I Hate TFT's

superpc · 14 Apr 2006 at 09:23

Gee, I hate TFT's and i am not going to buy one again until the manufacturing process improves 100%!!!

I only just Changed from CRT to TFT and over the last 3 weeks i have had 4 TFT's and all have had problems!! Either not working, dead pixels or weird text on the screen!

Well, had a Viewsonic VX724 last week and today i put it on and it has developed a dead / stuck pixel!!! I am so gutted / annoyed. I am going to RMA it (not bought here). Tried massage etc etc but no joy. I could cry!

I am going to buy a good old CRT for now.

The Hyundai ImageQuest Q770S 17'' looks ok and should be alright for my environment. Anyone here tried one of these? 17" is big enough for me.

Sparky191 · 14 Apr 2006 at 11:24

Buy one that has a guarantee against pixel problems.

I though that pixel problems are a manufacturering flaw. They don't appear over time?

fish99 · 14 Apr 2006 at 11:40

They can appear over time if you're unlucky. AFAIK there is no manufacturer that has a 100% no dead or faulty pixel or sub-pixel policy for the whole of the warranty. It's not until you read the small print that you would realize that though.

Anyway, clearly he isn't having problems RMA'ing the monitors if he's on his 4th. I think what he's getting at is that he'd fed up of the hassle. Even a perfect guarantee wouldn't stop you getting a screen with a dead pixel, it would just give you a way out once you do.

Sparky191 · 14 Apr 2006 at 13:34

Check it out before you buy it.

Exactly how do bad pixel develop over time?

fish99 · 14 Apr 2006 at 13:46

I dunno, but they do. I've seen plenty of threads here from people whose TFTs have developed a dead pixel.

As I said, no company offers a policy that extend to zero sub pixels. They say zero dead pixels, and when you check the small print, it's whole pixels only, and 5-7 dead subpixels. Or you've got extra warranties like the Xerox one which only lasts 7 days.

superpc · 14 Apr 2006 at 14:36

Bit difficult to try before you buy when ordering online!

Stellios · 14 Apr 2006 at 15:10

Bad pixels are something that happens during the manufacturing process, however is manufacturers tested every screen for dead pixels then they wouldnt get screens out fast enough.

Unless its a lazy pixels theres nothing you can do other than try to swap it out or get your money back or live with it.

Sparky191 · 14 Apr 2006 at 15:21

superpc said:
Bit difficult to try before you buy when ordering online!

Well don't then. This was a bigger problem about 2yrs ago when I bought mine. So I bought a display model in a shop that I tested in the shop.

Sparky191 · 14 Apr 2006 at 15:26

fish99 said:
I dunno, but they do. I've seen plenty of threads here from people whose TFTs have developed a dead pixel....

Must have missed them. Since each pixel is four transistors, what are the odds of all four failing?

David230 · 14 Apr 2006 at 16:03

@ superpc - what did you do with your ACER? I did'nt have the problem you had with dodgy text etc so if that was the only fault you had with it, you may find the next one is spot on.

superpc · 14 Apr 2006 at 16:08

David230 said:
@ superpc - what did you do with your ACER? I did'nt have the problem you had with dodgy text etc so if that was the only fault you had with it, you may find the next one is spot on.

I RMA'd it.

fish99 · 14 Apr 2006 at 19:01

Sparky191 said:
Must have missed them.

Yep. Ask Baddass, he probably read the same posts I did. I'm not saying it isn't rare, but it does happen.

Sparky191 said:
Since each pixel is four transistors, what are the odds of all four failing?

I dunno, more than zero I guess.

Stellios · 14 Apr 2006 at 19:17

Sparky191 said:
Since each pixel is four transistors, what are the odds of all four failing?

There are 1310720 pixels on a 1280x1024 screen providing my maths is correct. 1 dead pixel is pretty good odds looking at that.

Sparky191 · 14 Apr 2006 at 22:00

Stellios said:
There are 1310720 pixels on a 1280x1024 screen providing my maths is correct. 1 dead pixel is pretty good odds looking at that.

Yes in manufacturing. But I meant you need all four to go bad to have a dead pixel after that.

fish99 · 14 Apr 2006 at 22:08

Depends whether you're talking a full dead pixel or a sub pixel. As most people here seem to, I'm using the term dead pixel to refer to any pixel/subpixel failure/fault. If you've got a dead subpixel, or a subpixel stuck on white, it can be noticeable on the wrong colour background. Of course all three subpixels in the same pixel going after manufacture would be very rare if that's what you meant.

superpc · 14 Apr 2006 at 22:23

Well, after having 4 faulty TFT's now i am 99% certain that i won't be buying one again. I think i will get a new CRT. The CRT's i have used have been old so maybe a new one will be better on my eyes etc.

Its a pity that TFT's do have major problems like Dead / lazy pixels, Backlight bleed etc. Its about time the manufacturers got thier acts together as we would not accept faulty goods with anything else!

Sparky191 · 15 Apr 2006 at 02:54

I have seen many bad/faulty CRT's over the years. However a TFT is much better quality for most office work, mworkign with text etc. Games are a different issue. In our office we have about 40 PC's each with dual TFT's and some with more. I don't there are any with bad pixels.

You'd want to be very unlucky to get 4 in a row with bad pixels.

fish99 · 15 Apr 2006 at 11:20

Btw superpc, you may want to look at 19" rather than 17" CRTs. 17" CRTs are actually an inch smaller than the TFTs you've been buying, and they can't do 1280*1024 at flicker free refresh rates.

Also the best CRT tubes, Diamondtron aperture grille, were never made in 17". 19" CRTs are big and heavy and some of them are power hungry, but if your desk can take it, the best ones do have superb pictures. There aren't that many CRTs available now though. Buying used can be a good option, something like a Sony, Dell, Mitsibishi/NEC etc off ebay. You can pick up some of the best screens ever made for modest sums.

superpc · 15 Apr 2006 at 13:26

Thanks Fish99, just that 19" would be too big for my desk.

I thought i had a winner with the VX724 but all of a sudden it developed a lazy / stuck pixel. I think it is a blue pixel as i can see it in all backgrounds except blue and black. Tried to get rid of it but no joy. Pity as the screen is awesome!

Need a small depth Monitor as the desk is not that wide!

Sparky191 · 15 Apr 2006 at 20:00

Any CRT I've ever had, LaCie/Sony always started to go soft after about 2yrs. One of the things I never liked about them.