I am in the process of replacing my HP 17" CRT monitor. I've had it for 5-6 years, and its on its last legs. I do a lot of flight simulation on my computer, and have been pleased with the high quaility image produced by my HP monitor. I am thinking of replacing it with another HP 17" flat screen CRT (the MX705). An alternative that I've considered is upgrading to a flat panel LCD, but I have heard that the flat panel LCDs don't perform as well with the high graphics demanded by today's FS applications, and further that their life expectancy is not as good as the older CRT technology. Also, the CRTs are a lot less expensive. Any recommendations as to CRT vs LCD flat panel for flight simulator use? Also, If I opt for a LCD flat panel, what are the key considerations to get the best monitor for flight simming (a couple that come to mind are contrast ratio 1000:1 or greater & response time below 8 ms)? Any suggestions/advice would be appreciaged!

Hello. I have had both types. If you are looking for speed definately the CRT hands down. I do like the LCD for a very bright crisp panel BUT it seems there are more jagged edges to some things like the runway edges. IF you do decide to go with an LCD i HIGHLY recommend the Samsung 940BF. 2ms speed, 700:1 contrast ratio. NO ghosting with this monitor at all. I have 2 of these and my third is an LG 1952TX-BF. it has 1400:1 contrast withan 8ms response time. i prefer the samsunng myself but do some research. the response time can be misleading.

you can't go wrong with the Apple Cinema 23" display! I have 4 of them now, plus 2 30" ones. I've tried a bunch of other LCD screens, but i just love the Cinema Displays. FS9(FSX) looks so crisp on them...if you go for the 30", make sure your video card can support it's native 2560x1600 res <- btw, FS9 is breath-taking at this screen resolution.http://fengzhudesign.com/fs2004/flight_labj_10.JPG-feng

Argh... :-eek :-eek :-eek Nice setup! *:-* :-hahCheers! :-beerchugEtienne :-wave

Hi Curtalden,LCDs and CRTs will give you the same frame rates with all other factors the same so don't worry about that. LCDs haven't been around long enough for their longevity to be judged but I wouldn't concern yourself as the quality of them is continually being improved.Look for low response times of 10ms or less although even with higher ones it may not necessarily be a problem. Good contrast levels will help but don't use manufacturer's claims as those aren't always accurate. Here in the UK we have several excellent PC magazines and they publish reviews of LCD displays which helps with the decision-making process. Try searching the internet for reviews for models you're interested in.Whether you choose a widescreen (16:10) model over a conventional (4:3) one is entirely up to you but bear in mind the native resolution will be higher and the demands on the graphics card will be greater. Unless you have a top-flight card (and processor) it may be best to stick with a 4:3 model. In any case FS9 and FSX will not display 2D panels to their best in widescreen. The panel is either stretched and therefore distorted or shown in its correct format but this leaves a gap between it and the panel edge. VC panels and the full forward view will be fine.The other bugbear with LCDs is black levels. Basically no LCD panel can display a true black unlike a CRT. The more expensive panels will do a better job but if you don't fly at night this may not be a problem anyway.Where LCDs excel is in resolution. The sharpness of a 2D panel on a LCD cannot be matched by any CRT. You also get perfect geometry and no shrinking and enlarging of the display as it warms up. LCDs are lighter too so no strained back whilst trying to lift a 19".Hope that helps.

I have one 19" Viewsonic LCD and two 19" CRT's setup to give me a 90 degree field of view.The CRT's have brighter colors and "seem" to be sharper.However I will not heistate to replace the CRT's with LCD's because the advantages outweigh the disadvantage enormously in my opinion.1. LCD is much cooler - less heat2. LCD is much lighter weight3. Real estate - I gain over 20" of usable space by going to an LCD.2.

I've switched a long time ago and never looked back...Only advice: run the LCD at it's native resolution, typically 1280x1024, but different depending on size and model. The picture gets fuzzy if you run say a 1280x1024 LCD at 1024x768... A CRT does not have this issue.Also, set the refresh rate to 60. Anything higher wastes video card cycles with no benefit, unlike CRTs where higher refresh rates result in less flicker.

I use both!1 LCD for my main (center) screen and two CRT's on the sides!LCD's are great, except you don't get true blacks due to the back-lighting. But it's not too bad to get used to.Eventually I will got to 3 LCD's myself.Scott :-)http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/154918.jpgGamming System Specs: (Built this one myself)AMD Athlon-64 3000+ (Overclocked to 2.35ghz)Gigabyte K8NS nForce3-250 Chipset 8x AGP Main Board2GB DDR400 PC3200 Memory (400mhz)2 - 160GB 7200 rpm Hard Drives 16x DVD-ROM Audigy 2ZS Gammer Sound Card (Set at FULL acceleration)5.1 Channel Surround Sound SpeakersNvidia Graphic Cards:256MB GeForce-5700 8X AGP Video (Overclocked) with CGA and DVI256MB GeForce-5500 PCI Video (Overclocked)TRI Monitors 2 - 17" CRTS & 1 - 17" LCDCotytech Gaming CaseCH Products Yoke, Rudder Pedals, Throttle QuadrantSaitek Cyborg Gold Joystic for Helo's & Stick equipped aircrafteDimensional Force Feedback HeadsetsSaitek Eclipse KeyboardWindows XP Pro SP2Home Network for using the Instructor StationFS9 Sliders maxed with other settings at their best quality positions.Antalasing: 4XAnistropic Filtering: 4XResolution: 1024 X 768 32bitTexture load speed: 200Average FPS: 25 (Locked at 25)

I also have bothe types myself and to be completely honest, for gaming, video and photos, CRT's are better! Not that LCD's are bad, they're just diferent.LCD have a few shortcomings concerning FS and gaming in general:The bigger the LCD the bigger has to be the resolution on the graph card, due to the "native resolution" of LCD, they completely ruin the image quality if set to other resolution than the native one, thus a powerfull graphics card is essential.Due to the way LCD work a true black is impossible, and the color the color redention as weak compared to a CRT!!For reading, surfing the web and other stuff LCD are fine! For us simmers a good CRT is exelent

...with a view like that out the window, you probably could afford a few Apple Cinema displays.. :)

That picture has really spoilt my day, oh mate awesome.

In April I got a new Dell computer which came with a 19" Ultrasharp and it's very very good for simming - there is no lag and the picture is very bright and crisp. The only problem is that it is almost too good: it shows up the deficiencies in quite a few of the planes that I have got, especially in the VCs, flaws that were completely hidden by my aging 17" CRT (also a Dell).

Yak Yak, what does the boss say when he see's the joystick?JimCYWG

Ray, in my brief experience with this new LCD I bought, I see you have nailed the issues in a few sentences. I am going to try to have my Sony GDM F520 21" CRT repaired, and have a repair quote of $200 plus I pay shipping of $120 roundtrip. I am at the point where I don't like the idea of buying this beheamoth CRT that really, I mean really, looks sweet (well, it did til the focuser began failing a few weeks back), and then throw the whole G_d D_mn thing out just because one lousy part failed. THAT IS PATHETIC! My Sony retailed for $1,700 just 3 years ago, and it has perfect everything. To take a 75lb device like this and recycle it, when it could have been built in to the design to make the thing REPAIRABLE from the get go is a mark of a stupid system. I hope we eventually can fix stupid!