Best 22-inch LCD Monitors

PC display technology hasn't changed all that much in the past few years. The same LCD panel technology are still used in the majority of displays. The result is that prices have come down significantly. Acer's G215HVAbd display is very affordable and can be found as little as $120. The 21.5-inch panel fully supports 1080p HD video with a native 1920x1080 resolution. Brightness and contrast ratios are typical and response times are quick a 5ms. It doesn't feature an HDMI port but does come with both a DVI-D and VGA connector. Of course, to reduce costs, the screen only features a tilt adjustment but it does come with both DVI and VGA cables.

Those who are looking for a display that can do just about anything, the HP ZR2240w is a great choice. This display features an IPS panel for some good color support and wide viewing angles. It uses an LED backlit for some very low power consumption as well but still offers a relatively high 250cd/m^2 brightness level. Response times are a bit slower at 8ms from the IPS display technology but it still is suitable for fast motion from gaming or video. The best part is that the display can be used with pretty much any type of graphics card thanks to a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI and VGA connectors. In addition to this, it does feature a four port USB 2.0 hub. The stand even features a full set of adjustments for height, tilt and swivel. Priced around $260.

Gaming demands some fast response times and unfortunately the number of monitors with quick response times has dwindled in the 22-inch range in favor of larger screens. Those that want a screen with a fast 2ms response time are pretty much limited to the Samsung S22B350H. The screen itself is actually quite good but a bit more expensive than previous offerings at roughly $190. The 21.5-inch display panel features a 1920x1080 native resolution and offers a bright 250cd/m^2 brightness level. The stand only supports tilt adjustments which is typical of many low cost and smaller monitors. Connectors included just HDMI and VGA with only a supplied VGA cable.

With the release of Windows 8, the touch screen is becoming a much more important feature for navigating and using the computer. Desktops typically don't feature this but there is a growing market for touch enabled monitors. For the 22-inch screen size, the Viewsonic VX2258wm offers a relatively affordable option with a price of $315. It uses the older infrared technology for its multitouch technology so it isn't as fast or responsive as capacitive screens but it is functional. The screen features a 1920x1080 native resolution and uses a USB connector for the multitouch interface. Video connectors include DVI and VGA. It also includes a set of 2 watt stereo speakers as well.

Graphics work requires a high level of color support. Typically, this requires more expensive technology such as IPS display panels which is exactly what Dell uses in the UltraSharp U2212HM. It doesn't have as wide of color support as larger and more expensive monitors but it does offer 97% coverage of the sRGB gamut. It features a native 1920x1080 resolution with a 250cd/m^2 brightness level. It features an anti-glare coating which is nice for office work where lighting can be difficult. The stand features full height, tilt, swivel and even pivot adjustments. The only real downside is that it does not have an HDMI connector and instead uses either DisplayPort, DVI or VGA. There is a four port USB 2.0 hub in it as well. Priced around $259.