There is no doubt that bigger is better when it comes to computer monitors. The more you see, and the larger you see the images, the better your computer experience, whether you’re gaming or working. If you’ve decided to increase your monitor capacity, congratulations; however, you still have one more question to answer: should you buy one large monitor, or two separate monitors? Let’s look at the question from a couple of different angles.

Viewing Space:

When it comes to pure visual area, nothing beats a nice big monitor. You can find a number of different brands offering widescreen monitors in sizes up to 30 inches or so (larger with some setups). The primary benefit to using a single large monitor is that you have no interruption of the visual field. In other words, you can see the entire image with no breaks, whether you’re looking at your desktop or playing your favorite online game. Dual monitors work just as well, though they have an interruption between the monitors. There is no distortion or image loss, but the lack of continuity can be disconcerting for some users.

Many Samsung LCD Monitors have an incredible viewing angle, tons of connection options and great performance, especially the SyncMaster line, making this a great selection for a large LCD Monitor, specifically 23″ and above. Better known for their LCD Displays and LCD TV’s, Sony LCD Monitors overall have stellar picture quality with high resolution and a plethora of features, but these beautiful monitors carry a hefty price tag.

Price:

Hands down, dual monitors win out over their larger brethren. You can purchase two midrange monitors for much less than you’ll get a single large screen version. If you’re economically minded (or just strapped for cash), this is the option for you. If you’re concerned about the lack of continuity mentioned above, don’t be. You’ll find that your vision adapts quite well to the separate monitors. After using your dual setup for a little while, you’ll wonder how you ever managed to do anything before.

HP LCD Monitors are great monitors in all size categories. They have an attractive design, outstanding performance and an approachable price tag. Depending upon the series, HP has some very affordable monitors in the 17″-20″ range, perfect for setting up and saving money on a dual monitor setup.

Additional Hardware:

If you’re going to run dual monitors, you’re going to have to upgrade the graphics card that came with your system. For some reason, computer manufacturers haven’t made the logical leap that aftermarket graphic card makers have. Namely, that two monitors are better than one. In other words, almost all computers come with only single monitor capabilities.  The good news is that almost all modern graphics cards worth their salt come with dual monitor hooks ups. This includes both ATI and NVIDIA.

An additional option is to use a converter solution, such as Matrox. These are adapters that plug into your existing graphics card and can then split that signal to two monitor plug ins, much like the old splitters used to get cable to more than one television from a single line. Both options have their advantages, though a new video card comes with additional onboard memory for better graphics capabilities. Additionally, any Windows version above Windows 95 can handle multiple monitors.

Yes, it can be done. In fact, many gamers and HD video enthusiasts use LCD TVs instead of standard PC monitors to views movies from their Home Theater PCs or HTPCs. 32″ LCD TVS are quite common among HTPC users as they are a cross between the more preferred 42″ plasma TV and the more modest 22″ LCD computer monitors. But 42″ high definition LCDs are getting mainstream and they can likewise be used as PC monitors. There are certain things to consider though.

- First is the fact the LCD TVs are basically derived from LCD PC monitors but enhanced and specialized to display movies that can rival Plasma TVs. The characteristics for a good high definition display on LCD, like high contrast ratios and response time used to be an issue as they were inferior to that on Plasma. But the newer LCD TVs and monitors have evened out the Plasma edge in the 42″ screen sizes and below. Plasma still reigns supreme above that size though LCDs are catching up.

- Because of higher dot pitches, you need to set the PC video output to match the LCD TV’s native resolution in order to display readable fine texts. This ensures exact pixel mapping between the computer and your display. Full-HD means 1080p resolution while HD-ready means either no digital tuner or 720p resolution. It is strongly recommended that you stick to 1080p resolution even for 32 inchers as pixel density is higher and allows a more comfortable reading of displayed text if you are going to use the LCD TV for word documents and spreadsheets. Bear in mind that for any given resolution, you get looser pixel density the bigger the screen size is.

- Consider your viewing distance. Typically, you would be seated 1ft – 1.5ft away from a monitor screen 15″ – 22″ in size on a regular computer table. With a 32″ LCD TV, you will need to seat farther back at around 2.5ft – 4ft away to have a better view of the entire screen. Check to ensure that your computer furniture can accommodate this. Otherwise, you could be running your face right smack on a large 32″ panel.

- Connections between the LCD TV and you PC can be problematic for certain LCD models. The problem starts with HDCP technology which is a security hand-shaking protocol that all 1080p LCD TVs now have. If your PC video card is not HCDP-compliant and your LCD TV is, you will not be able to view Blu-ray movies which have HDCP compliance built into the software when using HDCP-compliant DVI or HDMI connection. In addition, it is possible that the LCD TV will not display anything if it cannot verify that the signal it is receiving has HDCP. Either you get a blank display or the LCD TV automatically downscales its resolution to 720p or lower. To be safe, make sure the LCD TV you’re getting has at least a VGA terminal so you can use standard analog VGA connection.

- Alternatively, you can have a dual monitor configuration set on the PC video card if it’s supported this setting. You can have your standard PC monitor you can use for document processing and internet browsing while your secondary 32″ LCD TV can be used for movies watching. This may be a preferred option if you find the text display on a 32″ TV less than ideal. In addition, using a longer VGA cable, you can situate your LCD TV farther away from the computer so it can be shared with other members of your family when watching movies on it. GP

Prices of LCD monitors have dropped significantly in recent years, but that doesn’t mean the quality has too. Today, you can purchase a low-price monitor without sacrificing features, performance, and screen size. In fact, most LCD monitors offer stunning image quality, style, portability, and space-saving convenience. However, there are certain key features that make LCD monitors different from one another. The following are some important factors to consider when evaluating an LCD monitor:

Size/Weight—For the most part, this depends on two different factors: the space available to you and what you commonly use your monitor for. It goes without saying that if you intend to use your computer for graphic intensive work like fashion designing or 3D animation, then having a large monitor would make more sense.

Resolution—For the sharpest, cleanest image quality, choose only those with the highest number of pixels. But make sure you are comfortable with an LCD’s native resolution before you buy it.

Pixel-Response Rate—The pixel-response rate, also known as response time, is the minimum time necessary to change a pixel’s color or brightness. The time is expressed in milliseconds, and the longer it takes, the slower the monitor’s reactions. Everyone’s preferences on response times are different. If you play a lot of games, it would be worthwhile to invest in one with a much faster response time. However, most people who aren’t gamers cannot tell the difference.

Viewing Angle—The physical structure of LCD pixels can cause a shift in the brightness and color of images if you view them from an angle. Take manufacturer’s specifications with a grain of salt and make your own observations if possible. Also, it’s important to understand that viewing-angle issues become more critical as panel size increases.

Monitor Inputs–  The type of inputs found on an LCD monitor dictate the flexibility and multi-use capabilities of the monitor. Some models have both types of input but only accept a signal through one at a time, whereas others can electronically switch between the two.

Buying the right monitor for you is a very personal experience and it requires time to research and evaluate the various models. People have differences on how they angle the monitor, the level of ambient lighting, and some just have different design tastes than others. The trick is to strike the perfect balance between price and functionality, and the best way to begin is to find exactly what your needs are. Hopefully, you now have enough information to make an educated decision.