Standard CRT Monitors or Flat Screen TFT

johnarran · Post by **johnarran** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 9:25 pm

Hi All,

I am finally getting around to upgrading my kit (at long last) and have settled on the best spec I can afford. However, I'm in two minds what to do about my monitor. I currently have a 17" Standard CRT monitor at home and have been very happy with it. At work I use a 17" TFT. It is very sharp and really does a good job. I've loaded up MSTS in work (during my lunch hour of course) to see what it was like using a TFT. I have run MSTS on a laptop before now and was disappointed with the display. I'm not sure about the TFT option, it's very sharp but somehow doesn't look quite right when running MSTS. Suppose I'm so used to the CRT.

Anyway, thought I would post here to find out about other peoples experiences and/or views about the new Flatscreen TFT monitors and MSTS.

What do you have?
Have you used the TFT's?
If you have bought a TFT are you happy with it?
Do your games look good on it?

The biggest advantage I can see at the moment is getting my desk back. But I am more concerned about the display when using MSTS.

John

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:11 pm

My original MSTS installation was on a 17" CRT. And it was fine.
Then switched to am IIyama 15" TFT (same size, as a 17" CRT has only 15 1/2" visible) - did have to reinstall MSTS though. Only other issue is that it will only run to 1024x768 (17" TFT's go to 1280x1024). Apart from that the TFT is FANTASTIC.

I also have a Dell Latitude with 14" TFT screen - viewing angle is NOT as good as the IIyama TFT.

mikey2001 · Post by **mikey2001** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:26 pm

Ive used a flatscreen TFTs and CRTs on PCs and Macs and I would have to say that CRTs are better suited to games (especially 3D games) whilst TFTs are better suited to 2D applications such as Windows, Word, Excel and the like. LCD by its nature seems slower to respond to certain actions, especially when lots of pixels are being chucked around the screen.

Its all about priorities I guess. If you prefer to use your computer mainly for 2D work and 2D games then TFT is the way to go. However, if MSTS is the priority, then I would recommend a big CRT monitor (also cheaper but VERY heavy!

)

LucaZone · Post by **LucaZone** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 11:35 pm

Until the prices start to compete, and i can get a 21" Flat Screen TFT at an affordable cost, im sticking with CRT. Size matters to me, and trust me i know how to use it!

Stooopidperson · Post by **Stooopidperson** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:19 am

I have a TFT, but it only likes 1280x1024. It becomes a bit blurry under that resolution. MSTS works okay, it isn't a fast game anyway...
But if you scroll to fast, such as suddenly scrolling up to the top of the page, the picture seems to "stick" to the screen for a split second.

buffy500 · Post by **buffy500** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:34 pm

Stooopidperson wrote:I have a TFT, but it only likes 1280x1024. It becomes a bit blurry under that resolution. MSTS works okay, it isn't a fast game anyway...
But if you scroll to fast, such as suddenly scrolling up to the top of the page, the picture seems to "stick" to the screen for a split second.

TFT's have a preferred resolution (not sure thats the right term), but its the native resolution of the screen anything else will make it go blurry (like resizing an image )

ForburyLion · Post by **ForburyLion** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:11 pm

I currently have a laptop at work and the TFT screen is making my eyes ache - I've used a TFT monitor in a previous job and had the same effects - They just don't seem as bright as CRT's.

My advice would be to stick with what you've got if your happy with it and it doesn't need replacing - The way technology evolves means you'll probably get a better flatscreen monitor in a years time for less money.

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:16 pm

I find TFT screens very difficult to use.

A good CRT (Large Diamondtropn or trinitron) will gub an excelent TFT anyday.

Niall

Optrex · Post by **Optrex** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:32 pm

ForburyLion wrote:I currently have a laptop at work and the TFT screen is making my eyes ache - I've used a TFT monitor in a previous job and had the same effects - They just don't seem as bright as CRT's.

We've recently gone 100% flatscreen at work - and headaches have gone down considerably! Make sure it's a decent backlit TFT screen - ours can be adjusted from invisible to painfully bright, and there's several makes (Acer, LG, Iiyama and a ragtag assortment of unbranded ones).

At home, I use an Iiyama 15" TFT (with excellent backlight) and it's as good as any CRT I've ever used (and I've used a few in my time).

Not to mention the 75% increase in available desk space.

nwallace · Post by **nwallace** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:21 pm

Even on the best TFTs i have used its very difficult to read black on white writing, and when yopu scroll the screen tends to jump.

Even with my glasses on I can feel my eyes straining a lot more than when using a CRT.

having said that i go for as large and as flat a screen as possible.

Its a case of what do you prefer?

I rejected the offer of a TFT at work, i much prefer my goldfish bowl 21" over the 19" tfts that have been comming in.
And seeing as i work on the corner of my desk a tft wouldn't gain me any space

Chris23 · Post by **Chris23** » Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:52 pm

A lot depends on the quality of the CRT that you have. Some have a much better image than others and it is largely a matter of how much they cost. It is also true that focus etc deteriorates with age so it really is up to you to judge your CRT monitor.

SOME of the latest generation TFT screens are very good but I still haven't seen one as good as the best new CRT's. On the other hand if you said that you are limited by space rather than cost & could have a bigger TFT than CRT I might be tempted by size.

Post by **NeutronIC** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:15 am

I use an AOC 17" TFT which cost Â£299 including VAT, so it's a pretty budget TFT screen. It comes with me to exhibitions, it's in photographs from the road show on http://www.uktrainsimlive.com .

Stylish in silver and black.

All TFT screens have a fixed resolution and anything below that is 'emulated' - if you go in to PC world, you will find some are blurry and some are clear, that's because they have them all set to the same output which has one resolution and therefore some of the screens are having to emulate lower res while some are at their optimum res.

I will never ever voluntarily go back to a CRT now.

To give you an idea of the uses I have put it to:

Battlefield 1942, First Person Shooter, fully 3D game.
Command and Conquer Generals, Strategy, fully 3D.
Railroad Tycoon 3, fully 3D.
Trainz, fully 3D.
Train Simulator, fully 3D.
MS Access, Excel, Word, 2D applications.
Visual Studio .NET, 2D application.
Internet Explorer, 2D application.

I spend vast amounts of time in Visual Studio.NET, all black on white.

I have the refresh set to 75hz on 1280x1024 and it is just amazingly clear.

I get no eyestrain from it and no reflections from the room.

It's given me back about 40% of my desk.

It's a lot lighter so it's supremely easier to move around (one handed).

I cannot recommend TFT in general, and this particular monitor, highly enough, it's fantastic.

I got mine from overclockers (cough spit) but if you go to 'Buy a new PC', tco Computers have the AOC at the same price.

17" TFT is about the same as a 19" CRT.

As you get smaller screens, resolutions drop too - my wife has a 15" TFT (also outstanding quality, a philips one) but that is limited to 1024x768, mine does 1280x1024.

To be honest, I used to run my 17" CRT at 1600x1200 and it wasn't doing my eyes the best favour

I've not had any problems with 1280x1024 and as I say, real easy on the eyes.

Matt.

saddletank · Post by **saddletank** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 2:24 am

I'd echo Matt's comments. I've used a 17" Sampo TFT for nearly 3 years now. Not one single problem with it, and I have transported it many times to LAN parties and UKTS shows. Crystal clear, bright, sharp images at all times for 2D and 3D apps (I have been online with Hidden & Dangerous 2 [a WW2 shooter for those that don't know] the last 2 or 3 evenings and the texture rendering is pin sharp even when you are moving swiftly across the game area and 20+ players and moving around near you as well).

All the slightly blurred or fuzzy rendering or slow to draw fast moving 3D apps that people slate TFTs for I have no idea what they are on about! It never hapens on my screen that I have noticed.

I'd also agree with Matt that one of the nice things with TFTs is you suddenly have a desk twice as big

Stooopidperson · Post by **Stooopidperson** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 3:04 am

NeutronIC wrote:I have the refresh set to 75hz on 1280x1024 and it is just amazingly clear.

I think 60hz is already enough. That's what I am using now.

qzdcg8 · Post by **qzdcg8** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 8:05 am

I echo Martn's comments too - as I said I only have a Iiyama 15" TFT but it is razor sharp - the best part about it though is the space it saves you! In the last 2 months I have purchased two more of these (one Sharp, one AOC) for my kid's PC's - an absolute necessity for a kids bedroom, space wise. The Sharp screen is mega - the bezel (the bit round the end) is no more than a centimetre (3/8" in old money) all the way round - almost good enough to 'tile' the bl**dy things!

As far as update slowness - all three are excellent - I think laptop screens were the culprit for this little misconception!