Owning a great desktop computer system means you have the best hardware components. From the microprocessors to the graphics cards, DVD drive and the monitor, everything has to be of top quality. After all, buying a great computer is such a good investment. Just think about what you can do and the returns of your activities.

If you are mainly a graphic designer, then getting the best kind of Computer monitor is one of your most important considerations. LCD monitors, compared to their cathode ray tube (CRT) counterparts, can have less strain on your eyes.

Watching a movie or two on our computer is also a good way to take a break from our computer work. And what can be a better experience than watching bright, crisp and clear pictures on an LCD monitor?

LCD monitor prices have significantly gone down like most others in the digital technology world. But the prices are determined by many factors like the monitor size and other special features. This simple guide will help you decide which LCD monitor from among the wide variety of choices is best for you.

LCD Monitor Size

If you are on a tight budget and have basic needs like typing and storing documents and basic internet stuff like browsing and emails, you will need the inexpensive 15" (measured diagonally) LCD monitor. A 17" SXGA LCD monitor may be what you need when you are into computer graphics and multimedia production. This will give you extra space for all your graphics tools. But if you really want the big thing, you can opt for monitor sizes from 19 inches LCD Monitor to 24 inches. This will give you enough space to open several windows of software and manage all your software tools.

LCD Monitor Physical Design

You can choose from a wide array of designs and colors. If you are using the LCD monitor in a corporate office, then you should make sure the color and form matches the design of your office.

LCD Monitor Resolution

The image you see on your screen is made up of dots called pixels which mean "picture elements". The most common monitor resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels. This means that there are 1024 pixels from top to bottom and 768 pixels from left to right.

Increasing the resolution results in smaller images thus you have more room on your screen. If you do graphics, it is best to work in high resolution.

LCD Monitor Response Time

If the LCD computer has a lower response time, it has a faster refresh rate. For simple office work like documents and emails, a response time of 24 ms is enough for you. But if you are a video gamer or multimedia creator that needs faster refresh rates, you will need an LCD monitor with a response time below 20 ms.

LCD Monitor Brightness and Contrast Control

Depending on the lighting of the room or office, you can adjust the LCD monitor using this control so you get the picture which is pleasant to your eyes. Also, if you are a graphic designer making a design for print, you need to know the proper adjustment because color management in monitors is different from that in actual prints.

LCD Monitor Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio is the height and width viewing ratio which is important in giving you an accurate depiction of the real life images on screen.

LCD Monitor Connectivity

It would be good if you buy an LCD monitor that has both VGA and DVI connections. A DVI looks better than a VGA.

You can checkout unbiased reviews on Acer, Hyundai, LG, NEC and Samsung LCD Monitors at LCD Monitor reviews site.