Optimal resolution for a 19 inch CRT monitor?

[mshan]

What is the optimal resolution for a 19 inch CRT monitor?

Also, is this native or optimal resolution dependent on screen size or is it specific to a particular monitor (mine is a Dell P991 flat screen trinitron)?

 

[BlueWeasel]

CRT's don't really have a native resolution, as they scale much better than LCD monitors.

For a 19' CRT, optimal resolution would probably be around 1280x1024 and is generally consistent with the screen size (manufacturer doesn't matter). However, I run my home 19' CRT at 1152x864 since I sit a good bit away from the screen.

 

[ahurtt]

1280x960 is probably closer to "optimal" for most CRT monitors than 1280x1024 I would think. Most CRT monitors have the same aspect ratio as a TV screen which is 3:4. . .or in other words, the height is 3/4 or 75% of the width. If you have 1024/1280 you get .8. So you would have a little bit of distortion. But at 960/1280 you get .75 which is the same as the aspect ratio of the screen. I typically use any resolution which comes out to a 3:4 ratio.

 

[apoppin]

depends on the monitor and your eyes . . . .

my Samsung 955DF 19" flat's "sweet spot" is 11x8 at 85hz . . . . 12x9 @80 hz or even 16x12@70hz doesn't look right or else bother my eyes.

 

[JBT]

Most manufacteres will say optimal is 1280x1024 but it should be 1280x960 as siad before. 12x10 is a 5:4 res while 12x9 is a 4:3 which is what the monitor REALLY is... Also it depends from monitor to monitor as well. Like Apoppin's Sammy only does 85hz @ 1152x864. With a CRT 85hz and up is what you should be looking for.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: JBT
Most manufacteres will say optimal is 1280x1024 but it should be 1280x960 as siad before. 12x10 is a 5:4 res while 12x9 is a 4:3 which is what the monitor REALLY is... Also it depends from monitor to monitor as well. Like Apoppin's Sammy only does 85hz @ 1152x864. With a CRT 85hz and up is what you should be looking for.

it works great for a budget monitor . . . . 12x9 is at the limit of what i would "like" ideally as i am nearsighted . . . . plus you can "get away with" a cheaper videocard.

 

[JBT]

hehe I'm sure it does do a good job I was mostly just trying to get across that he should aim for 85hz refresh rate and not to actually run 1280x1024 even if it says that is "optimal" on the box.

 

[apoppin]

oops, did i come across as "defensive"?




but, yeah, "play" around with the resolutions to see what is best for your eyes and your monitor,

edit: some people's eyes actually can handle a CRT's refresh rate (well) under 80hz
(not me)

 

[Brian48]

I use 1152x864.

 

[Insidious]

1280 x 960 is my sweet spot. the 1280 x 1024 makes circles slightly out of round on CAD. (monitor controls can adjust this, but I like the path of least resistance)

Mostly a matter of personal preference though.

-Sid

 

[MTSteel]

I agree 1280x960@85 keeps it at 4:3

 

[GreenMonkey]

I agree 1280x960@85 keeps it at 4:3

Agreed.

People and their 1280x1024. Squishy vision ever so slightly. But some people think 4:3 stretched to 16:9 looks good, and some people can't even tell (they are loony).

 

[beatle]

My Hitachi does 1280x960 @ 100Hz, but I think it looks better at 85Hz.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I'm running 1280x960@75 on both my Viewsonic E90 19" and my Dell Trinitron-tubed 17". The Viewsonic can go higher, but only at 60Hz. And that's headache-inducing. Wish I was one of those blind folk who could stand it.

- M4H

 

[xtknight]

It depends on the dot pitch. I'd say no more than 1280x1024.

 

[mshan]

Could you elaborate by providing some optimal resolutions for dot pitches of say 0.24, 0.25, and 0.28?

 

[rogue1979]

Originally posted by: apoppin
depends on the monitor and your eyes . . . .

my Samsung 955DF 19" flat's "sweet spot" is 11x8 at 85hz . . . . 12x9 @80 hz or even 16x12@70hz doesn't look right or else bother my eyes.

I have a 19" Mitsu Diamondtron, same settings are optimal for my preference.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: mshan
Could you elaborate by providing some optimal resolutions for dot pitches of say 0.24, 0.25, and 0.28?

the smaller the dot pitch (generally, everything else being equal) the higher the possible resolution.

Setting a resolution is personal for each person and his CRT . . . . most monitors have a "sweet spot" that displays "best' thru a set of resolutions at certain refresh rates.

Generally, most gamers will insist on 85hz as a good 'minimum' although some people tolerate 70hz and below very well . . . others insist on 100hz as a minimum.

As you 'up' the resolution, your icons will get smaller . . . . of course you can adjust your font size but there is - again - a balance you will like best . . . . a few people insist on 16x12 for 19" while others - like me, like 11x8 'overall' (gaming and desktop).

i'd guess 11x8 and 12x9 (or 12x10) at 80-85hz are the most 'popular' setting for a 19" CRT . . .

there is no universal "optimum"

 

[whoster69]

A lot of the time for me it depends on the refresh rate. I just bought a relatively cheap 19" for my wife who doesn't use her computer much. It only supports up 85Hz at 1152x864 which is OK (but I can still see flicker though it isn't too annoying). At 1280x1024 it supports only 75Hz and flicker is very noticable and annoying. So I set it to 1152x864.

 

[imported_motodude]

What about a 21"?

 

[slash196]

I run at 10x7 because that's the size of my wallpaper. And I'm not changing that wallpaper. Once I run out of space I'll probably up it to 12x9.

 

[VIAN]

optimal resolution for a 19in monitor is 1280x1024 as manufacturer says. It does look the best picture wise, but then again you have really big bars at the end of the screen and makes the picture feel squished. I never use 1280x1024 unless I have no other choice other than 1024x768. I also don't use 1600x1200 on my monitor because although it supports it at 85Hz, text, or fine detail doesn't have uniform detail within that letter or detail. I see that as artifacts and thus I do not go past 1280x1024. For my desktop I use 1280x960 on my 21".

I have mine setup with refresh rate overrides for all 4:3 resolutions starting from 800x600 up to 1280x960 and 1280x1024- just in case. I also have some 16:9 resolutions set up for experimentation, that's besides the point. With those resolutions you need to choose a refresh rate. If you have an Nvidia card, you can customize your refresh rates much better than the ATI cards. With this type of customization where you can customize a refresh rate for each resolution, I found out the max refresh rate for the chosen resolution and set the second highest refresh rate. Max refresh rate looks a little blurry. You'll want to give it a bit of headroom. If you don't have amazing options like Nvidia and have an ATI card where you can force one refresh rate for all resolutions, then I would open up Word to a blank page and stick my eyes as close to the screen as possible. not for too long though. if you notice flickering, then move up the refresh rate. start at the lowest refresh rate. Do this until you do not notice flickering. That is your optimal refresh rate and use that for the resolutions you can. I wouldn't go under that.

native resolution on CRTs is the maximum resolution. But this only works at 60Hz, so forget that. Going away from native resolution doesn't noticeably degrade image quality.

Could you elaborate by providing some optimal resolutions for dot pitches of say 0.24, 0.25, and 0.28?

Dot pitch is never uniform across the screen and you can't tell which one the manufacturer is specifying.

 

[vshah]

12x10 @ 100hz

 

[boborich]

Originally posted by: BlueWeasel
CRT's don't really have a native resolution, as they scale much better than LCD monitors.

For a 19' CRT, optimal resolution would probably be around 1280x1024 and is generally consistent with the screen size (manufacturer doesn't matter). However, I run my home 19' CRT at 1152x864 since I sit a good bit away from the screen.

I use 1152x864 on my Sony G400 19" CRT too. 1280x1024 is not a 4:3 resolution.

 

[Lonyo]

That monitor claims 1280x1024 @ 85Hz as its optimium (it tells you in the "help" section of the OSD).
I run mine at 1600x1200 @ 85Hz with no issues.