How to choose a PC display

TV and HD
You may also see some monitors advertised as having a built-in TV tuner. This means that, when not being used as a display for a computer, they can operate as a standard television ­ perfect for those who don’t have room for a TV and computer.

Don’t forget that the digital switchover is already under way, so if you are choosing a monitor to watch TV, look for one with a Freeview tuner.

With all the new surrounding high-definition (HD) video, you might want a monitor that can display it. The good news is that most modern monitors are capable of displaying at least one type of high-definition video.

The simplest type of HD video, known as 720p, has a resolution of 1,280x720 pixels. This means that most monitors measuring at least 19 inches can display it without problems. Higher-quality 1080p video, however, requires a minimum resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels, which is usually only available on monitors measuring at least 24 inches.

There’s one other thing to look out for, too. In order to display many types of high-definition video, including Blu-ray discs, monitors need to support a type of copy protection called HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection). Any display with the official HD Ready logo must include this technology.

Pixel problems
There’s nothing worse than taking a new display out of its box, starting it up and then spotting a faulty pixel.

A faulty pixel is one that either stays a certain colour at all times (known as a stuck pixel) or one that is not operating at all and remains black (known as a dead pixel). They can occur at any time, even at the point of manufacture, and whether or not you can get a replacement monitor depends on the state of its warranty and the pixel policy of the manufacturer.

Some manufacturers will offer an immediate replacement regardless of the type of fault, whereas others will require a certain number of faulty pixels (sometimes within a specific radius of each other).

It’s therefore best to ask about the pixel policy before purchasing a monitor and, if you really want to be sure that your display will be flawless, to pick one with a zero dead pixel guarantee. Of course, such displays tend to be more expensive.