Selecting a Monitor
May 11 '00
Monitor buyers should be concerned about the quality of the monitor. Unfortunately sometimes it is difficult to determine any given model's quality before making a purchase. Shopping in a retail establishment allows you to see the monitor, but a retail floor is an extremely rough on monitors, they can quickly get out of adjustment and are typically displayed with harsh lighting that makes it difficult to evaluate the video quality. Buying over the internet is also difficult requiring that the purchase be made sight unseen based purely on a list of specifications.
Whether you are buying in a retail environment, you evaluate monitors for your company or you buy over the internet, the best way to determine monitor quality is to ask questions. Most consumers ask questions about the resolution, refresh rate and dot pitch which tend to be very similar, but in this write up I will explore the questions you can ask to get a sense for a monitors quality.
There are two principle categories of concern. The first is the image quality and the second is the overall reliability of your monitor.
Image Quality
While dot pitch, resolution and refresh rate are all important aspects of selecting a monitor, even monitors with similar specifications can have dramatically different image quality. The following specifications can differ dramatically from one monitor to the next and could help determine one brand over another.
Convergence
Convergence is the measure of alignment of the monitor's three colored beams (red, blue and green). A low convergence specification ensures that text will appear sharp. If the monitor manufacturer doesn't publish their convergence specifications, you can create a grid pattern of thin white lines on a black background, the lines should look white, if you see any color next to the line you should be concerned about the monitor's focus.
To find a great monitor test program, that will give you a grid pattern and more, see the following link. http://www.csf.org.uk download the "Monitor test program".
Brightness
Brightness is one of the key measures of a monitors image quality. The specification for brightness is called "candelas" and typically you'll want to look for monitors with 100 candelas or more. You can always reduce brightness on your monitor, so in this case more candelas is always better. Never trust general statements like "Trinitron monitors are brighter the shadow mask monitors". Check the manufacturer specifications. Unfortunately most manufacturers do not publish brightness specifications so call the tech support line and ask.
Video Amplifier
The video amplifier in some respects is the heartbeat of the monitor. Poor video amplification can result in image deterioration, shadows, ghosts and other problems. Measured in megahertz, the value can differ from one class of monitor to another. When comparing similar monitors the video bandwidth should be the same from one model to another. If the specification isn't reported or looks lower you should be concerned.
Default Viewable Area
Most manufacturers report a maximum viewable area that any given monitor displays. It is also interesting to understand the default viewable area (what it is set to by the factory). Monitors with questionable image quality frequently reduce the default viewable area. Reducing the viewable area can hide defects in image quality and generally make the image look better. If you are buying a big monitor, you really want to use as much of the monitor's viewing area as you can.
Focus
Use the same grid pattern from the Convergence test, (one-inch squares, white lines on a black background). The thickness of the horizontal and vertical lines should be consistent over the entire screen. Sharp focused displays will show lines that are as thin as the thinnest point along the line across the entire display. Lines that vary in thickness as they approach the edge of the screen will produce an image on the display that looks slightly out of focus or "soft" in the corners and along the edges.
The human eye detects changes or variances extremely well. Variations in the screen image will cause the eye to constantly adjust to the changing image. This constant adjustment over a period of time will start to fatigue the eye. To avoid eye fatigue it is best to have a consistent sharp image over the entire screen then one that is sharp in the center and soft in the corners. Focus uniformity over the entire screen is extremely important in reducing eye fatigue.
Reliability
For the most part a monitor is a highly reliable component of your computer system. That's the good news. The bad news is that if a monitor fails, getting them fixed or replaced is more difficult than other components. Monitors are heavy and awkward to ship and return to the manufacturer. It's worth asking a few questions before you purchase to predict the potential for trouble down the road.
Emission Compliance
A major cost of manufacturing a monitor, and a common short cut, is the amount of shielding your monitor has. High quality shielding lowers harmful emissions and reduces interference with other electronics on your desk. Remove the back of the monitor and you should see sturdy metal shielding that is solid to the touch and encases the electronics. If you do this make certain the monitor is NOT plugged in.
CRT
The CRT (Cathode Ray Tube, Picture tube) is the most expensive component in a monitor. Ask who manufactured the CRT. Look for recognizable brand names. Another common area where manufacturers cut cost, is by using an off brand or a lower quality CRT.
Warranty & Support
Every unit produced is unique and, like fingerprints, no two are identical. Even the highest quality monitors occasionally don't perform as promised. That's why it is worth some time to take a look at the service and warranty options that come with a monitor. The standard warranty is a great way to judge the manufacturer's confidence in their product. While three years tends to be standard look, some offer longer warranties. Also look for warranty enhancements like "advance replacement" and "on-site service." While you may not choose to purchase these services, how they are priced is an excellent indication of the quality of the monitor. Companies with low confidence in their product line tend to charge higher prices for enhanced warranties.
Look at the technical support side as well. You don't want to sit on hold; you want to talk to knowledgeable people. A great experiment is to call the technical support line before you buy. First time how long it takes you to reach a human and then ask them about the monitor you are considering. They aren't trained to "polish" the answers like a sales rep might, but you'll get a sense for how technically competent and knowledgeable they are.
Summary
Some believe that less expensive monitors mean lower quality and while this can be true, the monitor market is highly competitive and there are some excellent quality monitors at relatively low prices. While most monitors on the market today are of a very high quality, there are a few monitors that are extremely disappointing. Your job is to pay as little as possible for an acceptable quality level.
Good Luck
Jim at http://www.monitorsdirect.com
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Member: Jim Witkowski
Location: Fremont Ca
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