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Click on a topic you would like more information on:
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Size
Size is measured diagonally across the screen usually in inches. And unlike in CRT's the LCD size measurement is a true representation of the LCD's viewable image. |
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Aspect Ratio (standard/widescreen)
The standard proportion in width to height for a computer monitor is 4:3, but some new displays have a wider format: 16:9 or 16:10, designed for viewing movies or HDTV in wide format. Note that a 17-inch wide-format panel has about the same vertical dimension and vertical pixel count as a normal 15-inch panel, so you get about 120 percent of the viewing area of a 15-inch panel. A 17-inch standard panel, however, has 130 percent of the viewing area of a standard 15-inch screen. |
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Colour
The colour field in the specifications refers to the frame and stand of the LCD. Sometimes there is a choice of colour's in that same model and then the field has "silver or black" entered. Or the LCD comes with a combination of two colour's then it is called a "silver and black" LCD |
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Resolution
The number of pixels an LCD monitor is capable of displaying. The resolution is described in terms of width x height. The most common resolutions are 1024W x 768H and 1280W x 1024H.
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Input
BNC (R/G/B/H/V)
(Bayonet-Neill-Concelman) - A not so common connector used to terminate coaxial cables. BNC is also referred to as Bayonet Network Connector |
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D-SUB 15 pin
Also called a D-connector, or a D-type connector. A type of connector commonly found on computers and data transmission devices, including SCSI devices and computer monitors. D-type connectors have a "D-shaped" angled housing, and have 9-, 15-, and 25-pin configurations |
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DVI
Digital Visual Interface. The DVI port provides a pure digital video signal to a digital flat-panel display or projector. Using a digital signal for the entire path maintains the image quality at the highest level, because the signal is not degraded as a result of a digital-to-analog conversion. |
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RCA (Composite)
A common, standard connection method used to transmit analog audio and video signals between devices. Commonly used on most receivers, televisions, satellite receivers, VCR's, game console systems and speakers. |
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RCA (Component)
The higher quality method of transmitting video signals, which operates by splitting up the red the green and the blue colours in the signal and then synchronizing them on the other end, making a clearer signal. Many projectors accept component through an adapter cable connecting directly into the 15pin D-sub. |
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S-Video
Small multi pin connector that carries separate brightness and color signals from a source component like a DVD player or satellite receiver to a TV set. In the usual plastic form, these are difficult to orient properly when plugging them in, which is typical of connectors of DIN (Deutsche Industrie Normen) origin.
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USB
Some Monitors come with a USB hub inbuilt most commonly into the base. This allows you to plug in your mouse, memory devices etc into the monitor and not have to go to the back of the computer every time to plug in.
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Stereo-mini jack
Much like the headphone connection on your walkman or ipod, the stereo mini jack is used to transmit audio into the monitor. |
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Contrast
A term defining how far the whitest whites are from the blackest blacks. If the peak white value is significantly different than the peak black value the signal is said to have high contrast resulting in well defined sharp colour's. The Higher the better basically. A contrast of 400:1 means that the blackest black on the image will be 400 times darker than the whitest white. |
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| High Contrast |
Low Contrast |
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Brightness
Brightness; a measure of how much light a panel can produce. Luminance is expressed either in nits or candelas per square meter (cd/m²). A measurement of 200 to 250 nits is OK for most productivity tasks; 500 nits is better for TV and movies.
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Response Rate
This refers to how quickly a pixel can change colour's, measured in milliseconds (ms); the fewer the milliseconds, the faster the pixels can change, reducing the ghosting or streaking effect you might see in a rapidly moving or changing image. A max of a 12ms response time is required for gaming or viewing television and movies without ghosting or streaking. |
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Viewing Angle
The physical structure of LCD pixels can cause the brightness and even the colour of images to shift if you view them from an angle rather than facing the screen directly. The higher the viewing angle in the specifications the better.
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Speakers
Sometimes speakers are included in the frame of an LCD panel. They can be quite handy for general use such as hearing general windows sound effects and maybe a little music. But the speakers are generally low power at around 2 Watts so aren't going to shake the room. |
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Warranty
LCD's are generally covered by a 3 year manufacturer backed warranty. Some are even on-site where the manufacturer will send out a courier to pick up a malfunctioning monitor. This is however limited to metropolitan regions. The packaging may need to be retained to allow for safe transport of the monitor. |
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Dead Pixel Policy
While an LCD is covered by a 3 year warranty this does not always cover dead pixels. Each manufacturer has different requirements as to the amount of dead pixels or bright pixels are required to accept it as a warranty claim.
Some monitors such as the Philips Business and Professional series are covered by a perfect panel warranty. But out of thousands of monitors very few will ever have dead pixels.
Most manufacturers have a zero dead pixel policy for the first
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