How to Buy a Monitor

Everyone needs a good monitor to get the most out of a PC. But which monitor you need depends on several factors -- what applications you use, how much room you have on your desk, how much space you need on a virtual desktop, and of course how much you want to spend. From standard-issue 19-inchers to 30-inch monsters, here's how to sort out what you need.

The big picture We'll explain the advantages of LCDs, and tell you which monitors work best for what you do.

The specs explained We'll help you sort through the litany of options for LCD monitors. more

Monitor shopping tips Ready to buy? Here's what to look for and what to avoid. more

Monitor manufacturers typically offer entry-level 17- or 19-inch LCD models that combine very low prices with pared-down features. (For example, many of the inexpensive PC deals you see from Dell include a monitor that has only an analog video input, not a digital one.) Such monitors work well enough for Web surfing, e-mail and other office tasks -- as long as they provide adequate resolution and screen adjustment controls for brightness, color and other settings. Midrange and professional lines often provide better image quality through digital connections (predominantly DVI, though some models now support DisplayPort, too) and extensive features, such as superior image-adjusting controls, integrated USB ports and memory card slots, a larger set of ergonomic options (such as height adjustment or the ability to pivot), and higher resolutions. Some professional-level monitors include asset control -- to help IS managers keep track of their company's property via a LAN -- and hardware calibration, which adjusts the monitor and/or graphics card to ensure precise hues. Other pro LCDs provide color-calibration tools, as well.

LCD is clearly the dominant display technology today. Historically, graphics professionals have preferred CRT monitors because they support a greater range of resolutions (including very high resolutions) and show truer colors and greater nuance in color. However, manufacturers ceased making the aperture-grille models -- generally agreed to be the top-performing type of CRT for photos and general graphics work -- in 2005. Many pros now use high-end LCDs, which approach the color quality of CRTs yet consume much less energy. The development of color-calibrating hardware and software specifically designed for LCDs has helped persuade many professionals to make the switch to flat panels. Continuing improvements in black level (perfect black -- which is traditionally somewhat soft or grayed in LCDs) and the use of both LED backlighting and a wider color palette are easing the shift toward LCD for professional users.