The color gamut of a computer is defined by the term color depth, which is the number of colors the device can display, given the hardware. The most common normal color depths you will see are 8-bit (256 colors), 16-bit (65,536 colors), and 24-bit (16.7 million colors) modes. True color (or 24-bit color) is the most commonly used mode, as computers have reached sufficient levels to operate efficiently at this color depth.

LCD monitors struggle with color and speed. Color on an LCD has three layers of colored dots that make up the final pixel. To display a color, current is applied to each color layer to generate the desired intensity that results in the final color. The problem is that to get the colors, the current has to turn the crystals on and off to the desired intensity levels. This transition from the on to the off state is called the response time. For most displays, it is about 8 to 12 milliseconds.

The response time issue becomes apparent when LCD monitors display motion or video. With a high response time for transitions from off to on states, pixels that should have transitioned to the new color levels lag behind the signal, resulting in an effect called motion blur. This phenomenon is not a problem when the monitor is displaying applications such as productivity software. However, with high-speed video and certain video games, it can be jarring.

As consumers demanded faster displays, many manufacturers reduced the number of levels each color pixel displays. This reduction in intensity levels slows response times and has the disadvantage of reducing the overall color range that the displays support.