How to Choose a Monitor in 2024?

In today's world, computer monitors have become an integral part of our daily lives, whether for work, study, or entertainment. Choosing the right monitor can significantly affect your comfort and productivity, especially when you have to spend many hours in front of the screen. In this guide, we will take a detailed look at what to consider when choosing a monitor for your computer.

Choosing the right monitor for your computer is crucial for comfortable work and leisure. A good monitor significantly impacts the user's eye health and overall productivity. A poor choice can cause fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration. High image quality, increased refresh rate, and fast response time provide more comfortable content perception and improve the gaming experience. Professionals working with graphics need accurate color reproduction and the ability to calibrate the monitor to match real colors on the screen.

There are many types of monitors on the market, each with its own features and intended for different tasks.

One of the key characteristics of monitors is the type of matrix used. There are three main types of matrices: TN, IPS, and VA.

There are also OLED matrices, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their unique characteristics and advantages over traditional technologies. OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) matrices are distinguished by the fact that each pixel emits light independently, without the need for backlighting. This provides several advantages:

However, despite these advantages, OLED matrices also have their drawbacks:

In addition to matrix types, it's worth paying attention to the screen shape. Curved monitors are becoming increasingly popular due to improved depth perception and reduced edge distortions. They create an immersive effect, especially in games and when watching movies. Flat monitors, in turn, remain the standard and are suitable for most office tasks and text work.

When choosing a monitor, consider your needs and usage goals. Gamers are recommended monitors with high response speed and refresh rate. Professionals working with graphics will benefit from monitors with IPS technology and accurate color reproduction. It's also worth considering additional features and customization options to meet your requirements and ensure comfortable work for extended periods.

When buying a monitor for your computer, pay attention to the following key characteristics that affect its performance and usability.

Screen size and resolution play an important role. The most popular sizes range from 21 to 32 inches. The optimal choice depends on the distance to the monitor and the intended use. A 24-inch monitor is suitable for office text work, whereas for gaming and multimedia, a larger screen model is preferable.

Resolution affects the level of image detail. The higher the resolution, the sharper the picture on the screen will be. The most common resolutions are:

The refresh rate, expressed in hertz (Hz), indicates how many times per second the screen refreshes the image. For everyday use, such as office work or web browsing, 60Hz is sufficient. However, for gamers, a high refresh rate can be critically important:

Response time indicates how quickly pixels on the screen can change color and is measured in milliseconds (ms). Low response time is important for gamers as it reduces motion blur. There are two main methods of measuring response time:

For gaming monitors, a response time of no more than 1-5 ms is recommended.

Brightness is measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m²) and determines how bright the screen can be. Contrast is the ratio between the brightest and darkest points on the screen. For comfortable work and multimedia viewing, it is recommended:

Color reproduction shows how accurately the monitor can display colors. Coverage of color spaces such as sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 is important for professionals working with graphics and video. Regular users can suffice with sRGB coverage, whereas designers and videographers need Adobe RGB or DCI-P3 coverage.

When choosing a monitor, it is important to consider all these parameters to ensure it meets your requirements and provides comfortable use. For example, gamers need low response time and refresh rate, while graphic professionals need accurate color reproduction and high contrast.

When choosing a monitor for your computer, it is important to consider what ports and interfaces it offers. The right set of connections will ensure ease of use and compatibility with various devices.

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface):

Make sure the cable and monitor support the HDMI version you need.

DisplayPort:

Ideal for gamers and professionals due to its support for adaptive sync (FreeSync and G-Sync).

USB-C:

Convenient for modern laptops and mobile devices, providing simultaneous data transfer and device charging.

DVI (Digital Visual Interface):

Although DVI is still in use, it is gradually becoming obsolete. Therefore, it is better to choose HDMI or DisplayPort when possible.

VGA (Video Graphics Array):

One of the oldest connection standards still used on some devices. VGA transmits an analog video signal, which can result in lower image quality compared to digital interfaces. Despite this, VGA can still be useful for connecting to older computers and laptops, as well as for use in some corporate and educational settings where equipment may be outdated.

The comfort of using a monitor largely depends on its ergonomic features. The ability to adjust the screen allows for creating comfortable working conditions, which is especially important for prolonged use.

Height, Tilt, and Swivel Adjustments

Built-in VESA Mounts

When it comes to choosing a monitor for gaming and professional use, there are many specific requirements and features to consider.

Sync Technologies: G-Sync, FreeSync

Adaptive Sync is a key technology for gamers that helps avoid issues like stuttering and tearing, which significantly degrade the gaming experience. Modern monitors use two main adaptive sync technologies: AMD FreeSync and NVIDIA G-Sync. Let's look at how they work and the advantages they offer.

When the frame rate generated by the graphics processor (GPU) does not match the refresh rate of the monitor, screen tearing can occur. This happens because the monitor displays parts of multiple frames simultaneously, creating visible tear lines. Stuttering occurs due to the desynchronization between the GPU and the monitor, leading to uneven frame playback.

Adaptive sync solves this problem by dynamically changing the monitor's refresh rate to match the frame rate generated by the GPU. This allows frames to be displayed smoothly and without tearing.

AMD FreeSync is an adaptive sync technology from AMD, based on the VESA Adaptive-Sync standard. It works as follows:

NVIDIA G-Sync is a technology from NVIDIA that synchronizes the monitor's refresh rate with the frame rate of the graphics processor (GPU) using proprietary solutions:

Advantages of Adaptive Sync Technologies:

To create a more immersive gaming experience, many gaming monitors come equipped with additional features.

In modern conditions of remote work and online communication, monitors with built-in cameras are becoming increasingly in demand. They offer convenience and improved video call quality.

Monitors with a built-in camera allow for video conferences and online meetings without the need for an external webcam. This is convenient as it reduces the number of cables and frees up USB ports.

When choosing a monitor with a camera, it is important to pay attention to the resolution and quality of the camera. Modern monitors offer cameras with resolutions up to 1080p, providing clear and high-quality images. For professional video conferences and streaming, it is important that the camera has good color reproduction and works well in low light conditions.

Some monitors with cameras support additional features that can be useful:

Thus, when choosing a monitor for gaming or professional use, as well as a monitor with a built-in camera, it is important to consider these characteristics and features to ensure comfort and efficiency in work or play.

When selecting a monitor for office work, it is important to consider features that ensure comfort and productivity during long hours in front of the screen.

Eye Protection Modes

Prolonged computer use can lead to eye strain, headaches, and other discomforts. To avoid these problems, many modern monitors are equipped with various modes and technologies for eye protection.

Blue Light Reduction Function

Blue light emitted by screens can cause eye strain and disrupt circadian rhythms, affecting sleep quality. To protect against blue light, a special technology has been developed:

Screen flicker, often unnoticed by the eyes, can cause strain and fatigue during prolonged use. Flicker-Free technologies help make computer work more comfortable.

The best PC monitors are usually geared towards gaming but provide the highest image quality, making them versatile for anything from gaming to simple web browsing. If you don't want to spend a lot of money, you can also consider budget monitor options, but they generally have worse image quality and fewer features than higher-end models. Additionally, some monitors are designed for specific purposes, such as gaming, office work, or content creation, so it's important to think about how you will use them. Let's look at some of the best monitors from different brands.

Acer Nitro XV275K P3biipruzx is an excellent monitor that is great for a variety of applications, making it a versatile monitor. It has features for gaming and productivity, meaning you can easily use it for home work and then play games with it once you're done working. You can adjust the stand in various ways, and its wide viewing angles ensure image uniformity on the sides, which is perfect if you need to share your screen with others. It also features a 27-inch 4K screen with high text clarity and enough space to open two windows side by side.

Acer provides excellent image quality thanks to mini-LED backlighting and a decent local dimming feature that helps display deep blacks in dark rooms. It also gets bright enough for highlights to stand out in HDR mode, which is perfect for viewing content or gaming. Speaking of which, it provides good overall gaming experiences as fast-moving objects look sharp, and it has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, allowing you to take full advantage of the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

MSI Optix MPG341CQR is a 34-inch gaming monitor with a 144Hz refresh rate and a native resolution of 3440x1440 pixels. The monitor offers a range of features for a gaming monitor and demonstrates surprisingly low input lag. Its color reproduction may not be ideal for creative professionals, and the HDR quality leaves much to be desired. But aside from these factors, the Optix is one of the best models among 34-inch ultrawide gaming panels available today.

Xiaomi Curved Gaming Monitor G34WQi is a curved gaming monitor G34WQi. This 34-inch display has an ultrawide QHD resolution (3440 x 1440 pixels) and a refresh rate of 180Hz. The screen aspect ratio is 21:9, and its curvature is 1500R. According to the manufacturer, this provides enhanced gaming capabilities. The monitor covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 100% sRGB, with a maximum brightness of 350 nits. The monitor's response time is 1ms, and AMD FreeSync technology support helps avoid screen tearing.

The back panel of the monitor is equipped with RGB lighting with color selection and features ports such as two DP1.4, two HDMI 2.0, and an audio output. The monitor also includes brightness adjustment and blue light reduction mode, which are controlled via a joystick.

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G85SB S34BG85 is a fantastic high-end monitor that is not only the best overall but also considered the best gaming monitor from Samsung. It is the brand's first monitor to use QD-OLED technology, the same technology they have implemented in some of their TVs, such as the Samsung S95C OLED. This technology allows the monitor to display perfect blacks in dark rooms while keeping colors vibrant. However, it has some drawbacks: blacks appear purple in bright rooms, and similar OLED screens are prone to burn-in from static elements over time, but this is not a significant issue for gaming.

This monitor has a 175Hz refresh rate and almost instant response time for clear motion handling. It has low input lag for faster responsiveness.

Proper monitor setup will help ensure comfortable work and improve image quality. Let's look at the main steps that will help you set up your monitor.

Sometimes a computer may not recognize a connected monitor. Let's look at the main steps to troubleshoot this issue.

Checking the Connection

Restarting the Computer

Checking System Settings

Checking Drivers

Checking the Monitor on Another Computer