Monitors: Whats the difference?

[Tabor]

I've seen different types of monitors and I never understood what the differences are between them. I would like someone to explain what each monitor type does such as LED, TN Panel, IPS, ect. 

Thank You! B)  :rolleyes: 

[thekeemo]

LED is how the monitor lights up

TN means very fast (1-6ms) but meh color reproduction

IPS means great colors but 5-8ms response times

[ANewFace]

Pretty much all are LED, TN panels have higher refresh rates which is how many fps they can show, you will find then im 120hz/144hz, but you will also find then in 60hx, IPS panels have much better colors and viewing angles, but slower refresh rates.

[zlolslavez]

[Glenwing]

An LCD is composed of two main parts. In a simplified manner, the LC panel is where the color comes from and the backlight is where the illumination comes from.

 

The three main types of LC panel are TN, VA, and IPS.

 

TN is the cheapest one, with bad to decent color (depending on the specific one) and the colors shift and even invert as you change your viewing angle. If a monitor doesn't specify the panel type, it's TN. Anything else is a selling point.

 

VA is an in-between panel, it's not very common on monitors, although more common on TVs. It has better color than TN but worse than IPS, and the colors can shift slightly depending on the angle. It beats both TN and IPS in black levels, so it's more suitable for TVs.

 

IPS has the best color reproduction and the colors don't change at all from any viewing angle. People say that IPS panels are slow and bad for gaming while TN panels are fast and much better for gaming, but this is a myth. See the FAQ at the top of this section for more details about all the "response time" nonsense.

 

 

As for backlights, pretty much all modern monitors use LED backlights. Older monitors use CCFL backlights, which are just less power efficient and take some time to warm up to full brightness. This is not something you really need to pay attention to, pretty much everything is LED-backlit these days.

[Dabombinable]

An LCD is composed of two main parts. In a simplified manner, the LC panel is where the color comes from and the backlight is where the illumination comes from.

 

The three main types of LC panel are TN, VA, and IPS.

 

TN is the cheapest one, with bad to decent color (depending on the specific one) and the colors shift and even invert as you change your viewing angle. If a monitor doesn't specify the panel type, it's TN. Anything else is a selling point.

 

VA is an in-between panel, it's not very common on monitors, although more common on TVs. It has better color than TN but worse than IPS, and the colors can shift slightly depending on the angle. It beats both TN and IPS in black levels, so it's more suitable for TVs.

 

IPS has the best color reproduction and the colors don't change at all from any viewing angle. People say that IPS panels are slow and bad for gaming while TN panels are fast and much better for gaming, but this is a myth. See the FAQ at the top of this section for more details about all the "response time" nonsense.

 

 

As for backlights, pretty much all modern monitors use LED backlights. Older monitors use CCFL backlights, which are just less power efficient and take some time to warm up to full brightness. This is not something you really need to pay attention to, pretty much everything is LED-backlit these days.

How long have IPS panels been around for? Because going off your description that's what my laptop from 2006 has.

[Glenwing]

How long have IPS panels been around for? Because going off your description that's what my laptop from 2006 has.

 

Late 1990's.

[GoodBytes]

It must be noted that IPS started to be "fast paste game-ready" (if you want to call it that) fast in around ~2008-2009. They were not cheap, but it was there. They got progressively faster every year. Today, Acer has an IPS monitor that output true 144Hz with impressive actual response time, competing with the best TN 144Hz panels. Of course it is not cheap per se. And currently only sold in select areas, like the U.K, but we can see it is getting there. The moment it goes more wide spread, TN panels will be gone, and only manufactured on budget class monitors, to eventually be extinct as entry level IPS are made cheaper.

[Dabombinable]

It must be noted that IPS started to be "fast paste game-ready" (if you want to call it that) fast in around ~2008-2009. They were not cheap, but it was there. They got progressively faster every year. Today, Acer has an IPS monitor that output true 144Hz with impressive actual response time, competing with the best TN 144Hz panels. Of course it is not cheap per se. And currently only sold in select areas, like the U.K, but we can see it is getting there. The moment it goes more wide spread, TN panels will be gone, and only manufactured on budget class monitors, to eventually be extinct as entry level IPS are made cheaper.

I don't get it though, over 15 years and IPS panels still cost a lot more than TN panels. Though even if the prices were inline, I wouldn't get one until it has all the benefits of a CRT.

[Geekazoid]

If you need more information just visit Glenwing's FAQ Display Guide right here: http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/278610-display-technology-faqmythbuster/

[Glenwing]

I don't get it though, over 15 years and IPS panels still cost a lot more than TN panels. Though even if the prices were inline, I wouldn't get one until it has all the benefits of a CRT.

 

Over the last 15 years the prices for IPS panels have gone down an enormous amount. It's just that the prices for TN can drop in 15 years too.

 

It's a premium product, it's inherently more expensive. If it were just as cheap as TN there's no reason any manufacturer would stick with TN.

 

That being said IPS isn't that much more expensive than TN. You can get a decent IPS monitor like the Acer H236HLbid for $150 sometimes, which isn't much more than TN now.

[Geekazoid]

Over the last 15 years the prices for IPS panels have gone down an enormous amount. It's just that the prices for TN can drop in 15 years too.

 

It's a premium product, it's inherently more expensive. If it were just as cheap as TN there's no reason any manufacturer would stick with TN.

 

That being said IPS isn't that much more expensive than TN. You can get a decent IPS monitor like the Acer H236HLbid for $150 sometimes, which isn't much more than TN now.

I wonder when we'll see the TN display technology stop being used, maybe once OLED consumer monitors become mainstream.

I may've just answered my own question. LOL

[Dabombinable]

Over the last 15 years the prices for IPS panels have gone down an enormous amount. It's just that the prices for TN can drop in 15 years too.

 

It's a premium product, it's inherently more expensive. If it were just as cheap as TN there's no reason any manufacturer would stick with TN.

 

That being said IPS isn't that much more expensive than TN. You can get a decent IPS monitor like the Acer H236HLbid for $150 sometimes, which isn't much more than TN now. 

Around $150 for an IPS screen? I paid $250 tor for my LG 24EN43 (TN) at the start of last year.

[Glenwing]

Around $150 for an IPS screen? I paid $250 tor my LG 24EN43 (TN) at the start of last year.

 

Indeed @Daegun got one for around $130 on a good sale. It's a decent all-around monitor too.

[Daegun]

Indeed @Daegun got one for around $130 on a good sale. It's a decent all-around monitor too.

Ah that's what it was, I was looking at getting a second one of them yesterday but I couldn't find one under $160-ish. Now I know that isn't too far off from what I paid for the one I have.

[Dabombinable]

Indeed @Daegun got one for around $130 on a good sale. It's a decent all-around monitor too.

I swear that waiting 12 years to upgrade my computer has ended up with me not getting the same value for money that I thought I was. Before my TN screen I was using an old LCD TV/monitor @ 1024x768, though it wasn't too bad as it managed a flat 85Hz at any resolution.