Information and help with buying a standard computer monitor

Monitor buying tips

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Introduction
Technology
Size
Dot / Stripe pitch
Resolution
Refresh rate
Controls
Price range
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Introduction

Purchasing a computer monitor can be one of the most important pieces of the computer as it is what will display everything coming from your computer.

Technology

Before looking at what type of configurations you need to look for when purchasing a computer monitor, it is important to know if you want a CRT or a Flat Panel / LCD monitor.
CRT Today, one of the most commonly used technologies for computer monitors. CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube, is a technology much like what you will find on most TVs. CRT monitors are an affordable solution; however, they are bulky and very heavy.
Flat Panel / LCD LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display, monitors are similar to what is found on portable computers. LCD monitors overall generally display much sharper of an image, are lighter and more space efficient; however, they are much more of an expensive solution for desktop displays.
Tips on buying LCD or Flat Panel displays can be found on on our Flat Panel buying tips section.

Size

When considering purchasing a monitor utilizing the CRT technology it is important to consider the following:
Dimensional Size Size can be one of the more important considerations when purchasing a computer monitor. Monitors are available in 15",17", 19" and 21." Like most things, larger is generally more expensive. The larger the screen, the more amount of viewable space you will be able to work with. We generally recommend users that plan on utilizing their computer for more than one-two hours a day and have the available space purchase at least a 17" monitor. Users who plan on using the computer for graphic art or cad, we highly recommend utilize at least a 21" monitor. Finally, users with little space or plan on using the computer for word processing / e-mail may want to consider a 15" monitor.
Viewable Size - The viewable size of the monitor is a very important consideration and can vary by manufacturer. The viewable size is the size of the viewable area and not the complete monitor.

Dot / stripe pitch

When purchasing a monitor, Dot Pitch or Stripe Pitch is a very important consideration. Dot Pitch measurement is found on most monitors and defines the amount of space (in millimeters) that separates two adjacent pixels that are the same color. The smaller the Dot Pitch, the sharper the image. We recommend that when purchasing a monitor the Dot Pitch be no bigger than 0.25
Stripe Pitch is a measurement used with Trinitron or Diamondtron monitors and is a measurement (in millimeters) that separates two like-colored stripes. The lower the Stripe Pitch the higher the quality of image.
When looking at monitors you should only see a Dot Pitch measurement or a Stripe Pitch measurement. You should not see both of these measurements measuring the same monitor.
Finally, these two different types of measurements should not be a measurement comparison when deciding between two or more monitors, each technology is different.

Resolution

The maximum resolution is the amount of pixels that can be displayed horizontally x vertically. Be cautious when purchasing a monitor at any size that advertises a large resolution size such as 1,600 x 1,200 for a 15" monitor.
Some monitor manufacturers may allow for such high resolutions at a high cost but the user will never utilize such a resolution. As the monitor increases in size, the image display will decrease; below is a listing of a usable resolution limit by the size of the monitor. These sizes can be debated but are the standard and most easily viewed resolutions.
15" 800 x 600 / 1,024 x 768
17" 1,280 x 1,024
19" 1,280 x 1024
21" - 1,600 x 1,200

Refresh rate

The refresh rate is a measurement of the number of times per second the screen is redrawn. This measurement is measured in hertz and it is recommended that a monitor have at least a refresh rate of 75 MHz at the resolution you wish to run at.
Controls
When purchasing a monitor, it is important to look at the available controls of that monitor. The controls allow a user to modify and/or adjust the viewable settings of the display.

Price range

When purchasing a monitor, expect to pay much less than an LCD or Flat Panel display. In addition, the larger the monitor the more money you can expect to pay. When purchasing a monitor, expect to pay the following by size.
15" Expect to pay $200.00 or less
17" Expect to pay $200.00 - $400.00
19" Expect to pay $400.00 - $1,000.00
21" Expect to pay $700.00 - $2,000,000+
*All prices are estimated prices and are not quotes. When the monitor is first introduced the price will generally be higher. All prices are US Currency, prices may vary in different countries. All prices are based on new products and not those purchased refurbished or used. All above monitors are CRT monitors and not LCD or Flat Panel monitors.

Ready to buy

Once you have reviewed the appropriate information and believe that you are ready to make a purchase of a new monitor, ensure that the source that you plan on purchasing the monitor from is a reputable source and you have reviewed our section on what to look out for when purchasing over the Internet.
Computer Hope is ready to setup and help you with issues you may encounter during the purchase and installation of your monitor regardless if you purchase through us or another vendor.
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