact the outside will be very similar, but may soon begin to realize that there are differences in the asking price.

Today is already 17 "displays for approximately 250 Euros. If the game looks cheap in practice can cause you many headaches and may even jeopardize the good deal that seemed to have done. It is clear that this situation will always be associated with the type of use that makes your PC.

What should you take into account

Before too is necessary to choose the screen size. This size is indicated in inches, and the measurement is made diagonally across the screen. In this field we must take into account the information provided. Many times the indicated area also includes the frame, which usually involves the monitor. As the market is lower than 15 ", however, is the common size of 17", however, if you can invest in a monitor 19 "or 21" will not be too much, although in the latter suffer a price increase heavy.

When you have taken the decision regarding the size of the screen you want, it is imperative to consult the technical specifications of the monitor, because there is described the main monitor, as it were of a BI.

GLOSSARY

1. Viewing Angle - angle from which you can view the image on the monitor.
2. Connection can be DVI (Digital) or DB-15 (Analog)
3. CRT - Cathode Ray Tube, or Cathode Ray Tube
4. Dot-pitch is the spacing between the pixels of the monitor. The smaller the space, the better the image quality
5. Luminosity is not more than the clarity and brightness. Measured in nit, 1 Nit = cd/m2 1, so the larger, clearer and brighter the image
6. TFT - Thin Film Transistor, the new Active Matrix LCDs

Of the many characteristics that should be aware of (not necessarily in that order), is the Dot Pitch. The lower the value, the better. The most frequent value is 0.296 mm, see box.

Another important factor is the brightness, which indicates the intensity of light precisely on the screen. The value is given a number "cd/m2" and in this case, the higher the value, the better.

You can now check the Contrast Ratio which measures the intensity between whites and blacks. Also here you can see big gaps between different monitors, 350:1, 400:1, 500:1, etc.. and the higher the number, the monitor will have greater contrast and thus a better image.

We must also take care Refresh Rate, which indicates how quickly the "scan" the monitor vertically, ie, the number of times per second that the screen may show an image in full screen and is available to display a new image. This value is displayed in Hz Typically, a rate of 75 Hz is sufficient.

Last but not least is the Response Time. The most common are monitors with 25 ms, however, the lower this value, the better. If the use that will give the monitor is just word processing, browse the Internet and little else, the 25ms be sufficient, but if its use is already to see more videos, games and other applications where there are rapid movements, the ideal is a monitor with a response time of 12 ms, thus avoiding the effect of "ghost" image (as there are monitors in the market with a value of 8 ms).

Other Aspects

Basically, the above questions are the essential requirements should take into account but, notwithstanding this fact, it may still take into account other aspects that also depend on the type of use is to give the monitor.

- Links

Many of TFT monitors have an input "D-Sub", ie, 15-Pin, equivalent to the cables of conventional monitors (CRT), instead of having a DVI (digital). This means there is a reduction in image quality, however slight.

In fact, the computer sends a digital image (if the graphics card support, should also take into account this factor) that is converted to analog (due to the input of the monitor) and then converted into digital image.

If your monitor has DVI input and has a graphics card to support that format, the image will always be digital, with no place to conversions and consequent loss of quality.

- Colors

You should then observe the number of colors that the monitor supports. The best monitors have 16.7 million true colors, while other monitors indicate 16.2 million, they actually only support 262 000 true color, or "recreate" artificially 16.2 million colors.

WARNING Some monitors even can make new pixels "dead." The reasons for this fact may be numerous, however, it is possible that they exist. Some brands have established rules concerning the guarantee in such cases, inclusive, there are already some brands to ensure "0 Dead Pixels" because although the game can not detect any error of this nature, the opposite may happen, therefore, when the purchase of a monitor, ask at the store where you can complain about conditions.

CONCLUSION

Given these specifications, the question is what kind of use will have to acquire the monitor, so you can evaluate what the most suitable for you and can therefore make an assessment of cost / benefit in accordance with the technical issues of this article because these specifications are that largely influence the prices of these monitors.

Below is a table which is not binding, intended only to retrieve the type of use in technical characteristics should take into account, however, you should always consult a qualified technician in order to more accurately assess your case.

Contrast> 250:1> 500:1> 600:1
Brightness> 250 cd/m2> 300cd/m2> 300 cd/m2
Response Rate 25 ms 12 ms 12 ms / 8 ms
16.2 million colors 16.7 M 16.7 M