Page 1 of What do i look for in a TFT monitor?

For christmas i`m thinking of upgrading my ancient 17" CRT monitor for a 19" TFT monitor, when i suddenly thought, what do i look for?

do i want a high image brightness? the ones i`ve been looking at have 250cd/m2
what about a contrast ratio, will i notice a huge amount of difference between 500:1 and 600:1?

also the highest resolution i`ve been looking at is 1280x1024, at the moment i don`t see me needing higher resolution but should i go for one that can handle more (if one can in this range)?

What about video interfaces, DVI or VGA?

Sorry to sound like an idiot but i really only just started looking and don`t want to make a rash decision and be left with a lemon.

If anyone can help or point me in the direction of a website that can help it would be most appreciated.
cheers.

For christmas i`m thinking of upgrading my ancient 17" CRT monitor for a 19" TFT monitor, when i suddenly thought, what do i look for?
First, size.
A 17" CRT is equivalent size (roughly) to a 15" TFT, so I`d more than likely say a 17" TFT (Equivalent to a 19" CRT) will probably suit you better.
(Although I like big screens myself, so don`t take that the wrong way!)
do i want a high image brightness? the ones i`ve been looking at have 250cd/m2
what about a contrast ratio, will i notice a huge amount of difference between 500:1 and 600:1?

Yes, you want the highest brighness and contrast ratio you can get. Brightness is exactly that, but you can obviously turn that down to suit you.
Contrast Ratio is the difference between a black and a white pixel:
500:1 means there`s 500 stages between, 600:1 600 stages between, etc etc.
So yes, you will probably see the difference in the 5 to 600:1 model
What about video interfaces, DVI or VGA?
DVi is a digital interface and far superior to the analogue 9 pin, so DVi if your video card supports it. If not, and you just want a good screen, analogue is fine.

To give better perspective:
I had a 19" CRT monitor which was fine. I saw the recent comments about the 17" Acer TFT in Comet for under £200.
I saw it, I bought it! Lol
It has cracking brightness (350cd/m2), good contrast (think it`s 500 or 450:1) and analogue in.
It has <14ms response time, which is damned good ratio and the serious gamer needs a minimum of <15ms.

I`m happily using this in replacement for my 19" and would say go take a look at them in store, not on a website.
Oh, but the speakers on mine (Acer AL1714) are crap! You need better speakers :D
(But for £190 I aint grumblin` )

Jimbo : oÞ

Quote:
But for £190 I aint grumblin`

I was wondering if that was a typo since you stated £200 but then remembered...staff discount ;) Haven`t you left there yet??

OK Jimmy I was thinking about upgrading to a 19" TFT, I already have a 17" PB one but was wondering what are the biggest sizes that TFT screens go up to? Also would it be possible to get an LCD screen and hook that up instead of a TFT or are LCD`s for TV`s only?

Any recommendations Jimbo? BTW, as a matter of interest, how long are TFT`s supposed to last for?

Quote:
I was wondering if that was a typo since you stated £200 but then remembered...staff discount Haven`t you left there yet??
Never was "there" I bought the monitor from Comet :D

Just got a mate who managed a staff discount <grin>

TFT`s is a Thin Film Transistor.
LCD is a Liquid Crystal Display

TFT if you look at them right are actually "TFT LCD`s", therefore the same goddamned thing!
TFT therefore goes up to 37" in TV format. Now, this is where it gets wierd.
A mate in another store I worked in, very PC savvy techy bloke (made me look like a newbie when it came to PC stuff) tried to explain to me one day why TFT tellys and PC monitors were different. Something to do with an offset row of pixels, but I couldn`t get my head around it.
Especially as almost everyone I knew who had bought a TFT telly had it wired to their PC as a monitor too, with no complaints.

No ideas on TFT response times with TV models, but 9 out of 10 have a VGA 9 pin D-Sub analogue monitor connection on them, some also have the cable suppled in the box.

Think there`s an odd one with DVi too, but usually expensive.

This is also one of the reasons I`ve been considering the 50" DLP telly....then I can hook up the PC and use it as a monitor whilst using the TV too....aint I a saddo :D

Jimbo : oÞ