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Cheap Computer Monitors, Best Cheap LCD Monitors

Related Guides: Cheap Laptops, Desktops, Laser Printers, Netbooks, Office Chairs, USB Flash Drives, Webcams and Wireless Routers

Oftentimes, monitors are no more than an afterthought for home computer users. After all, many computer manufacturers and electronics retailers simply give away flat-panel displays with their systems.

These cheap monitors tend to be very small, and many users, including those with laptops, prefer a larger display for movies and games, or when working on text documents and spread sheets. So if you're in the market for a new computer, make sure to set aside some extra money for a good quality cheap monitor.

Some of the most familiar names in monitors include Samsung, Asus, HP, ViewSonic, Acer, Gateway, Dell, and Apple. Most of these manufacturers produce a wide range of displays at various sizes and prices. Dell, Apple, and Sony monitors tend to be more expensive than those from other manufacturers, so none of their products fall into our Cheapism niche. Higher-priced monitors tend to include extra features, like a built-in Web cam or an LCD panel technology that displays color more accurately than a budget display. Also, large monitors (those over 24 inches) are more expensive than the smaller models in our price range. We did find many cheap monitors that performed well, though, so let's take a closer look at monitor technology before we discuss our favorite models.

Cheap Monitors Size.

A monitor's size is one of the first features to attract a shopper's attention. Cheap monitors are available in many sizes, from small 18-inch models to giant 30-inch displays. Our picks range from 20 inches to 24 inches, and include the 20-inch HP 2009m (starting at $140, Amazon), the 21.5-inch Lenovo L215p (starting at $200, Amazon) and Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW (starting at $180, Amazon), and the 23-inch Asus VH236H (starting at $199, Amazon). You can even use a large widescreen TV as a computer monitor, if you're so inclined. Many LCD TVs, including the LG 42-inch 42LH30-UA (starting at $650, Amazon), for example, have a PC port for connecting to your system.

Large monitors are tempting, but remember a couple of things before you buy one. First, the larger the monitor, the more expensive it will be. Second, if you have a small work area or sit fairly close to your screen, a large monitor may be a bit overwhelming. Cheap monitors up to 24 inches are generally affordable and offer a fair amount of screen real estate. Indeed, one user posting a review of cheap monitors at Newegg.com describes his Asus VH236H's 23-inch screen as "almost overkill."

Low-cost Monitors Aspect Ratio.

A cheap monitor's aspect ratio is defined as its width relative to its height. Widescreen monitors, such as the Asus VH236H, usually have an aspect ratio of 16:9 like most widescreen TVs. You'll be hard-pressed to find an LCD monitor that's not widescreen these days. Widescreen monitors are great for movies and games, as one might expect. But a widescreen display is useful for office workers as well, because it easily fits two windows side-by-side, which is convenient if you need to see two documents at once.

Cheap Monitors Contrast Ratio.

A cheap monitor's contrast ratio indicates the difference in intensity between the monitor's deepest blacks and brightest whites. Remember that the higher the contrast ratio, the better. This feature is important if you plan to watch video or play games on your PC, but it isn't quite as important if you primarily use your system to work on documents or surf the Web. Most inexpensive monitors, such as the Lenovo L215p, HP 2009m, Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW, and ViewSonic VX2433wm (starting at $199, Amazon), have a contrast ratio of around 1000:1.

Be sure not to confuse a cheap monitor's contrast ratio with its dynamic contrast. The two features are similar, but as CNET's monitor buying guide points out, the dynamic contrast measurement can be misleading. For example, a cheap monitor may only have a contrast ratio of 600:1, but its dynamic contrast will be much higher, as much as 30,000:1. Asus promotes its VH236H monitor as having a dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000:1, and while that seems like a big number, it's a marketing gimmick that's essentially meaningless in terms of how well the monitor actually displays color. Look for a monitor's contrast ratio, but don't worry about its dynamic contrast.

Inexpensive Monitors Brightness.

Brightness, as the name of this feature implies, is simply how bright a cheap monitor is, and is measured in cd/m2 (candelas per square meter). The cheap monitors we reviewed have a brightness level of 300, and there's not a lot of differentiation among cheap or expensive models as far as brightness levels go. Note that cheap monitors typically are set to maximum brightness when you first take them out of the box, which is often a little too bright. After you buy your cheap monitor, remember to adjust the brightness to a comfortable level, and let your eyes be your guide. A cheap monitors review on Walmart.com notes that the Acer X203H (starting at $120, Amazon) is so bright that the user wasn't able to raise the laptop's brightness to the same level.

Cheap Monitors Response Time.

A cheap monitor's display is made up of thousands of tiny individual pixels. These pixels change color very rapidly to compose the image you see on-screen. The speed with which these pixels change color is called the response time, measured in milliseconds. The faster the pixels can change color, the better.

There are a few ways manufacturers measure response time. One method is the gray-to-gray response time, which is the time it takes for a pixel to turn from one shade of gray to another. Because this version of response time is very fast, manufacturers like to promote this measurement. You'll usually see it listed as GTG; the Asus HV236H, for example, lists its gray-to-gray response time as 2ms.

Another means of measuring response time is how long it takes for a pixel to turn from black to white, and back to black. This response time is usually a little longer than the gray-to-gray response time, usually about 5ms; the HP 2009m, Lenovo L215p, Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW, ViewSonic VX2433wm, and Acer X203H all feature a response time of 5ms. Try to avoid monitors with slow response times, which can lead to a "ghosting" or fluttering effect when playing fast-moving video, such as video games, sports, or movies. Most monitors, whether cheap or expensive, have a sufficiently fast response time so that ghosting isn't an issue. Some low-priced and top-end monitors, however, like the 15-inch ViewEra V151HV (starting at $220, Amazon) and the 30-inch HP LP3065 (starting at $1,070, Amazon), feature a pokey 12ms response time.

Cheap Monitors Native Resolution.

All inexpensive monitors have a "native resolution," which is the resolution at which images on the display look best. You should always set up your computer and cheap monitor to use the monitor's native resolution. Many cheap monitors, including the Asus VH236H, Lenovo L215p, and Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW, boast a native resolution of 1920x1080, which is the same resolution as a 1080p high-definition television. This is not an accident, because you can watch high-definition movies on your monitor if your computer has a DVD or Blu-ray drive. Monitors with higher native resolutions display sharper images than those with lower resolutions; both the HP 2009m and Acer X203H have resolutions of 1600x900, so it's not the ideal native resolution for high-definition video. That's not to say that video will look bad on these monitors, but high-definition video should look better on monitors with a 1080 native resolution.

Low-cost Monitors Ports.

Cheap monitors don't require a lot of ports. You only need one to connect the cheap monitor to your PC, and the most common port used is a digital DVI port. Although DVI is the preferred port, all the monitors we reviewed still include an analog RGB port that lets you connect the monitor to a much older PC or video card that doesn't include a DVI connection. DVI ports have been around for years, so most desktops, laptops, and video cards should have a DVI port.

A relatively new way to connect your monitor to other devices is through an HDMI port. HDMI ports are commonly found on high-definition televisions, and this type of port provides the highest quality connection for high-definition video. If you choose a monitor with an HDMI port, such as the Lenovo L215p or Asus VH236H, you can connect the monitor directly to another device that uses HDMI, like a DVD or Blu-ray player.

A small number of inexpensive monitors also include USB 2.0 ports built right into the monitor housing, as does the Lenovo L215p with its three active USB ports and a fourth that basically serves as a traffic cop, directing data from the other ports to the PC. You can use these ports to conveniently connect USB devices, such as an MP3 player or keyboard, to your PC. It's a nice extra, but hardly a necessity.

Cheap Monitors Audio.

Many cheap monitors, including the Asus VH236H, HP2009m, and ViewSonic VX2433wm, have speakers built right in. The speakers are usually very small and slim -- to better fit inside a very thin monitor -- and are not very powerful. Some monitors, such as the Asus and ViewSonic models, also include a minijack for connecting a pair of headphones. The audio quality of cheap monitor speakers tends to be pretty lackluster, so don't go out of your way to find a monitor with built-in speakers. However, if you don't have computer speakers or a pair of headphones, monitor speakers are better than nothing.

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ViewSonic VX2433wm
Acer X203H
Lenovo L215p
Samsung SyncMaster 2233SW
Asus VH236H
HP 2009m

 

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