Some basic questions on LCD monitors

abelard

I'm looking to buy an LCD monitor but have a couple of questions.

Firstly, what should I be looking for in terms of specifications for a "good" LCD monitor? I see specs such as Contrast ratio, response time, viewing angle, brightness etc. Whilst I have a basic grasp of what these all mean, I don't have any practical experience of what, for example, a "good contrast ratio" would be.

Secondly, if I were to buy an lcd in America, would I run into the same PAL/NTSC issues that I'd have if I bought a TV? Or are monitors universal?

Any enlightenment much appreciated!

docmol

American monitors use the same type of data signal as european ones (vga, dvi or hdmi) so that's not a problem. However america uses 110v (we use 220v) so that could be an issue, you would need to look at the transformer, if it is external, or get one that supports both voltages.
You also need to work out what inputs you need on the monitor (vga, dvi or hdmi) This will depend on your computer. If you are replacing an old crt type monitor, you will need a vga input, almost all monitors come with this. If your video board has a dvi output, then thats the way to go (easier and more accurate setup)
Don't get too worried about response times, even when gaming a new monitor should be up to the task, and manufacturers often exagerate those specs anyway. Viewing angles are dependent on the type of "lcd" monitor you get, but as most people sit directly in front of a computer monitor, I wouldn't regard this as overly critical either.
Here is a link to a site with some reviews and general background on lcd monitors: http://www.anandtech.com/displays/
What it all boils down to is what you want the monitor to do and how much you want to spend. What are you going to connect to it (computer, ps3, tv etc). If you can post some more info I'll send you a few recomendations.

abelard

docmol wrote:

American monitors use the same type of data signal as european ones (vga, dvi or hdmi) so that's not a problem. However america uses 110v (we use 220v) so that could be an issue, you would need to look at the transformer, if it is external, or get one that supports both voltages.
You also need to work out what inputs you need on the monitor (vga, dvi or hdmi) This will depend on your computer. If you are replacing an old crt type monitor, you will need a vga input, almost all monitors come with this. If your video board has a dvi output, then thats the way to go (easier and more accurate setup)
Don't get too worried about response times, even when gaming a new monitor should be up to the task, and manufacturers often exagerate those specs anyway. Viewing angles are dependent on the type of "lcd" monitor you get, but as most people sit directly in front of a computer monitor, I wouldn't regard this as overly critical either.
Here is a link to a site with some reviews and general background on lcd monitors: http://www.anandtech.com/displays/
What it all boils down to is what you want the monitor to do and how much you want to spend. What are you going to connect to it (computer, ps3, tv etc). If you can post some more info I'll send you a few recomendations.

Thanks for the tips man.

The only reason I really asked about the possibility of getting one in America is because I'm there right now. I just noticed they were cheaper here so thought I'd look into it at least. I don't really mind waiting a few weeks until I get home and buying one then.

In terms of what I'm looking for, it doesn't have to be anything extraordinary, just a good LCD that will last me a few years. Right now, I would just be hooking up my laptop through VGA, and occasionally my Xbox 360 through the HDMI port. I'll be upgrading to a new laptop/desktop within the next year or two, likely with DVI/HDMI output. So I guess I'd be looking for a monitor that has all three.

I will be doing some gaming on it through the 360 and new computer, but I'm not like a competitive Counter Strike player or anything of the sort, so I don't need the top of the range response times and the like. Like I said, just something good that I'll be able to use for the next few years.

In terms of budget, I'd like to keep it below 200, but could stretch a little further if I had to.

edit: oh, and in terms of size, I'd be looking at like 21-23 inch

docmol

This seems to be getting good reviews and is the right price, but shop around!
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=431103&utm_source=komplett.ie&utm_medium=august09w32fb01_lg_monitor