# Monitor advice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808 "2006-04-08T01:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/1 "2006-04-08T01:38:29Z")
My old monitor was getting flickery, and so I’m currently using the prepackaged 17; CRT shipped with the computer. I’m considering getting a new one, however, since I missed the size and clarity of the old monitor. Are LCDs now worth the money? When last buying a monitor (5 or so years ago) they were still rather pricey and small; have things changed? The old monitor was a 21" CRT, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/2 "2006-04-08T02:47:49Z")
I just replaced a failing 21" CRT with a 24" widescreen LCD, and it rocks. I like it a lot better - bigger, clearer, lighter, everything. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/3 "2006-04-08T07:01:11Z")
CRTs are definitely on the way out. A couple of big CRT makers have recently stopped producing tubes. Go LCD and never look back. Besides, you’ll soon recoup the extra cost over a comparable CRT in reduced electrical consumption to power it, and in reduced air conditioning as it puts out far less heat than your old CRT. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/4 "2006-04-08T14:19:38Z")
The first rule of thumb for all computer hardware purchases is to decide on what software you want to use and then get the hardware that runs that. CRTs do better than LCDs on some things. E.g., they have much better refresh rates without ghosting and wider viewing angles. Are you going to be running graphics intensive games? Need to see the screen from a variety of angles? Then go with CRTs. CRTs are hardly dead. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/5 "2006-04-08T15:55:54Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > CRTs do better than LCDs on some things. E.g., they have much better refresh rates without ghosting and wider viewing angles. Are you going to be running graphics intensive games? Need to see the screen from a variety of angles? Then go with CRTs. > > CRTs are hardly dead. A couple years ago I would have agreed with you. Nowadays, a decent LCD looks as good if not better than a CRT. Viewing angle is improved as well. I was a die-hard CRT fan until I saw the modern LCDs a few months ago. This one I have now has no ghosting, the colors are much more saturated, and it’s just beautiful. Granted, it’s a high end LCD, but my guess is that in a few more years you won’t be seeing CRTs around very much if at all. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/monitor-advice/351808/6 "2006-04-08T18:52:25Z")
I was going to suggest, be sure to use the full powder load for the guns when the CSS _Virginia_ comes out into Hampton Roads, but I see it’s not that kind of thread… Civil War references available upon request.