Help! My CRT is broken (magnetism?)

[imported_trajan]

I've got a 5 year old Samsung SyncMaster 955DF 19" CRT, it's worked without a problem the whole time I've had it. For about a day I had a small crt television that I put on the table next to it, and I didn't notice anything bad until after quite awhile, when I saw a little distortion. I moved the TV away and everything was fine.

Now a couple days later the whole screen is flickering and has moire (?) patterns on both side edges. Kind of like water ripples but vibrating. I tried the monitor's degauss feature repeatedly. For a little while yesterday it was back to normal but all of today its been *horrible*.

Is there anything I can do? Any chance it will go back to normal? I guess it was probably caused by the TV being near it, or just old age, although tomorrow I'll try repositioning it in another part of the room and see if that helps.

(Alternative question if anyone has thoughts. . what would you recommend as a good 19 or 20" LCD for gaming, under $400?)

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

[LittleNemoNES]

voltage problem? Old?

 

[imported_trajan]

Well I took some steps I should have done before and narrowed the problem down a lot..

* When I move the monitor to another room, everything is fine. So, the monitor itself is OK.
* When I move the monitor to another part of the original room, plugged into the same outlet, the problem goes away. So, the electric connection isn't the problem.

So its obviously some kind of EM interference. I haven't changed my set up at all since the problem started, but to be sure, I removed all my electronics, unplugged all the power cords, etc. Still have the problem in the original location.

My conclusion is that its got to be something a neighbor has installed (I live in an apartment building). The person who shares the nearest wall says they haven't changed anything in their room. So maybe it was someone above or underneath me -- a really massive speaker, maybe?

All of this is to ask.. Is there anything I can do to shield myself from the interference? There's really no good place in my room to move my desk.

Also, if I get an LCD, I won't have to worry about interference like this (right?).

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[xtknight]

LCDs won't be affected by interference, no.

As for a gaming LCD <$400, I'd highly recommend:

1. (true 8-bit, quite fast) Dell 2007WFP - $373.15 at time of linking
2. (6-bit+FRC, very fast) LG L204WT

What you're describing sounds exactly like RF interference (wireless, cell phone, walkie talkie, etc). Surrounding your monitor with lead or titanium would get rid of it. You can cover it with cloth or something so it's not so unsightly. Maybe you can cover it with one of those lead jacket things they use at the dentist for X-Rays.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: xtknight
LCDs won't be affected by interference, no.

As for a gaming LCD <$400, I'd highly recommend:

1. (true 8-bit, quite fast) Dell 2007WFP - $373.15 at time of linking
2. (6-bit+FRC, very fast) LG L204WT

What you're describing sounds exactly like RF interference (wireless, cell phone, walkie talkie, etc). Surrounding your monitor with lead or titanium would get rid of it. You can cover it with cloth or something so it's not so unsightly. Maybe you can cover it with one of those lead jacket things they use at the dentist for X-Rays.

Don't forget about the Viewsonic VX2025wm. $323 with free 3day shipping at newegg. It's true 8-bit and as fast as any other monitor. I love mine. Stock it's WAY to bright though but thats what adjustments are for. After you adjust the brightness, bring down the gamma in the control panel, and raise the digital vibrance a bit it looks GREAT

 

[xtknight]

I haven't forgotten about it, but the VX2025WM just isn't up to par with the aforementioned IMO. I haven't been that pleased with AUO P-MVAs.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: xtknight
I haven't forgotten about it, but the VX2025WM just isn't up to par with the aforementioned IMO. I haven't been that pleased with AUO P-MVAs.

I know, I'm just putting out another alternative (cheaper then the Dell too) and the LG isn't true 8 bit so I wouldn't get that even if I couldn't tell the difference. I would just want a true 8 bit monitor to have a true 8 bit monitor.

But the final decision is up the the OP
Just throwing more suggestions