PC monitor!

[Scarlett]

Help!! My monitor has suddenly gone a slightly darker shade, as if it has lost some of it's brightness. Earlier on it was grey-ish and it suddenly pinged back to normal. Now it has gone dull again. Is it dying? Please help quick cos I won't be able to read any responses if it dies on me!! Thanks!

[ACtheTROLL]

Question
CRT or flat panel?
and how old?
if CRT does the good old slap to the site do any good?

the only othere thing you can do is check the connection to the pc is good.
fix will cost almost as much as a new one

whatever you do ... if it's crt - don't open it up
the voltages are too high for a novice to play with ...

probably - start looking at new screens

[Scarlett]

Its a CRT and is probably 6 years old? I haven't whacked it as I didn't want to make itm worse!!

I will start looking at new ones. Any idea on what sort of flat screen to get? Is there any point in widescreen- I don't play PC games. Surely all web pages are square, not wide?

[Scarlett]

P.S The light does come back on if I bang the top front of the monitor, but never for longer than a few minutes.

[ACtheTROLL]

something is loose ... at 6 years ... it's a bit of a codger ... time to send it to that great videogame in the sky.

The replacement .... It depends how much you've got to spend ....
If you are happy with what you had ...
and the macine is also 6 years old there is no point in breaking the bank (unless you're thinking about a new box as well.

I'd be tempted to get at least a 17"

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=17+inch+tft +monitor&btnG=Search&show=dd&lnk=pruser&price1 =100&price2=150&btnP=Go

the next question is ... do you have a analog or digital conector Probably analog ... but if you have both ... digital gives you a wider choice

look round the back ....
what can you see - apart from a little dust
Analog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_connector
or
Digital
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_In terface

[dodgyshirt]

A 6-year old PC is most unlikely to have graphics with a DVI output and only the more expensive monitors have DVI input so don't even consider this factor.

Furthermore you will be surprised how much more enjoyable it is using a larger monitor, even 17" is barely acceptable these days.

You can buy a 19" model from Ebuyer for less than the 17" options ACE provided you with.

[Scarlett]

I can't see the input as there is the lead in it! But I am 99% sure it is analogue. It is old and cack!

I would spend up to about �150 max. I will be replacing the PC at the end of the year for a much better one which can handle video editing.

I'm just not sure whether to get widescreen or not. I'll be a student soon and will have to carry all my gear up to Uni. Hence, not wanting anything too flash or pricey.

Thanks for helping me- even more thanks if you can recommend a particular model!

[ACtheTROLL]

If you are going to uni
(I hate to say this ... desktops are always more versatile ....) but you might be better off looking round for an old second hand monitor just to put you on - and spending your money on a laptop to take to uni.

you'll probably be in halls first year? - but then digs .... so you are going to be "moving out" every term end ... and desktops just aren't designed to be moved too much.

To answer your question .... wide screen rocks ....
I have a verrrrry cheap 22" mirai monitor .... and it's excellent
If you are upgrading anyway ... most PC sellers will just sell the box ... so getting a half decent monitor first won't be a waste

A usb TV doobie turns it into a quite respectable TV.

again ... if you are going to uni ... a lappy with a decent screen can be your entire entertainment centre - games, music, tv

(btw ... you were supposed to unplug the monitor to see the connector!! - digital was indeed unlikely ... but you could have added a newer graphics card .... )