How do Contrast Ratios in monitors work?

[Sam_Fisher]

Which is better? 100,000,000:1 or 80,000,000:1? Not sure if greater is better or not. Might be being stupid. 

[minibois]

Higher is better, because it basically says 1 represents the darkest color it can show and the other number the highest contrast it can show.

Don't believe those absurdly high number though, it's almost always their 'dynamic contrast ratio', which means all but nothing in the real world.

 

Most displays have 1000:1 normal contrast ratio, some a tiny bit higher. If you want a nice looking display, take a look at what their color range is (their sRGB rating, maybe even Adobe RGB, etc.)

[Sakkura]

Greater is better in theory, but they tend to grossly exaggerate the number on their spec sheet. Realistically a monitor is more likely to have a real contrast ratio of about 1,000:1.

 

Since you can't trust either of those numbers, you can't really choose what to buy based on that difference.

[Froody129]

Most of those manufacturer statements are kinda rubbish. It’s basically the difference between the lightest and darkest pixel on the screen AFAIK. So higher contrast gives better blacks etc.

[Sam_Fisher]

Just now, Sakkura said:

Greater is better in theory, but they tend to grossly exaggerate the number on their spec sheet. Realistically a monitor is more likely to have a real contrast ratio of about 1,000:1.

 

Since you can't trust either of those numbers, you can't really choose what to buy based on that difference.

So an 80,000,000:1 doesn't look like shit or anything? Should look fine right?

[Sakkura]

16 minutes ago, Sam_Fisher said:

So an 80,000,000:1 doesn't look like shit or anything? Should look fine right?

Probably fine, but there's no way to tell based on that number.