PC Screen Buying Guide - Two Important Things you should keep in Mind

Choose your PC screen

Without him, no computer! The PC screen is the only way to display images of a computer and its use.

It is for this reason that the choice of a monitor is not to be taken lightly: given the place of computers in everyday life, you will surely spend hours and hours in front of the screen of your computer . With annoyances, even migraines to the key, if the display and equipment are not always the ones you expected.

The uses of the computer are in fact multiplied: viewing videos, video games, office automation, graphic design, etc. So you need to identify your priority needs because no existing PC computer shines in every area without the slightest gap.

Everything depends on the definition, the technology of light, connectivity, ergonomics ... The design is also important. PC LCD screens, thinner and lighter than antiques CRTs, lend themselves more willingly. But it is an argument whose subjective character is undeniable. For all the rest, this file was waiting for you in your decision.

The diagonal and the definition of the slab

The diagonal and the definition of a computer monitor are among the most explicit features.

The diagonal

The diagonal of a PC screen represents the distance between two opposite corners of the slab and is now between 15 to 34 inches (38 to 86 cm). The large dimensions are of course tempting for multimedia and fun uses.

They also depend on the recoil: no need to choose a 30 inches if you have your nose stuck on the screen. Also be aware that clutter, weight, power consumption and partly price are proportional.

The definition

The definition specifies the number of pixels that the monitor panel contains. We also speak of native or maximal definition, the only one that produces a clear image on an LCD panel. The first value determines the horizontal definition, the second defines the vertical definition. The higher the definition, the more accurate the image, the greater the amount of information displayed. It ranges from 1024x768 to 5120x2880 pixels, also called 5K. The latter is still very rare.

A slight step below, the Ultra High Definition (UHD, or 3840x2160 pixels) spreads like a trail of powder, helped by the increasing power of graphics cards and is accessible from about 360 €. It is also called 4K, although this terminology is unsuitable: the 4K, or 4096x2160 pixels, is used more in the world of cinema and video. The screens adopting this singular definition are in fact very well suited to video editing applications.

Horizontal and vertical definitions are derived from the image format: 4/3 (1024x768 pixels), 5/4 (1280x1024 pixels), 16/9 (1920x1080, 2560x1440, 3840x2160 pixels), 16/10 (1920x1200 or 2560x1600 pixels) , 17/9 (4096x2160 pixels), very rare in the computer world, and finally ultra-wide formats close to 21/9 (2560x1080, 3440x1440 pixels).

 Acer

The Acer B326HKymjdpphz has an IPS panel, a diagonal of 32 inches and a UHD definition of 3840x2160 pixels. It is perfect for occasional photo editing.

The most common reports are 16/9, 16/10 and 21/9. The 16: 9 widescreen ratio is best suited for playing video in full screen, regardless of the video source (built-in DTT tuner if any, decoder connected to the HDMI input ...). The 21: 9 ratio is even more valuable for videos and movies shot in Cinemascope. It is also interesting for multitasking and multiwindow.

The 16/10 report introduces thin black bands at the top and bottom of the image. On the other hand, it is a bit better for office automation. Finally, more and more video games adapt equally to 16/9 or 16/10, without image distortion.

Another physical property derives from these parameters: the pitch of mask (or pitch), in millimeters, which represents the distance between two pixels. The smaller it is, the more accurate the image. It is easy to understand that a 22-inch Full HD screen offers a sharper display than a screen of the same size limited to 1680x1050 pixels. This mask pitch is generally between 0.23 and 0.3 mm.

Be careful however: a mask not too fine (high resolution on small screen) will result in a smaller writing, which can tire some people, this point depending on the view of each.

On this basis, some categories of monitors with rather distinct uses appear. They are refined according to the equipment and the technology of the slab (see chapters 3 and 4):

Formats and uses

The 15-inch to 19-inch PC screens, which are adapted to small spaces, are now reserved for office activities or for specific professional markets, such as video surveillance, commerce, the education sector, and more.

Their specificities are in line with their specialty: touch screen for a screen designed to integrate an interactive terminal, IP compliance that proves resistance to dust and moisture in industrial environments, etc ...

With specific features (touch screen, IP compliance, etc.).

PC screens from 22 inches to 27 inches monopolize the market. Versatile for most, they meet the most common needs: office, multimedia, video games (see our chapter dedicated to gaming screens) ... However, check the technology of the slab (TN, IPS, etc.), more or less suitable for the priority use you expect (see Chapter 4).

Do the same with the definition: the highest definitions (beyond the UHD) are essentially suitable for the image professions. If you plan to play on such a screen, a powerful graphics card is required. For less specific use, HD definitions (1920x1080 or 1920x1200 pixels) are the most common.

Two innovations have emerged in recent years to combat eyestrain: anti-flicker (or "flicker-free") and anti-blue light (or "Anti-Blue Light"). The first limits the flickering of the LED backlight, an unpleasant effect to which many users are sensitive. This occurs especially when the brightness of the screen is lowered below a certain threshold. As for the anti-blue light process, it filters or shifts the peak of blue light emitted by the screen, which is considered by some studies as harmful for our retinas (it would be an aggravating factor in the appearance of AMD or macular degeneration related to age) and our biological rhythms.

Finally, there are impressive size PC screens, whose diagonal brims above the 30 inches and similar to flat screen TVs. They concern in particular the professionals, in the register of the treatment of the image and the graphic creation (definition of 2560x1600 pixels and more). Another use is the large format signage, if they are placed in a hall for example. In the latter case, they are delivered without foot and have a much lower resolution. But we do not forget that these large slabs, sometimes curved, 21/9 format and bardées improvement technologies are the happiness of some gamers with the development of screens 21/9 G-Sync for example.

The power consumption in operation of an LCD computer screen is mainly related to its size. It is around twenty watts for a model of 15 to 17 inches and between 30 and 40 watts for the diagonals between 20 and 27 inches. It is therefore much less than energy-consuming cathode ray tubes, find some 27 inch monitor recommendations for energy saving.

What's more, LED technology (see Chapter 3) and potential presence sensors further reduce this consumption. Only very large screens larger than 40 inches exceed 100/150 watts. If you have the ecological fiber, this parameter comes into play. But between a small 15-inch monitor and a monitor of 22-24 inches, the economy over a full year represents only ten euros at most.

Plan a graphics card capable of transmitting a UHD signal if you plan to equip the ad hoc screen. This is the case of models with a Display Port 1.2 connector, which can display a definition of 3840x2160 pixels at a frequency of 60 Hz. An HDMI 1.4a output is limited to 30 Hz: it is sufficient for watch a Blu-Ray for example, it is not for the office and even less for the game (note that we must couple two very powerful graphics cards to get a very fluid image in 4K UHD).