Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Ideal Computer Monitor
Although the keyboard and mouse are the primary physical interfaces that interact directly with the users, the monitor is also an important component that you should prioritise as they are the part that you are going to stare at all day for both work and play. Over the years, computer monitors have evolved tremendously, with many models today capable of providing enhanced graphics and visuals to improve one’s experience. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a computer monitor.
Size and Resolution of the Monitor
The first consideration when purchasing a computer monitor is to think about the size of the monitor that you want. Naturally, a larger monitor will require a more space to fit, hence you will also need to think about whether the screen will be able to fit the space you plan to place your monitor.
When you are deciding on a size for your monitor, you should also think about its resolution. The resolution refers to how many pixels the monitor displays, which directly leads to the sharpness and clarity of an image. Most monitors today have 1920 x 1080p resolution. A regular 23” monitor will produce fairly sharp images, but a larger monitor will have lower pixel density, hence they will not be able to portray images that are equally sharp. Because of that, if you want a larger monitor such as a 27” monitor you should go for one with higher resolution such as 2560 x 1440.
Type of Panels
The next factor you need to think about is the type of panel you want your monitor to have. There are many types of panels available, each with their own advantages. The cheapest and most common types are Twisted Nematic (TN) Panels. The advantages that they bring is they have faster response times and support high refresh rates. Hence, if you are a gamer, these panels are the most ideal for you because they support 3D gaming as well. However, their colours are the least accurate compared to other panels.
Another good option that is rarer but is still priced reasonably is Vertical Alignment (VA) Panels. They can reproduce colours more accurately than TN panels, including deep blacks. However, despite better colour reproduction, they will still produce weird colour effects when viewed at wrong angles.
In-Plane Switching (IPS) Panels are the most expensive option amongst the three, but they have the best colour accuracy and viewing angles than the rest which makes them the rightful choice for photographers and graphic designers. However, they have potentially slower response times than TN panels which might irritate some hardcore gamers.
Refresh Rates
You will know the importance of refresh rates if you are a regular gamer. Most monitors have a 60Hz refresh rate, meaning that you can only see 60 frames per second even if your game is at 100 frames per second. A higher refresh rate means a smoother gaming experience; hence you need to consider if refresh rates are important for you. TN panels are the only panels that can provide high refresh rates, meaning that you need to consider if you prioritise refresh rates or colour reproduction.