ATTN: Monitor experts!! Reward to whoever can Diagnose and solve problem. Very Desparate.

[MrChipMuthabored]

Esteemed member of the forum:
-----------------------------

First let me thank you for taking some time out of your EverQuest break to read this post...J/K.

But seriously, I have been having this problem for some 3 weeks now, and I can't seem to come up with any explanation whatsoever. So if you can explain what the problem is, and what I can do to fix it, I am willing to reward you with a gift card or something. I am very tired and desparate for a straight answer. I mean, all I need is a logical answer to why this problem is happening and I will be satisfied. I mean, the problem could literally be staring me in the face, and I don't know it. Here is the problem.

If you have been reading my past posts about my monitor troubles, you will see that I have saught out to buy a new 17" monitor since the old one conked out. I ended up getting the Samsung 753DF(Aperture Grille, 17", 16" viewable, .24mm). However, upon observing the display of it, I noticed that to the top and to the left of the monitor the text when positioned there was a bit blurry or unfocused. Thinking that it was a defect, I took it back for another.
Lo and behold, I hook the replacement up and SAME deal, only I think it was worse, because it was blurry towards the middle as well. I took that back, and got a refund and proceeded to get the ViewSonic A75f, which is also a Aperture Grille monitor, 17", 16" viewable, .25mm). Now, with THIS monitor, things have gotten a bit better, but, I am still having problems with overall quality of the text. For instance, if I toggle the positions of the task bar from bottom to top, and bottom to right, I can notice that the task bar's text change in quality, for if the task bar is placed on top and to the right, the text gets clearer, "brighter" and defined.

Now, I have heard that sometimes Aperture Grille Monitors are not as sharp in the text area as Shadow Mask CRTs. However, if I can notice a difference in text quality within the same screen, what does that mean?

I have:
-messed with ALL of the controls, including:
*moire
*refresh rates
*color
*brightness and contrast (to see if the text would get any better by lowering brightness)
*kitchen sink
*installed all drivers, and reinstalled video drivers

I am hoping that it isn't my vid card, but I don't think it is, but hey, if you can prove me wrong....

Please feel free to ask me ANY questions whatsoever, however if you want to know the ins and outs of my computer, the specs can be seen through the link at the bottom of this post.

Thanks and good luck!!!!!

email--> patrick_n_81@yahoo.com

 

[OllO]

Video card?
Video card BIOS?
Resolution?
Refreshrate?

Experiences with previous monitor?

 

[Cpt. Duke]

What do you have next to your monitor? You may be getting interference from another source, such as a speaker...

I agree with Ollo's idea, it could be the video card. If you have an old one sitting around I would test it...

 

[alpineranger]

Check to make sure you've got no strong magnetic sources around the monitor. Also, try moving the monitor around so that it points in different directions - if you've got unwanted magnetic fields, sometimes you can align these so that your monitor doesn't get bothered.

That said, try a few different video cards. The video card can obviously make a big difference in the quality of what you see.

 

[CyberConan]

OK: You should know there are no perfect monitors.
If you are completely certain that no magnetic or electric interference is present nearby your monitor, then you are experiencing a limitation of CRT´s monitors (by the way, CRT = Cathode Ray Tube.)
What you are describing is not new to me. ALL MONITORS have blurry or unfocused image near the edges (you can notice that in the corners of the screen). You might notice a slight red or green line in the outer borders of the screen too (beam convergence errors).
New monitors with flat screen are much more complex to build an calibrate than normal (old) convex screen monitors. I´ll try to explain you how a CRT work: basically, you have an electronic beam that impacts on the phospor inner surface of the glass tube. That beam must be properly "directed" to the right place on the screen. That is achieved by using electric and magnetic fields to "bend" the beam and point it over one precise spot of the screen. But that beam also needs to be focused: it behaves exaclty as another very well known electromagnetic radiation -light-. The more focused the beam, the smaller and sharper the spot on the screen.
And here is where the problem with focus arises. The beam is generated in one small point an then bended. The optimum focus point on the screen depends on the distance from that spot (the electronic gun, that long part in the back of your monitor screen) to the screen. The beam describes a radial spheric movement, that´s why old monitors were convex: to maintain focus all over the screen. With flat monitors, the focal distance is different in every spot, so you have to implement some kind of "automatic focus correction" in your "beam bending" (deflection) system. That system is very complicated and involves progressive magnetic and/or electrical fields around the CRT (very hard to build and adjust).

So, what´s the point? Simple: Home/Small Office monitors are designed with less electronic parts, because they only require a good (not perfect) image quality. This way they are cheaper, and you can get a nice 17" monitor for less than 300 bucks. But if you want a monitor with excelent image focus, contrast, sharpness... then look for a professional series monitor, that will cost you more than $500.
There is also a slight differece in image quality due to CRT technology. And what you say is true: in Shadow Mask monitors you might see sharper text sometimes, but Aperture Grill monitors should show you better images (pictures, movies) (this is the famous SONY´s Trinitron Tube)

I always recommend to compare monitors at the shop, LOOKING AT THE SAME IMAGE IN ALL MONITORS AT THE SAME TIME. (yeah, I know... you have to convince the vendor first)
The latest technology does not mean the better image for you.

I hope this is useful for you.

Cyberconan.-

PS1: I worked for HP´s Monitor Service in Argentina =)
PS2: Go to http://www.pcguide.com/ref/crt/constCRT-c.html for a more comprehensive explanation on CRT´s

 

[MrChipMuthabored]

Well, I definitely can see the point in why the focusing is not perfect, however, I want to know if there is anything I can do about it, and should I do anything about it. I think the only solution is to get the Shadow Mask equivalent of the monitor and see if I get the same problems with that. I am kinda concerned that it might be the Video Card, but I can't come up with an explanation as to what may be bothering it.


Even though I couldn't find myself buying monitors through the mail, from my experience it only helps a little when you go to a store. The employees are usually unknowledgable, the way they split images between like 20 monitors HAS to destroy quality of the image on the monitors, you don't know what has been done to the sample monitor, etc...So many factors.

I have tried out a "monitor tester," but I don't exactly know how to diagonose the results. I mean, I guess things look ok, but I don't know exactly what "signs of disturbance" to look for.

All in all, I guess $150 for this monitor doesn't seem all too bad...but I'm a curious, paranoid guy.

 

[dfloyd]

MrChip,

Before you can diagnose that problem people need to know what video card you have. What drivers you are using for that video card. Also are your speakers sitting very close to your monitor? Check these things then post them.

 

[MrChipMuthabored]

Sorry about the confusion, however my computer's info can be found under my signature by clicking on the link, "My System's Specs"

CPU: AMD Athlon (TB) 800MHz
Motherboard: ABIT KT7A-RAID (VIA KT133A chipset)
Memory: 256 MB PC133
Video Card: ABIT Siluro 32MB (GeForce 2 MX)
Hard Drive: FUJITSU 20.0 GB @ 5400 RPMS
Additional Hard Drives: Maxtor 45GB 7200rpm
Monitor: Viewsonic A75f (Monitor in question)
DVD Manufacturer & Model: AOpen 12x40x (1240)
CDR/CDRW Manufacturer & Model: Sony Spressa 12x8x32x
Storage Interface: IDE
Sound Card: SB Live! 4.1
Operating System: WIN98 SE

I am currently using the latest Detonator drivers for the GF2mx. I have also tried the Abit's drivers as well. My 4 speakers about 6" above the monitor, placed on a shelf. My sub is on the floor. This disturbance happens whether or not the speakers are on or not, too.

Thanks again.

 

[Torghn]

The speakers don't have to be on to cause interfearance. Have you tried moving your speakers? Try moving them away from your computer desk not just to different place on the desk. Make sure they are several feet way (don't worry you can put them back once you rule them out).

 

[NicColt]

You can also try BNC connectors if your monitor supports that.

 

[OllO]

As you probably know, the GF2-series of cards are known to have inferior (edit: 2d)img quality. I have no experience of those cards myself, and I don't know if the issues are the same as the ones you are experiencing. However, I do know that the issues with the GF2-line of cards show up at higher resolutions and are more pronounced the higher you go. If you have a clear image without glitches at 800x600, but you get problems above that, then your MX card might be the problem after all.

If I were you I'd definately try another graphics chipset. In my experience the Radeon, Kyro 2 and even the V3 has good 2d.

Good luck!
OllO

 

[Compellor]

Can you adjust the color convergence on this monitor? Download this monitor utility here:

http://www.gamebasement.com/pages/file_single.asp?id=32

Open it up and go directly to the color convergence section. Even if you can't adjust it, this will give you an indication whether or not your screen has near perfect convergence. If the green, red, or blue lines are out of alignment on any part of the screen, then you have a problem, which will cause blurriness on certain parts of the screen. Even on my $400+ 19" Sony, I don't have perfect convergence. Luckily, I'm able to adjust it to get it close to perfection.

 

[CarpeDeo]

My suggestion would've been identical to AlpineRanger's . . . make sure there's no interference w/ your monitor (radios, unshielded speakers, etc) and also try different video cards.