Monitor Advice Please

[Lancashire Lad]

Pauline, do you know what resolution your existing CRT monitor was running at? - If it was 1280x1024 or more, then there should be no reason why the graphics card won't work with that resolution for the LCD monitor.

I assume that you are trying to change resolutions by using Windows Control Panel / Change Screen Resolution? - If so, the options available should include 1280x1024. If the options there don't include 1280x1024 (or better) then your graphics card isn't up to supporting that level of resolution. - It could possibly be a driver problem, - Have you tried to download a driver from the LCD manufacturer's support site?

I assume that you will know this, but if, via Windows Control Panel, you set a resolution and press enter, but then the screen doesn't show a proper picture, provided that you don't press any further keys, the screen will revert to its previous settings after about 20 seconds. (In other words you don't need to worry about getting it wrong).

I don't know what type of graphics card your computer has, but if your machine is reasonably new (i.e last five years or so), I would be very surprised if it won't run graphics at 1280x1024 or more. (I'm using a 4 year old mid-range Acer 15" laptop for internet use, but have it permanently connected to a 24" HP2408h monitor running at 1920x1200 resolution at 60Hz -and it runs that with no problems whatsoever).

Hope you soon get it sorted.

Regards,
Mike.

[PMG]

Thanks Mike (and Dave and Richard and nightshade) for jumping to with suggestions. The new flat screen has gone and the old huge monitor is back in its usual place

The disk with it contains its own drivers - but even so I tried downloading some others to see if it would improve.

You're right Dave about the Hz's - I didn't discover how to change that - I was more concerned with the pixilated pics first. But the eye relief with the old one back is really noticeable - I felt like you do when your eye test and specs are not right - too strong - pulling your eyes out! Or you drop your binocs and knock the prisims out - its awful

Looking in the spec the new flat screen only has the top resolution of 1024x7something whereas my old one has 4 settings and has been on the 1280x1024 ever since I began my zenfolio website - this allows me to see most of my webscreen page - tho I supect a bigger screen would allow me even more without reducing the size of print and images - but lets not go there - I've had enough this last day and half!!

I'm pretty sure that a larger resolution on a larger screen and the Hz adjusted as Dave says would give me what I'm getting now - then a bit of tweaking on the set between contrast and brightness and I would be fit to go ...... but hopefully my old monitor will not take exception to its overnight spell on a draughty floor and will continue to give good service ....... please

Thanks guys - I've learned quite a bit - maybe the most important was I found all the back posts full of advice that I've long wanted to read over again!!

Pauline

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by PMG

Thanks Dave for thinking about it - my continued reading and research both from here and the web in general seems to suggest that flat screens are no good for photo work and that folks are buying old one's like mine for as little as a tenner cos the photo work with them is far superior - it certainly looks like that from todays experiences.

I think that is a load of Tosh Pauline!!!!

My very techie son (works in the industry) disagrees too! He's just built me a new machine and I've dumped the old 24 ins Sony CRT Sony that he found for me a few years ago when his Uni where upgrading. that was super clear.

My new HP LP2475w knocks spots of that with brilliant clarity (though still a bit too saturated, but that is my laziness), and the reviews suggested it was equivalent to many monitors of twice the price. I have a secondary screen of lesser quality, and that too fantastic compared to the old reliable Sony CRT.

I think Dave P has probably got it right, and your graphics card can't cope.
Upgrading one part of a system can easily reveal weaknesses and/or incompatability in another part.

An HD is suddenly unbearable slow when a processor is upgraded or new RAM is put in etc. etc..

Going back to what works will be your cheapest option!!

[John D]

Hi Pauline,

I know that some LCD flat screen monitors don't perform as good as a CRT monitor but there are many which are at least as good and some very much better.

I have a Dell Ultrasharp 2209WA 22" E-IPS Widescreen Flat Monitor which I calibrated at the outset with a 'X-rite Eye -One Display 2'. I continue to check the calibration on a monthly basis and after around 15 months use, the calibration settings remain as initially set.
There is no doubt that this monitor once calibrated is better than my previous NEC Flat Screen Monitor which was recommended at the time of purchase as a very good monitor for 'digital image editing'.
It did take me some time to change to a LCD Flatscreen but I'm glad I did.

John D
Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Hobjob

I think that is a load of Tosh Pauline!!!!

My very techie son (works in the industry) disagrees too! He's just built me a new machine and I've dumped the old 24 ins Sony CRT Sony that he found for me a few years ago when his Uni where upgrading. that was super clear.

My new HP LP2475w knocks spots of that with brilliant clarity (though still a bit too saturated, but that is my laziness), and the reviews suggested it was equivalent to many monitors of twice the price. I have a secondary screen of lesser quality, and that too fantastic compared to the old reliable Sony CRT.

I think Dave P has probably got it right, and your graphics card can't cope.
Upgrading one part of a system can easily reveal weaknesses and/or incompatability in another part.

An HD is suddenly unbearable slow when a processor is upgraded or new RAM is put in etc. etc..

Going back to what works will be your cheapest option!!

Well I'll be glad if it is tosh as at some point I will be having a new set up but in the meanwhile Gracie's LCD only has a spec of 1024 x 700 something and will not go higher - whereas the old one I'm back on this morning is already running at 1280 x 1024. All my previous editing with this is subtle, with no grain in any of those with out of focus backgrounds, plus these pics get silky smooth in the distance when put thro neat image too.

Sometime when I want to make a change or have to make a change I will look into it all again but for the minute my relief and my eyes are very happy to be back with what works beautifully! Ok so my desk looks a pigs ear with not peice of equipment matching - while the slim and sexy flat screen blended in with the tower and printer and looked dishy - but whats the use of looks when I can;'t trust the image to work with and have a headache as well?! I certainly didn't imagine the 'drawing of my eyes' it was awful and yes I've no doubt that with a
proper tinkering it could have been sorted if I had set out to buy a flat screen. It would have been great to give a new home to Gracie's but its going back tonight I'm afraid ...........