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We Played Modern Games on a CRT Monitor - and the Results are Phenomenal

posted by martyb on Saturday October 12 2019, @01:20AM   
from the for-some-values-of-phenomenal dept.

An Anonymous Coward writes:

We Played Modern Games on a CRT Monitor - and the Results are Phenomenal :

It's true. Running modern games on a vintage CRT monitor produces absolutely outstanding results - subjectively superior to anything from the LCD era, up to and including the latest OLED displays. Best suited for PC players, getting an optimal CRT set-up isn't easy, and prices vary dramatically, but the results can be simply phenomenal.

The advantages of CRT technology over modern flat panels are well-documented. CRTs do not operate from a fixed pixel grid in the way an LCD does - instead three 'guns' beam light directly onto the tube. So there's no upscaling blur and no need to run at any specific native resolution as such. On lower resolutions, you may notice 'scan lines' more readily, but the fact is that even lower resolution game outputs like 1024x768 or 1280x960 can look wonderful. Of course, higher-end CRTs can input and process higher resolutions, but the main takeaway here is that liberation from a set native resolution is a gamechanger - why spend so many GPU resources on the amount of pixels drawn when you can concentrate on quality instead without having to worry about upscale blurring?

Are there any Soylentils here who still use a CRT for gaming? If I could just find a CRT with a 65-inch diagonal, and a table that could support the weight...

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Original Submission

• Raw Analog Raw Analog (Score: 3, Informative) by RS3 on Saturday October 12 2019, @01:56AM (1 child)

  by RS3 (6367) on Saturday October 12 2019, @01:56AM (#906157)

  CRTs do not operate from a fixed pixel grid in the way an LCD does ...

  Not true!! There are a fixed quantity of color phosphor dots on the front of the screen. Three dots- red, green, and blue, form a pixel. They do look best at their native resolutions, and most adapt to alternate resolutions better than LCD / OLED, and I'm not sure why.

  Most CRT monitors are analog- no digital digitizing processing aliasing anti-aliasing upconverting downconverting etc. Just raw electrons and phosphor.

  CRTs can have display problems due to magnetic fields. Internal degaussing coil should neutralize most of it unless there's an ongoing external magnetic field. Also, they use magnets and electronic adjustments to cause proper "convergence"- where the electron beams land on the correct dots. IE, the red beam can hit some of the blue phosphor, etc., and the net result is color blotches, rainbows, blurring, etc. But most later CRT monitors are pretty stable. They can be fixed if something gets out of alignment.

  Also, the screen is quite tough and strong, unlike LCD.

  I still have several CRT monitors, a couple I use fairly often. I have one Sony 21" 2048 x something, and it looks great at any resolution.

  I was getting ready to pitch a few of my CRTs and now I think I'll see if there's a market. Thanks.

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• CRT Projectors FTW! (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 12 2019, @08:59AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday October 12 2019, @08:59AM (#906271)

  Except for the size and heat issue, takes care of all the nits picked on CRTs.
  3 tube CRT, no shadow mask since each tube is a solid expanse of phosphor with it's own lens.
  X-ray a non issue unless you're staring right at the tub.
  Mid 90s vintage high end projectors (NEC of course) can do 1080P at 70hz or better, ours was on a 120" screen.
  So what if you need to tweak the convergence every 6 months or so..

  Parent