Best Computer Monitor Under 100, 200, 300

A few years ago if you needed more work space for all of your files and paperwork you added a bigger desk or got a bigger office. Today's jobs require increasingly large monitors which allow today's workforce to increase their productivity by having more viewing area for spreadsheets, webpages, and documents. Here's a few monitors terms that you should know before increasing your overall workspace.

LED vs LCD

LCD or "liquid crystal displays" are the latest in monitor technology. The display is relatively thin and is not lit up by itself. In order to light up a modern LCD monitor or television internal backlighting is used. At first CCFL or cold-cathode fluorescent lamps were used to produce the light. You should assume that any monitor that is simply listed as LCD and not LED is a CCFL LCD. These monitors are efficient and do a good job but are bulkier, require more energy, and emit mercury vapor to develop ultraviolet light. Conversely the newer LED LCD technology is thinner, more energy efficient, and in general lighter on your eyes than LCD monitors. The cost difference between the two as of today is minimal. LED lights can also be dimmed or turned off in order to produce a better contrast ratio by getting a more realistic black.

Contrast Ratio

If you've been in an electronics store and have looked at any type of display you've probably seen its contrast ratio advertised. Contrast ratio is a measurement of the whitest white and the blackest black. A higher contrast ratio is ideal for more detailed/accurate imaging but may not be necessary for most office computers.

Response Time

Response time measures the amount of time it takes a pixel to go from one color to another and then back again. Lower response times are more desirable and help to eliminate the blurring that can sometimes happen during action sequences of games or movies. If you don't plan on using your computer for gaming or movies, then it's likely you wouldn't notice the difference between two monitors with different response times.

Resolution:

Today's latest monitors generally come with all the resolution that is appropriate for their size. Although monitors can go significantly higher "full HD" resolution is usually considered 1920x1080(p). The first number is considered the amount of horizontal pixels and the second is the amount of vertical pixels. Graphic designers and photographers may desire a monitor with a high number of pixels per square inch simply because it gives them a sharper image and more pixels to work with.

Connectors

There are 4 main types of connectors that are found on the back of your computer. Analog RGB which is typically blue, DVI which is typically white, HDMI, and mini-HDMI. Before purchasing a monitor it's a good idea to look at the type of connectors that your monitor comes with and that they match what you're given on the back of your computer. Adapters as well as DVI to HDMI and mini-HDMI cables are also available; however, it's more convenient to think of the type of connection you need ahead of time.

Panels

Unless listed otherwise you can assume that your monitor has a TN or "twisted nematic panel". Twisted nematic panels are generally used with consumers because they are less expensive and have better response times. Those needing accurate color reproduction, photographers, graphic designers, and others, may want to look for an IPS panel monitor because it can produce the 16.7 million colors, without dithering, available in 24-bit truecolor. Modern S-IPS panel monitors can produce up to 1.07 billion colors. For more information on IPS panel monitors I recommend this article on IPS Photo Editing Monitors.

There are few quality LED monitors in the under $100 category. One of the best is the Asus VH198T 19 Inch Widescreen LED monitor.

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The latest Asus monitors use ASCR technology to automatically adjust the brightness of your display to fit the contents of your images and documents. This, along with a 10,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 1440 x 900 resolution, provides a stunning visual experience and the 5ms response time keeps movies and games almost blur free.

Versatility and Convenience

The Asus VH198T can be tilted forward or backwards, mounted through VESA wall mounting (100mm x 100mm holes), and connects to your PC or Mac through either an Analog RGB or DVI port. It also comes with built-in speakers which clears up room for the rest of your desk.

Additional Technical Details include a Viewing angle of 170°(H) / 160°(V), 170°(H) / 160°(V) pixel pitch, 16.7 Million display colors, 250 cd/m2 brightness rating, and power consumption is under 25 W. Includes a 3 year parts and labor warranty from Asus.


ASUS VH198T 19-Inch Widescreen LED Monitor
Amazon Price: Too Low to Display

In the under $200 category we've chosen the bestselling monitor of 2011, the Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED.

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For the money you get a really great picture with the VX2450WM-LED. It's a full high definition 1920 x 1080p resolution monitor with a mega contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1. Used with Viewsonic's LED backlighting technology this monitor is able to produce more accurate grays and blacks. It also has a quick 5ms response time which is good enough to play games and watch movies without much blurring. That being said this isn't a performance monitor for gaming. If you are a performance enthusiast, then you may want to consider the Viewsonic VX2453MH-LED which has an ultra-fast 2ms response time. It's featured in this post on the best PC gaming monitors.

Energy Savings and LED Green

The VX2450WM-LED is energy star compliant and uses up to 50% less energy when compared to other LCD screens of its size. It's also environmentally friendly because it doesn't emit mercury.

Versatility

The VX2450WM-LED is tilt adjustable, comes with built-in speakers, and is VESA compliant for mounting. It also has diverse connectivity options with a DVI and Analog RGB connectors.

Overall we feel that the VX2450WM-LED gives you the best overall value for your money. If it's a little out of your price range, then be sure to see the 22 inch version of this monitor, the VX2250WM-LED.

Viewsonic VX2450WM-LED 24-Inch (23.6-Inch Vis) Widescreen LED Monitor

Amazon Price: Too Low to Display

In the under $300 you really get quite a few high-performance monitor options. While you certainly can't get a high-end IPS panel monitor in this price range, there are many budget IPS panel monitors in the $250-400 that still do a superb job of giving you accurate colors. As far as response time for the TN panel monitors, at this size 25-27 inches, most monitors have a response time of 3ms or faster.

Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED

My favorite monitor of 2011 in the under or "around" $300 category is the Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED which I recently picked up from Amazon. It's by no means perfect, but it certainly does have a lot of attractive features for the money you pay.

Picture

The picture on this monitor is in crystal clear full 1080p high definition. The 30M:1 dynamic contrast ratio as well as Viewsonic's new LED backlighting also produces deeper blacks by completely turning off individual LED lights. The result is an increase in image accuracy and detail. With a 1ms response time and no noticeable input lag I have been unable to see any ghosting or blurring in the picture during gaming or action sequences.

Design

When you pick this monitor up you'll notice that it's significantly lighter than previous LCD models. Viewsonic has also built-in a bookstand design which allows you to remove the stand altogether and lean the monitor back. This makes for a great eye level point-of-view. It weighs less than 10 pounds and I've even been able to take it into work a time or two when I needed a multi-screen setup. Despite being light the stand is solid enough that it doesn't wobble at all even when I type or accidentally bump by desk.

Summary

Overall this is a fantastic monitor. If there's one design flaw it's that it isn't VESA compliant for wall mounts. It comes with 2 HDMI and a VGA connector so you may need to purchase a HDMI to DVI cable or an adapter depending on your PC's motherboard or video card's outputs. The built-in speakers won't blow your socks off but they certainly are convenient for things like simple web browsing and the occasional YouTube video. Comes with a 3 year parts and labor warranty with Viewsonic's Pixel Performance Guarantee. If your on the fence about the price, then I highly recommend the VX2453MH-LED, the 24 inch version of this monitor, which you can buy online for more than $100 less.

Viewsonic VX2753MH-LED 27-Inch LED Monitor - Black

Amazon Price: Too Low to Display