How long do monitors last?

[powerMarkymark]

I have a few CRTs that are 4-5 years old, how long can I expect them to last?

Thnx

M@rc

 

[effee]

mine is about 6 years..starting to get some crackling in it...think its gonna die

 

[powerMarkymark]

Originally posted by: effee
mine is about 6 years..starting to get some crackling in it...think its gonna die

crackling ?!?

 

[CreativeTom]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark
I have a few CRTs that are 4-5 years old, how long can I expect them to last?

Thnx

M@rc

5 years 8 months 4 days 9 hours 52 minutes 25 seconds.....good luck.

 

[RussianSensation]

A lot longer than $10000 Plasma TVs
Probably another 5 years for you easily? If you want an excuse to get an LCD, just go get one now. Viewsonic V191b is excellent with its 8ms response time. Also dell has nice deals on LCDs all the time. Otherwise just wait till it dies....

 

[effee]

Originally posted by: powerMarkymark

Originally posted by: effee
mine is about 6 years..starting to get some crackling in it...think its gonna die

crackling ?!?

ya, something like crackling, doesnt happen too often though. I'll be looking at my screen and sometimes suddenly there will be this loud crack sound and the whole screen will flicker like you are doing a degauss.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

yep, time to replace your crt. unless you can live and work with that kind of annoyance.

 

[CrispyFried]

I have a NEC Multisync 2A that I used for my EGA card, then VGA card. It still works. Its from about 85 or so and I used it for about 5 years non stop, and as a backup now (tops out at 800x600).

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.viewsonic.com/monitoruniversity/lcd.htm

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: effee
ya, something like crackling, doesnt happen too often though. I'll be looking at my screen and sometimes suddenly there will be this loud crack sound and the whole screen will flicker like you are doing a degauss.

Many TV and CRT manuals discuss that as a normal occurance (All of my Toshiba TV manuals mention that for example). Of course, that doesn't mean yours is fine, but unless you get another symptom, I wouldn't be worried.

In my experience, CRTs last ~10 years. I had one go at ~6 years due to a bad power spike, but I don't blame the CRT for that. I've worked with many computer labs and there is one exception to long lasting CRTs. That exception is the CRTs that are built into a desk (where you look down through the desk glass to see the CRT). In those cases, the monitors are fully enclosed and there is no where for the heat to go. I find about a 4-5 year lifespan is typical in that case.

 

[gotsmack]

until one day after the warrenty ends. but if it is a good brand, it depends on how long youi leave it on. check the specs from the manufacturer to see what is the estimated life is.

 

[0roo0roo]

at 10 years its gotta be really dim though

 

[corkyg]

Got a big SOny XBR 32" CRT - now going on 15 years and looks as good as when it was new. A lot depends on environmental factors - high humidity is a minus, heat is a minus, relocation/movement is a minus, and leaving it on unnecessarily is also a life shortener.

 

[dullard]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
at 10 years its gotta be really dim though

Can't say I've ever noticed dimness on 10 year old ones. At least not enough to bother me. Just turn up the brightness from the middle to the max if it does bother you.

 

[dodgybob]

I have a 5 year old 17" crt that is noticably dimmer than when I first purchased it. My dad uses it now though and he hates bright displays so it suits him fine. Doesn't the phosphorous coating reduce in effectiveness over time? I'm sure i read that somewhere. Not sure if it's a result of continual use or a natural chemical reaction over time.

 

[Tostada]

I've got a 5-year-old NEC 22" that still looks as good as it did when I got it. It's starting to crack ... but I'm talking about an actual crack in the bezel. The 75 lb. monster is starting to collapse under its own weight.

 

[LED]

On Average a good Monitor will last 5 yrs

 

[stevty2889]

I haven't seen a monitor die yet. My parents are still using a 14" crt they got with their first computer in 1992, and I've seen some older ones than that still running fine.

 

[Oyeve]

I have monitors at work that are going on 12 years. My old TV that I gave my son is going on 16 years and is used for hours a day. My current PC monitor is going on 5 years and is on 24x7 (although the PC sleeps after a while so the monitor sleeps also).

 

[edmundoab]

4 years with no problems on it,
I had a samsung.. intially after 2 years i had some high freq sound during standby
then it kinda went off after I stop shutting down my monitor often and rather leave it on standby mode.

but in terms of tube and display..
was doing alright.

Hell, the previous 486 i had came with a 14 inch CRT and that lasted over 6 years!

 

[sharkeeper]

Some last long others die suddenly.

A glass of tea spilled in one kills it instantly though. :Q

CRT lifetime overall is determined by the brightness settings you use. Use it in a bright office (300FC) and after three years the cathode heaters are so weak that you can barely see it with brightness at ABMAX. Turning up on the inside only helps a little and this help is short lived.

 

[The Green Bean]

what about LCD lifetimes?

 

[edmundoab]

Originally posted by: hatim
what about LCD lifetimes?

interesting question as I am owning one now LOL

 

[EmMayEx]

CRTs will get dimmer as time goes on for a variety of reasons. How fast depends on how high you set the brightness, how long they are on every day, ambient temperature etc. They can certainly last decades but they won't be as bright as they were new.

LCDs could last indefinitely (or at least as long as any other solid state device) except for the backlights. These may gradually get dimmer and eventually die. Cold Cathode Flourescent Lights (among the most energy efficient backlights) have typical lifespan ratings of 15000-50000 hours (5-17 years at 8 hours a day) while LED backlights could easily last 100,000 hours (34 years at 8 hours a day). The CCFL lamps themselves are not particularly expensive but they are generally soldered in place so replacing them might be labor intensive.

This could result in a supply of refurbished LCD monitors in 5-10 years as the cost to replace the CCFL backlight will probably always be less than the cost of a new LCD assuming apropriately sized tubes are still available.

Max L.

 

[MDE]

I have a Dell that was made in December 1991, still works.