Flat screen versus old style monitor

**davemfi** · 05-18-2009, 08:01 PM

Firstly please forgive my ignorance.

I have been enjoying Microsoft Flight Simulator since FS98 (and even earlier, however can't remember the title)

For 4 and a bit years, I have been running FS2004 on my old technology PC and monitor with a great deal of success (in comparison.) However with the size of new aircraft and scenery files ever increasing, it had become obvious I would soon require an upgrade of graphics card, processor etc which I subsequently have done.

I have purchased a new system form Arbico Ltd UK, and all works fine. Now FS2004 seems so much smoother/faster which was my goal. With the package, I recieved an edge10 19" LCD Flat screen monitor, which for everyday use at the moment is very good, however when I load FS2004 the graphics don't seem the best.

The main graphics issue is that the images, the aircraft and scenery, appear not sharp and seem merged and blocky especailly when viewed at any sort of zoom.

I think it must be a monitor or resolution problem as even though my almost 5 year old PC was slow at times the graphics were still very sharp although slightly jerky which I put down to the performance of the PC.

Again, I really don't know much about PC's and the like, I was advised by my dad that this system and package was the best for my needs. It seems that on the face of things, my new PC, which is so much superior in every way, plugged in to my old monitor would bring the best out of my new FS2004 experience. Of course I would love nothing better than being able to utilise the new 'box' with the new 'screen.'

It was suggested to me that Flat screens monitor might never have the clarity of old type monitors but i'm not sure this is completely true or they surely would never have superceded(?) 'old style' monitors.

I wil try to find out my exact specs of the PC if needed but here is what I know about the monitor.

edge10 19" Flat screen LCD monitor
Windows Xp (operating in 1440 x 900 if that matters)

Any ideas what I can try...please

Cheers
Dave

***loki*** · 05-18-2009, 09:08 PM

Make sure you are using the monitor's native resolution (probably 1440x900 in your case) in the sim. LCD monitors use a fixed grid of liquid crystals to display the image. Any other resolution that does not fit this grid will either have to be stretched to fit, or kept at the correct size while being centered in the screen. At the native resolution an LCD monitor will be just as sharp as an old CRT monitor.

**azur** · 05-21-2009, 06:48 AM

I've found that CRT monitors tend to appear to have more 'depth'. This is more perception than anything else, but given that CRT's dont have defined rectangular pixels like LCD's, it does make sense in a way as the picture is inherently smoothed to a small degree.

If you use 2D panels, they may be designed for lower resolutions and as a result they are stretched for the higher resolution LCD.

**CessnaFlyer** · 06-01-2009, 08:24 PM

ewww. i was considering an lcd for less glare on the screen in the day time. but i think this post saved from doing so. lol

**ThrottleUp** · 06-30-2009, 06:07 PM

I was a big CRT user and had two 20" CRTs on my desk. No doubt they gave excellent image-quality for flight simulation.

But I just could not ignore the flats and then one day it was too much. I spotted two 20" LCDs on sale and bought them both. The CRTs I gave to a 2nd hand shop.

Never looked back. I too was concerned about native res but the worry was for nothing because flight sim looks brilliant on these flats. And the latest flats have massive resolutions.

Do not dismiss LCDs...once you see the immersion a 24" Samsung or Dell flat gives - thats it you will be simming till you fall over

Just thought Id mention this since I was a HUGE CRT-simmer!!

**CessnaFlyer** · 07-01-2009, 09:10 AM

well that sounds like it might be neat to try once. but what about image buring into the screen? on a crt ya don't have to worrie about that. but like on an lcd if you play fs04 for a while then turn it off will the picture remain on the screen for a while? and then go away?

***loki*** · 07-01-2009, 10:58 AM

Burn in has always been a problem with CRTs, though not as bad with the more recent models. This is why screensavers were first created. LCDs can suffer from something similar, though it's cause is different.

http://compreviews.about.com/od/moni.../LCDBurnIn.htm

The only area that CRTs beat LCDs these days is in generating blacks. Due to having a backlight, none can quite produce a true black. Some of the high models are gettings close enough on this as well.

A problem with comparing LCDs and CRTs is that most of the LCD models you see in stores are based on the cheap TN panel technology. These have great response times, but aren't very good with colours. Monitors based on S-IPS and PVA/MVA are far better with colour, but cost more and are harder to find at local shops.

Give this article a read:

http://www.anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=3584

Unless one insists on having the absolute best colour reproduction, there aren't many reasons to not go with LCDs anymore.

**CessnaFlyer** · 07-01-2009, 11:05 AM

oh ok. yeah i found that to be true about the colors with a freinds laptop it was nasty to make his flightsim run. graphics wise.

***loki*** · 07-01-2009, 11:31 AM

Almost all laptops use the cheap TN panels. There are very few that don't, and they tend to be pricy models geared towards graphic design, not running games.