Choosing a Computer Monitor

Resolution

Resolution is the amount of pixels present on the screen, which make up the images and other things that your monitor displays. The rule is, the higher resolution, the better it looks. The standard resolution used today is 800 x 600, though more and more people are switching to the 1024 x 768.

Here is a basic guide to different computer screen resolutions:

VGA (Video Graphics Array)
Makes use of either 320 x 400 or 640 x 480.
This resolution is not compatible with an LCD monitor.

SVGA (Super Video Graphics Array)
800 x 600 pixels.

XGA (eXtended Graphics Array)
This resolution is 1024 x 768, and what most 15-inch LCD monitors make use of.

SXGA (Super eXtended Graphics Array) and UXGA (Ultra eXtended Graphics Array)
Resolution can reach up to 1600 x 1200 pixels. The 17-inch LCD monitors usually make use of SXGA, while the UXGA is mostly compatible with larger models.

WUXGA (Wide Ultra eXtended Graphics Array)
1920 x 1280 pixels. Images displayed might appear very, very small when using this resolution.

It is also important to note the dot-pitch factor of a monitor, especially for those who are purchasing older models of monitors. The dot-pitch rule is, the lower the dot-pitch figure, the sharper the display will be. The standard rate is .28 dot-pitch.