It’s surprising to see how little some people know about computer monitors until they actually have to buy one. You should never shop for a monitor until you know a thing or two about them. If you don’t at least know the basics, you might get lost when looking at different models and end up making the wrong decision. Thankfully, monitors are not that complicated and you should be able to find the perfect one for you by asking the right questions. Here are some of the questions you should ask yourself when shopping for a computer monitor.
How many sizes Do I Really Need?
Don’t make the mistake of getting the biggest monitor money can buy unless you want to use the monitor primarily to watch films and shows. Even then, you probably will want to get some work done from time to time, and working on an unnecessarily big screen can get annoying after a while.
This also goes if you’re looking for a monitor for gaming. Anything higher than 27” will be way too big and you might have to readjust your seating position to see everything correctly. Try to pick a unit between 24” and 27” if it’s mainly for work and gaming. This is the perfect size for most activities and will allow you to see everything without straining or having to back away from the screen.
How many monitors Can My Machine Handle?
You may want to get the latest, most powerful monitor on the market, but it will be of no use if your machine isn’t powerful enough for you to take full advantage of it. Before you start looking for 1440p 144hz gaming monitors, you should first see if your graphics card and CPU can produce the type of frame rate that would warrant this type of purchase. A 2ghz processor with a 1650 Nvidia card won’t go much higher than 60 frames per second, so you wouldn’t be using the specs fully if you went with this type of monitor. So, go with what your machine can handle first.
What Do You Want to Do with the Machine Principally?
You must sit down and look at your habits before you start looking for monitors. You have to check what you do every single day so you can set priorities. This will help you choose which type of technology you need on that monitor. You have three main types of monitors in the market: TN (twisted nematic) displays, VA (vertical alignment) displays, and IPS (In-Plane Switching) displays.
Twisted nematic displays are the oldest and use LCD technology. They might not be the best for colors or for watching videos, but they have a faster response time than more recent technologies like vertical alignment. This makes them a better option than VA displays for gaming, but not better than IPS displays.
IPS displays are recognized as the best for gaming because of the fast reaction times and color range. One area where they lack, however, is when it comes to black levels and contrast. VA displays have them beat in both categories and are much better for watching video content. So, look at what is most important for you and choose the technology accordingly.
These few questions should be enough to steer you in the right direction when looking at monitors. There are so many different types of monitors out there, so take your time and don’t be afraid to ask people you know for their opinion.
