right now there are a few companies that are almost dead even in the running, samsung, LG and (everyone else) samsung sells 2 sets of monitors for the pricepoint and performance you want from their monitors.
Response time:
2ms - fastest available currently - only for hardcore FPS and drive-sims
5ms - average monitors response time - for general users, RPG, ultra fast movements not a huge concern
8+ms - very slow relative to other monitors - only for word processing, internet, no movies, no gaming
Dynamic Contract Ratio (pixel colour depth during motion)
50k : 1 - highest before going into TV as a monitor - contrast critical applications
30k : 1 - high - mid range of monitors - movies, non-pro picture editing
10k : 1 - mid - low range of monitors - word processing, general tasks, usually lowered to compensate for fast response time
static contrast ratio (pixel colour depth still images)
typically 1/25th of the dynamic contrast ratio (eg. 50k : 1 = 2000 : 1 static)
**these numbers get played with by each company as a selling feature, best option is go to a store and look at them, change settings around and find what looks best to your eyes**
Stand mount
VESA - able to utilize wall hanging, boom arm, and multi monitor stands - typically able to rotate to portrait, height increase/decrease, tilt up/down
non VESA - typically only able to tilt up and down, no rotation for portrait orientation - only able to use stand that comes with the monitor