LCD monitors are not without their disadvantages, some of which have put computer enthusiasts off upgrading. In recent years, many of the problems associated with LCD screens have been almost eliminated by new LCD panel designs.

Probably the most important issue is the contrast ratio. Looking at the diagrams showing how the LCD switches pixels on and off, you may have wondered what happens when light is travelling at exactly the right angle to pass through both filters.

A certain amount of light will do this, leaking through even when the pixel is turned off. This means LCD monitors are not very good at displaying black, and this can be quite noticeable in a dark room when playing a game or watching a film. Old or extremely cheap LCD's have contrast ratios as low as 200:1, which is inadequate for games or DVDs. The answer is of course to make the filters smaller and finer. Most new LCD panels have a contrast ratio around 300:1, but if you are a film buff, an avid gamer, or a graphic designer, you will want a high quality monitor that offers a 400:1 contrast ratio or more.

LCD monitors have still not caught up with CRT monitors when it comes to accurate colour reproduction. An LCD screen can produce colour as well as a cheap CRT, but even the most expensive LCD cannot equal the Trinitron and Diamondtron CRTs favoured by many graphic designers and artists. The other benefits of LCD monitors will outweigh this for most people with an interest in graphics work, and even professional designers may want to consider using an LCD alongside a high quality CRT in a dual monitor setup, giving the best of both worlds.

What To Buy

Gaming

The most important criteria for a gaming LCD is a native resolution that your graphics card can play every game at, because using a lower resolution will result in a very poor picture. The second most important spec to look for is a low response time, under 20ms and you'll be fine. A high response time means a slight motion blur effect, which is not ideal for twitch gamers.

CAD and Graphics

For the CAD user, an LCD monitor is a valuable tool. The perfectly flat screen surface and the pixel-perfect geometry of an LCD is ideal for CAD and 3d modelling work. LCDs are not ideal for other graphics work involving colour, but you can use software tools such as those on displaymate.com to fine tune the display. The most important specifications to look for are a high resolution and a high contrast ratio.

Film and Video

For the film buff, you obviously want the biggest screen possible. A high contrast ratio and good scaling abilities will increase the picture quality.

General Home and Office

For home and office use, bigger really is better. You can fit more onto a higher resolution screen, and the more screen area you have, the less you have to squint. Also look out for screens with can turn through 90 degrees, allowing you to view a whole life size A4 page at once.

With this information in mind, perhaps check out the TFT round up.

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