CRT vs. LCD

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Mon Oct 28, 2002 9:22 am

While this could almost be tacked onto the end of the 'monitors' thread, I thought this might be better on its own.

My trusty 17" CRT monitor is showing signs of heading off to the great jumbotron in the sky, and I'm starting to look around at what I will replace it with when it finally gives up the ghost . I have a spare 15" that I keep around for emergencies (and my wife is constantly telling me to get rid of ) so I don't have a non-functional computer, so I'm not in too much of a hurry. What I want to know is whether it is worth the extra money for a LCD monitor/screen (or if I should put that money towards a larger CRT monitor, but I'm more interested in people's experiences with the LCDs).

Those of you that have LCD screens, how do they compare to the CRT monitors you (presumably) had previously? Does video run smoothly on them, and is the color separation good at the higher resolutions? Thanks!

Mask of Destiny · Post by **Mask of Destiny** » Mon Oct 28, 2002 9:52 am

Video is smooth on just about any modern LCD. Color quality varies greatly between manufacturers. I would recommend seeing one in action before buying it. My only complaint with LCDs (besides the price) is that they have a fixed resolution. So a 1024x768 LCD can't really display any other resolution than 1024x768. Some video cards will fake the smaller resolutions by stretching the image to fit, but it tends to look crappy, especially text because some pixels are 2 LCD pixels wide while others are only 1 LCD pixel wide.

IMAC · Post by **IMAC** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:06 am

LCD's are VERY prone to damage, whether from shipping or just the random thoughtless poking the screen (I know i do it.. i clean of the fingerprints every two weeks or so)

Your not likely to find a 17" LCD for less than $300, while you can get a 19" CRT for around $200

The point that made up my mind is the fact that most LCD screens use a dv signal and require newer cards. You can convert an LCD's dv signal to work with a standard CRT screen using a $2 adapter and have no problems, but not vice versa.

klinky · Post by **klinky** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 9:35 am

Well some LCDs do allow analog input but that's a Digital > Analog > Digital conversion. It makes for a poorer image and increases ghosting. :\ It's like how you don't want to do to many colorspace conversions when editing.

:\

~klinky

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 12:23 pm

Dunno how this thread got dragged back from the dead. At least for me, it's a moot point now- I got a nice 19" monitor for Christmas, and at least for the time being while my 17" still works I've got a nice dual-monitor setup.

klinky · Post by **klinky** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 12:26 pm

God damn >_< I didn't notice the necro-post .... THANKS ALOT!!!

Ashyukun · Post by **Ashyukun** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 12:30 pm

Don't worry- it wasn't you that dragged it back up Klinky. It took me a while to notice it as well, even though I started the thread...

jonmartensen · Post by **jonmartensen** » Wed Feb 05, 2003 1:33 pm

This dead thread brought to you by the NECROPOST OF DOOM!!!

ongakuka · Post by **ongakuka** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 3:51 pm

LCDs don't have the traditional gamma problems CRTs have. The gamut is also much wider so colors seem more vibrant and intense? depending on which side you're looking at. LCDs (good ones) also usually have better contrast ratios than CRTs, except for true black.

(digital LCDs - ADC, DVI, etc; analog LCDs.. ahem.. junk

)

But.. CRTs have a much cleaner and smoother spectrum. CRTs and LCDs both operate at 24+ bit color, but the LCD will slightly band (ramp?) where as the CRT generally won't.

It's sort of looking at a 24bit image with lots of sweeping gradients in 24bit mode (CRT), and 16bit mode (LCD) - you'll spot the ramps where it would otherwise be smooth. It's not noticable at all unless you do a side by size comparison. It's a technology limitiation of all LCDs.

dwchang · Post by **dwchang** » Tue Jun 24, 2003 4:51 pm

ongakuka wrote:LCDs don't have the traditional gamma problems CRTs have. The gamut is also much wider so colors seem more vibrant and intense? depending on which side you're looking at. LCDs (good ones) also usually have better contrast ratios than CRTs, except for true black.

(digital LCDs - ADC, DVI, etc; analog LCDs.. ahem.. junk )

But.. CRTs have a much cleaner and smoother spectrum. CRTs and LCDs both operate at 24+ bit color, but the LCD will slightly band (ramp?) where as the CRT generally won't.

It's sort of looking at a 24bit image with lots of sweeping gradients in 24bit mode (CRT), and 16bit mode (LCD) - you'll spot the ramps where it would otherwise be smooth. It's not noticable at all unless you do a side by size comparison. It's a technology limitiation of all LCDs.

WTF?! A bit late are we?

Check the date of the last post before yours...

jonmartensen wrote:This dead thread brought to you by the NECROPOST OF DOOM!!!