TFT Monitors 20'' Test

Reviews on TFT Monitors 20''

"Samsung SyncMaster T200"

Published on: 6/2008

On test: Samsung SyncMaster T200

With its impressive contrast ratio and stunning 'touch of colour' design, the Samsung SM T200 looks to be an interesting monitor. But can it compete on quality? → More

"TFTs: 20-22in"

Issue: 11/2007

On test: Philips 200WS8FS, Octigen 236617LNOTG, NEC MultiSync 20WGX2Pro, Iiyama Prolite E2201W-B

Since image quality is increasing all the time, we decided to focus this month's Labs on affordable monitors, so there's a much wider selection of entry-level models than we've previously chosen to include. → More

"Samsung SyncMaster XL20 LED Backlight Monitor"

Published on: 9/2007

On test: Samsung SyncMaster XL20

In an age where widescreen displays are now almost standard fare, I never thought I would find myself wanting a standard 4:3 monitor again. However, the Samsung SyncMaster XL20 isn't your average display. In fact it's in another league when it comes to image quality, so much so that to use one, is to want one. → More

"Samsung SyncMaster 205BW"

Issue: 9/2007

On test: Samsung SyncMaster 205BW

Samsung's SyncMaster 205BW looks great with its thin, 17mm brushed-silver bezel and matte-black stand with matching silver trim. The display can't be pivoted, but you can adjust its height. The display slides gracefully up and down the stand, providing an elevation of between 65 and 145mm from your desk to the bottom of the screen. → More

TFT Monitors 20''

TFT monitors are slowly but surely consigning the old CRT giants to the rubbish heap. Their prices are getting lower and lower, their space saving design speaks for itself and they are far more energy efficient than the older standard. Flatscreen monitors do have their weaknesses, not least the low native resolution of smaller models. A 20 inch monitor can normally support a resolution of about 1600 x 1200 pixels which means there are that many sets of tiny transistors and liquid crystals making up the image. The response time of these crystals is a deciding factor in choosing a monitor. 'Value' monitors and professional grade monitors can have a difference in response time of up to 4 milliseconds. For 3D gamers or cinephiles a slower response time can lead to a poor experience. Also manufacturers tend to only quote the black to white response time which is not as important or telling as the grey to grey response, which should be no less than 8ms. Just as important is the contrast ratio, this decides how visible the picture will be in a lighted room for instance. A contrast ration of 400:1 is the minimum and anything over that is advisable. 20 inch monitors usually include digital connections or digital-analogue DVI-I sockets, this will still require an adapter to be used with analogue signals but guarantees the monitor will be future proof and, when used with a graphics card with a similar connector, will form an almost lossless link between computer and screen.