Selecting the Right 19 Inch LCD Monitor for Gaming
This article looks at some of the common features that you would find under the “specifications” in most LCD monitors. If you are simply looking for a LCD monitor for basic computing tasks such as internet surfing, browsing or working with MS Word & Excel then any LCD monitor on the market would do the job. However if you are looking to buy one for gaming purposes and wanting to get the most out of it then picking the wrong features might cripple your gaming experience.
From a technical standpoint, LCD monitors generally don’t usually perform as well as the traditional CRT monitors, but because of its size and sleeky design have made image quality irrelevant. LCD monitors have narrow viewing angles, slower response times, the contrast is noticeably lower and they cost a lot more than CRTs.
We will now examine some of these factors below and what you should be watching out when you purchase your next LCD monitor for gaming purposes.
Native Resolution
This is the maximum resolution of the monitor. It is that resolution which the monitor is designed to run at and still offer the crispest picture possible. In LCD monitor, this is a significant factor because, unlike CRT which can display several resolutions without losing quality details, the native resolution in flat panel display is the resolution that displays the best quality.
For gaming purposes, if your video card does not have enough memory to run a game at native resolution, then the game will turn into dull slideshow. One solution to fix this is to reduce the various graphical details options, but by doing this will forgo the image quality which is really disturbing when you are playing a game that you really enjoy.
Another option is alter the resolution to something other than the native resolution. But by doing this, in order to retain the most sharpness, it will most likely display the lower resolution in the screen’s native resolution as a rectangle in the middle of the screen with surrounding borders, much like watching widescreen format movie on a standard size TV. However in some cases, it scales the lower resolution to fit the entire screen and has to create pixels via interpolation. This gives rise to fuzzy edges on objects, even when the picture is completely static. The display quality of this method varies considerably among brands. So one thing to consider when purchasing a flat panel LCD monitor is to make sure your computer system can handle images at its native resolution.
Response Time
Response time is another important factor to look at gaming purposes. In fact, it is probably the most important feature to take into consideration, because monitors with slow response time will give blurring or ghosting effects. Different manufacturers use different methods to calculate their response time, some base it on grey to grey (or color to color), some might use from black to white then back. They might not disclose which method they use to arrive at that figure.
Nevertheless, despite the discrepancies over reported numbers, response time does matter. Nowadays, the usual response time for many monitors are about 8ms, with many are either 5ms or less. Generally speaking the lower the better, so gamers should look for one with the fastest time possible.
Contrast & Brightness
Contrast is the ability for the monitor to vary brightness between the foreground and the background. It is expressed in a ratio (i.e. 500:1). Typically the higher the ratio, the better the image quality will be as the display will be able to show bright colors next to dark without washing out the black or dulling the colors. However what you need to remember is although the higher this number is the better, the power consumption will be a lot more than one with a lower ratio, so therefore a trade off between contrast/brightness and power consumption is something to watch as well.
Viewing Angles
Viewing angle is another small factor to consider when buying a LCD flat panel. Unlike its’ counterpart CRT monitors, LCD monitors can only be viewed from inside a certain arc of angles. Sometimes what manufacturers list under their specifications could be somewhat different to what you actually see. But nevertheless, if you are simply using the monitor for your own use then this shouldn’t be a major problem.
Final Thought
As you can see, the above are some of the important factors you need to consider if you are buying a monitor for gaming purposes. Like we said above, response time is the primary concern if you are playing fast moving games and if you want to enjoy smoother computer video, animation and gaming movement then the lower the response time the better and native resolution is also important when it comes to graphic representation so make sure your graphic card is capable of running at the native resolution. If you have decided that you are definitely buying one, then why not checking out these most recommended 19 inch LCD monitors by users around the world
Top 19 Inch LCD Monitors Recommended for Gaming
When it comes to gaming on a pc there are a couple things you have to have to make sure your gaming experience is the best that it can be. Video cards are important, RAM, Processor, etc. are all very important, but you are going to need a good monitor to view as well. We will now look at some of the most popular 19 inch LCD monitors that are available on the market.
Samsung SyncMaster Series
This series from Samsung has received a lot reviews due to its low price tag and its superior performance for gaming. Samsung has been one of the most innovative leaders in the TFT LCD monitors’ market over the past few years, and one of the contributing factors that led to its success and dominance has been the fact that they’ve been bringing out new and improved models on the market at quite a phenomenal rate. And some of the SyncMaster Series Monitors, released over recent years delivers some pretty impressive features for a 19 inch LCD monitor.
Samsung SyncMaster 953BW 19 inch LCD Monitor
The Samsung SyncMaster 953BW 19 inch LCD Monitor coming in at a price tag of around $170 is ranked 7 out of 10 stars by cnet.com, has LCD display, Widescreen and a Max Resolution of 1440 x 900. It has a high glossy black encasing to give it a luxurious feel, and is 7 inches thick. The good thing about this monitor is its low price and great gaming performance. Movies played on screen have nice colors and The Samsung monitor is equipped with a tilt feature, to get that perfect angle for viewing. Its nice thin, pretty and cheap, but you get what you pay for and for a basic price you are already getting the most out of a standard LCD monitor.
User Experience
Awesome monitor. Really great monitor for gaming, watching videos, or streaming TV shows. (Amazon user)
This Samsung LCD monitor is just what I was looking for. It’s wide and big enough to watch
movies. It doesn’t take much of space on the desk and I also like the simple design and the color. With all these features, it has very reasonable price. (Amazon user)
I am very pleased with the Samsung SyncMaster 9538W monitor. It is now a joy to watch my favorite video’s with my new monitor. Using the flat screen makes for easier viewing of the written word. The controls are easier to use to set brightness and magic bright gives you options you don’t have on the older monitors. I feel this is a very good product and would recommend this product for anyone. (Amazon user)
Samsung SyncMaster 920NW 19-inch LCD Monitor
The Samsung SyncMaster 920NW 19-inch LCD Monitor priced at roughly $200 is ranked 5 of 6 stars at Amazon.com. This also is an LCD display unit ideal for gaming, multimedia and video applications. It has 5 millisecond response time which is perfect for immersive, hardcore, 3D gaming experience and/or action-packed movies. It has a Max Resolution of 1440 x 900, and comes with a Tilting base and is compatible for wall mounting. Many people who have purchased and used this product have nothing but good things to say about this product. Great for gaming, reliable, sturdy as well as nice looking. This may be one of the best for the buck so keep your eye out for this product.
User Experience
The LCD monitor of Samsung 920NW 19″ is exactly what I was looking for. It is really great. The image and the shape is excellent. (Amazon user)
The quality exceeded our expectation. But the price was even better. (Amazon user)
The Samsung 920 NW is an amazing monitor. It looks great- black casing, sleek style- and the picture is very sharp. The colors are bright and vibrant, and it is very easy to use (pretty much plug and play- you can install the software if you want, but it was not necessary on my Vista computer). For the price (I paid around $160) you won’t find anything better ANYWHERE. (Amazon user)
Samsung SyncMaster 941BW 19-inch LCD Monitor
The Samsung SyncMaster 941BW 19-inch LCD Monitor priced at around $300 is ranked 6 out of 7 stars at Cnet.com. The Samsung Syncmaster 941 BW is a 19 inch, flat panel computer monitor. Compared to other flat panel monitors on the market, it is competing in $250-$300 range. This unit features a 1440×900 native resolution. Weighs in at 9.3 lbs and is 7 inches thin as well. Many people having commented greatly on the nice colors and contrast of the monitor, but some people have also stated that this monitors life might not last as long as others and the screen might burn out quicker than other similar models. But overall it is still one of the best gaming lcd monitor around.
User Experience
I have done a lot of research before purchasing my new monitor. I have never seen a negative rating for it and I know why. I could not be happier with this product. Fast shipping and an over great value. (Amazon user)
I purchased this product as a Christmas gift and think I may have to get one for myself as well. The color is great and the size is perfect for a desk top monitor…not too big or overwhelming. The price is very reasonable for the quality of the product. (Amazon user)
I’ve been using this monitor for 6 months now, and it couldn’t be better for office work–crisp and clear and very customizable. The conservative plain black frame is great–no distractions from the screen. (Amazon user)
ViewSonic VA1912WB 19 inch Widescreen LCD Monitor
This is another 19 inch LCD monitor from Viewsonic that has received a lot of positive review. This monitor will definitely impress you as its widescreen aspect ratio is really ideally suited for intense game play, high-definition format video, and multiple document windows. Its ClearMotiv technology gives it a super-fast 5ms video response that enables digital HD-quality, full-motion video, while its Dynamic Structure technology’s innovative liquid-crystal composition and pixel matrix accelerate video response for seamless video and intense graphics.
User Experience
I have purchased about 8 so far for our office; it works great for both Mac and Windows. (Amazon user)
I am absolutely 100% pleased with my monitor from ViewSonic, and their customer service is very satisfying. I would buy from them again without hesitation. (Amazon user)
This is the second VA1912WB WIDESCREEN LCK MONITOR, THE PICTURE IS FANTASTIC AND QUALITY IS UN BELIEVABLE. (Amazon user)
I am very pleased with my 19 inch wide viewsonic. Some games I have played did not support its native resolution which is 1440X900, but it still looks good on a game with 1280X1024. I liked it so much that I bought another one. with two 19″ screens it looks real good. I just loaded windows vista and it looks great on these monitors. (Amazon user)
Acer 19″ Wide-Screen LCD Monitor
This is definitely another great 19 inch LCD monitor for gaming fans. You will be hard pressed to find a monitor of this calibre and value, along with a response rate of 5ms which will definitely leave speechless when playing fast moving games. Hard-core gamers can appreciate a figure like that to ensure ghost-free gaming.
The Acer 19? Wide-Screen LCD Monitor is probably the best gaming monitor you can find, at around $120 you cant beat the price, processing at 5 milliseconds it can take whatever games or movies may have to dish out and is very comparable to the more pricey Samsungs listed above. So if interested in the best monitor for your money, then you should consider trying a 19″ wide screen by Acer.
User Experience
Great monitor with an excellent price. I already had one so I bought another to match. Does what I need it to do. Good graphics and the whole transaction through Amazon was 5 stars again. Thanks again for another great product. (Amazon user)
Product was received quickly and it is just right for me! Easy to read screen and I don’t think you can get a better monitor for the price. (Amazon user)
This was a great buy. I love the fact that it is thin and easy to handle. I was surprised at the quality of the picture for such a cheap price. (Amazon user)
