Monitor is Dying, need advice

[derek2034]

I think my monitor is dying a rapid death right now. It is a 19" KDS CRT, about 4 years old.

I used to leave it on 24/7, about 16 hours of that was active use. In 2000 I remember using a mouse refresh-rate utility that actually appeared to make my monitor to throw off a spark. Needless to say I uninstalled it immediately but I feared damage had already been done. I have a feeling it somehow forced my monitor into insane refresh rates @ 1600x1200 that it couldn't handle. Right now it periodically (maybe every few hours) makes a crackling noise and then it goes out with a little white "flash" in the middle of the screen. The rate it does this is much lower now that I set my monitor for 800x600 with a 60 Hz refresh rate, but it still happens. The crackling is also heard anytime I turn it back on.

Anyone know what is happening to it? I think it is dying an accelerated death due to the program and the usage. If that is the case, I will need a new monitor soon. Anyone have suggestions? I may be moving soon so an LCD would be nice, plus my computer desk is old and almost falling apart so that would help. If anyone has advice on the best deal (looking for equivalent size of 19-21" CRT) I'd love to hear it. In the future may be interesting in using this new monitor as my HDTV set also.

Let me know, this thing may have only a few days!!

EDIT: Advice on buying used monitors also. I know with CRTs it can be a bad idea. Equally bad with LCDs?

 

[StraightPipe]

Iwould get a CRT but i'm partial, what program was it?

check out the p1110 at Ted Dasher Inc

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I'm not someone who cares about monitors too much, but Sams Club sometimes sells a nice 19 inch flat screen (not flat panel) monitor at a relatively good price. What happens if it goes out before you get to see the replies? lol

Good luck

 

[ProviaFan]

LCDs have a limited life to the backlight, which may or may not be replaceable. I would shy away from purchasing a used one, but that's just me (who has no real life experience with used LCDs, and whose only knowledge comes from theoretical suppositions from things read on the internet). Also, stay away from the cheap KDS monitors at walmart. They may fail quickly, and their image quality leaves a lot to be desired. If you're going with a CRT, check out some of the Mitsubishi and Samsung models. Some people swear by Sony, but I find them a bit overpriced for my highschool-student-sized budget.

 

[Jhhnn]

I've become very partial to the Samsung CRT monitors. The flat screen models are nice, but won't support the higher resolutions and refresh rates of their standard tube models. Depends on what you want. Good quality for the money, due to the favorable currency exchange rate.

An 18" LCD would be comparable to your 19" CRT, but the prices are way out there by comparison to CRT's.

Four years is pretty good for a monitor, particularly a KDS

 

[derek2034]

I can't remember the exact name of the program, but it was something that supposed to have set the refresh rate of your mouse only. It could go up to like 220 Hz. Almost positive that damaged it somehow.

Right now money isn't the most plentiful so guess I will get a CRT. I've noticed Anandtech can have some really good deals in the hot deals. I missed out on that refurb deal though, sucks. I think I'll try to wait until the next red hot deal is posted, but with my luck I'm sure mine will go out and I'll just have to grab whatever I can. Guess I better go write down some numbers just in case.