19" CRT to a 19" widescreen, is there a noticeable improvement in screen size

saguy · 9 May 2007 at 10:56

Yep, I am one of the few around here that still uses a CRT. I need to replace my monitor as it's about five years old and the quality is not what it used to be. I was wondering if those of you that moved from a 19" CRT (18" viewable) to a wide screen 19" LCD have seen a noticeable improvement in screen size.

The reason I am not going larger is that I do not plan on upgrading my graphics card for some time and 1440 x 900 is all my system will be able to cope with. I will be using this screen exclusively for gaming.

broona · 9 May 2007 at 11:25

According to the calculator here - http://www.tvcalculator.com/ you'll gain approximately 7 square inches, that's comparing an 18" 4:3 to a 19" 16:10.

saguy · 9 May 2007 at 11:37

broona said:
According to the calculator here - http://www.tvcalculator.com/ you'll gain approximately 7 square inches, that's comparing an 18" 4:3 to a 19" 16:10.

I have just checked out the calculator and I get about 2 sq inches larger so not much of an improvement. With a 19" 4:3 LCD there is an improvement of 17 sq inches. Maybe I am better off with a 4:3

gt_junkie · 9 May 2007 at 12:06

Depends what you want.

My GF has a 19" wide belinea. For gaming widescreen is particularly good. I personally wouldn't go back to 4:3.

If i were you i'd consider either a cheap 20" or 22" tft. That will be a lot more real estate for a little extra outlay. My 22" massively dwarfs her 19".

Re your card: just play games at a lower res than native. What's the point in upgrading to the 19" now then upgrading your gpu. That will only end with you wanting a 20"+ monitor to replace your nearly new 19".

gt