What does the monitor matrix look like? Matrix types

Oddly enough, choosing a high-quality display of a computer or laptop monitor can only be done empirically. This article will help you understand the parameters that you should pay attention to. when choosing a monitor or laptop.

How to choose a monitor or laptop display with ideal characteristics?

A high-quality display has a huge advantage in multimedia tasks on a PC, and in relation to a laptop, it is half. Take a look at a short list of display flaws to watch out for when buying a new mobile computer or PC monitor:

• low brightness and contrast performance
• small viewing angles
• glare

Replacing the screen of a laptop (laptop) is very difficult than buying a new monitor for a desktop computer, not to mention installing a new LCD matrix in a mobile computer, which can not be done in all cases, therefore, to laptop screen selection should be approached responsibly.

Let me remind you once again that you cannot trust the promises of advertising materials of retail chains and computer manufacturers. Having finished reading mobile computer monitor and display guide, you can find difference between TN matrix and IPS matrix, evaluate the contrast, determine the required brightness level and other important parameters of the liquid crystal screen. You will save time and money on searching for a PC monitor and laptop display by choosing a quality LCD screen instead of a mediocre one.

Which is better: IPS or TN matrix?

The screens of laptops, ultrabooks, tablets and other portable computers commonly use two types of liquid crystal panels:

• IPS (In-Plane Switching)
• TN (Twisted Nematic)

Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, but it is worth considering that they are intended for different consumer groups. Let's find out which type of matrix is ​​right for you.

IPS displays: excellent color reproduction

IPS Displays have the following benefits:

• large viewing angles - regardless of the side and angle of the human eye, the image will not be faded and will not lose color saturation
• superb color reproduction - IPS displays display RGB colors without distortion
• have fairly high contrast.

If you are going to do pre- or video editing, you will need a device with this type of screen.

Disadvantages of IPS technology compared to TN:

• long pixel response time (for this reason, displays of this type are less suitable for dynamic 3D games).
• monitors and mobile computers with IPS panels tend to be more expensive than models with screens based on TN matrices.

TN displays: inexpensive and fast

Liquid crystal displays are the most widely used matrices made using TN technology. Their benefits include:

• low cost
• low power consumption
• response time.

TN screens perform well in dynamic games - for example, first-person shooters (FPS) with fast scene changes. For such applications, a screen with a response time of no more than 5 ms is required (for IPS matrices it is usually longer). Otherwise, various kinds of visual artifacts may be observed on the display, such as trails from fast moving objects.

In the event that you want to use it on a monitor or laptop with a stereo screen, you should also give preference to a TN matrix. Some displays of this standard are capable of updating the image at a speed of 120 Hz, which is a necessary condition for the operation of active type stereo glasses.

From disadvantages of TN displays it is worth highlighting the following:

• TN standard panels have limited viewing angles
• mediocre contrast
• are not capable of displaying all the colors of the RGB space, so they are unsuitable for professional image and video editing.

Very expensive TN-panels, however, are devoid of some characteristic flaws and are close in quality to good IPS-screens. For example, the Apple MacBook Pro with Retina uses a TN-matrix, which is almost as good as IPS displays in terms of color reproduction, viewing angles and contrast.

If voltage is not applied to the electrodes, the liquid crystals lined up do not change the plane of polarization of the light, and it does not pass through the front polarizing filter. When a voltage is applied, the crystals rotate by 90°, the plane of polarization of light changes, and it begins to pass through.	When no voltage is applied to the electrodes, the liquid crystal molecules align themselves in a helical structure and change the polarization plane of the light so that it passes through the front polarizing filter. If voltage is applied, the crystals will line up and no light will pass through.

How to distinguish IPS from TN

If you like a monitor or laptop, and the technical characteristics of the display are not known, then you should look at its screen from different angles. In the event that the image dims and its colors are severely distorted, you have a monitor or mobile computer with a mediocre TN display. If, despite all your efforts, the picture has not lost its colors - this monitor has a matrix made using IPS technology, or high-quality TN.

Attention: avoid laptops and monitors with matrices, which show strong color distortion at large angles. For games, choose a computer monitor with an expensive TN display, for other tasks it is better to give preference to an IPS matrix.

Important parameters: brightness and contrast of the monitor

Consider two more important display parameters:

• maximum brightness level
• contrast.

Brightness is not enough

To work indoors with artificial lighting, a display with a maximum brightness level of 200-220 cd/m2 (candela per square meter) is sufficient. The lower the value of this setting, the darker and dimmer the image on the display will be. I do not advise you to buy a mobile computer with a screen whose maximum brightness level does not exceed 160 cd / m2. For comfortable outdoor work on a sunny day, you need a screen with a brightness of at least 300 cd/m2. In general, the higher the brightness of the display, the better.

When buying, you should also check the uniformity of the screen backlight. To do this, it is worth reproducing a white or dark blue color on the screen (this can be done in any graphics editor) and making sure that there are no light or dark spots on the entire surface of the screen.

Static and checkerboard contrast

Maximum static screen contrast level is the ratio of the brightness of sequentially displayed blacks and whites. For example, a contrast ratio of 700:1 means that the display will be 700 times brighter when white is displayed than when black is displayed.

Nevertheless, in practice, the picture is almost never completely white or black, therefore, for a more realistic assessment, the concept of contrast over a checkerboard field is used.

Instead of sequentially flooding the screen with black and white colors, a test pattern in the form of a black and white checkerboard is displayed on it. This is a much more difficult test for displays, because due to technical limitations, it is impossible to turn off the backlight under the black rectangles and at the same time illuminate the white ones at maximum brightness. A good checkerboard contrast ratio for LCD displays is 150:1, excellent - 170:1.

The higher the contrast, the better. To evaluate it, display a chess table on the laptop display and check the depth of black and the brightness of white.

Matte or glossy screen

Probably, many paid attention to the difference in the coverage of matrices:

• matte
• glossy

The choice depends on where and for what purposes you plan to use the monitor or laptop. Matte LCDs have a rough matrix coating that does not reflect ambient light well, so they do not glare in the sun. The obvious disadvantages include the so-called crystalline effect, which manifests itself in a slight haze of the image.

The glossy finish is smooth and better reflects the light emitted by external sources. Glossy displays tend to be brighter and more contrasty than matte displays, and colors appear richer. However, such screens glare, which leads to premature fatigue during long use, especially if the display does not have enough brightness.

Screens with a glossy matrix coating, which have an insufficient supply of brightness, reflect the environment, which leads to premature user fatigue.

Touch screen and resolution

Windows 8 was the first Microsoft operating system to have a huge impact on the development of mobile computer screens, in which the optimization of the graphical environment for touch screens is clearly visible. Leading developers produce laptops (ultrabooks and hybrids), monoblocks with touchscreens. The cost of such devices is usually higher, but it is also more convenient to manage them. However, you will have to put up with the fact that the screen will quickly lose its presentable appearance due to oily fingerprints, and wipe it regularly.

The smaller the screen and the higher its resolution, the greater the number of dots that form the image per unit area and the higher its density. For example, a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels has a density of 100 dpi.

Attention! Don't buy monitors with screens less than 100 dpi as they will show grainy images.

Prior to Windows 8, high pixel density did more harm than good. Small fonts on a small high resolution screen were very difficult to see. Windows 8 has a new system for adapting to screens with different densities, so now the user can choose a laptop with the diagonal and display resolution that he sees fit. Video game fans are an exception, as ultra-high resolution games will require a powerful graphics card to run.

For a number of reasons, liquid crystal screens are in great demand among users and are the most in demand in the domestic market. Modern LCD displays are divided into two types of matrices - IPS and TN. In this regard, many buyers have a question, what is better IPS or TN screen?

In order to understand which technology is better, you should consider all the advantages and disadvantages of IPS and TN screens. However, it is worth noting that both technologies have come a long way of development and improvement, which made it possible to create screens of decent quality. Taking into account some technological features of technologies, one or another screen should be chosen depending on the situation.

When choosing a screen, there are several most important parameters to consider:

• Screen resolution;
• Color rendition;
• Color saturation, contrast and brightness of the image;
• Response time;
• Energy consumption;
• Durability.

1.TN vs IPS

First of all, you should pay attention to the screen resolution. This is one of the most important parameters that directly affects the image quality, as well as the diagonal size. To put it simply, resolution is the number of pixels on the screen, both vertically and horizontally. For example, a resolution of 1920x1080 indicates that the screen has 1920 pixels horizontally and 1080 pixels vertically. Accordingly, the higher the resolution, the higher the dot density, and the clearer the image you can get.

It should be understood that modern technologies allow you to enjoy high-resolution video and photo images. Therefore, it is worth giving preference to screens with a maximum resolution. To date, the highest resolution is 1920x1080 pixels (Full HD). Of course, such monitors or TVs will have a higher cost, but you will be able to fully experience all the benefits of technology.

If we talk about which matrix is ​​better than TN or IPS in terms of resolution, then both technologies are equal here. They can be either low or high resolution, it all depends on the cost of the device.

2. Color reproduction

Color reproduction is a parameter that determines the amount of colors and shades displayed by the screen. The saturation of colors depends on this, as well as the realism of the picture. Modern technologies have made it possible to make screens with a fairly high level of color reproduction, regardless of technology. However, there are some differences between IPS and TN screens.

2.1. Color rendering IPS matrix

The features of this technology made it possible to make a screen with the most realistic colors. It is worth noting that IPS displays are most in demand among professional photo editors, as well as among those involved in image processing. This is because IPS monitors have the highest color depth (black and white), as well as the largest number of colors and shades displayed - about 1.07 billion. This makes the image as realistic as possible.

In addition, IPS screens have the highest brightness and contrast, which also has a positive effect on image quality.

2.2. Color reproduction of TN matrices

This type of matrix, although it has a high level of image quality, as well as excellent color reproduction, is still significantly inferior to IPS screens. In addition, such matrices have smaller viewing angles.

If it says that TN Film or IPS is better in terms of color reproduction, then the answer is unequivocal - IPS matrices are significantly superior to TN + Film screens. Although, at home, any monitor will allow you to enjoy excellent quality and color depth.

3. Response time

This parameter determines the time during which a liquid crystal molecule is able to change its position for display from black to white and vice versa. This is especially important for those who love bright and fast special effects and colorful games. In the case of a slow response, you will be able to observe an effect called “loop” on the screen. In other words, some shadow will be visible behind fast moving objects. In certain cases, this can cause discomfort. Measures the response in milliseconds.

3.1. IPS screen response

As mentioned above, IPS screens are famous for their excellent image, picture clarity and accuracy, as well as realistic color reproduction, however, due to some technology features, such displays lose in response to TN matrices. Of course, this difference is insignificant and almost imperceptible at home, but nevertheless it is, and for some it is very important.

It is worth noting that the most modern IPS matrices have a fairly fast response, but they are more expensive than TN + Film screens.

3.2. TN matrix response

This type of matrix has the fastest response, which makes such monitors the most suitable for fans of games and 3D movies with vivid special effects.

If we talk about which IPS or TN matrix is ​​​​better in response, then TN has an advantage. However, it is worth noting that at home, all these advantages are negligible. The choice depends solely on personal preference.

4. So, what is better IPS or TN matrix

Choosing between these two technologies should take into account personal requirements, as well as for what purpose the monitor is being bought. Of course, there is an opinion that IPS matrices are a newer technology, and therefore a better one. However, in some situations a TN+Film matrix is ​​a better choice.

If we talk about which IPS or TN matrix is ​​better for games, then preference should be given to TN + Film. TN monitors are cheaper and also have excellent response. Although, if you are not limited by the budget, then a monitor with a matrix AH-IPS will be your ideal choice, as such a monitor combines all the advantages of IPS and TN technologies.

It is worth noting that IPS matrices are slowly but surely replacing TN + Film screens. This is reflected in the fact that every year more and more manufacturers prefer IPS screens. Of the advantages of IPS screens, large viewing angles can also be distinguished. Thanks to all the advantages of IPS screens, they compete with plasma panels.

5. Comparison of two LG monitors with TN + FILM and IPS matrices: Video

For a long time I was tormented by the question: what is the difference between the image of modern monitors with matrices TN, S-IPS, S-PVA, P-MVA. My friend ne0 and I decided to compare.

For tests, we took two 24 "" monitors (unfortunately, nothing was found on S-IPS: ():
- on a cheap TN matrix Benq V2400W
- on the P-MVA medium category matrix Benq FP241W.

Candidate characteristics:

Benq V2400W

Matrix type: TN+Film
inches: 24"
Permission: 1920x1200
Brightness: 250 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1
Response time: 5ms / 2ms GTG

Benq FP241W

Matrix type: P-MVA (AU Optronics)
inches: 24"
Permission: 1920x1200
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1
Response time: 16ms / 6ms GTG

Trends in recent years

Matrices TN (TN + film) improve in color reproduction, brightness and viewing angles.
*VA matrices (S-PVA/P-MVA) improve response time.

What progress has been made?

Even now you can watch movies on TN(TN+Film) matrices, work with color in editors.
On *VA, play games without motion blur.

But there are still differences.

Brightness

The Benq V2400W (TN) has its default color settings (RGB) set almost to the maximum. At the same time, in terms of brightness (at maximum settings), it does not reach * VA (at medium settings). In comparison with other TN monitors, the brightness of the V2400W is lower than that of the competitors (alas, we couldn't compare :)), but I can say with confidence that the brightness of *VA monitors will be higher than that of TN monitors.

In Benq FP241W (*VA), due to the brightness of the backlight, black is also bright. At TN - black remained completely black when we compared the on and off states of the monitors. This may not be available on other *VA models and is present on the TN. (waiting for comments with verification of this statement :))

Black color *VA does not interfere with work at all and is associated with black (thanks to our accustomed eyes :) and a good contrast ratio of 1000: 1 monitor). And the difference in black brightness is visible only in comparison (when one monitor is placed next to another).
Due to the high brightness, the colors on *VA seem a bit more saturated, and the white color is whiter on *VA - on TN, in comparison, it seems gray.
You yourself noticed this effect when, for example, you switched the color temperature on the monitor from 6500 to 9300, when your eyes were already accustomed to a different color temperature (probably here, most of the habra people got to change the temperature :)). But when the eyes get used again, on TN the white becomes white again :), and the other temperature is either bluer or yellower.

Colors

Colors on TN and *VA monitors can be well calibrated (so that the grass is green, the sky is blue, and the colors of the skin in the photographs do not turn yellow).

On TN monitors, close to each other bright and dark colors are worse distinguished (for example, bright blue with white, on clouds, close to black (4-5%) and white (3-5%)). The differences in these colors also change depending on the viewing angle, turning into a negative, or disappearing. But it seems that due to this, on TN monitors, black is really black.

*VA has a full range of colors - on a good video card and settings, all color gradients from 1 to 254 are visible, regardless of the viewing angle.

Photos on both monitors looked good and had reasonably saturated colors.

Both monitors have 16.7M colors (not 16.2 like some TNs) - the gradients looked identical with no color "misses".

Viewing angles

The first major difference between TN and *VA is the viewing angles of the monitors.

If you look at the TN monitor directly in the center, then the top and bottom of the screen starts to slightly distort (darken) the colors. This is noticeable on bright colors and dark colors - dark colors turn black and bright colors turn gray. To the left and right, the dimming from the corner is noticeably much less - which is most likely what pushes manufacturers to make monitors with a large diagonal wide (wide) :). Plus, because of this effect, some colors begin to move into others and merge.
From above and especially from below it is difficult to look at a TN monitor - low-contrast colors are distorted, faded, inverted and merge very strongly.

On *VA monitors, color distortion (or rather brightness) is also present. If you look at the monitor in the center at a distance of less than 40 cm, then on the white color slight blanching is visible at the corners of the monitor (see figure), which cover about 2-3% of the corners. Colors are not distorted. That is, if you look at the monitor from the largest angle of inclination, then the picture will not lose its colors, it will just be slightly lightened.
Due to the lack of distortion *VA monitors are made to rotate 90 degrees.

Viewing video on TN from the sofa is possible, but it must be directed exactly at the viewers (vertically). With *VA, there are no problems with turning the screen towards the viewer, the film can be watched from almost any angle. The distortions are not significant.

Response time

The second main difference is the response time. Former.
Already, overdrive systems are marching at full speed - and if earlier it played a major role, now it has faded into the background.

TN monitors lead the way in this direction and are considered the best for gamers. The plumes on them are not visible for a long time. In the photographs, the square flying into the corner doubled.

*VA monitors look at TN heels. After playing Team Fortress 2, W3 Dota, Fallout 3, no distortions and blurry trails (blur-effect) were noticed. Watching the video was also a success. In the photographs, the square flying into the corner tripled.

Visually, in the test, if you look closely, the running square on the *VA matrix had only 1.1 times the tail.

What would I choose?

If you're trying to decide between S-IPS or *VA and don't know which to choose, then I recommend *VA, which you'll be very happy with. *VA is great for working with color - overpaying 2 times more for the name of the matrix and large viewing angles S-IPS, compared to *VA is not worth it - the difference in quality is not worth the money.

For gaming, office/internet work, photo browsing, basic picture, photo and video editing, and watching movies alone, the TN is great. Even with the necessary skill + specific SuperBright (Video) modes, you can watch movies on TN on the couch with slight, imperceptible color distortions (and why do they need a movie :)).

For processing photos, working with color in videos (you can mount it on TN in the right places, right?), Drawing on a tablet, * VA is better. As a bonus - you can watch movies perfectly on it, lounging in an armchair (high brightness to help). And it is just as convenient to play and do Internet / office affairs on it as on TN.

P.s. After buying *VA, I immediately noticed a purple gradient on the "Welcome screen" in Windows XP at the bottom left :), which I did not notice on the old TN.

TN + film technology

Twisted Nematic + film (TN + film). The part "film" in the name of the technology means an additional layer used to increase the viewing angle (approximately up to 160°). This is the simplest and cheapest technology. It has been around for a long time and is used in most monitors sold over the past few years.

Advantages of TN + film technology:

- low cost;
- minimum response time of a pixel to a control action.

Disadvantages of TN + film technology:

- average contrast;
- problems with accurate color reproduction;
- relatively small viewing angles.

IPS technology

In 1995, Hitachi developed In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology to overcome the disadvantages of TN + film panels. Small viewing angles, very specific colors and unacceptable (at that time) response time prompted Hitachi to develop a new IPS technology that gave a good result: decent viewing angles and good color reproduction.

In IPS-matrices, the crystals do not form a spiral, but turn together when an electric field is applied. Changing the orientation of the crystals helped to achieve one of the main advantages of IPS matrices - the viewing angles were increased to 170 ° horizontally and vertically. If no voltage is applied to the IPS, the liquid crystal molecules do not rotate. The second polarizing filter is always turned perpendicular to the first, and no light passes through it. Black display is ideal. If the transistor fails, the "broken" pixel for the IPS panel will not be white, as for the TN matrix, but black. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules rotate perpendicular to their initial position parallel to the base and transmit light.

The parallel alignment of the liquid crystals required the placement of comb electrodes on the bottom substrate, which significantly degraded image contrast, required more powerful backlighting to achieve normal sharpness levels, and resulted in high power consumption and significant time. Therefore, the response time of an IPS panel is generally longer than that of a TN panel. IPS-panels made using technology are noticeably more expensive. Subsequently, based on IPS, Super-IPS (S-IPS) and Dual Domain IPS (DD-IPS) technologies were also developed, however, due to the high cost, manufacturers were unable to bring this type of panel to the forefront.

For some time, Samsung has been producing panels made using Advanced Coplanar Electrode (ACE) technology - an analogue of IPS technology. However, today the production of ACE panels has been curtailed. In the modern market, IPS technology is represented by monitors with a large diagonal - 19 inches or more.

Significant response time when switching a pixel between two states is more than offset by excellent color reproduction, especially in panels made using an upgraded technology called Super-IPS.

Super-IPS (S-IPS). S-IPS LCD monitors are a smart choice for professional color work. Alas, S-IPS panels have exactly the same problems with contrast as IPS and TN + Film - it is relatively low, since the black level is 0.5-1.0 cd / m2.

Along with this, the viewing angles, if not ideal (when tilted to the side, the image noticeably loses contrast), then they are very large compared to TN panels: sitting in front of the monitor, it is impossible to notice any unevenness in color or contrast due to insufficient viewing angles.

Currently, the following types of matrices are known, which can be considered derivatives of IPS:

Advantages of S-IPS technology:

- excellent color rendition;
- Larger viewing angles than TN+Film panels.

Disadvantages of S-IPS technology:

- high price;
- significant response time when switching a pixel between two states;
- a faulty pixel or subpixel on such matrices constantly remains in the extinguished state.

This type of panel is well suited for working with color, but at the same time, monitors on S-IPS panels are also quite suitable for games that are not critical for a response time of 5 - 20 ms.

MVA technology

IPS technology turned out to be relatively expensive, this circumstance forced other manufacturers to develop their own technologies. Fujitsu's Vertical Alignment (VA) LCD panel technology was born, followed by Multidomain Vertical Alignment (MVA), providing the user with a reasonable compromise between viewing angles, speed and color reproduction.

So, in 1996, Fujitsu offered another technology for manufacturing VA LCD panels - vertical alignment. The name of the technology is misleading. liquid crystal molecules (in static state) cannot be completely vertically aligned due to bulging. When an electric field is created, the crystals align horizontally and the backlight light cannot pass through the various layers of the panel.

MVA technology - multi-domain vertical alignment - appeared a year after VA. The M in MVA stands for "multi-domain", i.e. many areas in one cell.

The essence of the technology is as follows: each sub-pixel is divided into several zones, and polarizing filters are made directional. Fujitsu currently manufactures panels with up to four such domains per cell. With the help of protrusions on the inner surface of the filters, each element is divided into zones so that the orientation of the crystals in each specific zone is most suitable for viewing the matrix from a certain angle, and the crystals in different zones move independently. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve excellent viewing angles without noticeable color distortions of the image - brighter zones that fall into the field of view when the observer deviates from the perpendicular to the screen will be compensated by nearby darker ones, so the contrast will drop slightly. When an electric field is applied, the crystals in all zones line up in such a way that, practically regardless of the viewing angle, a point with maximum brightness is visible.

What has been achieved as a result of the application of new technology?

Firstly, good contrast - the black level of a high-quality panel can drop below 0.5 cd / m2 (exceed 600: 1), which, although it does not allow it to compete on equal terms with CRT monitors, is definitely better than the results of TN- or IPS- panels. The black background of the monitor screen on the MVA-panel in the dark no longer looks so distinctly gray, and the backlight unevenness has a noticeably less effect on the image.

What's more, MVA panels also provide pretty good color reproduction - not as good as S-IPS, but good enough for most needs. "Broken" pixels look black, the response time is about 2 times less than for IPS and old TN panels. Thus, there is an optimal compromise in almost all areas. What's in the dry matter?

Advantages of MVA technology:

- short reaction time;
- deep black color (good contrast);
- the absence of a helical structure of crystals and a double magnetic field led to a minimum consumption of electricity;
- good color reproduction (slightly inferior to S-IPS).

However, two fly in the ointment somewhat spoiled the existing idyll:

- when the difference between the initial and final states of the pixel decreases, the response time increases;
The technology is quite expensive.

Unfortunately, the theoretical advantages of this technology have not been fully realized in practice. 2003, all analysts predict a bright future for LCD monitors equipped with an MVA panel, until AU Optronics introduced a TN+Film panel with a response time of only 16ms. In other respects, it was no better, and in some ways even worse than the existing 25-ms TN panels (reduced viewing angles, poor color reproduction), but the fast response time turned out to be an excellent marketing bait for consumers. In addition, the cheapness of the technology against the backdrop of ongoing price wars, when every extra dollar per panel was a heavy burden for the manufacturer, reinforced the financial marketing company. TN panels remain the cheapest even today (much cheaper than both IPS and MVA panels). As a result of the combination of these two factors (a successful consumer lure of fast response time and low price), monitors on non-TN+Film panels are currently available in limited numbers. The only exceptions are the top models of Samsung on PVA and very expensive monitors on S-IPS panels designed for professional color work.

The developer of MVA technology, Fujitsu, considered the LCD monitor market not interesting enough for itself and today does not develop new panels, transferring rights to them to AU Optronics.

PVA technology

Following Fujitsu, Samsung has developed Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA) technology, which in general terms repeats MVA technology and differs, on the one hand, in slightly larger viewing angles, but on the other, in worse response time.

Apparently, one of the goals of the development was to create a technology similar to MVA, but free from Fujitsu patents and related license fees. Accordingly, all the disadvantages and advantages of PVA panels are the same as those of MVA.

Advantages of PVA technology:

- excellent contrast (the black level of PVA panels can be as low as 0.1-0.3 cd/m2);
- excellent viewing angles (when evaluating viewing angles according to the standard contrast ratio of up to 10:1, it turns out that they are limited not by the panel, but by the plastic screen frame protruding above it - the latest models of PVA monitors have 178 ° angles);
- good color rendering.

Disadvantages of PVA technology:

- Monitors on PVA-panels are of little use for dynamic games. Due to the large response time, when switching a pixel between close states, the image will be noticeably blurred;
- not the lowest cost.

Of great interest to this type of matrices is their prevalence in the market. If a monitor on a good 19-inch MVA matrix is ​​almost impossible to find, then with PVA their developer (Samsung) tries to regularly release new models for sale. In fairness, it should be noted that other companies produce monitors on PVA matrices a little more willingly than on MVA, but the presence of at least one serious manufacturer, such as Samsung, already gives PVA matrices a tangible advantage.

A PVA-based monitor is an almost ideal choice for work due to its characteristics, which are the closest to CRT monitors of all types of matrices (except for the long response time - the only serious drawback of PVA). 19-inch models based on them are easy to find on sale, and at quite reasonable prices (compared to, say, monitors on S-IPS matrices), so when choosing a working monitor for which behavior in dynamic games is not too important, Be sure to pay attention to PVA.

Last year, Samsung introduced Dynamical Capacitance Compensation, DCC (Dynamic Capacitance Compensation) technology, which, according to engineers, can make the switching time of a pixel independent of the difference between its final and initial states. If successfully implemented, DCC PVA panels will be among the fastest among all currently existing panel types, while retaining their other advantages.

Conclusion

There are significantly fewer LCD panel manufacturers than monitor manufacturers. This is due to the fact that the production of panels requires the construction of expensive (especially in conditions of constant competition) high-tech factories. Manufacture of a monitor based on a ready-made LCD module (usually an LCD panel is supplied complete with backlight lamps) is reduced to ordinary installation operations, which do not require ultra-clean rooms or any high-tech equipment.

Today, the largest manufacturers and developers of panels are a joint venture between Royal Philips Electronics and LG Electronics called LG.Philips LCD and Samsung.

LG.Philips LCD primarily specializes in IPS panels, supplying large third party companies such as Sony and NEC. Samsung is better known for its TN+Film and PVA panels, mainly for its own monitors.

It is possible to determine exactly on whose panel a particular monitor is assembled, only by disassembling it, or by finding unofficial information on the Internet (officially the panel manufacturer is rarely indicated). However, information about a particular model applies only to that model and does not affect other monitors from the same manufacturer in any way. For example, panels from LG.Philips, AU Optronics and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) were used in different models of Sony monitors at different times, and in NEC monitors, in addition to those listed, also Hitachi, Fujitsu, Samsung and Unipac, not counting their own panels NEC. Moreover, many manufacturers install different panels in monitors of the same model, but of different release times - as newer models of panels appear, the old ones are simply replaced without changing the monitor marking.

*VA(Vertical Alignment) The first matrix of this type, which was called "VA" was developed by Fujitsu. In the future, these matrices were improved and produced by a number of companies. They are characterized as a compromise in most characteristics (including cost and power consumption) between TN and IPS, as well as the latter leaving a faulty pixel or sub-pixel in an off state. Their main advantage is high contrast combined with good color reproduction (especially in the latest versions), but unlike IPS, they have a negative feature, which is expressed in the loss of details in the shadows with a perpendicular look and the dependence of the color balance of the image on the angle of view.

• MVA - Multi-domain Vertical Alignment. The first widely used type of matrices from this family
• PVA(Patterned Vertical Alignment) - the development of *VA technology, proposed by the company, is characterized primarily by increased image contrast.
• S - PVA (Super-PVA) from ,
• S - MVA (Super MVA) from Chi Mei Optoelectronics,
• P-MVA, A-MVA (Advanced MVA) from AU Optronics. Further development of *VA technology from various manufacturers. Improvements came down mainly to reducing the response time by manipulating the supply of a higher voltage at the initial stage of changing the orientation of the subpixel crystals (this technology is called either “Overdrive” or “Response Time Compensation” in various sources) and the final transition to full-fledged 8-bit encoding color in each channel.

There are several more types of LCD matrices that are not currently used in:

• IPS Pro (developed by IPS Alpha) is used in Panasonic LCD TVs.
• AFFS - compact sensors manufactured by Samsung for special applications.
• ASV - matrices manufactured by Sharp Corporation for LCD TVs.

You can read about the technical features of different types of matrices here.

To work with office applications, any LCD monitor is perfect for you, so you can safely choose based on the design, price of the device and other considerations. The only remark - if you buy a monitor with a large diagonal - 20 ”and higher, then it is desirable that it be connected via the DVI interface, because when working with texts and tables, the highest possible image clarity is desirable. (When buying a cheap monitor for gaming and watching movies, the presence of a digital input is not so critical.)

To work with raster graphics (photo processing, etc.), as well as video editing, and any other applications where reliable color reproduction is critical, you should choose models with an IPS family matrix or, which is somewhat worse in this case, * VA.

In many situations, an IPS-matrix monitor can also be a very good choice for the home, since the only significant drawback of modern this type is the relatively high price. And although the response time exceeds that of the best TN monitors, it does not impose any restrictions on the use of such monitors in games.

Probably the best option as a universal home monitor for many users may be the option with a modern * VA matrix, since it provides much more comfortable viewing of movies and photos than cheaper TN options, and the speed characteristics will be enough for most users except the most notorious gamers.

If the monitor is bought mainly for 3D games (especially shooters and simulators), a TN matrix may be an adequate choice, when used in games, the main disadvantages of this technology are not so noticeable. In addition, these monitors are the cheapest. (If we compare models with the same diagonal).

Also, modern monitors differ in the aspect ratio of the screen - regular, with an aspect ratio of 4:3 or 5:4, and widescreen, with an aspect ratio of 16:10 or 16:9.

Since the binocular field of view of a person has an aspect ratio much closer to those of , then, all other things being equal, it is theoretically more comfortable to work with them and they are gradually replacing them with a "normal" aspect ratio. Some problems can only be with old games that do not support video modes with the appropriate aspect ratio, but practice shows that adaptation to a “flattened” image in such cases occurs very quickly and this fact does not cause discomfort. So we recommend choosing the aspect ratio of the monitor based on your own preferences, although a widescreen monitor is definitely more convenient for home use.

We also recommend relying on your own subjective impressions when choosing the type of coating for the monitor - a “glossy” coating makes the image visually more contrast (especially on cheap matrices), but it glares much more and more unpleasantly, unlike matte.

We remind you that very often an overestimated one can be due not only to the use of an expensive and high-quality matrix in it, but also to features that are not related to the actual performance of the monitor's main function - i.e. the presence of specific peripherals (speakers, subwoofers, web cameras), additional inputs (digital, for example, a second DVI or HDMI, and analog, like S-Video or component input) or unique design solutions.

A visual comparison of the influence of viewing angles (photos taken at an angle of 50 °) on the image characteristics of monitors with different types of matrices:

     Indicative table of comparative user characteristics depending on the type of matrix used: