Computer Monitors

LCD vs. CRT

Bear in mind that CRT computer monitors work better at multiple resolutions (as opposed to LCD monitors, which are designed for one optimum resolution). CRT monitors are also better at displaying full-motion video. Gamers and video editors are two groups that haven't completely abandoned the CRT. While a small handful of LCD monitors are judged better than others at displaying smooth movies and games, they don't yet trump CRT displays as gaming monitors for those who like to play fast-action and first-person-shooter games.

CRT computer monitors give you more pixels for the money compared to an LCD. More pixels allow you to see more detail on the screen, and you'll be able to view more of a document or web page without scrolling. A 19-inch CRT monitor with 1600 x 1200 resolution can easily display two full-sized documents side-by-side, but to get that same resolution in an LCD, you'll have to spend upwards of $350 on a 20-inch or larger model.

Another area of concern, especially for graphic artists, is color fidelity. Again, improvements have been made to contrast ratio and the number of displayable colors in LCD displays, but many photographers and graphics pros still feel that they get truer color, for the most part, on a CRT. Still, this is a segment that has begun to move to LCD in growing numbers.

Finally, there's the viewing angle issue. If you've ever looked over someone's shoulder onto a laptop or LCD, you'll understand this problem immediately. The best view on an LCD monitor is always straight on. The primary user will get the best screen image. People who might be sitting to the left or right won't get the best color or clarity, and if they are sitting too far to one side, the image disappears from view entirely. Again, in this area, LCDs are improving, but CRT monitors still have the upper hand. CRT images look virtually identical from wherever you are viewing the screen.

CRT monitors are subject to screen flicker, hot spots and geometry problems, issues that are virtually eliminated in LCD technology. LCD monitors use much less power than CRTs -- about 60% less -- so you can make up some of the higher cost of an LCD in long-term energy savings. If you're still waffling over whether you want a CRT or LCD computer monitor, see our separate report on LCD monitors for more information.

Best CRT computer monitors

While many monitor makers have abandoned CRTs or greatly curtailed their offerings, a few remain committed to the technology, including Viewsonic and NEC.

Viewsonic offers a wide range of CRT monitors, including three series of products intended for everyone from entry-level budget buyers to graphics arts professionals. Perhaps the best received of the company's offerings is the 19-inch ViewSonic G90fb (*est. $215), which has gotten great notices from both professional reviewers and owners. This flat-screen CRT monitor has 1920 x 1440 maximum resolution. The manufacturer's recommended resolution (the optimal balance between resolution and refresh rate) is 1600 x 1200. Reviews say the ViewSonic produces colors that are rich and vibrant. This monitor comes with image-adjustment software, so that you can tweak settings. Don't expect lots of connectivity, as there is only a single D-sub 15-pin analog connection cable, but the G90fb is compatible with both PC and Macintosh computers, and it’s Energy-Star rated.

Another good 19-inch flat-screen CRT monitor is the . Although it is a little less expensive than the ViewSonic, the maximum resolution is 1600 x 1200 instead of 1920 x 1440. The manufacturer's recommended resolution is 1280 x 1024. Images at both resolutions are flicker- and distortion-free, writes CADalyst's Ron LaFon. His review notes that colors are vivid, though reds tended a bit toward orange. The ViewSonic G90fb is the better choice if you regularly work at 1600 x 1200 resolution. If you tend you work at a lower 1280 x 1024 resolution, you can save a bit by going with the NEC. The NEC MultiSync FE992 comes in a white cabinet; it is also available in a black cabinet at the .

The Viewsonic G225fb (*est. $460) is the successor to the very well received G220f, and as such earns a nod as a great choice among 21-inch flat-screen monitors, a size that's popular with both gamers and graphics professionals. The earlier G220f received excellent scores in a review at CADalyst.com because of its glare-eliminating features and easy-to-use administrative tools. While we have not yet seen a lot of user reviews for the newer ViewSonic G225fb, the few we did find were largely positive. The ViewSonic G225fb has a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536, athough the manufacturer's maximum recommended resolution is 1920 x 1440 (at 75 Hz). Viewsonic also notes that the best picture quality is achieved at a resolution of 1600 x 1200 at 85 Hz.

At the other end of the scale, a number of 17-inch CRTs are available for buyers on the strictest budgets. Among those are the (*est. $150) and eMachines eView 17f3 (*est. $150) . Both cost around the same and have received fairly good user reviews, but no professional reviews. We give the edge to the HP Compaq FS7600e based on its higher recommended resolution. While both have a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024, eMachines recommends a resolution of 800 X 600 as opposed to 1024 x 769 for the HP Compaq FS7600e. The FS7600e features a flat screen to cut down on glare, is Energy Star rated, and ships with standalone USB-powered speakers.

Important Features: CRT Monitors

Here's what experts say to consider when choosing a CRT computer monitor. To see how the models discussed in this report stack up, click on the "Comparison Chart" button on the first page of this report.

• There's a difference between the size of a CRT monitor and its actual viewing size. The viewable size of most 19-inch CRT monitors is between 17.9 and 18.1 inches (measured diagonally), and 17-inch CRT monitors offer between 15.9 and 16.1 inches of viewable space. The viewable size of most 21- and 22-inch monitors is 20-inches.

• CRT monitors cost less, although LCD prices have come down significantly. Street prices of 19-inch CRT monitors range between $180 and $250. Street prices of 17-inch CRT monitors range between $100 to $150. For comparison sake, 17-inch LCDs average around $200, while better 19-inch LCDs will average around $300. Street prices of 21-inch CRT monitors start at about $450.

• The bigger the screen, the bigger the footprint. The footprint is the amount of total space a monitor will occupy. For example, a traditional 19-inch CRT computer monitor makes for about a 20-inch cube of hardware on your desktop. LCD monitors are only about 7-inches deep.

• Measured in millimeters, dot pitch is the space between two phosphors of the same color. Generally, the smaller the dot pitch, the better. A dot pitch of 0.22 - 0.27 mm is likely to provide a clearer image than a dot pitch of 0.28 mm or higher.

• Refresh rate, measured in hertz (Hz), represents the number of times the screen is redrawn per second. A higher refresh rate is better, because lower refresh rates cause screen flicker. A monitor with at least a 75-Hz refresh rate at a given resolution will generally provide flicker-free performance, although 85 Hz or higher is preferred. High resolutions typically mean lower refresh rates, and many users won't employ the highest supported resolutions very frequently because they typically use refresh rates of 65 Hz or so, which can rapidly cause eye fatigue.

• Resolution is expressed as the number of pixels displayed in a horizontal row multiplied by the number of pixels displayed vertically. A 19-inch CRT monitor should provide a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200. Larger maximum resolutions give you more flexibility. You'll be able to see more information on the screen at once at increasingly higher resolutions, though text sizes will appear smaller and smaller, unless you choose to zoom in to enlarge them for easier reading.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
3
2	Viewsonic G90fb (*est. $215)	-
1 each	Viewsonic G70f , Viewsonic G225fb , Lenovo (IBM) E74 , Philips 109B65/27 , , e-Machines eView 17F3

In this case, our Consensus Chart is a little misleading. Most of the reviews in our All Reviews section are dated, although some of the monitors (or their essentially identical successors) remain current. The most up-to-date reviews can be found on user review sites such as Epinions or retailer sites such as Newegg.com, Amazon.com and CircuitCity.com.

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