I'm looking for a new CRT monitor: 19-22", high resolution (1600+) at above 60Hz, DVI connection, reasonable price.

November 28, 2004 4:24 PM

I'm in the market for a new CRT monitor. The old Viewsonic A90's cable is wearing, causing some pretty bad artifacts. I'd like to just replace the cable, but it's attached to the back of the monitor.
[MI]

(that should read 'My' old view...')

Here's what I'm looking for in a monitor:

Capable of high resolutions (1600+) at above 60Hz.
19-22".
DVI connection.
Reasonably priced.

I know a monitor that meets these specs won't be dirt cheap, but I'm hoping to get fairly good image quality without spending much over $500 CND on one. The monitor will be used for interwebs/games/photoshop/basic 3d stuff etc.
Recommendations?

posted by Evstar to shopping (15 comments total)

DVI for a CRT? Does that exist?
posted by smackfu at 4:27 PM on November 28, 2004

I hope so. I thought so...

Does it? If not, then it doesn't matter.
posted by Evstar at 4:29 PM on November 28, 2004

I've an 21" IBM P260 that can do 1600 at 85Hz. The Trinitron tube produces pretty vivid images. I'm reluctant to switch to a LCD, when I compare the image quality, as well as the price differential between this and a 18" LCD. I got it secondhand on eBay, a year back for $140 + shipping (~$50). Still running smoothly.
posted by Gyan at 4:33 PM on November 28, 2004

The main advantage of DVI is that the computer can address an LCD's pixels individually. Since CRTs don't have pixels to address, I can't imagine anyone building one, and there's no reason to get one.
posted by cillit bang at 5:09 PM on November 28, 2004

it's all about iiyama.
posted by dorian at 5:11 PM on November 28, 2004

As someone who used to be on the "CRT all the way" bandwagon, there really isn't a need for that particular wagon or the old horses that tow it. LCDs these days, especially displays that are designed for graphics designers, are so superior to CRTs that it's not even funny. I don't know a single designer who has an LCD of appropriate quality that would even dream of going back to CRT ... and that's a reccomendation I trust. LCDs also stay vivid for far longer than CRTs do ... my year-old CRTs are fading and I'm starting to shop around for deals on LCDs now. :)
posted by SpecialK at 7:05 PM on November 28, 2004

If money is no object, the best monitor is the ViewSonic VP2290b -- a 9 megapixel resolution beast, useful for viewing your digital pictures at 100% onscreen (the optimal resolution is 3840x2400). It goes for about $13,000.

If you've got a little less to spend, the Sony Artisan GDM-C520K is simply fantastic. It's only a couple grand.

Back on planet Earth, the best monitor is the Mitsubishi/NEC Diamondtron. This joint venture between the two companies produced two monitors that are exactly the same (different branding is the only difference). The NEC DP2070SB and the Mitsubishi 2141SB. I'd go for the Mitsubishi because it's cheaper.

The much-touted LaCie Electron Blue IV is a rebranded version of this line of monitors. It will cost you a couple hundred more for a fancy blue box. Don't bother.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:31 PM on November 28, 2004

NEC FP2141SB-BK ($599US best bang for buck CRT)
Samsung 191P ($699US Good midrange 19" LCD)

Tom's Hardware (Good reference)
epinions

Try to demo your prospective models in local electronics store before buying. Most all makes/models can be seen in a trip to two or three of your location's competing electronics retailers.

The above would be my next choice for my media pc. I currently have a gaming/mod rig that uses a NEC 1760V which is the best for gaming (low response time=low ghosting). However it won't do better than 1280x960 and doesn't have a good true black with a measurable level of contrast (would not be optimum for graphic designing).

Of course the ultimate would be an Apple Cinema, but I'm not holding my breath waiting on the winning lotto ticket it would take to get one of those.
posted by HyperBlue at 7:36 PM on November 28, 2004

LCDs are okay for artistic work? Like, digital painting, photo retouching, colour matching, etc?

Are they doing this at anything near a sane price?
posted by five fresh fish at 7:36 PM on November 28, 2004

Dear Santa,

File my entries above under budget items.

I want to co-opt CD's wishlist.

When did Civil Disobedience start paying so well? /smartassnoob
posted by HyperBlue at 7:42 PM on November 28, 2004

The $13 000 monitors are just a tad out of reach. Like I said, I'm looking for something a little more budget minded.

Hyperblue: Please don't tag/sign your comments. It's not something we do here.
posted by Evstar at 7:49 PM on November 28, 2004

fff - LCD's are generally not considered as good as CRT's at color reproduction and off-axis viewing, but there are exceptions to this. Unfortunately, those exceptions will cost you upwards of $1200.

The biggest drawback with LCD's is that they only look their best when operated at their native resolution. Try finding a good LCD with a native resolution of 1600x1200 for less than $700. The NEC/Mitsubishi models HyperBlue and I have recommended can go up to 2048x1536 @ 86 Hz. I'm running mine at 1856x1392 @ 106 Hz.

The other thing with LCD's (related to native resolution) is that you sometimes want a lower resolution. I'm thinking specifically about gaming. Let's say you get a fancy 1600x1200 display for desktop publishing, then you try and play Half Life 2 at the native resolution and get sucker-punched by the abysmal framerates. Well, that sucks for you. On a CRT, you can adjust your resolution down to, say 1024x768 and get good frame rates.

You cannot find a better monitor for the price than the NEC/Mitsubishi 2141/2070. So in conclusion, do what we say. :)
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:55 PM on November 28, 2004

That's what I thought, CD. Which is why I haven't quite given away my 19" monitor: one of these days, I may want to use it for artsy purposes.

For all other use, I am delighted with my laptop's LCD.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:47 PM on November 28, 2004

After recent extensive research for a monitor upgrade, I settled on the NEC/Mitsubishi Diamondtrons, and found a relatively recent 22" model (rebranded as a Compaq P1220) on ebay, used, for ~$200 + $50 shipping. My wife (a web/graphics designer) and I are thrilled with it. It tops out at max 1920X1440 (the newer models linked above go a little higher), but we're running it at 1600x1200 and it's stunning.

I had her blessing to spend up to $600 for a new LCD monitor, and that's what she wanted (space considerations), but the more I researched the more I decided to stick w/ good ol' CRT's for now. C_D states the reasons above nicely.

Here's an ebay link to get you started. I'm not certain that all Compaq monitors are rebranded NEC's, but I know that the P1220 is a rebranded 1-2 year-old NEC/Mitsubishi model that originally sold for >$1000. Caveat emptor, etc.
posted by Bradley at 9:05 PM on November 29, 2004

Thanks for the update! Glad it worked out for you. I wasn't aware of the Compaq rebranding -- I'll keep that in my mental closet for future recommendations.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 2:57 PM on November 30, 2004