NEC CRT Monitors

[robarrieta]

I just put together the following system:

FX-55 CPU
1 Gig Mushkin RAM
2 eVGA GeForce 6800 GT GPU's in SLI
2 74 GB 10,000 RPM Raptors
ASUS A8N -Deluxe SLI Mobo
Audigy 2 ZS soundcard

Works great, the only problem I have is with the monitor, the 22" NEC FP2141SB. This monitor received rave reviews and it looks incredible for gaming apps. The only problem is that text resolution is blurry and out of focus. Also the blacks are not as crisp. The question I have is: Has anyone experienced a similar problem with this monitor or CRT's in general?

I have tweaked res rates, refresh rates, color, brightness, etc. to no avail...

Thanks.

 

[bupkus]

Does this have the 3 brightness levels button like the FE991SB-BK? If so, you'll need to drop the brightness to improve the text. Personally, I'd go with a dual monitor solution for the best of both worlds. One CRT like (drool) yours and one 17" or 19" LCD.

 

[robarrieta]

Yep, 2 brightness settings. Even with the brightness feature off, still doesn't look that good. I've considered the dual monitor option but you can't do it in SLI mode with two vid cards. Generally speaking though, are LCD's just plain better when it comes to word processing and web browsing?

 

[deadseasquirrel]

I have the NEC version (2070sb) and have my brightness set on 0. I have no blurry text at 1280x960 (WAF failed at 16x12) with 120hz. Go download Naviset and use it to tweak the settings. For 2D, make sure SB mode is off, brightness is low (depending on your ambient lighting of course) and contrast is high. If you refresh rate is really high, lower it a tad. If it is low, raise it.

 

[Vinny77]

you need to sweak your pots to get the clearest text

 

[SLI GUY]

Somthing seems wierd here cause I just set up my rig with a fx 55, Asus sli deluxe, and two bfg 6800's and im getting blurry text too. I have a NEC FE2111SB CRT. Never had blurry text with my old rig untill now and it was the same monitor. SLI RELATED?

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: SLI GUY
Somthing seems wierd here cause I just set up my rig with a fx 55, Asus sli deluxe, and two bfg 6800's and im getting blurry text too. I have a NEC FE2111SB CRT. Never had blurry text with my old rig untill now and it was the same monitor. SLI RELATED?

Video card maybe...

(look at sig), my monitor doesn't have blurry text, I have it at 800x600 at 85hz for non-gaming use. I set the resolution higher for games, of course.

 

[xtknight]

My text is blurry with my LCD (I'm using A8N-SLI too.) However, this is when I use the VGA connector on my video card. The DVI connector is crystal clear. A word of advice: try the other port on the back of your video card, and use a DVI to VGA connector on it. It's my understanding that the DVI port receives better quality from the TMDS transmitter/RAMDAC...

 

[robarrieta]

I tried that. It really doesn't look any different. I think it is a function of having an aperture grill crt. Text just doesn't look as crisp compared to an LCD.

 

[BujinZero]

Originally posted by: robarrieta
I tried that. It really doesn't look any different. I think it is a function of having an aperture grill crt. Text just doesn't look as crisp compared to an LCD.

Bah. I have the same FP2141SB monitor and text looks fine, especially compared to my Samsung LCD. I got my monitor in 2002 and have none of the problems you describe. Look into the SLI thing, then, if you must, contact NEC/Mitsu for an RMA, they're quite good about it.

 

[Patrick Wolf]

Originally posted by: BujinZero

Originally posted by: robarrieta
I tried that. It really doesn't look any different. I think it is a function of having an aperture grill crt. Text just doesn't look as crisp compared to an LCD.

Bah. I have the same FP2141SB monitor and text looks fine, especially compared to my Samsung LCD. I got my monitor in 2002 and have none of the problems you describe. Look into the SLI thing, then, if you must, contact NEC/Mitsu for an RMA, they're quite good about it.

I'm glad to hear that, as I'm probably going to get the FP2141SB. I think these people are just picky, or need to change the settings a little. SLI could be the reason, but I doubt it.

 

[alexandernevsky]

My apologies to those whove read this before:

These monitors by Nec Mitsu are very sensitive to EMI. Try (just for checking) to give the monitor it's own dedicated electrical wall plug with no UPS / SurgeProtector / splitter box in the way. Next remove any devices such as speakers / wireless / other monitor or tv - from the surrounding area. After this degauss once an hour for a couple of hours. Now bring the brightness to zero and try increasing it to the point where text is still good. Please try this at 85 hz. Not higher.
The monitor has a focus control on the left side (left towards back as you face it). This is located inside a hole or two. Shine a light inside to see the control and use a long thin screwdriver to turn the control.

If non of this works try on a different machine or video card under the same conditions to see if problem persists before RMA.

Remember it takes these monitors a while to warm up after turning on to reach optimal level.

 

[Wag]

Try changing your refresh rates. Some monitors even though they can display higher resolution/refresh rates don't look very good.

My monitor can technically display 1600*1200/100Hz, but isn't legible over 85Hz.

 

[robarrieta]

I don't think the issue is SLI. I have set my rig with and without SLI enabled and it makes no difference. The EMI theory is interesting but I don't think this is it either as my gaming apps look OUTSTANDING. The blurry text issue is with word processing and internet browsers. The desktop doesn't look great either. I have tried tweaking refresh rates, resolutions, contrast, etc. and I just can't fix the damn thing. Text is legible but not crisp, seems almost faded. Blacks could be blacker. Clearly not as crisp / bright as my Samsung LCD on my other rig. The NEC tech support guys are completely useless. IT sounds like other people have this problem with the FP2111 (which is the same technology as the FP2141). Any solutions? By the way, what is an RMA?

 

[robarrieta]

One other thing. The monitor comes with an analog VGA cord. Yet the eVGA 6800 GT only has DVI connectors. Therefore, I am using an analog to DVI adapter. Could this be the culprit?

 

[alexandernevsky]

u should try everything in my earlier post - gaming apps (or games for short eh?) usually consist of colors - which require only 1 or 2 of the RGB components to converge - where as text (black on white) and reversed text (white on black) require for all RGB components to converge accurately - same as thin white lines on black background (or the other way around). Hence these comprise the real test for the monitor's focus and convergence as opposed to gaming environment which might seem just fine.


have you tried the focus and brightness knobs - in the holes at the left side
.

 

[Compddd]

I tried the Nec 2141 and text was blurry as well for me. So I went with the Sony HS94P/B and I love it.

 

[robarrieta]

alexandernevsky:

Good point on the RGB. I'll try adjusting the knobs on the left side. Thanks.

 

[alexandernevsky]

Do try the anti EMI stuff as well.

aside from the focus - You should be able to get Black blacks and white whites on that Nec - and everything in between. If not - you definitely should send it back for replacement. RMA means - Return Merchandise Authorization - referring to the terms under which a seller will replace a product - as - their RMA policy. In time it has actually become a verb, hence, if you don't get true blacks or whites on that nec - you should RMA it.

 

[Rhin0]

Ok I just adjusted some of the vert and horiz convergence settings on my 930sb. It helped some but I still have some blurriness. I am pretty sure it isn't EMI related. Seems like the majority of my blurriness is in the top half of the screen over to the left, wtf?

 

[alexandernevsky]

rhino give that focus control a twirl - why not.

Hope its got nothing to do with reports that Nec - Mitsu have halted all crt production in 2005.....

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: alexandernevsky
rhino give that focus control a twirl - why not.

Hope its got nothing to do with reports that Nec - Mitsu have halted all crt production in 2005.....

alexander,

I may give it a try... I am going to bring my IBM in and take a look at it again to compare the text. The text isn't "super crisp" on it either. LCD just displays text better I think.

This is so hard for me to really tell where the bluriness is or if it even exists because it is so hard to compare and the adjustments are so small.

I think this is what I have decided:

-The center of the screen is in perfect focus while the top and bottom 3-4" is slightly blurry. What would cause this?

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: alexandernevsky
rhino give that focus control a twirl - why not.

Hope its got nothing to do with reports that Nec - Mitsu have halted all crt production in 2005.....

I don't want to screw anything up, this thing was $200 dollars which is quite a bit for me. It works pretty well right now. The blurriness is hardly noticeable, I think it is worse because i'm looking for it

 

[robarrieta]

RhinO:

I may be having the same issues as you. I am super sensitive to changes in my display. And I am also conditioned to looking at text on an LCD which is super bright and super crisp. The text on my CRT isn't horrible, it just isn't great. However, the text on my CRT at work looks better. The work CRT uses shadow mask technology, not aperture grill. I read somewhere that aperture grill monitors are just not very good at displaying text, which if true, sucks since I plowed down $500 bucks on my NEC monitor. That said, it seems that others on this board don't have any issues.

 

[robarrieta]

Further evidence of blurry text issues:

http://reviews.cnet.com/NEC_Mu...0283607-2.html?tag=top