All About Monitors ...

Click here for information on dual monitors.

This chart is an estimated calculation. Click here to calculate more percise numbers for your business.

ENERGY STAR qualified computer monitors use from 25-60% less electricity than standard models, depending on how they are used.

CRT vs. LCD - The Pros and Cons of Each

Resolution & Viewing Quality
Resolution on a CRT is flexible and a newer model will provide you with viewing resolutions of up to 1600 by 1200 and higher, whereas on an LCD the resolution is fixed within each monitor (called a native resolution). The resolution on an LCD can be changed, but if you're running it at a resolution other than its native resolution you will notice a drop in performance or quality.

Both types of monitors (newer models) provide bright and vibrant color display. However, LCDs cannot display the maximum color range that a CRT can. In terms of image sharpness, when an LCD is running at its native resolution the picture quality is perfectly sharp. On a CRT the sharpness of the picture can be blemished by soft edges or a flawed focus.

A CRT monitor can be viewed from almost any angle, but with an LCD this is often a problem. When you use an LCD, your view changes as you move different angles and distances away from the monitor. At some odd angles, you may notice the picture fade, and possibly look as if it will disappear from view.

Refresh Rate
Some users of a CRT may notice a bit of an annoying flicker, which is an inherent trait based on a CRTs physical components. Today's graphics cards, however, can provide a high refresh rate signal to the CRT to get rid of this otherwise annoying problem. LCDs are flicker-free and as such the refresh rate isn't an important issue with LCDs.

Screen (viewable) Size
Most people today tend to look at a 17-inch CRT or bigger monitor. When you purchase a 17-inch CRT monitor, you usually get 16.1 inches or a bit more of actual viewing area, depending on the brand and manufacturer of a specific CRT. The difference between the "monitor size" and the "view area" is due to the large bulky frame of a CRT. If you purchase a 17" LCD monitor, you actually get a full 17" viewable area, or very close to a 17".

Physical Size
There is no denying that an LCD wins in terms of its physical size and the space it needs. CRT monitors are big, bulky and heavy. They are not a good choice if you're working with limited desk space, or need to move the monitor around (for some odd reason) between computers. An LCD on the other hand is small, compact and lightweight. LCDs are thin, take up far less space and are easy to move around. An average 17-inch CRT monitor could be upwards of 40 pounds, while a 17&-inch LCD would weigh in at around 15 pounds.

There are many specific factors that go into calculating how long it takes to recoup your money if you purchase LCD monitors.  Among them are:

Time Usage - how often your monitor is on (and for a CRT is it asleep or awake?), hours used per day, days used per year
Energy usage - the wattages of the specific two monitors you wish to compare
Local energy costs - the cost charged per kW by your electric provider

First, you need to calculate the kW used per year for each monitor. The energy usages can then be converted into costs by multiplying by your energy rate. The difference between the two costs reflects the cost savings you will recoup after using a flat screen (instead of a CRT) for one year. You can apply this annual savings to the price difference between the two models to determine how long it will take to pay off the more expensive flat screen.

For an example solution (for a CRT) see below:

Time Use - hours/day: 6.5 (to account for sleep time)
Time Use - days/year: (52weeks/yr - 2weeks vacation/yr) x (5days/wk) = 250 days/year
Monitor Watts: 150
Cost per kWh: $0.07

[(hours/day) x (days/year) x (watts)] / 1000 watts/kW = annual kWh consumption
(kW) x ($/kWh) = annual energy cost

[(6.5hr/day) x (250days/yr) x (150watts)]/1000 = 243.75 kWh annual energy consumption
(243.75 kWh) x ($0.07/kWh) = $17 per year
A CRT monitor costs $17 per year in electricity.

Using the above calculations for a flat screen monitor with the following data:
Time Use - hours/day: 6.2 (to account for sleep time)
Time Use - days/year: (52weeks/yr - 2weeks vacation/yr) x (5days/wk) = 250 days/year
Monitor Watts: 50
Cost per kWh: $0.07
A flat panel monitor costs $5.40 per year electricity.

To do this yourself
To determine the exact answer to your question, perform the above calculations for each of the two monitors, and compare your results. To determine your annual energy usage, use the wattage values printed on the back/bottom of the two monitors you are comparing. To determine the Time Usage for a CRT that goes to sleep, use an average value of time based on the % time the monitor is awake/asleep.

"With a single monitor you can jump between applications with a mouse click or a keyboard command (Alt-Tab, in Windows) but not nearly as fast - and small delays add up when you repeat them dozens or even hundreds of times a day."    Quote from an 2006 article in the New York Times by Ivan Berger. To read more of his article click here.

The first major finding was in a study conducted in 2003 by NEC-Mitsubishi, ATI, and the University of Utah called “Productivity and Multi-Screen Displays.” The results stated: “Participants in the study considered multi-screen configurations significantly more useful than single screens and preferred multiple monitor setups on every measure of usability. They found them 29% more effective for tasks, 24% more comfortable to use in tasks, and found it 39% easier to move around sources of information.”

Microsoft’s investigation found that users’ productivity increased anywhere from 9% to 50% depending on the application or activity. Moreover, the group discovered that a broader display field can improve the user’s memory.