Many people underestimate the importance of choosing a monitor and focus on the processor and graphics card. However, a good monitor is what determines the comfort of working at a computer in the first place. In addition, it becomes obsolete much more slowly than other computer components, so it fully justifies the money invested in them.
Choosing a monitor is not as difficult as it sounds. First, you need to decide on the purpose of the monitor, that is, what it will mainly be used for - to watch videos, play games, or to work with office applications.
Monitor size
The main parameter of the monitor is the size of the diagonal, measured in inches. One inch is 2.5 cm. To work with office applications, 17 - 19 inches are enough, for watching videos - at least 22 inches, and preferably 24 - 27 inches for games.
It is worth noting that the size of the monitor for video and games - the bigger the better. In this case, the choice is limited only by the size of the wallet and the place for installation. Therefore, before buying a large monitor, you should make sure that it will fit on your desk.
Monitor format
For watching movies, the format of the monitor is important. Most monitors are already available in the 16: 9 format, but the 16:10 format is now becoming relevant. To watch movies, you should also choose a monitor with a Full HD resolution - 1920 × 1080.
Monitor response time
Response time is a very important parameter when choosing a gaming monitor. This parameter is indicated in milliseconds: the smaller it is, the better. The response time shows how long it takes for pixels to change their color. For a long time, a colored trail remains behind moving objects. Modern monitors are characterized by good performance in this parameter, however, for fast games, you need to choose a monitor with a minimum response time.
Viewing angle and contrast of the monitor
The viewing angle is another important indicator that shows at what deviation from the center line the correct color rendition is disturbed. This indicator is especially important when watching movies by several people. The larger these angles horizontally and vertically, the more comfortable it is to work at the computer.
Contrast is a measure of the number of shades - light and dark - reproduced by a monitor. High contrast ratios are required when working with drawings or photographs.
Extra options
Brightness - this parameter is not very important for a home monitor, unless it will stand in a very bright, sun-drenched place.
Also pay attention to the coverage of the monitor. Glossy monitors have better color reproduction, but light sources are reflected like in a mirror. Therefore, for work with office applications and drawings, it is better to choose a monitor with a matte finish.
The type of matrix does not really matter and is often not even indicated by the manufacturer. Most monitors are sold with a TFT TN matrix. They are inexpensive, have excellent response time and contrast, good color reproduction. These monitors are great for office programs, watching movies and playing games.
However, for those who work professionally with color, for example, designers or photographers, you will need a monitor with a TFT IPS matrix - they have average response times and contrast, but excellent color reproduction, as close to natural as possible. The price of such monitors will be significantly higher than with a TFT TN matrix.
Before buying, you also need to decide on the presence of additional components, such as a webcam or TV tuner. You also need to make sure that the monitor has the necessary connectors for connecting to a computer, for example, HDMI, if the video card supports this format.
