And distortion minimum response time. LG TV, household appliances, mobile phones, monitors
Many modern and old LCD TVs with more for a long time The response displays blur around fast-moving objects, making them unsuitable for action scenarios, sports, video games and almost any fast-moving video. For example, when watching a baseball game on an older LCD TV, the ball may appear to have a comet-like tail, moving quickly across the screen. This phenomenon is most common in budget LCD displays, but in general image blur is an inherent problem LCD technology. The reason this smearing effect is important to us as consumers is that high response times can completely ruin beautiful picture, regardless of the contrast and brightness of the TV.
Nowadays, manufacturers have significantly improved response times.
The latest solution to this issue is to increase the frame rate of LCD panels, many LCD panels are now doubling or quadrupling the original standard from 60Hz to 120Hz and 240Hz. But as manufacturers increasingly compete with each other in terms of technical innovations, quality is thereby deteriorating. Manufacturers more often deceive consumers in technical indicators or do not specify response time at all. It was with viewing angles, then brightness and contrast, and now response time.
One example of good response time is Sharp's Aqua line. These are very highly sensitive LCD displays and have a response time of 4 milliseconds. Older LCD TVs had a timing of 12 to 16 milliseconds. Current Sony XBR and Bravia LCD displays list response times of 4 milliseconds and 120 Hz or higher. According to rumors, some Chinese manufacturers LCD displays have response times of over 20 or even 25 milliseconds.
This article is devoted to a topical problem today - the choice LCD monitor. From information about the main characteristics of modern monitors, we move on to specific recommendations indicating the most interesting models in various price categories.
Disclaimer: The article does not aim to describe the operating principles of modern LCD monitors and is the subjective point of view of its author about the criteria for choosing an LCD monitor.
Lyrical digression. Five years ago, I did not even imagine that by today LCD monitors would almost completely displace traditional monitors based on cathode ray tube. But times have changed, and now a decent new CRT monitor, with good geometry and a large diagonal, is simply not available for sale. Meanwhile, manufacturers offer a 19″ monitor based on liquid crystals for 250 American rubles. But why does one 19″ monitor cost $250, while another costs $500 or more? And which one should you prefer?
First, let's talk about the characteristics of the monitor that you should pay attention to when choosing.
Response time
Response time is a characteristic that shows (without going into details) how quickly each pixel that forms an image on the monitor can change its color to a given one. The age-old problem with LCD monitors is that the image on them changes at a much slower rate than in the case of CRT-based monitors. As a result, LCD monitors with big time response when the picture changes dynamically, you can see a “blurring” of the picture, when the boundaries of a moving object blur and lose their clarity. To the credit of LCD monitor manufacturers, the situation with response time has improved significantly in recent years, and modern LCD monitors have practically eliminated this problem, with rare exceptions (which will be discussed a little later).
By general rule, how less time response, the better. However, it is worth noting that manufacturers' methods for measuring response time are different, and the response time usually indicated by manufacturers can say little about how a particular monitor will behave in real applications. It is not possible to measure the response time without special equipment, so consumers are left with two options - either read reviews with objective measurements in specialized publications, or watch this monitor “live” in various applications and draw the conclusion “satisfied/not satisfied” yourself, based on what you see. In my opinion, a response of about 8 ms or less is more than enough for comfortable watching movies and dynamic games. “Hardcore” gamers, at the same time, may need a 2 ms response on top-end LCD monitors built on a TN+film matrix.
Response time compensation (RTC, overdrive)
Since response time is one of the problematic characteristics of a monitor and is practically main characteristic, which is emphasized by marketers of manufacturing companies, engineers have developed a technology that makes it possible to reduce this characteristic - response time compensation. However this technology brought with her not only positive sides, but also artifacts of “overclocking” matrices. IN latest models Monitors with this technology have significantly reduced the number of overclocking artifacts, but it is too early to talk about their absence. As in the case of response time, I advise you to read specialized reviews, or even better, look at such monitors in person, because the meager numbers in the reviews, although objective, give little idea to the untrained reader about the real situation with overdrive artifacts.
Contrast, brightness and backlight uniformity
LCD monitor contrast is the level ratio white(the maximum brightness of which is in the center of the screen is called monitor brightness) to the black level. Roughly speaking, contrast determines how black a color will appear black rather than gray on your monitor screen. Manufacturers specify contrast ratios between 500:1 and 3000:1 for their LCD monitors. But most often this is the passport contrast of the matrices used in these monitors, which is measured by manufacturers on special stands in special conditions and does not take into account the influence of electronics specific model monitor. Some manufacturers indicate the so-called “dynamic” contrast as the monitor contrast value. Monitors with this technology evaluate what is displayed in this moment image and, depending on the predominance of light or dark tones, accordingly change the brightness of the matrix backlight. Black level is measured at minimum value brightness, and the white level is at the maximum, which is not entirely fair, since it is unattainable in reality at every single moment in time. It should also be noted that at different monitor brightness levels, the contrast will also be quite different, and the brightness required for comfortable work with text, for example, is significantly lower than the brightness required for watching videos and games.
Viewing Angles
Another one of the most important characteristics LCD monitors have different viewing angles. Because if the image on CRT monitors practically does not change even when looking at it from the side, then in the case of LCD monitors everything is completely different - the image changes significantly, and when viewed from above or below, a drop in contrast and color distortion are clearly visible. At the same time, manufacturers indicate viewing angles of 160? even for the most inexpensive panels, and so far no one has sued them for false advertising. Why, you ask? Yes, because they measure these angles under the condition that the contrast drops to values of 10:1 in the center of the screen, and some even 5:1, which is completely unacceptable from the point of view of the possibility of working with a monitor at such values. To briefly summarize this section, we can only advise you to look at the monitor “live” and, asking to set a uniform fill of some color on it, look at it with different sides and draw your own conclusion whether this option suits you.
Color rendition
The color rendition of an LCD monitor is a characteristic that shows how fully and accurately the monitor displays the color spectrum visible to the human eye. Manufacturers indicate the number of colors that a monitor can reproduce as an indicator of color rendering. For modern LCD monitors, this number is traditionally specified as 16 million, which says absolutely nothing about the quality of color rendering in principle. This parameter is important primarily for those who are going to use the monitor for professional work with color or editing digital images, and due to the complexity of the description and its complexity, we will operate with comparative definitions - “better” and “worse”.
Matrix
Now let's talk about the type of matrix, because in the vast majority of cases all other characteristics of the LCD monitor, including the price, depend on it. Modern monitors use 3 main types of matrices - S-IPS, PVA (MVA, due to slight differences from PVA, can be considered a simplified analogue of PVA with slightly worse characteristics) and the most common in monitors - TN+film.
So, as far as we can see from the table, TN+film monitors are inferior to others in terms of characteristics, but are, nevertheless, the most common of all due to one significant factor - price. Comparing monitors to S-IPS matrices and PVA, we see that none of them has a clear advantage, and the choice should be made based on personal preferences and requirements. MVA still loses in terms of all the characteristics of PVA, but it also costs significantly less than models based on PVA and S-IPS.
Diagonal size and aspect ratio of the monitor, connection method
In the final part of our article we will try to give practical advice by choice of LCD monitor. But for this we will try to give brief description the existing LCD monitor market.
Currently, manufacturers offer us models 15″, 17″, 19″, 20″, 21″, 22″, 23″, 24″, 26″, 27″ and 30″. And if the 15″ and 17″ models have long become low-end and are produced only on a TN+film matrix, then in the 19″ sector the choice is much wider, including models on S-IPS, MVA and PVA matrices. But first, let’s focus on one important detail that directly affects the choice of LCD monitor - permission. Due to the peculiarities of LCD monitor technology, the latter are designed to display images in only one, so-called “native” resolution, which coincides with the physical number of pixels horizontally and vertically. Setting the resolution lower than the physical one leads to visible distortions and artifacts. Moreover, given the wide variety of diagonal sizes of the LCD monitors offered, their pixel sizes are also different, which greatly complicates the choice between them.
| Diagonal size | Matrix resolution | Pixel size |
| 15" | 1024x768 | 0,297 |
| 17″ | 1280x1024 | 0,264 |
| 19" | 1280x1024 | 0,294 |
| 19″ wide 16:10 | 1440x900 | 0,284 |
| 20" | 1600x1200 | 0,255 |
| 20″ wide 16:10 | 1680x1050 | 0,258 |
| 21″ | 1600x1200 | 0,270 |
| 21″ wide 16:10 | 1680x1050 | 0,270 |
| 22″ wide 16:10 | 1680x1050 | 0,282 |
| 23″ wide 16:10 | 1920x1200 | 0,258 |
| 24″ wide 16:10 | 1920x1200 | 0,269 |
| 26″ wide 16:10 | 1920x1200 | 0,287 |
| 27″ wide 16:10 | 1920x1200 | 0,303 |
| 30″ wide 16:10 | 2560x1600 | 0,251 |
As we can see, the pixel sizes of modern LCD monitors in some cases differ by 17%, which is more than noticeable to the human eye. And if in the case of too large pixels we get “graininess” and “scattering” of the image into pixels, then in the case of too small ones we will unnecessarily strain our vision, risking spoiling it. Unfortunately, the means of scaling images of operating systems, and especially applied software, are very far from perfect in currently, therefore this measure will help little if the point is too small.
And a little more about aspect ratio monitor screens. There are currently three of them:
traditional 4:3, oddly enough, is not found so often - only on models with diagonals of 15″, 20″ and 21″; non-standard aspect ratio 5:4 - it is closer to a square, which has certain advantages when working with text - and inconvenience when watching films, the vast majority of which are released in widescreen; the rapidly gaining popularity of the 16:10 ratio, or the so-called widescreen monitors - due to the peculiarities of physiology, the human eye is more adapted to perceive a widescreen image than one close to a square one. However, older programs and games were designed for the 4:3 aspect ratio, without support for widescreen monitors.
At the same time, in the video card driver settings it is possible to set how the monitor should behave at a “non-native” program resolution:
- it can display actual size images, and then there will be black stripes along the edges, top and bottom; it can scale the picture in compliance with the proportions of the original image, and in this case we will get two stripes - on the sides or top/bottom, depending on the aspect ratio; without respecting the proportions, to fill the entire screen, and in in this case we will get a distortion of the image proportions.
Traditionally, I suggest choosing a dot size that is comfortable for you personally by directly comparing monitors. As for the aspect ratio, the author’s personal opinion is that widescreen monitors are the future, especially for diagonals of 20″ and above.
Modern LCD monitors are connected to the video card in two ways - using a traditional analog connection using a D-Sub connector and a digital connection using a DVI connection. The latter provides minimal amount transforms the signal on the way from the video card to the monitor and eliminates the dependence of image quality on quality analog output your video card.
Based on materials from gigamark.com.
The monitor is designed to display information coming from the computer into graphical form. The comfort of working at a computer depends on the size and quality of the monitor.
The most optimal price/quality ratio for today are LG 24MP58D-P and 24MK430H.
Monitor LG 24MP58D-P
There are also similar Samsung models S24F350FHI and S24F356FHI. They are no different in quality from LG, but perhaps some will like their design better.
Monitor Samsung S24F350FHI
But DELL S2318HN and S2318H are already significantly superior to monitors from Korean brands in terms of the quality of electronics, case materials and firmware.
Monitor DELL S2318HN
If you are not pleased with the DELL design, then pay attention to the HP EliteDisplay E232 and E242 monitors, they have the same high quality.
HP EliteDisplay E232 Monitor
2. Monitor manufacturers
The best monitors are made by Dell, NEC and HP, but they are also the most expensive.
Monitors from large European brands Samsung, LG, Philips, BenQ are especially popular, but budget segment There are many models of low quality.
You can also consider monitors from well-known Chinese brands Acer, AOC, Viewsonic, which are of average quality across the entire price range, and Japanese brand Iiyama, which produces both expensive professional and budget monitors.
In any case, carefully read reviews and testimonials, paying attention Special attention for shortcomings (poor image and build quality).
3. Warranty
Modern monitors are not of high quality and often fail. The warranty for a quality monitor should be 24-36 months. The best warranty service in terms of quality and speed is offered by Dell, HP, Samsung and LG.
4. Aspect Ratio
Previously, monitors had screen width-to-height ratios of 4:3 and 5:4, which are closer to a square shape.
There are not many such monitors anymore, but they can still be found on sale. They have a small screen size of 17-19″ and this format is suitable for office or some specific tasks. But in general, such monitors are no longer relevant, and are generally not suitable for watching movies.
Modern monitors are widescreen and have aspect ratios of 16:9 and 16:10.
Most popular format 16:9 (1920x1080) and it suits most users. The 16:10 ratio makes the screen a little taller, which is more convenient in some programs with a large number of horizontal panels (for example, when editing video). But at the same time, the screen resolution should also be a little higher in height (1920x1200).
Some monitors have an ultra-wide 21:9 format.
This is a very specific format that can be used in some types professional activity, where simultaneous work with a large number of windows is necessary, for example, design, video editing or stock quotes. Now this format is also actively moving into the gaming industry and some gamers note greater convenience due to the expanded visibility in games.
5. Screen diagonal
For a widescreen monitor, a 19″ screen diagonal is too small. For office computer It is advisable to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 20″, since it will not be significantly more expensive than a 19″ one, and it will be more convenient to work with. For a home multimedia computer, it is better to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 22-23″. For gaming computer The recommended screen size is 23-27″ depending on personal preferences and financial capabilities. To work with large 3D models or drawings, it is advisable to purchase a monitor with a screen diagonal of 27″ or more.
6. Screen resolution
Screen resolution is the number of dots (pixels) in width and height. The higher the resolution, the clearer the image and more information fits on the screen, but text and other elements become smaller. Basically problems with small print easily solved by turning on scaling or increasing fonts in operating system. Please also note that the higher the resolution, the higher the demands placed on the power of the video card in games.
In monitors with screens up to 20″, you can ignore this parameter, since they have the optimal resolution for them.
22″ monitors can have a resolution of 1680×1050 or 1920×1080 (Full HD). Monitors with a resolution of 1680x1050 are cheaper, but videos and games will look worse on them. If you often watch videos, play games or do photo editing, then it is better to take a monitor with a resolution of 1920x1080.
23″ monitors generally have a resolution of 1920×1080, which is the most optimal.
24″ monitors generally have a resolution of 1920×1080 or 1920×1200. 1920x1080 resolution is more popular, 1920x1200 has a higher screen height if you need it.
Monitors 25-27″ and larger can have a resolution of 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 3840×2160 (4K). Monitors with a resolution of 1920x1080 are optimal in terms of price/quality ratio and gaming performance. Higher resolution monitors will provide higher image quality, but will cost several times more and require a more powerful graphics card for gaming.
Ultra-wide screen monitors (21:9) have a resolution of 2560x1080 or 3440x1440 and will require a more powerful graphics card if used for gaming.
7. Matrix type
The matrix is the liquid crystal screen of a monitor. Modern monitors have the following types of matrices.
TN (TN+film) is a cheap matrix with average color rendering quality, clarity and poor viewing angles. Monitors with such a matrix are suitable for ordinary office tasks and are not suitable for watching videos with the whole family, as they have poor viewing angles.
IPS (AH-IPS, e-IPS, P-IPS) – a matrix with high quality color reproduction, clarity and good viewing angles. Monitors with such a matrix are perfect for all tasks - watching videos, games, design work, but they are more expensive.
VA (MVA, WVA) is a compromise option between TN and IPS type matrices, it has high quality color rendering, clarity and good viewing angles, but does not differ much in price from inexpensive IPS matrices. Monitors with such matrices are no longer very relevant, but they can be in demand in design activities, as they are still cheaper than professional IPS matrices.
PLS (AD-PLS) is a more modern, cheaper version of the IPS matrix, which has high color rendering quality, clarity and good viewing angles. In theory, monitors with such matrices should cost less, but they appeared not so long ago and their cost is still higher than their analogues with an IPS matrix.
Since monitors with IPS and PLS matrices is no longer much more expensive than with TN, then for home multimedia computers I recommend purchasing them. However, IPS and TN matrices also come in different qualities. Usually those called simply IPS or TFT IPS are of lower quality.
AH-IPS and AD-PLS matrices have a lower response time (4-6 ms) and are more suitable for dynamic games, but their overall image quality is lower than that of more expensive modifications.
The e-IPS matrix already has significantly higher image quality and is better suited for design tasks. Semi-professional monitors are equipped with such matrices, the best of which are produced by NEC, DELL and HP. Such a monitor will also be an excellent choice for a home multimedia computer, but it is more expensive than analogues on cheaper IPS, AH-IPS and PLS matrices.
The P-IPS matrix is the highest quality, but is installed only in the most expensive professional monitors. Also some monitors with e-IPS matrices and P-IPS are color calibrated at the factory to ensure perfect color output out of the box without the need for professional tuning.
There are also expensive gaming monitors with high-quality TN matrices with low response times (1-2 ms). They are specially designed for dynamic shooters (Counter-Strike, Battlefield, Overwatch). But due to worse color reproduction and poor viewing angles, they are less suitable for watching videos and working with graphics.
8. Screen covering type
Matrices can have a matte or glossy finish.
Matte screens are more versatile, suitable for all tasks and any external lighting. They look duller but have more natural color rendition. High-quality matrices usually have a matte finish.
Glossy screens look brighter and tend to have clearer, darker tones, but are only suitable for watching videos and gaming in a darkened room. On a glossy matrix you will see reflections of light sources (sun, lamps) and your own, which is quite uncomfortable. Typically, cheap matrices have such a coating in order to smooth out imperfections in image quality.
9. Matrix response time
The matrix response time is the time in milliseconds (ms) during which the crystals can rotate and the pixels change color. The first matrices had a response of 16-32 ms and when working on these monitors, terrible trails were visible behind the mouse cursor and other moving elements on the screen. Watching movies and playing games on such monitors was completely uncomfortable. Modern matrices have a response time of 2-14 ms and problems with loops on the screen practically do not exist anymore.
For an office monitor, in principle, this does not matter of great importance, but it is desirable that the response time does not exceed 8 ms. For home multimedia computers, it is believed that the response time should be about 5 ms, and for gaming computers – 2 ms. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that only low-quality matrices (TN) can have such a low response time. Monitors with IPS, VA, PLS matrices have a response time of 5-14 ms and they provide significantly higher image quality, including movies and games.
Do not buy monitors with a response time that is too low (2 ms), as they will contain low-quality matrices. For a home multimedia or gaming computer, a response time of 8 ms is sufficient. I do not recommend purchasing models with higher response times. An exception may be monitors for designers, which have a matrix response time of 14 ms, but they are less suitable for games.
10. Screen refresh rate
Most monitors have a refresh rate of 60Hz. This is, in principle, enough to ensure flicker-free and smooth images in most tasks, including games.
Monitors that support 3D technology have a frequency of 120 Hz or higher, which is necessary to support this technology.
Gaming monitors can have refresh rates of 140Hz or higher. Due to this, the picture is incredibly clear and does not blur in such dynamic games as online shooters. But it also imposes Additional requirements on computer performance so that it can provide the same high frequency frames.
Some gaming monitors support G-Sync frame synchronization technology, which was developed by Nvidia for its video cards and makes frame changes incredibly smooth. But such monitors are much more expensive.
AMD also has its own FreeSync frame synchronization technology for video cards own development and monitors that support it are cheaper.
To support G-Sync or FreeSync, you also need a modern video card that supports the appropriate technology. But many gamers question the usefulness of these technologies in games.
11. Screen brightness
Screen brightness determines the maximum possible level of screen backlight for comfortable work in bright outdoor lighting conditions. This figure can be in the range of 200-400 cd/m2, and if the monitor is not placed under bright sun, then a low brightness will be enough. Of course, if the monitor is large and you will watch videos on it with the whole family during the day with the curtains open, then the brightness of 200-250 cd/m2 may not be enough.
12. Screen contrast
Contrast is responsible for the clarity of the image, especially fonts and small details. There is static and dynamic contrast.
The static contrast ratio of most modern monitors is 1000:1 and this is quite enough for them. Some monitors with more expensive matrices have static contrast ratios from 2000:1 to 5000:1.
Dynamic contrast is determined by different manufacturers according to various criteria and can be calculated in numbers from 10,000:1 to 100,000,000:1. These numbers have nothing to do with reality and I recommend not paying attention to them.
13. Viewing angles
The viewing angles determine whether you or several people at the same time can view the contents of the screen (for example, a movie) from different sides of the monitor without significant distortion. If the screen has small viewing angles, then deviation from it in any direction will lead to a sharp darkening or lightening of the image, which will make viewing uncomfortable. The screen with wide viewing angles looks good from any side, which, for example, allows you to watch videos in a group.
All monitors with high-quality matrices (IPS, VA, PLS) have good viewing angles; those with cheap matrices (TN) have poor viewing angles. You can ignore the values of viewing angles that are given in the monitor's specifications (160-178°), since they have a very distant relation to reality and only confuse you.
14. Screen backlight
Older monitors used fluorescent lamps (LCD) to backlight the screen. All modern monitors use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to backlight the screen. LED lights is of higher quality, economical and durable.
Some modern monitors support Flicker-Free backlight flicker-free technology, which is designed to reduce eye fatigue and Negative influence on vision. But in budget models, due to the low quality of the matrix, this technology does not provide a positive effect and many users complain that their eyes still hurt. Therefore, support for this technology is more justified on monitors with the highest quality matrices.
15. Energy consumption
Modern monitors consume only 40-50 W when the screen is on, and 1-3 W when the screen is off. Therefore, when choosing a monitor, you can ignore its power consumption.
The monitor may have the following connectors (click on the picture to enlarge).
1.
Power connector 220 V.
2.
Power connector for monitors with external power supply or power supply for speakers.
3.
VGA (D-SUB) connector for connecting to a computer with an old video card. Not necessary, as an adapter can be used for this.
4,8.
Display Port connectors for connecting to a modern video card. Support a high resolution and a refresh rate of more than 60 Hz (for gaming and 3D monitors). Not required if you have DVI and the monitor does not support frequencies greater than 60 Hz.
5.
The Mini Display Port connector is the same connector in a smaller format, but is optional.
6.
DVI connector for connecting to a computer with a modern video card. Must be required if there are no other digital connectors (Display Port, HDMI).
7.
HDMI connector for connecting a computer, laptop, TV tuner and other devices, it is desirable to have such a connector.
9.
3.5mm audio jack for connecting audio to monitors with built-in speakers, external speakers or headphones is not necessary, but in some cases this solution may be convenient.
10.
USB connector for connecting built-in USB monitor a hub is not available everywhere and is not mandatory.
11.
USB connectors in monitors with a USB hub for connecting flash drives, mice, keyboards and other devices are not mandatory, but in some cases it can be convenient.
17. Control buttons
Control buttons are used to adjust brightness, contrast, and other monitor settings.
Typically the monitor is set up once and these keys are rarely used. But if the external lighting conditions are not constant, then the parameters may be adjusted more often. If the control buttons are on the front panel and have symbols, then it will be more convenient to use them. If there are no labels on the side or bottom panel, then it will be difficult to guess which button is which. But in most cases you can get used to it.
Some, mostly more expensive monitors, may have a mini-joystick to navigate to menus. Many users note the convenience of this solution, even if the joystick is located on the back of the monitor.
18. Built-in speakers
Some monitors have built-in speakers. Usually they are quite weak and do not differ in sound quality. This monitor is suitable for the office. For a home computer, it is advisable to purchase separate speakers.
19. Built-in TV tuner
Some monitors have a built-in TV tuner. Sometimes this can be convenient, since the monitor can also be used as a TV. But keep in mind that such a monitor itself will cost more and must support the required broadcast format in your region. As an alternative and more flexible option, you can buy a monitor with an HDMI connector and a separate inexpensive TV tuner suitable for your region.
20. Built-in webcam
Some monitors have a built-in webcam. This is absolutely not necessary, since you can purchase a separate high-quality webcam for a fairly reasonable price.
21. 3D support
Some monitors are specially adapted to use 3D technology. However, they still require the use of special glasses. I would say that this is all an amateur and the level of development of this technology is still not high enough. Usually it all comes down to watching several films in this format and understanding that in games 3D only interferes and slows down the computer. In addition, this effect can be achieved on a regular monitor using special 3D players and a video card driver.
22. Curved screen
Some monitors have a curved screen to provide a more immersive gaming experience. Usually these are models with a large screen (27-34″) elongated in width (21:9).
Such monitors are more suitable for those who use the computer mainly for completing various story games. The image on the sides seems to be a little blurry, which, when the monitor is placed close in a darkened room, gives the effect of immersion in the game.
But such monitors are not universal, as they have a number of disadvantages. They are poorly suited for dynamic online shooters (wide and blurry screen), watching videos in a group (worse viewing angles), and working with graphics (image distortion).
In addition, not all games support the 21:9 aspect ratio and will not run on the entire screen, and higher resolutions place very stringent demands on computer performance.
23. Body color and material
As for color, the most universal are black or black-silver monitors, as they go well with other computer devices, modern household appliances and interior.
24. Stand design
Most monitors have a standard non-adjustable stand, which is usually sufficient. But if you want more room to adjust the position of the screen, for example, rotating it to watch videos while sitting on the sofa, then pay attention to models with a more functional adjustable stand.
Just having a quality stand is quite nice.
25. Wall mount
Some monitors have a VESA mount, which allows you to mount it on a wall or any other surface using a special bracket that is adjustable in any direction.
Take this into account when choosing if you want to realize your design ideas.
The VESA mount can be sized 75x75 or 100x100 and in most cases allows you to mount the monitor panel to any universal bracket. But some monitors may have design flaws that prevent the use of universal brackets and require only one bracket certain size. Be sure to check these features with the seller and in the reviews.
26. Links
Dell P2717H Monitor
Monitor DELL U2412M
Monitor Dell P2217H
And don't be made a fool.
Almost any large electronics chain store offers a couple hundred TV models. My eyes are wide open, to be honest. In order not to fall for the tricks of marketers and the persuasion of sales consultants, you need to learn to identify all the disadvantages of a particular model a mile away.
The company’s experts helped us understand the theory and test it in practice. TP Vision. Thanks for the detailed and useful information, guys!
We tried to understand the main problems and formulate general recommendations regarding the process of choosing a TV.
Vulnerabilities
Cheap display panelsThe display panels of modern LCD TVs differ not only in diagonal and backlight. Different itself work technology liquid crystals. Moreover, these differences are fundamental.
*clickable
Have you ever wondered why the cost of two TVs with the same diagonal may differ? several times? The use of outdated display panels plays a significant role in this. TN matrices are becoming less common, giving way to VA and IPS technologies. But each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Response timeA little theory.
Response time is the speed at which the LCD cell is able to change the degree of transparency to form an image.
* That is, how quickly the color will change in one pixel.
Measured in milliseconds, the shorter it is, the better the display will be. dynamic scenes. Hollywood invests millions in special effects, so why watch these scenes distorted?
At the same time, each manufacturer considers it his duty measure response time in your own way. For example, GtG (gray to gray), BtW (black to white), BtB or BWB (black to white and back). There is no single standard, so this parameter can be compared among TVs of the same brand. The easiest way is to ask to turn on the same action scene on several models and take a closer look. Or torture the seller with what technology the manufacturer uses to measure response time, although they simply do not have such information.
Sellers' tricksSellers must give full And exhaustive information about the product. Bullshit. They should sell it to you. Those who manage to combine these skills meet very rarely.
What is the easiest way to convince a buyer that one TV is better than another? Easily. Pull it up the right product contrast and saturation. If the manufacturer has not already done so. Feel free to ask to set the standard display mode on the models being compared.
Dumb Smart TVFavorite function of sales consultants. The ability to watch movies online without leaving the couch tempts most Russian-speaking users. And if the applications preinstalled on the TV work more or less tolerably, then the built-in browser, as a rule, is simply disgusting.
Found the right page on the Internet? Ok, first get through the redirects and pop-up banners. Just a couple of clicks? Yes, but it may take a couple of minutes, because few browsers on TV can boast high speed work. If the store's TV is connected to the network, it would be a good idea to try out the Smart TV functions.
Terrible interfaceThe logic for operating the menu is different for each brand of TV. and not always lucky. Duplicate sections, windows within windows, inconvenient navigation - you just can't find anything.
The implementation of the keyboard also raises many questions. Typing text with a couple of buttons on the remote control is a sophisticated punishment, nothing less.
No required connectorsIt seems simple: we take all our devices used with the TV and look at what connectors are needed.
No matter how it is, TV is a purchase long-term, you need to think in advance about what will be connected to it in the future. It would be a good idea to find out the current strength in the USB connectors to know whether higher-capacity hard drives will open.
How to
- Matrix
How not to make a mistake when choosing a matrix? We need to decide for what purpose buy a TV.
Types of matrices. Old TN matrices are quite enough if you use a TV as a monitor. For work and play - just right. It shows dynamic scenes perfectly, and these TVs are among the cheapest on the market. Cons: narrow viewing angle and dull color, which is not suitable for designers and lovers of beautiful cinema.
VA matrices are good at rendering black. The result is a beautiful, contrasting picture, but viewing angles suffer. Although they are wider than in TN matrices. These TVs are suitable for those who like to sit on the couch and play Xbox or PS.
IPS matrices have excellent color reproduction and a huge viewing angle. The most important thing is to watch TV series The whole family can sit wherever is convenient. The main disadvantage is the shallow black color, the picture turns out “flat”.
Permission. It’s not worth participating in the race for permission yet, quite enough 1920x1080 pixels. 4K TVs can certainly deliver breathtaking pictures, but for now... there is practically no such content. Except YouTube. The option remains to buy one for the future, but technological progress does not stand still, and it is not a fact that today’s 4K TV will be relevant in a couple of years.
Scan. You can often see the designations 1080p and 1080i (or 720p and 720i), be careful it's not the same thing. The resolution is the same in both versions, but the scan type is different.
- At 1080i (interlaced), the image is displayed sequentially, in even and odd lines. As a result, there is a ladder at the boundaries of the object and frame shake, they are trying to smooth it all out using software methods. The frame rate is limited.
- At 1080p (progressive scan), the image is displayed on the screen immediately, the frame rate is higher.
Feel free to choose the second option.
- Backlight type
If the LCD panel is not illuminated, it will not show anything. In modern models it is found mainly LED backlight(LED), the old CCFL (with fluorescent lamps) can only be found in the cheapest and thickest TVs.
LED lighting can be edge (Edge LED) or carpet (Direct LED). In the first case The diodes are located on the sides, and the light from them is scattered through the diffuser. This allows you to produce cool and thin TVs, but makes it impossible local control illumination, it turns out uneven.
If the backlight carpet, then the diodes are distributed evenly, covering the entire area of the LCD panel. It becomes possible to locally control groups of LEDs, providing better color rendition. There are no gaps in the backlight, but the TV is a little thicker.
The size difference is not that big. Therefore, it is more logical to give preference to a TV with Direct LED.
- Response
Whatever the color rendering and screen resolution, low speed response may nullify all the pleasure of watching. According to this criterion, TVs with TN matrices are ahead. But, as mentioned above, the picture suffers. The trade-off between response time and image quality is realized in VA matrices. IPS is left behind, unless it is modern subtypes like e-IPS and s-IPS.
For example, the response time on a 32-inch Philips TV is 2 ms, an impressive result. You can play the console and watch an action movie. Near 20 thousand rubles, at any electronics store.
- White balance
The TV must contribute as less as possible distortions in the original content. Only now, modern manufacturers are not interested in ensuring that their displays meet color standards, but in ensuring that they sell. Therefore, more “rich blues” and “living reds” appear than those of their competitors. That is, the brightness and saturation of some colors programmatically overpriced, temperature changed. In a good way, if manufacturers set up their products correctly, then the TVs displayed on the counter would show similar images.
It is a common belief that Japanese and Korean companies often oversaturate colors and push their brightness up. The image temperature is usually below the reference 6500 K. While European manufacturers (for example, Phillips) are striving for more natural colors and correct white balance. An example is a 50-inch Phillips with a VA matrix. Adequate white balance coupled with low response time and natural colors. Everything you need to watch TV in the living room. Price - almost 45 thousand rubles.
- Smart Smart TV
The main point is availability fast browser and a wide range of applications for consuming online content. Moreover, for comfortable surfing the network you need Flash support and HTML5. The interface should be convenient and intuitive. Wi-Fi module Makes life much easier for those who are bothered by extra wires. Which, however, is not critical.
Where can I find all this? Alternatively, try it Android TV. Eat convenient store adapted applications, control from a smartphone is implemented, and the browser is faster. This Android is built into the 55-inch Philips 6500 series. The OS in this TV is a converted 5.1 (Lollipop). But 75 thousand rubles They are not asking for Smart TV. It's just a huge stylish TV with a cool image, Ambilight backlighting and everything you need.
- Optimal screen size
There are no clear criteria for choosing the size of a TV. It's no secret that the further the viewer sits from the screen, the larger the diagonal is needed. It all comes down to personal preference, but the overall picture looks like this:
The viewing angle is also important. This is why TN TVs are not suitable for the living room. If you look from the side, the picture will change color.
- Suitable 3D technology
If the choice fell on 3D TVs, you need to decide on the technology for transmitting stereoscopic images. Two main ones: active and passive. You need glasses everywhere.
With 3D active, the image is presented alternately to each eye with a very high frequency, which is synchronized with the TV frequency. This gives many people headaches and eyes. But the picture is displayed in the same resolution, albeit slightly darkened. The glasses have a built-in shutter mechanism that alternately closes the right and left lenses. This requires a power source, which means the glasses will have to be charged from time to time. The TV set usually includes one or two pairs of such glasses, the rest will have to be purchased, and they cost a lot.
In passive 3D, the image is perceived as a whole, the TV simply sends the picture at different angles for the left and right eyes. The glasses are simpler and work without batteries. Their lenses are special filters that only accept images from the right angles. The main thing is not to run into glasses with linear polarization, otherwise you will have to keep your head strictly vertical when viewing. It's better to take a kit that supports circular polarization. It would seem that these are all advantages, but the image quality suffers: the resolution is lower, dynamic scenes are distorted, and the “depth” of the 3D effect is less. A whole bunch of these glasses will be placed in the box with the TV, enough for the whole family. Yes they are for sale cheap, buying more is not a problem.
Response time- this is the time it takes for a pixel to change the brightness of the glow up or down. Measured in milliseconds (ms).
For CRT or plasma TVs, the response time is determined by the afterglow time of the phosphor, usually it is about 1 ms.
The response time is most important for LCD TVs due to the principle of their operation. The first generations of LCD matrices had a response time of tens of ms, which (even without taking into account the huge price at that time) made their use in televisions almost impossible. With the improvement of matrix manufacturing technologies and control electronics, the response time has been reduced to a few milliseconds.
Unfortunately, based on the “passport” response time, nothing definite can be said about image quality it is forbidden. There are several reasons for this.
1) there are several methods for measuring response time, and it is not always indicated which one was used;
2) none of these methods gives a complete picture of the real performance of the matrix, because shows either the best or average response time, while the “spikes” in response time that occur in some modes have a negative impact. In particular, switching from white to black or black to white is very fast. At the same time, switching between similar shades gray may take many times longer.
However, overall, everything is more good than bad. Firstly, even for the still few TVs capable of operating at a scanning frequency of 120 Hz (to support shutter 3D glasses), it is enough that the response time does not exceed 1000/120 = 8.33 ms, and this is achieved quite easily today; secondly, reducing the response time below the existing values is simply pointless, because often neurological effects come into play: for example, the “memorization” of an image by the retina for a time of about 10 ms, which is useful for perceiving images on CRT and plasma TVs, but can cause the effect of apparent “slowness” of an LCD TV.
At the same time, “fast” CRT and plasma TVs can flicker very noticeably - periodically changing brightness with the scan frequency. Moreover, if the shortcomings inherent in LCD TVs are noticeable only in dynamic scenes, then flickering (if noticeable) is always visible.
There is only one conclusion that can be drawn - forget about the beautiful numbers on the price tags and carefully look at the screen of the potential purchase. Moreover, if it is a CRT or plasma TV- it’s better to look not directly, but with peripheral vision, because it is better equipped to notice changes, incl. and flickering.