Correct maintanence for a long lasting monitor...?

[ku]

Hmm.. What are some guidelines for extending a monitor's life? I want to use this for as long as possible. (just got a new Dell p991)

 

[John]

Change the CRT fluid every 2K hours.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I always rotate my keyboard and mouse every 7000 internet miles so my monitor will wear evenly.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: John
Change the CRT fluid every 2K hours.

You can get away with up to 6K hours if you've used synthetic CRT fluid since you bought it.

Also, be sure to use top grade electricity. The flucations in budget electricity will drastically shorten the life of any electronic component. That's why so many of us use UPS's, they 'filter' the energy into a pure form, leaving the dirt and gunk in an easily changed filter, so your electronics last longer.

 

[ku]

Yeah I had that problem.. then I got me a UPS =D

 

[MichaelD]

I like the "Change the CRT Fluid" suggestion. 😀

1. Don't punch the monitor
2. Don't bump it, drop it or otherwise expose it to shock
3. Clean the screen with a soft rag that you sprayed Windex on; spray on the rag, not the screen. Some say Windex is bad for the screen; I use it on all my monitors and my Sony CRT TV w/no ill effects
4. Vacuum the dust out of the ventilation holes in the case once a month.

It should last a good long time this way; good luck. 🙂

 

[Shagga]

These comments are amusing to say the least. 🙂

But to add to MichaelD's suggestions I would switch the monitor off when you finish with it on an evening before you go to bed.

I have never had a monitor fail on me since the early 80's adopting this and MichaelD's suggestions. 🙂

 

[dkozloski]

Fight the urge to turn up the brightness. This will go a long way towards reducing the chances of a burnt-in image and will greatly prolong the life of the cathode. Forcing the cathode to emit high electron levels over extended time is what makes a CRT grow dim. The monitor I am using to write this is eleven years old and is as bright and sharp as the day I bought it.

 

[ku]

cool~ thanks all...

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: dkozloski
Fight the urge to turn up the brightness. This will go a long way towards reducing the chances of a burnt-in image and will greatly prolong the life of the cathode. Forcing the cathode to emit high electron levels over extended time is what makes a CRT grow dim. The monitor I am using to write this is eleven years old and is as bright and sharp as the day I bought it.

But you don't have the brightness turned up....?

 

[zephyrprime]

I think a cooling fan over the monitor might help to extend it's life. It's got a tungsten filament in there after all.

 

[M16Grenadier]

I have a Gateway 2000 EV700 from 1996, used it until early this year, and then for a month a bit later. Didn't maintain it at all, still works fine minus a scratch on the screen.



BTW, how do you change the CRT fluid on a monitor 🙂?

 

[ku]

lol, i second that fluid question... I can't tell if it's a joke or not =P

As for my monitors premature expiration, I play cs and i have high hertz...

 

[cubanx]

Originally posted by: ku
lol, i second that fluid question... I can't tell if it's a joke or not =P

As for my monitors premature expiration, I play cs and i have high hertz...

It's a joke. Even when unplugged if you touch the high voltage flyback of a monitor opening the casing it's been nice knowing you bud.

 

[eno]

Not sure if running the HZ lower would prolong the life but maybe. If your monitor can handle 100hz at the desired res then only run it at 85hz. Again not positive of this helping. If you have a preset button on the front that cycles different levels of brightness, make sure to use it, during games run it where you want but once back to desktop hit the button till its nice and dim. Run the blank screen saver or if you don't get off and on the PC all that much then set the power settings to shut it down after 30mins.


PS The CRT fluid bit reminds me of my girlfriend long ago. She was having car trouble and some dude with a straight face said "whens the last time you checked your blinker fluid" and she totally bought into it. She's such a sweety. 🙂

 

[Bucksnort]

A High refresh rate will shorten the monitors life. Use a 'mid level' refresh rate such as 85hz. Also superbrite modes, if your monitor has them will shorten monitors life if overused. Last thing, dust is a major factor in monitors ultimate demise. Coating the wires components and becoming insulation from ventelation. I vacuum the vent areas on my monitor frequently.

 

[Calin]

Prevent overheat. Protect it from dust, and choose a lower refresh rate and/or resolution. A high refresh rate and resolution will drive the electronics to the max, so they will heat more.
Protect it from scratches. Power it off when not needed, disconnect it from power socket during storms or when leaving for more time. The high refresh rate (hertz) is not critical by itself, only together with high resolution.
I saw some people cover the monitor with something when not used (to keep dust away). However, there should be nothing to impede the normal air flow thru the monitor's carcass (this cools it)

Calin

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: GrumpyMan
I always rotate my keyboard and mouse every 7000 internet miles so my monitor will wear evenly.

Hey! That's a good idea, thanks for reminding me. I almost forgot. Hate it when the keyboard gets uneven wear like that.

Btw, if you want your monitor to last as long as possible, don't turn it on. Seriously. Surf the web blind, your monitor will last longer with fewer power-on hours on it. Besides, you won't miss all that much. (Well, except for these forums, really, just about the only good thing left on the internet nowadays.)

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: M16Grenadier
I have a Gateway 2000 EV700 from 1996, used it until early this year, and then for a month a bit later. Didn't maintain it at all, still works fine minus a scratch on the screen.

BTW, how do you change the CRT fluid on a monitor 🙂?

My current CRT is an NEC MultiSync M700, with integrated speakers. I purchased it used from a friend, who picked it up at a yard sale, strangely enough. Very cheap, but there's a minor scratch in the screen. Looks like someone splatted a tiny bug on the screen, I don't really notice it at all.

The monitor has a mfg date of late 1995 on it, and it's still very sharp and bright, although the farthest corners could probably use some tiny focus tweaking. All-in-all, still a wonderfully-usable display, and an upgrade from my 15" Compaq CRT with a DP so high that everything looked kinda pixellated at times.

PS. You mean your daddy didn't show you how to properly change your CRT's fluid? For shame. Every guy should know how to change his own CRT's fluid. It's an essential skill of modern computing.