Buying Monitor: A Guide to Choose a Perfect Display 2023

Are you looking to build your PC and have everything you need to build your PC but don’t have a monitor? And want to buy a great PC monitor but wondering what to consider to get the best monitor for yourself? So you’ve come to the right place.

A great monitor is one of the most important things that you must consider when it comes to building a PC, especially for gaming. In this article, we will talk about the most important factors that help you to choose a perfect display.

So let’s start.

What is a PC monitor? 

A monitor is a device that shows you the output of a connected computer on your screen. A monitor is used to display text, images, video, or other graphical outputs with the help of a PC video card. It is also called VDT (Video Display Terminal).

The older monitor is built in CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) technology, which makes it very heavy and ugly. Due to its heavy and large size, it took up more space on the desk.

Now, the technology is advanced and there are a lot of monitors available with the latest and great panels such as LCD, LED, OLED, etc. These monitors come with great features, which make them an excellent choice for you.  

What to look for in a PC monitor

As we know, the monitor is an essential part of our life. A lot of people buy a monitor for gaming, writing, graphics design, etc. But they don’t know what to consider to get a great monitor.

That’s why we put together a list of the most important factors that you should keep in mind when buying a PC monitor. So come to the main points.

1. Resolution

The first and most important thing to consider when choosing a PC monitor is resolution. Resolution is the number of each pixel that is displayed on your monitor screen. It determines how clear and sharp your image will appear on the screen.

The higher the resolution is, the clear and sharp the picture quality. In addition, monitor resolution describes the visual dimension of your display. A standard monitor resolution is 1920 x 1080p, which is enough for highly demanding tasks such as gaming, graphics designing, etc.

There are a lot of monitors available in high resolution such as 1440p, 4k, etc. But its price is high. If you are ready to invest in a monitor, a 4k monitor is worth it. Otherwise, a 1080p is a way to go.  

2. Refresh Rate

Refresh rate is also one of the most important factors to choose a perfect display. The refresh rate is the time in which the monitor refreshes its image per second. For example, a monitor with a 60Hz refresh rate, refreshes images 60 times per second.

Additionally, it defines how often your monitor can display its image per second. It is measured in Hz and also the higher the monitor refresh rate the better it will perform.

If you are a gamer and want a great gaming monitor, then you should go for at least a 240Hz monitor or above, if possible. Because the higher the monitor refresh rate the smoother and lag-free gameplay will appear on the screen.

3. Panel Type:

Panel type is something that you should pay attention to when selecting a monitor. Nowadays, I think all monitors use LCD panels. The top three main LCD panels are TN (Twisted Nematic), IPS (In-Plane-Switching), and VA (Vertical Alignment).

All these technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, that’s why you need to choose the ones for your personal needs and preferences.

In short, the main difference between these is their contrast ratios and brightness. The TN panel is the worst and its contrast ratio is b/w 500:1 to 1300:1. The IPS panel is a little better than TN because its contrast ratio is a bit high as compared to the TN panel. It supports a contrast ratio from 800:1 to 1600:1.

On the other hand, the VA panel is much better than both IPS and TN panels, because of its high contrast ratio and its support from 2500:1 to 6000:1. According to the scenario, it is clear that the VA panel is best, but it’s the only contrast ratio comparison and there are also many other factors which are involved in its comparison.

That’s why you need to select one that is best suited to your needs and budget. If you want a separate and detailed article on display panels, leave “Yes I Need A Separate Article On Display Panel” in the comment section.

Related: How to Clean BenQ Monitor Easily 2023

4. Response Time

Response time is the time it takes a display to respond to a user action. If you are a gamer you may know how a response time can make or break your gameplay. The response time is an important factor, especially for gamers.

Because in some fast-paced games such as first-person shooters, the time between you and your enemy is very short to shoot him. That’s why you need to get a great response time monitor, which can improve your gameplay.

5. Screen Size & Aspect Ratios

When it comes to choosing a perfect display, the size and aspect ratio is something that you should keep in mind. Large screen size is best obviously, but they need more money. If you can afford it, you need to go for a 27-inch or 30-inch display. 

Otherwise, a 23-inch or 24-inch monitor with a 16:9 aspect ratio can work fine. If you are poor and looking for a budget-friendly option then I will recommend buying a 17-inch monitor.

6. G-Sync & FreeSync Compatible

G-Sync and FreeSync are the latest technologies that are used in high-end monitors. Both G-Sync and FreeSync synchronize your monitor refresh rate with your graphics card FPS (Frames Per Second), which results in smooth gameplay without screen tearing and stuttering.

With the use of these technologies, you can experience an immersive gaming experience. So if you are buying a monitor for gaming, you need to get one that supports one of these technologies. 

7. Ergonomics Stand

In the gaming industry, a lot of PC gamers have neck or shoulder pain problems because of bad ergonomics. This problem can be faced by those people who spend more time in front of the monitor and obviously, the gamer is also one of those. 

The Ergonomics stand allows you to set up your monitor for your needs. The Ergonomics stand is one of the premium features that come in high-end monitors. So if you are also one of those people such as a gamer, writer, blogger or graphics designer, etc.

You should need to choose a perfect display with a good ergonomics stand.

8. Color gamut & Color Accuracy

Both color gamut and color accuracy are important factors in the monitor. In a monitor, color accuracy is defined as the range of colors that a monitor can produce. Otherwise, color accuracy can describe the colors within the color space produced by your monitor. 

Color gamut is the combination of colors and they are 3 dimensional which is hue, brightness, and saturation. That’s why you need to get a monitor with an “NTSC” or “sRGB” color gamut, which is best for anyone.

9. Brightness & Contrast Ratio 

The brightness and contrast ratio is something that you should pay attention to when choosing a PC monitor. With incorrect brightness and contrast levels, you can feel eye fatigue and headaches.

Brightness is something that determines how much brighter your image will appear on the screen. The higher the brightness the better your image quality is and it is represented by candela per square meter, which is known as nits.

The normal brightness of a monitor is between 300 to 350 nits. Otherwise, the brightness below 300 nits is considered low and the brightness above 350 nits is considered high.

The contrast ratio is the difference between high and low brightness. For example, if your monitor contrast ratio is 500:1 that means, the image appears 500 times brighter than a black image on the screen.

That’s why you need to get a monitor with high brightness and a good contrast ratio.

10. Rich Connectivity or Ports

Connectivity is the ability to connect various programs, systems, and data to your monitor. Rich connectivity means that your monitor supports a lot of connectivity options, which allows you to connect various devices to your monitor.

A rich connectivity monitor includes HDMI, DVI, VGA, a Headphone jack, an Ethernet cable, and so on. That’s why you should get ones with flexible connectivity.

Also Read: Hp Monitor Not Turning On 2023 (Reasons & Solutions)

11. Budget

Budget is one of the most important factors that you should pay 100% attention to when it comes to choose a perfect display. If you belong to a rich family and you can afford an expensive monitor then they are worth it. Otherwise, you can get ones with a low budget and it works fine.

As you know, an expensive monitor is obviously better than a budget-friendly one. But if you want to buy a high-quality and affordable monitor, leave a comment in the comment section below.

I will do solid research and provide you with the best monitor that will fit your budget as well as your requirement.

What is the main difference b/w LCD and LED?

All LCD monitors are LED, but not all LEDs are LCD. Both types of displays use liquid crystal. LCD monitors use a fluorescent backlight while LED monitors use Light Emitting Diode.

Basically, LED monitors have great picture quality due to their excellent LED arrays. According to many experts, the lifespan of an LCD monitor is shorter than LED. The lifespan of an LCD monitor is 70000 hours while the LED monitor’s lifespan is 80000 to 100000 hours.

LCD monitors use a backlight to illuminate the screen while LED monitors use an array of LEDs rather than a single backlight, which provides you with a clear and sharp image as compared to LCD.

LED is more powerful than LCD due to its premium features. LED monitor’s brightness and contrast ratio are high as compared to LCD monitors. Additionally, LED monitors consume less power as compared to LCDs.

As a result, the main difference between these is their backlight.

Do I want to be curved or flat?

Many people are confused when they are buying a monitor. There are two main panels available that you can choose from, which are known as flat and curved. Both panels are helpful for any type of user, but the curved ones are more popular than the flat ones.

The main reason for its popularity is, they fill the peripheral vision that allows you to focus on your work. Additionally, a curved monitor can catch more light from different angles and it will cost more money as compared to a flat monitor, which is the disadvantage of this monitor. 

So, if you are looking for a budget-friendly option then a flat monitor is a great option. Otherwise, investing in a curved monitor can be worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is the Ultrawide monitor good for gaming?

Yes, an ultra-wide monitor is good for gaming, because it comes with a lot of premium features and a very high resolution. The downside of this monitor is that it costs more money than a normal PC monitor.

Q2: What resolution do I need for gaming?

For gaming purposes, a 1920 x 1080p resolution is best. 1440p and 4k monitors are excellent choices for gaming but they need a powerful graphics card.

If you have a powerful PC with built-in a high-end graphics card, investing in a high-end monitor is not bad. But the reason is if you can afford it. Otherwise buying a 1080p monitor is a great option.

Q3: Is IPS better than VA?

When it comes to viewing angles, the IPS panel is better than VA. Otherwise, the VA panel is better than IPS in color accuracy and color gamut. The VA panel also offers a great brightness and contrast ratio.

Conclusion

Buying a great monitor is best, but the thing is if you afford it otherwise it’s not worth it. If you are reading this article, you may know the secret of choosing a great monitor for your requirements.

I hope you understand this article and gained some knowledge about the monitor and what to look for in a monitor. In this article, I explained everything about choosing a great monitor.

Additionally, if you have any queries about buying an excellent monitor, leave them in the comment section. Otherwise, will remember in prayers, bye.