The Definitive Monitor Buying Guide

29/09/2021 12:03 The Definitive Monitor Buying Guide - Make Tech Easier
Home > Hardware
The Definitive Monitor Buying Guide

By Christopher Harper / Sep 22, 2021
What do you need to know before buying a monitor, and where can you find all
that information in one convenient place? This guide walks you through all the
core monitor-buying jargon that you need to know, as well as a few of current
top recommendations on the market. Let’s dive in together.
Part 1: Understanding Key Monitor

Specifications
When it comes to PC monitor specifications, it’s easy to get bogged down by
marketing buzzwords and whatever hyper-specific specification the
manufacturer decides to emphasize. Learning about it will show you how to
break all of it down.
Resolution, Screen Size, and PPI

Resolution refers to the full, native resolution of a given display, which is
measured by its pixels. An array of 1920 x 1080 pixels is considered “True HD”
resolution, while 3840 x 2160 is considered “Ultra HD” resolution (AKA 4K).
Screen size in PC monitors is measured by the diagonal length of the screen,

as with TVs and other displays.
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But how do you choose the right resolution and right screen size for your
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Powered by Hindsight
First, it’s important to recognize that resolution and screen size are intertwined
specifications. Working from the two, you get a measurement called PPI, or
Pixels Per Inch, which serves as an effective measure of perceived fidelity.
For desktop monitors at an average viewing distance, a PPI of 80 or higher is

needed for providing a clear image.
To get 80+ PPI at 1080p resolution, you’ll want to stay at or below a 27-inch
screen size. A 24-inch 1080p monitor will offer a pixel density of roughly 91 PPI,
which makes for a quite clear and sharp image.
When you move onto 1440p and 4K, PPI becomes so high that most monitor
sizes are viable while maintaining clarity.
To get ~109 PPI at 1440p resolution, you only need a 27-inch monitor. This is a
significant improvement in fidelity compared to a 1080p panel of similar size
and will allow you to benefit from increased screen real estate, too.
Even once you break into 32 inches, which is entering TV territory, 1440p
maintains the same crisp 91 PPI that a 24-inch 1080p monitor would.
The uber-high PPI of 4K at almost any screen size allows you to do anything
you want with 4K monitors. However, I recommend targeting that 27-inch
sweet spot with 4K as well or even moving up to 32-inch or Ultrawide if you’re
determined to make the most of those extra pixels.
Refresh Rate
If you’re in the market for a gaming monitor, this is one of your most important
specifications. There are still benefits to high refresh rates outside of gaming,
but you’ll see the biggest benefits from a high refresh monitor when gaming.
To look further at refresh rate, it refers to the number of screen “refreshes” per
second and is measured in Hertz. The baseline refresh rate for the majority of
displays is 60 Hz, but high-refresh-rate displays can push as high as 360 Hz.
The higher the refresh rate, the smoother the perceived motion. This is
especially valuable for gamers, who enjoy high refresh rate displays as both a
luxury and competitive advantage.
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If you don’t care about playing video games that much, just get a 60 Hz monitor
and be done with it. But if you’re gaming or doing extremely latency-sensitive
work, getting a high refresh monitor with a low pixel response time can have
an immensely positive impact on your experience.
Use TestUFO.com to test the visual difference between refresh rates supported
by your display. You can’t test refresh rates above your display’s capabilities,
but you will see a clear difference between your native refresh rate and lower
refresh rates.
Pixel Response Time

Pixel response time, also called response time, is one of the most widely
misunderstood monitor specifications. It doesn’t help that manufacturers like
choosing different ways to measure it, resulting in “1 ms” panels that are
actually closer to 5 ms or more.
This is important because of clarity of motion. People think pixel response time
is tied to input lag, but it’s actually more tied to refresh rate than anything else
due to how it works.
A “good” pixel response time is basically any response time that doesn’t cause
noticeable ghosting or smearing when in motion. TN panels are great in this
regard and can push 1 ms or less response times for the clearest reproduction
of high-fidelity motion.
IPS and VA panels have good pixel response times on the higher end,
especially IPS, but TN ultimately leads this field, especially in lower price
ranges.
Pixel response time is measured in milliseconds and usually G2G (Gray To

Gray), which measures the amount of time it takes for pixels to switch colors
(hence being tied to motion). A good range to aim for is 5 ms or lower, as this
will minimize ghosting and enable higher refresh rates.
Sometimes monitor manufacturers use another response time measurement,

like MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time). The exact performance of these
can be harder to verify, but in general, the same rule of lower is better applies.
Be sure to double-check reviews for mentions of ghosting, though!
Panel Type: TN vs. IPS vs. VA

Monitor panel type isn’t always advertised, but it’s actually one of the most
impactful monitor specs. This is because the underlying panel type impacts
pricing, performance, viewing angles, color reproduction, and more. But what
actually sets these various panel types apart?
Twisted Nematic (TN) panels are the most common and cheapest. Besides
these traits, they can be manufactured to excel at refresh rate and pixel
response time, offering some of the best low-latency displays available.
TN panels do suffer from poor viewing angles and color reproduction compared
to other panels, though. This makes them less ideal for off-center viewing or
professional color work.
Vertical Alignment (VA) panels are another common panel type, more
expensive than TN panels but cheaper than IPS panels. Compared to TN
panels, VA panels have improved color reproduction and viewing angles but still
not quite the best. I
A unique strength of VA panels compared to all other panel types is the ability
of VA panels to display dark scenes with more clarity. Local dimming and HDR
work best on VA panels, allowing for less noticeable backlight bleed in scenes
with little to no lighting. This makes them ideal for media on the high-end.
VA panels in general do tend to have poor pixel response time, though. This
isn’t really an issue in most scenarios, but it can result in smearing at refresh
rates higher than 75 Hz.
An LG-manufactured IPS panel
In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels offer the best viewing angles and color
reproduction but come at the highest prices. In addition to the higher price
point of IPS monitors compared to others, IPS panels are notorious for having
backlight bleed, making them generally less ideal for displaying dark scenes.
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IPS panels used to fall short compared to TN panels in overall pixel response
times and refresh rates, but high-end IPS panels pushing 360 Hz do exist and
run well. While a gap still exists on older IPS panels, this gap is often minimal
when running at 144 Hz or a lower resolution.
For professionals and gamers, an IPS panel will most likely provide the best
experience.
For those on a slimmer budget, a VA or TN panel can also be a fine choice,

depending on your priorities. If you mainly consume media, you should feel
right at home on a VA panel, since many TVs use them.
It’s recommended that gamers use TN if they aren’t using IPS, but a VA panel is
acceptable as long as it has good pixel response times.
Contrast Ratio
Contrast ratio is a monitor specification used to indicate the level of contrast
offered by the monitor… in theory. Since there is no standard contrast ratio
metric or testing methodology, manufacturers can basically place whatever

specification they want here, and it could mean something different from
monitor to monitor.
If you’re looking for a monitor with deep blacks and great contrast, start by
looking for a monitor based on a VA panel. These will provide the best
experience with that kind of content, and on the high-end, you can get VA’s
superb contrast with great color and viewing angles.
Color Gamut and Color Accuracy

Color Gamut and Color Accuracy are the two specs most directly tied to color
reproduction, and they are especially important to anyone looking to do
professional video, graphics, or photography work.
Color Gamut is fairly important since it determines the maximum range of

colors that the display can handle. Most displays will aim for around 99 to 100
percent of the sRGB color gamut, which is roughly 72 to 75 percent of the

NTSC color gamut. This is a standard range of colors, but calibration and color
accuracy will impact how it looks across different monitors.
If you’re looking to do professional image work, you’ll want a WCG (Wide Color
Gamut) IPS monitor. In this case, you’ll want a 95+ percent gamut coverage in
NTSC or DCI-P3 color spaces.
But Color Gamut isn’t the whole story – Color Accuracy is, too. Fortunately,
Color Accuracy isn’t as strictly tied to the hardware as Gamut is, and
professionals can use aftermarket calibrators to get maximum accuracy for
their display.
G-Sync, FreeSync, and other Adaptive Sync

Technologies
G-Sync, FreeSync, and other -Sync technologies are all operating toward the
same goal: synchronizing screen refresh rate to in-game framerate. Doing this
serves several purposes, but most importantly, it eliminates visual screen
tearing and increases the overall fluidity of an image.
Compared to a software-based solution like V-Sync, G-Sync and FreeSync are

built into your monitor and should work with nearly any full screen game right
out of the box so long as your GPU is also compatible. Unlike V-Sync, these
Adaptive Sync technologies don’t increase input lag or the likelihood of major
frame drops, so these are must-have features in modern gaming monitors.
In case the monitor you’re eyeing doesn’t have the feature, or your GPU doesn’t
support it, you aren’t totally out of luck. Using an FPS Cap or Scanline Sync in
RivaTuner can provide most of the same benefits without resorting to V-Sync
or requiring built-in G-Sync/FreeSync support.
Part 2: Understanding Display Standards
Before buying a monitor, it’s important to understand a thing or two about the
display standards that they use. Below, we’ve listed common display standards
you may find on both new and used markets and break down when and where
each is used.
HDMI
A standard connector used by modern HDTVs and monitors, carrying both
audio and video. While the generation of HDMI supported by your GPU and
your display may differ, the connection will always be the same and will default
to whatever version of HDMI both devices are compatible with.
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Where HDMI falters compared to other display standards is with support of

non-standard resolutions and support of refresh rates above 60.
Devices (displays, GPUs, consoles) supporting HDMI 2.1 are capable of pushing
up to 10K and 120 Hz with wide color gamut support. It can also support much
higher resolutions, but if you want the best support for your high-resolution or
high-refresh-rate display while still using HDMI, opt for 2.1-based devices.
DisplayPort
DisplayPort is a unified audio/video connector nearly always used by PC
displays and graphics cards. Unlike HDMI, it has support for an incredibly wide
range of resolutions and refresh rates and usually stays ahead of the current
HDMI generation in this regard. This is the recommended display standard for
modern PC users using monitors. Like with HDMI, the connector is backwards
and forwards-compatible, so don’t worry about exact-matching display
standards.
DisplayPort 2.0 devices allow for displays with resolutions of up to 16K, higher
than HDMI 2.1’s theoretical maximum. It can also support 144 Hz to two 8K
displays at the same time, but it’s currently unknown if it can push that refresh
rate higher than 8K. Even so, DisplayPort 2.0 is generally going to be the better
decision for people buying monitors rather than TVs, especially if high color
depth is important.
USB-C
USB-C is a multi-purpose connector that can be used for charging, USB data
transfer, and even Thunderbolt 3 data transfer. Another thing that USB-C can
do under the right circumstances is transfer video! Using USB-C’s “Alt Mode,”
USB-C cables can be used to transfer HDMI, DisplayPort, and other video
signals. USB-C by itself does not come with any display standards of its own –
it only carries others.
However, devices that actually support USB-C Alt Mode are rare, especially in
the desktop graphics space. (Normally, if a desktop GPU has a USB-C port, it’s
for VR rather than Alt Mode.) Most displays that support a USB-C connection
will support other connections as well, and device support is generally limited
to laptops and other on-the-go devices.
DVI
DVI is the digital video display standard that dominated the PC space after VGA
and before DisplayPort. While DVI can’t carry audio, DVI and the later DVI-D
(DVI Dual-Link) were able to push up to 1600p at 60 Hz, and 1080p at 120 Hz.
This made DVI one of the best choices for enthusiast displays at the time, but
these days you’ll likely only be seeing it in adapters or your own older PC.
VGA
VGA is the analog video display standard that predates DVI, DisplayPort, and
HDMI. This was the de facto display standard for most users for many years,
with many environments (like schools/businesses) continuing to use VGA well
after the debut of better display standards. Over time, the prominence of VGA
has faded, and you’re unlikely to see a VGA port on the majority of modern
devices, but there are exceptions, especially in the budget range.
While you won’t be pushing high resolutions or high refresh rates with this
connector, it is capable of supporting 1080p and 60 FPS. Like with DVI, this is
also a video-only connector.
Component and Composite Video
Last but not least are component and composite video. Support for these
connectors in modern displays is extremely rare, but fortunately, many
adapters exist on the market for devices that only support these outputs, like
retro consoles.
While the two may look similar, it’s important to note that composite (red-
yellow-white) carries audio and only supports interlaced SD signals.
Component (red-green-blue) supports 1080p progressive scan signals, making

it the much superior option between the two. If you’re using a device that relies
on analog video, always choose component video when available and use a
high-quality component-to-HDMI converter.
Part 3: The Best Monitors In 2021

I’ve run you through all you need to know to pick a good monitor for your
needs. While going across every great option on the market is a bit out of the
scale of this article, this list is narrowed down to three that should work for the
most users.
1. Best Budget Editing and Productivity Monitor:

BenQ GW2480
Diagonal Screen Size: 24 inches
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p True HD)
Panel Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
Pixel Response Time: 5 ms
Display Standards: 1 VGA, 1 HDMI 1.4, 1 DisplayPort 1.2
The BenQ GW2480 is my pick for best budget editing and productivity monitor.
While the refresh rate and response time are nothing to write home about, the
IPS panel offers superb colors and viewing angles. Despite the monitor’s fairly
low pricing, it has near-complete coverage of the sRGB color gamut out of the
box and decent out-of-box color accuracy, too.
If you just want a great monitor for getting work done at a reasonable price,
this is a great place to start.
2. Best Budget Gaming and Media Monitor:

VIOTEK GFV22CB
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p True HD)
Panel Type: VA
Refresh Rate: 144 Hz
Display Standards: 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 1 HDMI 2.0
The Viotek GFV22CB is the best budget gaming and media monitor. Despite its
relatively low pricing, it’s able to push 1080p and 144 Hz on a good-looking VA
panel. While VA panels are inherently a bit smearier in action compared to other
panel types, reviews around the web indicate that isn’t an issue for this
monitor. (Since it’s only targeting 144 Hz and not something absurd like 240 Hz
or 360 Hz, a well-made VA panel can operate well at 144 Hz – as long as the
motion blur is kept in check.)
But don’t let some minor VA fuzziness deter you. The pricing for these features
is superb, and VA panels offer their own benefits over IPS and TN: most
namely, far improved handling of dark scenes. If you enjoy playing darker
games or even just like watching movies or TV shows with dark scenes, this is
an ideal monitor for that kind of experience.
For the price range, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better-looking

and more responsive gaming monitor.
3. Best Premium Gaming, Editing, and

Productivity Monitor: Gigabyte M27Q
Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (1440p QHD)
Panel Type: IPS
Refresh Rate: 170 Hz
Display Standards: 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 2 HDMI 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 (1 Type-C)
The Gigabyte M27Q is a monitor that kind of does everything, even for its price
range. Pushing 170 Hz on a 1 ms IPS panel for under $400 used to be
unthinkable, but at the time of writing, this monitor is seeing sales dipping
below even $300.
You’d think with the gaming-centric marketing and features that the monitor
would be slacking elsewhere, but it actually provides the best color gamut and
accuracy for its price range, with coverage of 92 percent DCI-P3 and 140
percent sRGB gamuts. It even supports HDR, but don’t expect HDR on a PC
monitor to compare to a full-sized TV with HDR.
Whether you’re gaming or doing professional editing work, this monitor is going
to be the best option for you in its sub-$400 price range. Once you start paying
this much for a monitor, you don’t always have to choose between work and
play.
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What monitor size do I need?
It’s really a matter of personal preference. However, you’ll want to keep your
monitors at or under 27 inches if you’re going to be using them at a standard
desk distance. Larger displays will require you to sit back further in order to see
the entire display at one time, which can be an issue with just about any
workload.
If you want to better visualize the differences between various monitor screen
sizes, I recommend checking out DisplayWars and their Screen Size
comparison tool.
Using a tool like DisplayWars to visualize the difference between the display
you have now and a display you’re considering can help you find the right
screen size for your needs. If you still aren’t sure, I recommend 24 inches for a
balanced media consumption, productivity, and gaming experience.
2. Are IPS monitors bad for gaming?

IPS monitors can be great for gaming. However, they do cost much more than
TN monitors with the same specs, especially once you creep into 4K and 360
Hz monitors.
IPS monitors used to be much worse than TN monitors, though, which is why
this is a common question. Compared to TN panels, IPS panels were not
previously able to output high refresh rates without significant motion blur due
to high response times. This issue has been alleviated over time, though, and
shouldn’t be an issue with IPS gaming monitors of today.
3. Do I need an HDR monitor?
Most likely not, and for many good reasons.
The main reason not to bother with an HDR monitor is simply that support for it
on PC isn’t quite there yet. Windows 11’s Auto HDR feature may improve things
for users of that operating system, but people using Linux or other Windows
OSes won’t enjoy Auto HDR. Even where HDR content exists, chances are high
the same content can be displayed better in SDR on your monitor of choice.
Your HDR implementation may not have enough room for the extra necessary
lights to be built into your display for the HDR. For a hulking 4K TV, this is fine,
but for most monitors, the physical space just isn’t there to provide a great HDR
experience.
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4. What are good monitor brands?

Any monitor that you’re evaluating for purchase should be evaluated on its own
merits, not just its brand name. A solid brand name is still important, though,
especially when you’re making a purchase as big as this. Here are some
recommendations for good monitor brands:
LG
BenQ
ASUS
Dell (Alienware)
Samsung
Acer
AOC
Pixio
Philips
Parting Words
This guide goes through everything you should consider before buying a
monitor. Now, it’s up to you to find the best monitor for your needs! Now that
you have a monitor figured out, learn how to connect an Xbox Series X/S
controller and a PS4 controller to Windows.
Image Credit: Composite/Component, S-Video, VGA, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, DisplayWars, USB
Type-C, LG on Flickr, Ariakepeoples on WikiMedia Commons, TechGearRoid.com, Eondax on
WikiMedia Commons
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Christopher Harper
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29/09/2021 12:03 The Definitive Monitor Buying Guide - Make Tech Easier

Home > Hardware

Part 1: Understanding Key Monitor

Resolution, Screen Size, and PPI

Screen size in PC monitors is measured by the diagonal length of the screen,

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completa para sua vida

For desktop monitors at an average viewing distance, a PPI of 80 or higher is

Pixel Response Time

Pixel response time is measured in milliseconds and usually G2G (Gray To

Sometimes monitor manufacturers use another response time measurement,

Panel Type: TN vs. IPS vs. VA

An LG-manufactured IPS panel

Casas de Alto Padrão em Sp

For those on a slimmer budget, a VA or TN panel can also be a fine choice,

metric or testing methodology, manufacturers can basically place whatever

Color Gamut and Color Accuracy

Color Gamut is fairly important since it determines the maximum range of

percent of the sRGB color gamut, which is roughly 72 to 75 percent of the

G-Sync, FreeSync, and other Adaptive Sync

Compared to a software-based solution like V-Sync, G-Sync and FreeSync are

Part 2: Understanding Display Standards

Casas de Alto Padrão em São

Where HDMI falters compared to other display standards is with support of

Component and Composite Video

Component (red-green-blue) supports 1080p progressive scan signals, making

Part 3: The Best Monitors In 2021

1. Best Budget Editing and Productivity Monitor:

Diagonal Screen Size: 24 inches

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p True HD)

Panel Type: IPS

Pixel Response Time: 5 ms

Display Standards: 1 VGA, 1 HDMI 1.4, 1 DisplayPort 1.2

2. Best Budget Gaming and Media Monitor:

Diagonal Screen Size: 22 inches

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (1080p True HD)

Refresh Rate: 144 Hz

Pixel Response Time: 5 ms

Display Standards: 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 1 HDMI 2.0

For the price range, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better-looking

3. Best Premium Gaming, Editing, and

Diagonal Screen Size: 27 inches

Resolution: 2560 x 1440 (1440p QHD)

Panel Type: IPS

Refresh Rate: 170 Hz

Pixel Response Time: 1 ms

Display Standards: 1 DisplayPort 1.2, 2 HDMI 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 (1 Type-C)

Frequently Asked Questions

2. Are IPS monitors bad for gaming?

3. Do I need an HDR monitor?

Most likely not, and for many good reasons.

4. What are good monitor brands?

Type-C, LG on Flickr, Ariakepeoples on WikiMedia Commons, TechGearRoid.com, Eondax on

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