LCDs with the best contrast appear to naturally produce the darkest blacks, the most saturated images, and even to some extent.. the most appealing graphics for photo lovers, web-designers and gamers.

LCD Monitors with faster refresh times are less fatiguing for your eyes.

The refresh times are more important for gamers who enjoy computer games with lots of fast motion and action.

When set at their native resolutions, most LCDs produce sharper images than CRTs; however, when set to other resolutions, many LCDs become less clear.

How do you know if an LCD is not just image worthy..  but worthwhile to be your choice?

Follow these tips when shopping for your next LCD.

Most LCDs fall into one of three broad categories:

- Economy
- Graphics Oriented
- GGame & Video Oriented


Economy LCDs   tend to use the simplest technology available to produce passable or uniform crisp images for basic computing tasks, such as e-mailing, word processing, and general Web surfing.

While  an economy LCD may have relatively fast response times  it will not likely be adequate enough for the fast-paced demands of games or fully optimized views of your favorite videos.

Graphics LCD models pack in technologies to optimize color and brightness, precisely tune the grayscale levels, and limit the amount of color shift that occurs at different viewing angles.

Response time, which can be 12 ms to 20 milliseconds and higher, is not as important for graphics LCD models since the intended focus is that of color performance.

On the other hand.. TOP Monitors made specifically for games and video boast average response times ranging from 4ms to 16ms

Game and video monitors are quite useable for regular day to day office work, but these specialized LCD models  may not provide the precise colors or the level of detail that graphic artists require.

If you enjoy video games and perhaps photo editing, for example, your choice of an LCD monitor may require you to compromise on one of your interests.

Or instead..  If you don't mind the bulk,  you may consider a CRT monitor, which can handle both with proper tuning. 


Response time typically refers to the time required for an LCD pixel to change from fully off (black) to fully on (white), then fully off again.

Response Time serves as an average indicator of how fast the screen can refresh a video image. However, remember that in most games or videos, pixels are almost never.. if rarely completely on or off.

Instead, they cycle between what is known as gray states. Which means that colors are switching between values that (less than full white to less than full black) are far slower than switching between pure black and white, so the actual refresh time may be times slower than the rated spec indicates.


A LCD monitor rated at 6ms is faster than one rated at 12ms.


Contrast ratios and brightness levels continue to improve in LCD models.

Simply remember that the numbers can be misleading and brighter is not necessarly better.

While a bright screen will usually benefit gameplay. In the case of contrast alone where the numbers often indicate a ratio between a full white and a full black screen, they hardly reflect the TRUE contrast that one would expect to experience with the moving intricate graphics of all games.

There's no substitute for how your own eyes will view an LCD.

When buying online, be sure to check out the vendor's return policy.

if you're not satisfied with how the LCD displays images, you'll want to return it without paying extra fees.

Visit these top merchants for low priced deals on new LCD monitors:


» Sharp 37" Black LCD HDTV - LC37SH12U. Was $1299.99 | Abt price $1088 with free shipping.

» Upgrade Your Monitor! LCD Monitors up to 30% Off at buy.com, plus Free Shipping!

» Free Shipping on 47" Toshiba LCD HDTV at SecondAct