LCD monitors for gamers
Sacrilegious technology can quickly become sanctified technology. Case in point: liquid-crystal displays (LCDs). Once scorned by gamers, LCDs are experiencing a surge of popularity among this discerning and demanding group. Why? Well, everyone likes a slim, ultrabright screen. But for the first time, LCD performance has improved enough to satisfy the technical needs of many gamers. Of course, not everyone is impressed; LCDs still can't refresh screen images as quickly as cathode ray tube monitors (CRTs). Nevertheless, many are fast enough to provide smooth motion in action games; long gone are the days of obvious ghosting, when lackadaisical LCDs resembled time-lapse photographs of objects in smeared motion.

For this roundup, experts from CNET Labs and GameSpot.com looked at seven LCDs to determine their game-worthiness, taking into consideration their brightness and contrast, as well as the way they handled moving images and how well they scaled--that is, how well they rendered images in their nonnative resolutions. We also put together a few tips on what to look for when shopping for a quality gaming LCD. To learn more about what makes a good gaming LCD, click here.

DISPLAY	DESCRIPTION	RECOMMENDATION
LG Flatron 1730S Rating: 6.0 out of 10 Check prices	The 1703S was the favorite in our roundup, though by only a slim margin over the Envision EN7220. We found its 12-millisecond (ms) response time sufficient to clearly render the scenery whirring by on Need for Speed Underground 2. Several judges also praised its strong contrast, which makes details distinct. The 1730S, with only an analog input, challenges the conventional wisdom that digital connections are inherently superior.	Recommended for gaming
Envision EN7220 Rating: 6.7 out of 10 Check prices	Though Envision says that its EN7220 has a 16ms refresh rate, this monitor placed a very close second to the LG Flatron 1730S, which claims a 12ms response. Our judges noted that the Envision showed nearly identical performance to that of the L1730S on games, but they thought the EN7220 lagged slightly when showing the moving images and contrast.	Recommended for gaming
NEC MultiSync 1770NX Rating: 6.6 out of 10 Check prices	The NEC 1770NX handled moving images well and had particularly good color saturation, however the high colors crushed the black levels and disturbed its handling of dark tones. Our judges were divided in their opinions on this LCD--some liked its saturated colors for bright scenes in Half-Life 2, while others found the colors oversaturated, which led to a loss of detail in the game's dark corners.	Recommended for gaming
Samsung SyncMaster 172x Rating: 7.4 out of 10 Check prices	Despite its supposed 12ms response time, the Samsung 172X couldn't keep up with either the LG Flatron 1730S or the Envision EN7220, though its rendering of details still makes it a decent gaming machine; it displayed the complex control panel in Half-Life 2 with more shading subtleties than the others. In addition, the 172X offers a very sleek design with good adjustability, as well as both DVI and analog inputs.	Recommended for gaming
Sharp LL-172G Rating: 6.7 out of 10 Check prices	Sharp plans to replace the LL-172G this summer, and we welcome the move. Our judges awarded it low scores for its obvious problems--specifically blurring and poor scaling performance. And like the NEC MultiSync 1770NX, the LL-172G doesn't show the distinctions between dark tones well, dimming out details in games.	Not recommended for gaming
ViewSonic VP912b Rating: 7.4 out of 10 Check prices	The VP912b proves that you can't buy on specs alone. Despite its stated 12ms response time, most of our judges felt it was not up to the task of displaying action in games. Even after tinkering with the settings, our judges found that colors looked washed out, largely due to the screen's antireflective coating.	Not recommended for gaming
Sharp LL-191A Rating: 6.8 out of 10 Check prices	Our judges came to a quick agreement about the LL-191A: no one liked it. With a 16ms response time, it was notably slower than the other monitors. Also, the screen's brightness was uneven, with the right side considerably lighter than the left. Like its 17-inch sibling, the LL-191A is due for a refresh this summer.	Not recommended for gaming

What makes a good gaming LCD
Gaming performance varies considerably among LCDs, as we discovered while testing seven models. Our judges, including frag fanatics from GameSpot and CNET Labs, viewed games, including Electronic Arts' Need for Speed Underground 2, Valve Software's Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, on several monitors simultaneously. Games ran on an ABS 3.4GHz Pentium 4 550 desktop system with 1GB of PC5300 DDR2-SDRAM at 666MHz and an Nvidia GeForce 6600 256MB graphics card. Video output was sent to multiple monitors using an Extron P/2 DA4xi distribution amplifier for VGA-analog equipped monitors and an Extron D/2 DA4 DVI distribution amplifier for DVI-equipped monitors. We played the games at a resolution of 1,280x1,024 pixels--the native resolution for all the monitors--and scaled to 1,024x768 pixels, a resolution many games are optimized for. In addition to pitting the monitors against one another, we compared them all against the high-end 21-inch Sony GDM-C520K monitor, a CRT well known for its picture quality and superb gaming performance.

LCDs, which are inherently brighter than CRTs, sometimes lack contrast, which is crucial for image clarity. LCDs with the best contrast produce the darkest blacks, the most saturated images, and the most appealing graphics for gamers. Monitors with faster refresh times are less fatiguing for your eyes; refresh times are more important for games with lots of fast motion and action, such as Counter-Strike. Additionally, a monitor that's proficient at scaling can handle a greater variety of games. When set at their native resolutions, most LCDs produce sharper images than CRTs; however, when set to other resolutions, many LCDs become less clear.

How do you know if an LCD is gameworthy? Follow these tips when shopping around.

Step 1: Take manufacturer specs with a grain of salt
Response time typically refers to the time required for an LCD pixel to change from fully off (black) to fully on (white), then fully off again. It serves as a rough indicator of how quickly the screen can refresh a video image. However, in most real-life games and videos, pixels are rarely completely on or off. Instead, they mostly cycle between so-called gray states--that is, colors. Generally, switching between gray states is far slower than switching between black and white, so the true refresh time may be a lot slower than the spec indicates. Still, as a general rule, a monitor rated at 12ms is faster than one rated at 20ms.

Contrast ratios and brightness levels continue to increase in LCDs, but manufacturers' numbers can be misleading. While the "brighter is better" mantra doesn't necessarily hold true with basic computing, a bright screen usually benefits gameplay. In the case of contrast where the numbers often indicate a ratio between a full white and a full black screen, they hardly reflect the contrast that one would experience with the intricate graphics of a game.

Step 2: Consider the target market
Most LCDs fall into one of three categories: economy, graphics-oriented, or game- and video-oriented. Economy models use the simplest technology available to produce crisp images for basic computing tasks, such as e-mailing, word processing, and Web surfing. They may have relatively fast response times but likely won't be cut out for the fast-paced demands of games.

Graphics models pack in technologies to optimize color and brightness, precisely tune the grayscale levels, and limit the amount of color shift that occurs at different viewing angles. Response time, which can be 20 milliseconds and higher, is not as important for graphics models--your focus should be on color performance.

Monitors made specifically for games and video boast response times ranging from 4ms to 16ms and are most often sold in the 17-inch size, although 19-inch models are becoming more common. Game and video monitors are fine for regular office work, but they may not provide the precise colors or the level of detail that graphic artists require. If you love both games and photo editing, for instance, your monitor may require you to compromise on one of your interests. Or consider a good CRT monitor, which can handle both with proper tuning.

Step 3: Look before you leap
Though resources such as CNET's monitor buying guide can be useful in finding the right LCD, there's no substitute for your own eyes. If possible, go to a store and check out a bunch of monitors. When shopping in harshly lit stores, however, keep in mind that the store's viewing environment and the computer's graphics card are likely very different from your own. If you're buying online, check out the vendor's return policy; if you're not satisfied, you'll want to return it without paying extra fees.

* Testing method and criteria developed by CNET Labs technician Tim Patterson.