Characteristic n°1 : Resolution

17 and 19 inch screens almost all display in 1280 x 1024 pixels, 4/3 20’’s  are in 1600 x 1200, and 20’’ wide and 22’’ monitors are in 1680 x 1050 pixels.  In theory, the wide format should be better for viewing movies, however, this isn’t currently the case.  The majority of screens of this type shimmer too much in video for us to really recommend them for this use.  Choose them if you have large spreadsheets or for certain games in which you can benefit from a larger field of view.

Note that LCD monitors have a major disadvantage compared to CRTs in that leaving their native resolution adds some blur to images.  It’s better to play and work in the default resolution, which may require a more recent graphic card for certain games.

Characteristic n°2 : Response time

This is the measurement put into place by manufacturers and is derived from the ISO norm 13406-2.  Panel manufacturers measure the time needed for a white point to change to some level of gray and then the time to go back to white again.  This gives two values in milliseconds called the Rise Time (tr) and Fall Time (tf), which are then added together.  For all of these tests (white – light gray – white, white – medium gray – white, etc...), they indicate the lowest time they were able to obtain in the product specifications.  This is then the response time for grays, G2G, or gray to gray.
The only problem is that the lowest time attained could be 50 times inferior to the highest, and there is no way to know which value was used.  Practical tests in games and movies are necessary to really evaluate the quality of a screen in this area.

Characteristic n°3 : Screen technology and its ramifications

This is a bit of information rarely given, however, it is essential.  There are four large families of screens: TNs, IPS (slowing down because they are expensive), MVAs and PVAs.  In our tests, we give you each screen’s technological identity.

- The TN 2, 3 and 4 ms are equivalent.  The components are the same and there are only a few processing « tricks » that are sometimes added without consequence on the real rendering of the monitor.  These are the current fastest screens and for this reason they are the best adapted for intensive gaming.  Their disadvantages are a noticeable shimmering in movies and a smaller inferior viewing angle.

- the TN 5, 8, 12 and 16 ms are more or less equivalent for the same above reasons.  Reactivity isn’t as good as on the latest generation over 4 ms and this can be seen with the naked eye.  Their disadvantages are the same noticeable shimmering in movies and a smaller inferior viewing angle.

- MVA 8 ms are the most versatile screens.  Their reactivity is comparable to that of a TN 8 ms, the inferior viewing angle is larger and the shimmering is a lot less in movies.  Their disadvantage:  Standard color rendering is very average and not as good as with PVAs.

- the PVA 6 ms has identical behavior to the MVA 8 ms in games.  Their advantage is better default color rendering.  The problem is a strong shimmering in movies.

- MVAs and PVAs with response times superior to 12 ms are slower and more affected by afterglow.

- IPS technology has kept some followers, who despite noticeable afterglow still appreciate these screens for their viewing angles which are larger than those of MVAs and PVAs.

Characteristic n°4 : Viewing angles

If viewing angles are announced to be inferior or equal to 170°, it’s a TN type screen.  And whether the manufacturer claims 120 or 170°, in reality, the two are identical.  This bizarre habit (to be polite) comes from a lack of rigor in measuring angles and wrongly tolerated laxest practices.  For TNs the real viewing angles, or in other words, those in which the image is still good, are more like 60° from the sides, 50° from above and 10° from below.   This adds up to 120° laterally and 60° in the vertical plane.

If the announced angle superior to 170°, the screen is either an IPS (this is becoming rare), an MVA, or PVA.  IPS benefit from truly large viewing angles and we can trust the product specifications.  MVA and PVA angles are large, but not as much as is often claimed.  They are more like 45° from all angles (beyond this colors aren’t as vivid), or 90° vertically and laterally.

Characteristic n°5 : Brightness

Don’t trust the numbers as the biggest value isn’t always the best.  A brightness of 400 candelas per square meter (cd/m²) is only interesting for screens displayed in store windows to attract the shopper’s eye.  Above 250 cd/m² on a personal monitor is too bright and almost blinding.
For comparison, graphic artists generally set their screens to a max of 110 cd/m² and 90 cd/m² for some purists.

Characteristic n°6 : Contrast ratio

This is the difference between the brightness of a white and black point on the screen.  Ideally, black should be perfect and therefore display zero brightness.  Unfortunately, this is never the case and there is always some light that gets through.  Benefiting from the strongest contrast ratio assures a good depth in black resulting in a better rendering of darker shades.  Screens with a low contrast ratio often display dark grays instead of a deep black.