Screen started shrinking!

[PrayForDeath]

I have an NEC MultiSync FP912sb.
Today when I was playing F.E.A.R. demo, the monitor suddenly shrunk by 1" from each side! I tried to change the settings, resolution, monitor setup, nothing happened. I quit the game and changed desktop resolution, and I still couldn't get rid of the black bars at the sides. Is there anyway I can fix this? Is my monitor dying? It's about 2 years old (not that old!).
Thank you

 

[Powermoloch]

I'm sure..your monitor has its own manual screen adjustment ....

 

[Unkno]

monitor driver?

did you try shutting the monitor off? Did you try restarting/shutting down computer? Bad signal from video card?

 

[Jeff7181]

Monitors have scaling options that are usually tied to specific resolutions and refresh rates. If one of those changed, which sometimes happens when loading up a game, it could just be that the mode that it changed to doesn't have the screen size scaled properly to fill the entire viewable area. Just enter the monitor's on screen display and look around in the settings. Or better yet, make sure you're not running at a lower refresh rate now.

 

[Markbnj]

Yeah, but it could also very well be a sign that a component is dying. If you start to smell hot electronics you'll know for sure .

 

[forumposter32]

does raising your refresh rate damage your monitor?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: forumposter32
does raising your refresh rate damage your monitor?

Most monitors won't let you raise it past what it's capable of. In fact... I've NEVER run into one that would let me do that... even back when I had a 14 inch 640x480 display for Windows 3.1. Using something like PowerStrip to force resolutions and refresh rates can potentially damage a monitor though. Not only that, when you start to push a monitor to it's limits (especially cheap ones) the picture becomes less clear. Mine doesn't seem to suffer from that... but my brother's 19 inch definately does. It's capable of 1024x768 @ 100 Hz or 1280x1024 @ 85 Hz, but he uses it at 1024x768 @ 85 Hz because it's flicker free at 85, and has a sharper picture than at 100.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Originally posted by: Powermoloch
I'm sure..your monitor has its own manual screen adjustment ....

I played with those, and with the maximum width allowed, there were still black bars on the sides.
I shut off the monitor, I changed refresh rates (lower not higher), I changed resolutions, and nothing solved the problem.
I used to always run it at 1280x960 @ 85hz, and that's how it was when the problem started yesterday. The monitor is very high quality, it runs as high as 1600x1200 @85hz, and I used to game at that resolution sometimes (if the performance allows me). So I am guessing some component is dead

 

[Markbnj]

CRTs are high-energy devices, and they do burn out. I had good luck getting long life out of NECs, and I have one Nanao 17" that I am getting ready to toss simply for lack of an application, and it still works fine (if a bit less bright) after 10 years. I know a number of people and corporations that make a practice out of buying cheaper CRTs and replacing them often .

I should also mention that when I first bought the Nanao in 1995 it died and had to be RMAd, and it died with symptoms just like you describe: first the screen shrank, and then a few days later it smelled and that was it.

 

[jiffylube1024]

Your monitor is afraid. FEAR has that effect on people, and monitors too apparently .

 

[PrayForDeath]

Originally posted by: jiffylube1024
Your monitor is afraid. FEAR has that effect on people, and monitors too apparently .

lol!

On a side note, if you wanna get rid of your CRT monitor, don't dump it in the trash outside; call one of the specialized companies in computer parts disposing. Cuz monitors hurt the environement with their components. Dell has a branch that takes care of old parts.

 

[niggles]

Originally posted by: forumposter32
does raising your refresh rate damage your monitor?

It does if you raise the either the refresh or resolution rates over the suggested refresh or resolution rates. Always follow the speces of your monitor.

 

[CP5670]

Try doing a factory reset and see if that helps. I think that monitor is the same thing as the 930SB and should have this option somewhere. I had the contrast on an old NEC monitor suddenly get messed up at one point and become too washed out at even the 100% setting, but this fixed it.

 

[forumposter32]

Is it better to choose higher refresh rates? Like if I could go from 60 Hz to 80 Hz, should I do it?

maximum for my Viewsonic A70 are:
1280x1024 @ 66 Hz
1024x768 @ 87 Hz
800x600 @ 110 Hz

 

[hans030390]

my monitor slowly resizes itself...can't fix it....oh well.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Is it better to choose higher refresh rates? Like if I could go from 60 Hz to 80 Hz, should I do it?

maximum for my Viewsonic A70 are:
1280x1024 @ 66 Hz
1024x768 @ 87 Hz
800x600 @ 110 Hz

It'll be easier on your eyes, but as I said, the closer to get to the limits of a cheap monitor, the less crisp the image will be.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Try to keep the refresh right over 75hz, otherwise it'll hurt your eyes and give you headaches after a while. If it's a quality monitor, don't hesitate to set it at the max supported res/refresh rate.
If I send the monitor back to NEC (not covered by warranty) do they fix it? And how much will it cost?
edit: oh I just found out my monitor has a 3-year warranty. I'll try to contact NEC and request an RMA.

 

[forumposter32]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Is it better to choose higher refresh rates? Like if I could go from 60 Hz to 80 Hz, should I do it?

maximum for my Viewsonic A70 are:
1280x1024 @ 66 Hz
1024x768 @ 87 Hz
800x600 @ 110 Hz

It'll be easier on your eyes, but as I said, the closer to get to the limits of a cheap monitor, the less crisp the image will be.

At 60 Hz, I could see like half the screen refresh faster than the other half (or something like that, whatever it was). Now, at 85 Hz at 1024x768, it's much better although I can still see that sort of thing a little if I'm close to a tree and pan up and down real fast.

 

[bobsmith1492]

The way a CRT works is by using a strong magnetic field to direct a beam of electrons to hit a specific point on the screen. If the magnetic field is weaker, the particles will not be pulled as strongly to the side. That your screen shrank the same amount on all sides (and was, I assume, not completely distorted) makes me think your monitor's high-voltage generator took a hit somehow and isn't putting out a strong enough field.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: forumposter32

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Is it better to choose higher refresh rates? Like if I could go from 60 Hz to 80 Hz, should I do it?

maximum for my Viewsonic A70 are:
1280x1024 @ 66 Hz
1024x768 @ 87 Hz
800x600 @ 110 Hz

It'll be easier on your eyes, but as I said, the closer to get to the limits of a cheap monitor, the less crisp the image will be.

At 60 Hz, I could see like half the screen refresh faster than the other half (or something like that, whatever it was). Now, at 85 Hz at 1024x768, it's much better although I can still see that sort of thing a little if I'm close to a tree and pan up and down real fast.

Actually I believe what you're talking about is called horizontal tearing. It happens when the video card and the monitor aren't running in sync... so the monitor starts drawing one frame, then the video card sends it another frame, and the result is half the old frame on top and half the new frame on the bottom. You can fix that by turning on vsync in the driver options.

 

[PrayForDeath]

Just got the monitor back from repair, and it's working perfectly
I must say, NEC have a nice customer service. The reason it took so long is because I was too lazy to send it. The repair took exactly 5 business days.

 

[CP5670]

Yeah, NEC has the best customer service I have dealt with. Although they sent me brand new advanced replacements that arrived the next day every time. I guess they asked you to send it back since they aren't producing their CRTs anymore

 

[Continuity28]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: forumposter32

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: forumposter32
Is it better to choose higher refresh rates? Like if I could go from 60 Hz to 80 Hz, should I do it?

maximum for my Viewsonic A70 are:
1280x1024 @ 66 Hz
1024x768 @ 87 Hz
800x600 @ 110 Hz

It'll be easier on your eyes, but as I said, the closer to get to the limits of a cheap monitor, the less crisp the image will be.

At 60 Hz, I could see like half the screen refresh faster than the other half (or something like that, whatever it was). Now, at 85 Hz at 1024x768, it's much better although I can still see that sort of thing a little if I'm close to a tree and pan up and down real fast.

Actually I believe what you're talking about is called horizontal tearing. It happens when the video card and the monitor aren't running in sync... so the monitor starts drawing one frame, then the video card sends it another frame, and the result is half the old frame on top and half the new frame on the bottom. You can fix that by turning on vsync in the driver options.

Jeff is right, you are definately experiencing tearing. Enable VSync to stop it.

Refresh rate flicker is much different than what you're describing, forumposter32. Refresh rate flicker is constant, and covers the whole screen, like waves.