I’m in the market for a new monitor and want to spend under $400. I’ve been looking at some options but I’m not sure what specs really matter nowadays. I remember seeing a model with a 19" screen, 1280x1024 resolution, and 15ms response time, but that seems outdated.
What should I be looking for today? I know resolution is important - should I go for 1080p or 1440p? And what about panel type? IPS seems popular for color accuracy, but TN is faster for gaming. Also, refresh rate - is 60Hz enough or should I aim for 75Hz or 144Hz? And response time - I see 1ms advertised, is that necessary?
Any advice on what to prioritize for a general purpose monitor (some gaming, some photo editing, lots of web browsing)? Thanks!
A computer monitor is an output device that displays information in pictorial or textual form. A discrete monitor comprises a visual display, support electronics, power supply, housing, electrical connectors, and external user controls. — Read more on Wikipedia
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title: Monitor Selection Specs
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flowchart TD
A[Start] --> B{Resolution?}
B -->|1080p| C[Budget Friendly]
B -->|1440p| D[Good for Gaming & Work]
B -->|4K| E[High Detail]
C --> F{Refresh Rate?}
D --> F
E --> F
F -->|60Hz| G[Office Use]
F -->|144Hz+| H[Gaming]
G --> I{Panel Type?}
H --> I
I -->|IPS| J[Best Color Accuracy]
I -->|VA| K[Good Contrast]
I -->|TN| L[Fast Response]
J --> M{Size}
K --> M
L --> M
M -->|24-27 inch| N[Standard]
M -->|32 inch+| O[Immersive]
N --> P[Connectivity]
O --> P
P --> Q[HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C]
Q --> R[Make Decision]
Consider your primary use. For photo editing, 1440p gives you more workspace and detail than 1080p. A 1440p 60Hz IPS monitor like the Dell S2721QS can be found under $400 and offers excellent color accuracy (sRGB >99%). For gaming, 144Hz is indeed smoother, but 60Hz is still playable for slower-paced titles. If you do both, you may need to compromise: a 1080p 144Hz IPS panel is a good all-rounder, but you’ll lose pixel real estate. Also, ignore the 1ms marketing—real response times for IPS are around 4-5ms; 1ms is achieved only with aggressive overdrive that introduces overshoot. Prioritize contrast ratio and color gamut for photo work.
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