What is Screen Resolution

Monitor or screen resolution refers to the settings that determine sharpness and clarity of an image. This is based on the number of "pixels" in each resolution dimension. The term is most often used to describe monitors, printers, and bit-mapped graphic images but in this article we will focus on computer monitors.

The screen resolution signifies the number of dots (pixels) on the entire screen. For example, a 1024-by-768 pixel screen is capable of displaying 1024 distinct dots on each of 768 lines, or about 786,000 pixels (1024x768). This translates into different DPI (dots per inch) measurements depending on the size of the screen. Put simply, we're looking at the difference between how many dots per inch the computer is trying to display and how many dots per inch the monitor can show before they start running into each other which will create a fuzzy image.

Most monitor manufacturers have standardized on 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution for monitors up to 24" as of 2012. Monitors larger than 24" may have higher capabilities but usually require connecting to a Display Port (still a bit ahead of its time at the time of this writing)

 

Choose "LED" not just LCD when shopping for a new monitor.  The latest and greatest in monitor technology is called, LED Backlit Technology. Look for an LCD with the term "LED Backlit" in the description.

About Dot Pitch

A decent monitor today will have a horizontal dot pitch of about 0.22 mm (or a diagonal dot pitch of 0.28mm). That is about 115 dots per inch. Anything higher than that will be fuzzy, since the monitor will be trying to display more than one pixel per screen dot. (more on dot pitch).

Obviously, there's more to crisp display than simple dot pitch and resolution would indicate. That doesn't mean that dot pitch isn't a good indicator of screen sharpness, only that it doesn't directly predict with the maximum sharp display setting.

A monitor with a dot pitch of 0.28d, can display a fuzzy 1024x768 but a sharper image when set to 800x600. It is all relative to the monitor capabilities so a monitor with a lower dot pitch (lower is better) it would display a sharper image at 1024 x 768.

As a general rule of thumb, a good monitor will have a diagonal dot pitch of around 0.25-0.28. Don't be fooled ! Some manufacturers advertise horizontal dot pitch as opposed to the more common diagonal...read the fine print!. To learn more about diagonal vs. horizontal, see dot pitch.
 

About Monitors

As of 2012 most monitors are either LCD or LED flatscreens. Older CRT monitors are a thing of the past giving way to newer monitor technologies. Choosing a good quality monitor will make a huge difference in the quality of your monitor images and create less strain on your eyes as a result. Don't cut corners when selecting your monitors especially if you are using a multiple display computer system. Spend a few extra bucks for better quality, your eyes will thank you.
 

How to choose a Good Monitor

When shopping for a new LCD monitor here are the specs to look for when comparing different models.

• Screen size. Although this is a personal preference, generally speaking a 22" monitor is a good place to start. Go into your local BestBuy type store and look at the different sizes. This is the best way to determine what size is right for you. If you are using a Multiple Screen Computer system, a 22" is a great size to choose.
   
• LED not just LCD: The latest and greatest in monitor technology is called, LED Backlit Technology. Look for an LCD with the term "LED Backlit" in the description. This new LED (light emitting diode) uses LED backlighting vs "cold cathode" backlighting (ok too much information). The bottom line is that LED provides a much brighter image, on thinner monitors with less heat. A win-win all the way around.
   
• Resolution: As mentioned above, most monitors are now standardized on 1920 x 1080 full HD. Don't accept anything less.
   
• Monitors vs TVs: You will usually get a much sharper image from a computer monitor rather than a TV being used as a computer monitor. TVs are first and foremost, televisions remember. They are designed primarily for the purpose of a television, with what they call "accessory ports" (DVI or VGA) allowing you to also connect to your computer. However, depending on the age of your TV, the DVI and VGA ports on televisions, will NOT give you as high of a resolution as you would think. If you are using multiple monitors with your computer, you do not really need TV sized monitors since you have multiple displays. Having several 22" LCDs rather than one large TV is always a better scenario and far more productive.
   
• Connections: Although most monitors will come with DVI (digital video) port, verify this. Some cheaper monitors may only have VGA (analog) only. The newest vide3o cards and computers will connect digitally with DVI cables. Note also to verify that the DVI cables are included with the monitors otherwise they will need to be purchased separately.. HDMI vs DVI connections? Forget about HDMI when connecting to a computer. HDMI is a television type connection and you gain no benefit over DVI from a quality standpoint. In addition, there are no multiple display HDMI video cards on the market to date, everything is DVI.