TFT monitors use thin film transistor technology to improve picture quality. Size, inputs, resolution, contrast ratio, and response rate are important factors to consider when choosing a monitor. A larger screen is worth buying within budget, and a digital input like DVI gives better results than VGA. Contrast ratio and response rate affect color details and video performance.
A TFT monitor is a type of LCD monitor or liquid crystal display. The names come from the thin film transistor which is the technology used to improve the picture quality. There are several factors to consider when choosing a TFT monitor.
Size is probably the single most important point when choosing a TFT monitor, particularly as the technology allows for a much larger screen size without the monitor becoming unworkable in depth as it would with an older-style CRT monitor. As a general rule, the larger screen is worth buying within your budget, although sometimes a smaller screen from a high-quality brand can be better value than a larger screen from a budget manufacturer.
As with other displays, TFT monitors are listed by diagonal screen size. However, because the screen does not curve at the edges, a TFT screen will have approximately one inch (2.5 cm) more viewable area than a CRT monitor of the same diagonal size. It’s also worth remembering that a 16:9 or “widescreen” monitor will have less total display area than a 4:3 monitor with the same diagonal. The difference varies with screen size, but as a general rule a 4:3 monitor will have about 50% more area than its 16:9 equivalent.
It’s also important to consider the inputs available on a TFT monitor. If it’s compatible with your computer, a digital input like DVI will give better results than an analog input like VGA. A digital input can also be useful if you want to use your monitor as a display for a DVD player or games console.
There are a variety of figures used to measure the level of detail available on screen. The most common is resolution, which simply describes the number of pixels that can be displayed. The higher the resolution, the better the more detailed image will be.
Another measure is the contrast ratio. This is a figure that measures how many times a pure white signal displayed by the monitor is brighter than a pure black signal on the same screen. The higher the contrast ratio, the more subtle the color details on the screen will be. It’s worth noting that the precise methods of measuring contrast ratio can vary, so it’s more helpful to use an independent guide that compares different models directly rather than going out and buying the manufacturer’s figures.
A third measure is response rate. This is a measurement of time, showing how quickly the screen can change its view. A fast response rate is more important on a screen you’ll be using to watch videos or play games than one used primarily for web browsing and office tasks, where the difference in response rate may be less noticeable.
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