How do you buy an LCD monitor

[iam4u2nv]

What do you look for in a good LCD Monitor?
I am new to LCD's and do not know what is good. I am looking at the Sylvania L181
but I do not know how to compare them. What should I be looking for?
Thanks

 

[minendo]

You should head over to General Hardware and ask this question. Even running a search in GH or Video will return helpful and informative posts.

 

[loup garou]

Yep, there are several great threads in Video. There's also a huge one in the ArsTechnica forums on LCDs (and I mean HUGE). I'll see if I can find a link.

EDIT: Here is the Ars thread.

 

[TechMasterChen]

I looked at the native resolution support, contrast/brightness, and refresh rate when I was purchasing an LCD for games.

 

[Orbius]

The best LCD for games is the Hitachi CML174 because of its super response time. If gaming is your top priority its the LCD to get.
If you just want a LCD for surfing and general computing, then basically any LCD will do, though I would recommend getting one that has a DVI connector.

 

[step-dawg]

Good specs to keep an eye out for are:

Contrast Ratio - 400:1 or higher
Brightness - 220 nits or higher
response time - 25ms or faster (the hitachi one mentioned has a 16ms response time). Response time is mainly a spec to look for for gaming and watching lots of videos or DVD's. if you don't game, then slower response times won't bother you at all

Those are the basics most people look for.

 

[Deskstar]

Don't put too much stock into the various measurements; there is very little "standardization" in those measurements. Rather go to a store and look at each display, until you find one you think is satisfactory. Buy from somewhere that you can easily return the product and exchange it for a different product to safeguard your process.

 

[iam4u2nv]

What is a good pixel size. The one I am looking at is .35mm Is that good. I do not know if it works like a CRT does.
THanks

 

[Kingofcomputer]

http://www.tomshardware.com/display/index.html
a good starting point.

more technical:
about Hitachi's S-IPS panel

about Fujitsu's MVA panel

about Koreans' PVA panel

about Sharp's ASV panel

about Mitsubishi's coming FFD technology

 

[Gosharkss]

King

FYI only.

You keep spreading the word on FFD technology, you should read what the NEC/Mitsubishi (SDM) rep says about it in
this tread

 

[Kingofcomputer]

Gosharkss, I didn't spread the word of FFD and promote FFD.
It's the other 2 members keep attacking me on FFD vs non-FFD LCD issue.

 

[Gosharkss]

Sorry, in either case don?t hold your breath on FFD technology according to the NEC/Mitsubishi rep. Send them my link.