Want to buy a new Monitor

[milkman]

I want to buy a new monitor but I can't decide whether to buy a CRT or TFT. I'm going to be using it for games and I know CRT's are better for that, but i would like a flat screen, mainly cos my PC desk is small. I currently have a 17" CRT which works fine, although it is very old, and takes up most of the desk. I would like either a 19" TFT or a 21" CRT. I know a 21" CRT's are massive, about 50cm squared, but i'll probably mount it on the wall if i get one.

I've found a few 21"CRT's on ebay and they cost between £65 and £100. Why are they soo cheap, are they really bad? I don't really care for the make so long as they work.

Here's one,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3696&item=5168905217&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

From looking around at various reviews, i've come to the conclusion that for TFT's I should be looking at the response times and the dot pixel pitch.

However when I look for 19" TFT's they seem to have quite poor dot pixel pitch especially, about 0.294mm seems to be the norm, and the response times appear to be quite slow on most of them, over 20ms.

Would a TFT with these stats ruin gameplay?

What stats should i be looking for, for good gameplay?

I would possibly spend up to £300 on a TFT, but the difference between the £200 models and the £300 models seems to be very minimal.


Finally could anyone explain to me why anyone would buy this monitor - http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/hardware/monitorsanddisplays/productView.htm?quicklinx=31D0

£4700 for a 15", do me a favour.

Any help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
Thanks.

[Jhorner1]

I am currently using this (http://www.benq.us/Products/LCD/index.cfm?product=465) LCD. It replaced a 19"CRT. I am very pleased with its performance, both for normal computing as well as gaming.

[saphalline]

Whether buying a CRT or LCD monitor, I would suggest starting with the brand name. I'm more likely to trust a 17" Sony over a 19" AOC. Just an example, but you shouldn't try cutting corners on your display. You'll be looking at it for a long time! Plus, the major brand names usually have better response times for their warranties, and are more able to give you breaks when you need them. Not to mention the quality of the product is generally higher. In my experience, big brand name monitors last 25-50% longer than OEM or lesser brand name monitors. Just something to think about.

[milkman]

thanks for your replies,

If the best TFT monitors are 17" then I think I'll just stick to my 17" CRT, my main aim of getting a new monitor was to increase the screen size.

I understand where you are coming from when looking at brand name monitors, but to be honest my current monitor is a budget one and has lasted over 6 or 7 years at least and shows no signs of breaking yet.

Maybe it would be best to buy one of those cheap 21" crt's and wait a couple of years for the TFT prices to drop and quality to improve.

[Jhorner1]

One other thing, LCDs have more viewable screen at the same size than CRTs. A 17" CT will have about 16" display, whereas a 17" LCD will display 17"

[classicsoftware]

My understanding and I could be wrong

15" TFT = 17" CRT

17" TFT = 19" CRT

19" TFT = 21" CRT

It's one of the few things you should look at in person to see what the display is like.

[Whyzman]

I have a 21" RasterOps CRT whose screen area measures 20" diagonally..

Too bad your not on our side of the pond...I've been able to pick up lease-back 21" Hitachi monitors for $75.00 :) Shipping would make the price ridiculous, but I pick them up as I need them and check them for log-on burns...

You might want to do some poking around and see if there's a lease-back company somewhere nearby. These folks purchase the hardware new and then lease them to major companies such as American Express. They are in use for a couple of years and then the lease-back companies sell them and a huge discounts just to get rid of them...

I watch movies on my 21" and TV with my All-in-Wonder vid card...all the other TVs in my house are monopolized...all 3 of them...so, I get to be on the net and watch basketball...;)