Alza Days - Small Monitors (Under 20")

How to choose the right LCD Monitor

Do you need a widescreen monitor or one with a classic 4:3 aspect ratio? Widescreen monitors are ideal for watching movies, playing games, and browsing the internet, while classic 4:3 monitors with diagonals of 17"-19" are ideal for office work. As for the display surface, you can choose from matte or glossy. Glossy displays deliver enhanced colour contrasts and better readability while matte displays reduce screen reflection.

It's not only the number of pixels on the screen (display resolution) that determines the quality of a monitor, the size of a monitor's dot pitch is also important. Comparing monitors of two different sizes but of the same resolution, you'll find that the larger one produces a coarser image. This can be slightly reduced by font-smoothing functions, which are integrated in most operating systems. To get the most out of your monitor, you'll need to adjust the screen resolution, as the native resolution might differ from model to model.

Response time indicates how many milliseconds it takes for a pixel to change - the lower the response time, the smoother the change. Brightness determines the luminous intensity of an image and higher contrast ensures blacker blacks and whiter whites.
 

In addition to basic D-Sub analog inputs, modern monitors also feature digital DVI inputs. Some monitors offer multiple options together with HDMI inputs. Before you select a particular model, be sure to check whether it is compatible with your graphics card.

We recommend choosing a monitor with a larger diagonal size and higher resolution. Opt for a model with a lower response time, higher brightness and contrast, and check that the monitor features DVI/HDMI inputs.