Quantcast
PCWorld.com is upgrading some back-end systems. Some site features, such as user registration, may be temporarily unavailable.

Top 10 LCD Monitors, 19 to 24 Inches

We divide this month's chart into a Top 7 for 19-inch LCDs and a Top 3 for 23- and 24-inch models.

Laura Blackwell

Compare ProductsCheck boxes to
SDM-HS95P/B PCW Rating: 75.0PCW Rating: 75.0PCW Rating: 75.0

Last Rated: May 24, 2005

1. Sony SDM-HS95P/B

Tilt adjustment, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 13.2 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Expensive: $700 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Glossy screen shows rich colors and crisp text, handily beating all other monitors on graphics tests and edging out the competition on text.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
19IN LCD 1000:1 1280X1024 FLEXSCAN SLIMEDGE VGA/DVI-D BLACK PCW Rating: 76.6PCW Rating: 76.6PCW Rating: 76.6

Last Rated: November 19, 2004

2. Eizo 19IN LCD 1000:1 1280X1024 FLEXSCAN SLIMEDGE VGA/DVI-D BLACK

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 15.0 pounds, Five-year warranty (three years on backlight), Very expensive: $790 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Advanced screen settings and five fine-contrast modes make this a display for the demanding user--but the price is pretty demanding, too.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
SyncMaster 920t PCW Rating: 75.2PCW Rating: 75.2PCW Rating: 75.2

Last Rated: February 23, 2005

3. Samsung SyncMaster 920t

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 15.4 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Average: $649 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Sleek silver model has speakers built into the two-footed stand, saving space without sacrificing physical adjustability.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
f1905 PCW Rating: 76.0PCW Rating: 76.0PCW Rating: 76.0

Last Rated: May 24, 2005

4. HP f1905

Tilt and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 15.4 pounds, One-year warranty (Including backlight), Inexpensive: $480 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Matte-silver unit delivers the second-best overall image quality on the chart. Detached 3-watt speakers can connect to a subwoofer, if you have one.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
UltraSharp1905fp PCW Rating: 82.0PCW Rating: 82.0PCW Rating: 82.0

Last Rated: November 19, 2004

BEST BUY!

5. Dell UltraSharp1905fp

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 15.3 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Inexpensive: $412 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Three USB 2.0 ports and a full range of physical adjustments make this nicely designed thin-bezel monitor a pleasure to use.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
L1981Q PCW Rating: 74.4PCW Rating: 74.4PCW Rating: 74.4

Last Rated: May 24, 2005

6. LG Electronics L1981Q

Tilt, pivot, and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 12.3 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Inexpensive: $499 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Like the earlier L1980U, this stylish unit employs heat-sensitive buttons and innovative automatic pivoting software; it also has a smooth bezel.

Full ReviewCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
VP191b PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4PCW Rating: 78.4

Last Rated: May 24, 2005

7. ViewSonic VP191b

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 1280 by 1024 native resolution, 20.9 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Inexpensive: $469 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Pivot software enhances this nicely priced unit. Its image quality, though not the best, is sufficient for most office tasks.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
SyncMaster 243T PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0

Last Rated: September 29, 2004

8. Samsung SyncMaster 243T

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 24-inch screen with 1920 by 1200 native resolution, 21.0 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Average: $1699 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: For quality of still images, this 24-incher remains the champ. An all-work-no-play wide screen, it shows motion artifacts in games and DVD movies.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
VP231WB 23 PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0PCW Rating: 78.0

Last Rated: May 25, 2005

9. ViewSonic VP231WB 23

Tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, 23-inch screen with 1920 by 1200 native resolution, 19.8 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Average: $1749 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Professional-looking 23-inch unit outdid led the large wide screems in our photo tests; it comes with pivoting software for viewing in portrait mode.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices
UltraSharp 2405FPW PCW Rating: 81.2PCW Rating: 81.2PCW Rating: 81.2

Last Rated: May 25, 2005

10. Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW

Tilt, swivel, and height adjustments, 24-inch screen with 1920 by 1200 native resolution, 22.1 pounds, Three-year warranty (Including backlight), Very Inexpensive: $1199 (04/22/05)

Bottom Line: Well-designed 24-inch model includes accessible nine-in-one media-card reader, at the lowest price we've seen on a large wide-screen LCD.

Full ReviewTest ReportCheck latest prices
Check Latest Prices

Twelve judges rate a monitor's text and graphics quality at the native resolution of 1024 by 768. We evaluate each unit on how well it displays typical business letters, spreadsheets, Web pages, and scanned photos. The overall rating is based on text and graphics quality (25 percent each), price (20 percent), features and ease of use (20 percent), and service and support (10 percent). The best possible overall rating is 100. Data based on tests designed and conducted by the PC World Test Center. All rights reserved.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No