How to Select a Computer Monitor

The computer monitor, colloquially known as the ‘screen’, is the electronic visual display of the computer. The screen does not keep a permanent record of what it shows. It merely projects the signals from the Central Processing Unit (CPU) to make the processes understandable to the user. Here is the list of best computer monitors under 200 dollars that may help you to pick the best one at a budget price.

Types of Monitor

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Screens are those which have vacuum tubes equipped with electron guns to produce images on phosphor-coated screens. This type of monitor was primarily made to produce images in black and white. However, as time passed by, improvements were made and it CRTs can now show images in full color. The CRT Screens are relatively cheap compare to other types of monitors.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology was first introduced to laptops as its light weight justifies its price for portable computers. This type of monitor utilizes the capability of liquid crystals to modulate light. The Thin Film Transistor LCD (TFT-LCD) is a variation of the LCD. It is,
basically, an enhanced version of the LCD as it provides better image quality. The TFT-LCD is also the most common screen used for smart phones and television nowadays. Though initially costly, the number of LCD monitors available and the introduction of the OLED caused its price to drop.

An Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Screens, basically, has a film of an organic compound which produces light when in contact with electricity. An OLED monitor does not need a backlight and thus it is thinner and lighter than an LCD.

Optimal Monitor Use: Performance Check

With the fast development of technology, the monitors became as advanced as ever – from the black and white CRT of the 1980’s to the three-dimensional LEDs of today. Considering the variety of monitors available in the market, the following factors help users to determine which monitor is the best to serve their purpose:

1. Luminance is known as luminous intensity in every unit area of light moving to a certain direction. Basically, it’s the capacity for brightness of a computer screen. It is measured by candela per square meter (c/m2). The optimal luminance differs for every type of thing done in the computer – from browsing the internet to printing a picture. However, recent ISO releases state that the best luminance would be around 80 c/m2 to 120 c/m2.
2. Display Resolution is known as the number of pixels in each dimension. The high resolution screens are limited by dot pitch. The Dot Pitch is defined as the sub-pixels distance from one another. Thus, the smaller the dot pitches, the more accurate the image being projected is.
3. The Viewable Image Size is dependent on how big the screen is. It is how much is visible of the screen. It usually is measured diagonally but to be more accurate, the actual width and height is more preferable.
4. Aspect Ratio is the horizontal to vertical length ratio of a screen. Common aspect ratios are 16:10, 5:4, and 4:3.
5. The lower the Response Time the better for a monitor. It is defined as the time it would take a monitor to change displays – from active to inactive and vice versa. The Refresh Rate is dependent on the response time. It is the number of times the images are illuminated per
   second.
6. Power Consumption is how much energy is spent in using the monitor. Power-saving monitors are quite popular as they help reduce the electricity used every time the monitor is turned on.
7. The Contrast Ratio is the ratio of the colors on-screen from black to white. The default is at 0% and may be increased or decreased, depending on the users need.
8. Color accuracy is measured by Delta E. The lower the Delta E is, the more accurate the colors in the monitor are.
9. The Viewing Angle is the optimal position which a user can use the monitor without distorting the images shown on it.

The aforementioned aspects are to be checked when buying a monitor to ensure optimal usage. The wide array of available monitors gives consumers several choices for their monitors’ intended purpose.