If you are buying a primary monitor or want to view higher resolutions, you will want to step up to at least a 15-inch monitor. The extra inch may not sound like much, but it provides 15 percent more screen area and packs an extra 50 percent more information on the screen. In addition to size, note the monitor's dot pitch, which describes the size of a pixel. Although monitors with large dot pitches, up to 0.40 millimeters, are cheaper, their fuzzy screens can cause eyestrain. For best results, select a dot pitch measuring no more than .28 millimeters.
Refresh rates are also important.
Many monitors can even manage 85Hz, 100Hz or higher refresh rates at 1,024 by 768 and lower resolutions. Another important feature to consider is whether the monitor is interlaced or non-interlaced. A non-interlaced monitor redraws every line of information on the screen with each refresh, while an interlaced monitor only refreshes every other line. Because of the reduced workload, interlaced monitors are less expensive, but the quality of the output is not as clear as that of a non-interlaced monitor, and you may detect more flicker. Choose a non-interlaced monitor if you want clearer screen images.