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« Return to: Top 10 17-Inch LCD Monitors


17-inch LCD monitorRankInventory numberBulletBulletBulletPCW BulletPCW BulletPCW BulletComments
183391Best Buy, NEWHewlett-Packard L17022261517-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input13.2 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $429A slender, silver model, the L1702 displays rich color graphics. It has only three control buttons, and making adjustments didn't require digging in menus or a trip to the manual. The unit includes a microphone input jack, but no USB ports or headphone jack.
183422Best Buy, NEWIBM ThinkVision L170p2261317-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog and digital inputs12.6 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $539IBM's slick-looking display outperformed the others in graphics tests. On-screen controls are easy to access and navigate, and colors looked great out of the box, but you can't adjust individual red, green, and blue levels in digital mode.
165693Samsung SyncMaster 172B2214917-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input10.3 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $529This stylish, thin-bezeled unit was among the best at rendering graphics on our tests, but some newer models displayed better-looking text. The built-in speakers emit so-so sound. Extras include a thumbwheel volume control.
183454NEWCornea CT17042262417-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input9.5 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $449Boasting the second-best text scores on this month's chart, Cornea's display is ideal for business users. This model also offers easy-to-use controls that allow you to make very fine, granular adjustments.
165725Hyundai ImageQuest Q172215017-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog and digital inputs10.9 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $429This slim silver screen offers midrange performance in graphics and displays great-looking text. Loads of extras--including built-in speakers, USB ports, and dual video inputs--make this a great value for the price.
165666NEC MultiSync LCD1760V2216617-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input11.7 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $530This monitor's silver-framed bezel is easy on the eyes. Text appeared sharp on business-document screens, but graphics looked excessively bright. Downloadable software helps you adjust on-screen images via mouse and keyboard.
183487NEWSony SDM-HS732261017-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input12.9 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $549Sony's thick, semigloss black bezel produces an annoying glare, but the display earned strong scores in both text and graphics. The monitor also offers advanced controls to adjust color temperature and backlight intensity.
166508ViewSonic VG7002215317-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input17.2 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $445This cool-looking LCD displayed crisp text. Reds and yellows looked warm, but facial tones had a pinkish cast. Extensive on-screen controls and an intuitive menu design make adjustments easy.
147549Samsung SyncMaster 172T2168617-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog and digital inputs10.3 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $599Svelte silver-tone model's unique hinged folding base allows it to extend up and out. Colors looked bold and bright on test photo screens, and text quality shone on business-document screens.
1664710ViewSonic VE1752216217-inch screen1280 by 1024 standard resolutionAnalog input13.6 poundsThree-year warranty (including backlight)Price when ranked: $419Appealingly priced, this no-frills model lacks the high style of many others, including its VG700 sibling. In our tests small letters and fonts were legible on Web and document screens. Colors looked wan compared with other displays', however.

Twelve judges rate how well each monitor displays 13 text and graphics images at a native resolution of 1280 by 1024. Some test screens are from the DisplayMate for Windows Multimedia Edition utility (www.displaymate.com). See find.pcworld.com/34613 for more details on how we test monitors. Data based on tests designed and conducted by the PC World Test Center. All rights reserved.