Read this article at https://www.pugetsystems.com/guides/20
LCD Behemoths - Tremendous LCD Technology For The Home!
Written on February 8, 2005 by Daniel BrownAlways look at the date when you read a hardware article. Some of the content in this article is most likely out of date, as it was written on February 8, 2005. For newer information, see our more recent articles.
Introduction
In this article, we will take a look at how LCD techonlogy has advanced recently. We'll also compare some of the latest large LCD monitors designed for movie-watching, gaming, and high-resolution graphics.
CRT vs LCD
LCD Advantages
More and more LCDs are shipping now with standard DVI connectors, which allow for a digital signal path all the way from the PC to the screen. Some older LCDs shipped with standard VGA connectors which added inaccuracy because of the digital to analog conversion being done on your video card, and the added digital back to analog conversion being done by the electronics onboard the LCD screen. The older method using the VGA standard created color inaccuracy, as well as screen artifacts in some cases.
LCD screens are much more efficient than their CRT counterparts, which results in less heat being produced by your monitor, and a lower electric bill. Lower power consumption also means that your uninterruptible power supply will last considerably longer with an LCD than a CRT. The liquid crystal technology used in modern LCD screens creates crisper text and clearer-defined edges in graphics when compared to equivalent CRTs.
Our Voluminous LCD Friends
Lately, we have been seeing some of the fruits of these advances in LCD technology. One of these is the advent of very large, high resolution monitors in target price ranges for not only the professional, but also for the home power user. With CRT technology, large monitors were very prohibitive in both cost and bulk, anything over 24" with a decent resolution was very much a professional monitor, with professional pricing to go along with it. Today, relatively cheap, large LCDs are starting to take the place of both the computer monitor, as well as the television in some people's homes.
Here, I briefly list information a couple of the large LCD screens that stand out from the crowd today.
Here, I briefly list information a couple of the large LCD screens that stand out from the crowd today.
A look at the future of LCD technology
Note: One thing that you will want to be sure of when looking to purchase any high resolution LCD screen (higher than 1900x1200), is whether you will need what is referred to as "dual-link DVI" compatibility on your video card. Dual link DVI lets the DVI output on your video card run monitors that require higher than 1900x1200 resolutions. If your monitor requires this, you will most likely need to look into a workstation/professional level graphics card.