How important is contrast ratio???

[andreas0912]

So I'm looking for a monitor for a new rig I'm building. I want it to be 1920 x 1080p. How important is contrast ratio when choosing monitors? For example I have in mind the BENQ RL2455HM and the ASUS VS248H. The BENQ is a really nice monitor considering its the official monitor of the Intel Extreme Masters tournament something that makes me think it's reliable and a good choice but it has a contrast ratio of 1000:1. On the other hand the ASUS has pretty much the same specs except that the contrast ratio is 50,000,000:1. Does it really matter? I just want good colors, no pixel bugs and stuff and a good amount of brightness(don't really know how to say this, I mean i like bright and sharp displays not darky...something like that). If you have any other monitor in mind that is cheap (100-180 euro) because Im on a budget tell me!!!

 

[nukemaster]

You have 2 different things you are looking at.

Static contrast and dynamic

Static contrast ratio is how much difference a screen can display from the darkest color to the brightest.
Dynamic contrast(mostly marketing) is the difference between darkest and lightest, but does it by varying the backlight. So when the screen is displaying a darker image it will drop the backlight to make the blacks darker and when it is displaying a bright image it will increase the backlight to make it brighter. So now you have a huge range, but when the screen displays both dark and light it has to pick a middle ground.

I personally turn off dynamic contrast whenever I can.

Here is my simulation of how it looks when dynamic contrast reduces backlight on a mostly black screen. Yes it will do this and I based it on real dynamic contrast.

Note the interface changes with the main color(black and white).

Also note that TN panels and IPS have lower contrast than VA, but VA panels are NOT your first pick for games because they are slower. TN is fastest, but has less accurate color(partially because the color shifts as you move around the screen and even the bottom will be brighter then the top in most cases)

 

[photonboy]

DYNAMIC Contrast Ratio is a useless spec because there's no standard.

TRUE Contrast Ratio is the most important one and pretty much every desktop monitor is the SAME at 1000:1.

So look at CUSTOMER FEEDBACK. Use pcpartpicker uk as a guide. https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/

 

[photonboy]

Which monitor?

I recommend deciding between IPS and TN to start with. IPS tends to give better color without viewing angle issues, but the con is that you get some GHOSTING most notable in darker areas. TN however is the opposite. There are relatively good TN panels and poor IPS however that's generally how it works.

If you're a "twitch" gamer first person shooter type guy you may want TN and get a 2ms or 1ms response time panel. I use my monitor to work with PICTURES and game so I prefer IPS.

IPS monitor: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-mx239h

TN monitor: https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-monitor-vx238h

*Important points:
1) Quality of monitor (customer feedback/comments)
2) IPS vs TN panel
3) Response Time (6ms or less. For TN get 2ms or less)
4) Video inputs (HDMI as well as DP or DVI? In case you want a game console or BD/DVD device as well as PC?)
5) Audio inputs or outputs?
6) Speakers?
7) 60Hz only? (Some monitors are 144Hz but these are usually TN and a lot more expensive. I don't think there are any in your budget but I'm not sure. )

Speakers aren't necessary though most monitors with them have an audio output (RCA and/or 3.5mm) for headphones or pass-through to desktop speakers. Mainly only needed if you add a second device like a game console.

 

[andreas0912]

Thanks nukemaster for the explanation and thanks photonboy for the choices. I would choose both as best answer if I could but choosing photonboy because he gave me some choices too. I think im going for the Asus mx239h you mentioned above, looks really good and has some good reviews!

 

[nukemaster]

Enjoy the new screen.