Also a tech question of sorts..


I've had this Sony 20 inch CRT monitor for a few years, it's ok for what it is. About a year ago I put in an ATI X800 graphic card. cool beans!

Anyway, I have been noticing horizontal lines across my screen lately. I don't mean the 2 "wire" ones that are common on flat screens. These are light in color, about an inch and a half apart, and do not run srtaight, theya re kind of at a slight uphill angle. They are not rela noticeable, I cant see them now, but against certain backrounds theya re visibile, mostly when I firswt turn my comp on on the blue XP loading screen.

Monitor, card or???

Personally I would go with the vx2025 (my vx924 is great). The vx are the up market viewsonics.

I also have a 24" sammy which is supposed to have lag problems but I am yet to find a problem to me with prey, quake4, half life2, fear, oblivion etc.. Maybe to a pro gamer who is still using crt s.

Did not know sony made a 20". I have had 17" 19" & 21" sony s - great monitors but the weight & desk top wasting space:(

The other problem you mentioned could be drivers - old age - 'radio interference' - software etc..

Vlawde,
have you seen these comparisons?
http://www.behardware.com/articles/619-1/updated-survey-13-lcd-20-5-6-8-16-ms.html
http://www.lesnumeriques.com/duels.php?ty=6&ma1=88&mo1=106&p1=1042&ma2=41&mo2=102&p2=1025&ph=8
I would have bought the VX2025wm but then the 2007WFP was released and I got that. Sorry I can't help with first hand experience re gaming.

I cannot comment between the VX2025 and the 2007WFP, but can between the Viewsonic and the 2007FP (non-WS). I had the VS for around 2 months after which I sold it and ordered the 2007FP. I did not need a WS and find the 20.1" 4:3 exceedingly better, in particular for my use which does not involve a lot of gaming.

 

Having said that though, I much prefer the 2007FP for numerous reasons. Firstly, the glossy finish of the VS was very distracting and hurt my eyes (although my eyes are very sensitive). Secondly the various inputs and USB ports the Dell has trumps over the limited VS. And when I watched some videos I find the Dell better with less smearing (no gaming tested). This was all in the same room, same PC, same DVI connection, same everything other than screen.

I tried once and preferred the VP series, non-WS VS (VP2030b IIRC) but that is nearly double the price of the Dell here.

Cheers,

X

The horizontal lines on the CRT are the vertical retrace lines when the electron beam zips back to the top of the display to start another pass. The retrace path back to the top of the display is a zig-zag path and that path is the lines that you are seeing. The monitor is supposed to blank during the vertical retrace so the electron beam doesn't make visible lines, but sometimes that circuit fails and the lines become visible.

There are several possible causes (or several possible failures) that can cause visible retrace lines. The Monitor Repair FAQ mentions some of them. Also make sure that the monitor is properly adjusted. Setting the brightness and contrast too high can cause the retrace lines to become visible. Check the various online monitor calibration guides for how to properly adjust the brightness, contrast, black level, white level, etc. It is common to have the brightness and contrast adjusted too high because it looks better, but it's not the way a CRT monitor is supposed to be set when properly adjusted.

I have a 19" Sony E400 CRT that developed visible scan lines. The picture was also starting to get brighter and washed out. The two problems are likely connected due to failing electronic components. I talked to a tech and he mentioned that it could be due to some failing capacitors that regulate voltage. He was estimating a $100 repair, possibly more, to replace the capacitors and no guarantee that the repair would fix the problem.

I haven't opted to repair the CRT. It's an expensive repair considering the current value of a 19" CRT. Instead I'm now using a dual screen setup with 17" LCDs.

Actuallt the monitor has always been kind of washed out looking no matter how I adjust tge contrast and brightness. More so when it is first turned on, but I've never been real happy, I never can get a real black. j