Buying a computer can be a no-brainer if you have an unlimited budget and you can just purchase the biggest, most up-to-date components you can find. But as you compare PC parts and brands, you'll understand that building your computer isn't a one-size-fits-all purchase. It should be based on personal preference.
If you're shopping for a PC monitor, you have to find one that would work for you. Here's why this is important:
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Inaccurate colours could affect your work.
If your job involves blocks and blocks of text, such as writing, editing, research, coding, and other similar professions, image quality and colour accuracy wouldn't be a big deal for you.
However, if you're editing photos, creating videos, working on AutoCAD, and doing other image-heavy tasks on your computer, you have to find a monitor that can accommodate these requirements and offer you the best image quality with accurate colours, balanced brightness, and contrast.
For better image quality, go for a monitor with:
- IPS panel type. Skip twisted nematic (TN) and vertical alignment (VA) and go for IPS that offers wide viewing angles and excellent picture quality.
- 4K/Ultra HD (UHD) resolution - 4k or 3,840 x 2,160 pixels provides much more detail than 1080p/HD.
- Dual setup or ultrawide displays - If you're editing and require a lot of real estate on your monitor, a single display may limit your movement. Opt for two (or more) monitors instead. If you can only accommodate just one monitor, maybe an ultrawide display is a better option.
You have a limited workspace at home.
You may want something as big as a 33-inch screen size (or bigger), but your home office may not be able to fit that BIG of a monitor. Are you open to sacrifice feeling cramped for a big-sized monitor?
If not, you should definitely consider the monitor size before choosing a display. Best if you measure available space on your PC table, or home office when shopping around for displays.
Using the monitor as part of your entertainment system.
If one of your main uses of your monitor is for your entertainment system, then you have to consider three things:
- Monitor size: Big is best when it comes to streaming and watching movies, but consider where you'll be placing the monitor once you decide on the size.
- Connectivity: Find a monitor with at least 2 HDMI ports, a USB port, VGA port and DVI port, all of which add connectivity to your laptop, external hard drives, and other gadgets needed for watching movies or videos.
- Refresh rates: Refresh rates ensure your monitor can handle the transition of images. The mid-ranged refresh rate is about 120 Hz, which is more than enough for watching shows. For gaming, 144Hz or higher is more ideal.
A traditional monitor setup isn't attractive to you.
If the traditional setup isn't something you'd like for your home office, then you have more options to consider, such as:
- Going with vertical displays: Portrait orientation may not be the standard, but it can be a display that would fit your space-saving requirement.
- Setting up dual monitors: If you want more space and are purchasing a second monitor, the option could have lesser specifications than your first monitor.
- Picking ultrawide aspect ratio (instead of standard or widescreen).
Getting the latest technology is your top priority.
We all know that technology advances very quickly. As such, buying the best and most updated monitor today doesn't really guarantee that you'll be able to have the best at all times. However, this shouldn't be such a big deal (unless you need the best gaming monitor or video editing monitor).
Future-proofing is great, but the problem with keeping up with the latest technology is that the content may not be able to adapt as quickly. You see, even 4k resolution monitors may only just perform as a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution because the movies, videos and other content aren't made for 4k viewing yet.
You have budget constraints.
Budget is always one of the biggest concerns when upgrading to a second or new monitor. If you have a limited budget, don't be discouraged. You can still buy an advanced display even if you don't have deep pockets.
You just have to prioritize and decide the top 3 components you need: is it size or picture quality? Refresh rate or future-proofing?
Also, compare as many monitors as you can before diving in and buying one. Sometimes, the same specifications can be found on another brand (and another model), but at a more affordable price tag.
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By considering your needs and weighing your options, you'll be able to buy the monitor that would perform the best for your work, gaming or entertainment needs.