Question: CRT vs. LCD Monitors

CFM · Post by **CFM** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:31 pm

I recently completed my first self-built PC. Along with my old PC’s HDD and DVD-drive, I used these components:

- Antec Nine Hundred computer case
- Corsair 1000w PSU
- Intel motherboard, with 4 x 1GB of 667MHz memory, and a Pentium 4 3.0GHz CPU (all from my old PC)
- Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS sound card (also from my old PC)

I also bought an EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX 512MB video card:

EVGA | Products

Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

It has two DVI-I ports, an HDTV port (S-Video?), and is “HDCP capable”.

It plays Bioshock, for example, with all the settings at maximum. I was nicely surprised, since this game’s hefty specs recommend a Core 2 Duo CPU. (I am also nicely surprised at how cool this GPU runs.)

I play the newer generation FPS games at ultra-high resolutions, such as Half-Life, F.E.A.R., Bioshock, and Unreal Tournaments. I also play the older generation RPG games at lower-end resolutions, such as the Fallout, Baldur’s Gate, Icewind Dale, and Diablo games. And I play other inbetween-ers, like the KotOR and NWN games, and maybe someday LotR Online.

So, keeping in mind I play several generations of games at several different resolutions, what kind of monitor should I go with? I used to hear that the flat screen LCD monitors have a “native” resolution, where they look great at one resolution, but not so good at any other. Whereas the bulky CRT monitors look great in any resolution, and are thus better for games. Is this (still) true? The smaller size of the flat screen LCDs are sexy, but I don’t want to compromise the visual quality of anything just to gain a little desk space.

Can the refresh rates for today’s LCD monitors keep up with the today’s video cards and ultra-high resolutions?

Currently, I have a pretty good CRT. If I do, I would ONLY switch to a *wide-screen* LCD. I’ve seen that the newest games have wide-screen resolution options available in the graphics settings. But what would a game without these wide-screen resolution options look like? Would it “stretch” the game’s display to fit the wide screen? I would love to use a wide-screen display for Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and other non-game applications. But will my beloved Baldur’s Gate games look fat?

What type, brand, and model of monitor do you use? What games do you play on it, and how do they perform, look, and play? Thanks in advance!

Kipi · Post by **Kipi** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:48 pm

So, keeping in mind I play several generations of games at several different resolutions, what kind of monitor should I go with? I used to hear that the flat screen LCD monitors have a “native” resolution, where they look great at one resolution, but not so good at any other. Whereas the bulky CRT monitors look great in any resolution, and are thus better for games. Is this (still) true? The smaller size of the flat screen LCDs are sexy, but I don’t want to compromise the visual quality of anything just to gain a little desk space.

Well, it may depend on the model of screen, but I would say from perswonal experience no. When I got my first LCD, even older games like BG 1 & 2 looked much better than with my old screen. Same goes to Fallouts, Incubation, and many other oldies I have played recently.

What type, brand, and model of monitor do you use? What games do you play on it, and how do they perform, look, and play? Thanks in advance!

I currently use a bit older ACER 17 inch screen, and if that doesn't have any problems with neither newer games (F.E.A.R, The Witcher) nor older games, I don't think any newer ones have.

Nightmare · Post by **Nightmare** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:53 pm

One of my close friends runs dual monitors, one LCD and one CRT. For him, new games look better in LCD and older games look better in CRT. Personally, I just got a 22" LCD last week when I built my new desktop, and I love it. Its the LG L226WTY...probably not the best on the market, but a solid monitor for a pretty cheap price (cost me about $260 CDN).

I have it with an EVGA e-Geforce 8800 GT, and it performs beautifully. LCDs can only do 60 MHz refresh rates (compared to 75 MHz with higher end CRTs) but I've read in magazines that its largely negligible. The LCD is also a hell of a lot thinner than a CRT...

For fullscreen games, I'm pretty sure you can run in fullscreen in the monitor and just have black bars on either side of the game instead of stretching a fullscreen res to fit a widescreen monitor. However, I haven't actually tested this yet. Also, all the Infinity Engine games can now run in widescreen with G3's Widescreen mod, which you should definitely get if you're going widescreen.

CFM · Post by **CFM** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:13 am

Thanks to Kipi and Nightmare for posting your experience with computer monitors.

I forgot about that G3 widescreen mod! That would definitely have me covered with a good portion of my favorite Oldies-But-Goodies. Assuming of course that the Infinity Engine games look good on a widescreen LCD in 800x600 (or the next higher) resolution. Anyways, thanks again!

Anybody else got an opinion?

dragon wench · Post by **dragon wench** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:02 pm

I have used a nice little Samsung LCD monitor for about 4 years. I have played everything on it from the old Black Isle games to Lord of the Rings Online, The Witcher and a heavily retextured Morrowind.

They *all* look amazing on the LCD, much better than the CRT, far richer, and with much more depth, not to mention that the LCD screen is far easier on the eyes, which tends to be important if you game for longer periods.

I would *never* go back to a CRT, not even if I was paid

DesR85 · Post by **DesR85** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:29 pm

I currently have a 17" Dell monitor (1707FP) for almost two years. Using the Analog RGB input and yes, the images are much sharper than the old CRT monitor I have been using for the past 8 years. As for playing games, I have played Call of Duty 2, both KOTOR 1&2, Fable, FEAR, the Hitman games and quite a few others and they look good.

The only problem is that using the DVI input will grey out the contrast option.