For the CRT lovers

[craftech]

For those of you who like CRT monitors for gaming, etc I came across this deal at Overstock.com for an IBM P275 21-inch Black CRT Monitor (refurbished):

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi...od_id=1086804&IID=prod1086804#moreinfo

Shipping is $1.00

The two reviews under the monitor seem very good and a Google search reveals general satisfaction with this monitor. The nice thing about Overstock is the cheap shipping even if the item is heavy. My two (also refurbished) 20 inch Sony Trinitron CRT monitors were both purchased from Overstock years ago. One finally needs repair and the other (that I bought for a spare) is still working perfectly.

The IBM P275 is a Sony Trinitron monitor.

The inputs are VGA and DVI-I. Not sure how to implement the DVI connection, but here is the manual for the monitor:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/visuals/p275_us.pdf"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/visuals/p275_us.pdf">ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/pc/pccbbs/visuals/p275_us.pdf</a></a>

It describes on page 4 only the DVI-A portion of the connector which is DVI analog. "Inputs RGB video and sync signals (0.700 Vp-p, positive)
through a DVI-A connector" However DVI-I (DVI Integrated) is supposed to be both analog AND digital.

http://www.datapro.net/techinfo/dvi_info.html

Here are the correct DVI-I cables:

http://www.datapro.net/catalog/dvi_i_cables.html

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI_info.html

Monitor Specs:

Resolution
Maximum Horizontal: 1920 dots
Vertical: 1440 lines
Recommended Horizontal: 1600 dots
Vertical: 1200 lines

The monitor is 10% off right now with a coupon that is activated by clicking here:

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?SEC_IID=22701&PAGE=HOME


That will bring the monitor to $170.99 + $1.00 shipping = $171.99 shipped.

John

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Nice find. If you didn't post this in hot deals yet, you should.

 

[craftech]

OK........will do:

John

 

[nullpointerus]

I bought one of those refurbs off eBay some time ago. :thumbsdown:

The "black" P275 was actually a beige model spray-painted to look more modern--whoever did this missed a spot on the bottom and the underside of the front panel controls. I remember seeing the beige models in Global Computer catalogs...what, five or six years ago?

After a few weeks normal usage, the screen turned a green color and faded considerably with diagonal lines in the pattern. So I did some *serious* searching, and, apparently, this display has another, much more serious problem: some part on the inside tends to go bad, throwing the brightness up over time and giving everything a greenish tint.

IIRC, the problem isn't repairable.

Mine now occupies a landfill. :brokenheart:

If the refurbishing on these is done by a reputable company, the situation might be slightly different. Personally, I would get a 2-3 year extended warranty.

Or better yet: just buy a brand new CRT with an extended warranty.

 

[craftech]

Originally posted by: nullpointerus
I bought one of those refurbs off eBay some time ago. :thumbsdown:

The "black" P275 was actually a beige model spray-painted to look more modern--whoever did this missed a spot on the bottom and the underside of the front panel controls. I remember seeing the beige models in Global Computer catalogs...what, five or six years ago?

After a few weeks normal usage, the screen turned a green color and faded considerably with diagonal lines in the pattern. So I did some *serious* searching, and, apparently, this display has another, much more serious problem: some part on the inside tends to go bad, throwing the brightness up over time and giving everything a greenish tint.

IIRC, the problem isn't repairable.

Mine now occupies a landfill. :brokenheart:

If the refurbishing on these is done by a reputable company, the situation might be slightly different. Personally, I would get a 2-3 year extended warranty.

Or better yet: just buy a brand new CRT with an extended warranty.

I did a pretty thorough Google search before I posted that deal and couldn't find many complaints at all. In fact it was quite the opposite. And as I said, both of my 20 inch Sony trinitron monitors were refurbished when I purchased them from Overstock seven years ago and one is still working perfectly. The other one I think I can fix when I get the time. Compare that to the problems with LCD monitors. In another thread, one guy is already replacing his three year old (new) monitor because it failed.

Do you have a link to those IBM P265 failures??

John

 

[nullpointerus]

Originally posted by: craftech

Originally posted by: nullpointerus
I bought one of those refurbs off eBay some time ago. :thumbsdown:

The "black" P275 was actually a beige model spray-painted to look more modern--whoever did this missed a spot on the bottom and the underside of the front panel controls. I remember seeing the beige models in Global Computer catalogs...what, five or six years ago?

After a few weeks normal usage, the screen turned a green color and faded considerably with diagonal lines in the pattern. So I did some *serious* searching, and, apparently, this display has another, much more serious problem: some part on the inside tends to go bad, throwing the brightness up over time and giving everything a greenish tint.

IIRC, the problem isn't repairable.

Mine now occupies a landfill. :brokenheart:

If the refurbishing on these is done by a reputable company, the situation might be slightly different. Personally, I would get a 2-3 year extended warranty.

Or better yet: just buy a brand new CRT with an extended warranty.

I did a pretty thorough Google search before I posted that deal and couldn't find many complaints at all. In fact it was quite the opposite. And as I said, both of my 20 inch Sony trinitron monitors were refurbished when I purchased them from Overstock seven years ago and one is still working perfectly. The other one I think I can fix when I get the time. Compare that to the problems with LCD monitors. In another thread, one guy is already replacing his three year old (new) monitor because it failed.

Do you have a link to those IBM P265 failures??

John

No, it happened a few years ago. I didn't bother bookmarking the links because there was no one to RMA to. Currently, I don't see anything on Google although the warnings had been in product reviews at the time. If it works for you, then more power to you. I just had a very different experience with this particular model (refurbished) and thought I'd post it.

EDIT: Gotcha, you nastly little ah heck. *ahem* I mean, I found evidence of the problem.

Starting in this thread, we see the problem affects a wide variety of monitors, but it also has several known fixes, which aren't too difficult considering the cost savings. One of the fixes can be found here.

 

[apoppin]

the *only* problem with CRTS is if you have a problem





Shipping defectives back-and-forth [once] kills a good deal ... but i wish i knew about it before i got my LCD


$20 bucks is cheap insurance for the 2-year extended warranty ... you can get your money back

 

[shabby]

Fw900 ftw!

 

[Chaotic42]

I had a P260, and it was great except for the fact that it was almost 100 pounds and could warm a room up like a space heater. I ended up donating it to my job.

 

[SynthDude2001]

I picked up two 21" HP P1110 CRT monitors (1600x1200@85Hz) for a grand total of $50 last month. (Found a listing on Craigslist of a company in Houston trying to get rid of 100 of them)

I'm actually gaming on one of them right now instead of my 2005FPW...I had forgotten how much smoother 85fps was than 60fps. Best computer-related purchase for the money that I've ever made.

 

[craftech]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
I picked up two 21" HP P1110 CRT monitors (1600x1200@85Hz) for a grand total of $50 last month. (Found a listing on Craigslist of a company in Houston trying to get rid of 100 of them)

I'm actually gaming on one of them right now instead of my 2005FPW...I had forgotten how much smoother 85fps was than 60fps. Best computer-related purchase for the money that I've ever made.

Nice one - congrats

John