Difference between a CRT and a TN?

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RuSty13

Limp Gawd
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I am looking for a large monitor to use for graphic design.

I am looking for a 24" - 26".
Currently I have a 19" CRT (Viewsonic E90)


I quite comfortable working on my CRT, with color accuracy and all that.

So my question is: What will the difference be going from a CRT like this to a TN panel?





Thanks,
-RuSty
 
Worse colours, worse viewing angles, terrible colour-reproduction, poor blacks, hellish brightness whereby turning down the brightness makes the colours even worse... do I need to go on? :)

I tolerate the TN screen on my laptop, but for my desktop system I'm sticking with my big, clunky CRTs (20" & 19").

Since you mentioned graphics design, stay the hell away from TN panels!!! TN panels are completely, utterly unsuitable for any graphics work as they can not reproduce colours with any degree of accuracy. You could look at MVA or IPS style panels, but expect them to be a lot more expensive. For a 'decent' LCD you could use for graphics, expect to pay at least $400-500. If you're lucky.
 
Elledan said:
TN panels are completely, utterly unsuitable for any graphics work as they can not reproduce colours with any degree of accuracy.
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+1. 6-bit color and dithering make that kind of work absolutely impossible. Sometimes you'll see comments that such-and-such TN panel actually displays color well, but that is only in comparison to other TNs.

Expect to pay over $600 for an LCD monitor with decent color accuracy. There are VA panels that are cheaper but they tend to cut some serious corners in quality control.
 
RuSty13 said:
I am looking for a large monitor to use for graphic design.

I am looking for a 24" - 26".
Currently I have a 19" CRT (Viewsonic E90)


I quite comfortable working on my CRT, with color accuracy and all that.

So my question is: What will the difference be going from a CRT like this to a TN panel?


Thanks,
-RuSty
Click to expand...

It's hard to say. Looking at your CRT it isn't a high-end unit like a Sony GDM-F series or equivalent. If you don't calibrate and profile its colours with a hardware calibrator, adjust the flyback focus semi-regularly etc.... it's hard to say just how "good" what you're currently seeing is. If your monitor is in good working order, the biggest thing you'll probably notice is that the LCD is sharper but black is grey at best. Depending on just how crappy a TN you're looking at, you might see gamma shift just by looking around the screen without even moving off to the side. It gets really fun when your left and right eye see different gammas - talk about eye strain.
 
I went from a CRT to a TN panel, and I was quite happy with the switch. Although, my CRT's weren't top notch, but going to TN was certainly an upgrade.

People here slam TN panels as if they're the worst thing ever created. They're really not bad, especially when you consider the price. I do plan to get IPS panels in the future, but I'll wait till I hit the lottery for that.

My TN panels have decent color reproduction, and yes, I've compared them to other displays with VA panels. In some cases, the VA panels I've looked at weren't even "that" much better, if any at all. IPS on the other hand... yeah I saw a bit of a difference there. But considering the price, it's not a big deal... to me, anyway.

What you have to do is go look at the monitor in person and pose an opinion off that. I bought my monitor (TN panel) on impulse because I was so shocked at how decent it looked for being a TN panel.

It's your eyes, your wallet, and your own opinion. If you need a monitor to do basic stuff and/or gaming, go check out some TN panels and see if they'll work for you. If you've got a fat wallet and/or a need for great color accuracy, just skip the TN panel section and head on over to find a VA or IPS.
 
Elledan said:
Worse colours, worse viewing angles, terrible colour-reproduction, poor blacks, hellish brightness whereby turning down the brightness makes the colours even worse... do I need to go on? :)

Since you mentioned graphics design, stay the hell away from TN panels!!! TN panels are completely, utterly unsuitable for any graphics work as they can not reproduce colours with any degree of accuracy.
Click to expand...

Over the top complete sheepish repeated nonsense.

Unless you are doing serious professional graphics design a TN screen is likely fine. A decent TN screen will probably have much better looking color than your old CRT. I know mine did. The only real problem with a decent TN is the viewing angle. I have my TN sitting next to me calibrated NEC 2490 semi pro graphics monitor. No one notices any difference in the color between them, they are impressed by how good both of them look.

I usually then point out the viewing angle deficiencies in the TN to partially explain why I paid 4x the price for a nice IPS monitor. Most people think I am nuts when a TN panel works just fine and looks so good.

BTW laptop screens often actually really do only have 6bit color. TN desktops with FRC OTOH have 8bit color they just get it a different way.

Bottom line though, only each individual can ultimately determine what works for them.
 
Snowdog said:
Unless you are doing serious professional graphics design
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He is doing graphics design. The OP said that in the first line of the post.

If either you or RoastedTiresX ever actually needed to do any color matching, you'd find out just what is wrong with TNs. But, clearly, you haven't, and likely don't even know what it means.

Please do not claim that TNs have 8-bit color. That is just WRONG.
 
evilsofa said:
Expect to pay over $600 for an LCD monitor with decent color accuracy. There are VA panels that are cheaper but they tend to cut some serious corners in quality control.
Click to expand...

I have the answer: HP LP2475W. It's not even a VA panel...it's an LG.Display H-IPS panel!!! Amazing color reproduction, wide NTSC gamut (102% according to HP, 92% NTSC according to other websites), low input lag (25ms), excellent contrast stability, excellent all-around monitor.
 
evilsofa said:
He is doing graphics design. The OP said that in the first line of the post.

If either you or RoastedTiresX ever actually needed to do any color matching, you'd find out just what is wrong with TNs. But, clearly, you haven't, and likely don't even know what it means.

Please do not claim that TNs have 8-bit color. That is just WRONG.
Click to expand...

I used to do photo editing. I know all about color accuracy, calibration, blah blah blah, so don't bother trying to stump me on that topic. The truth is, I don't mess with photo stuff anymore as I've grown to new interests with computers. I acknowledge the fact that with photo editing, a TN panel may not be the best choice. But, that doesn't take away from the fact that I believe there are some individuals on here who go out of their way to slam TN panels to the point that it sounds like a TN panels offer less color than a black and white TV can produce. But that's not the case AT ALL I've found. But I won't be naive to simple facts... photo editing = avoid TN, we all know that. But buying a TN panel shouldn't be considered taboo. I own 3 of them and use 2 in dual screen and the other on a spare computer. I couldn't be happier... unless you can find me a pair of IPS panels that are under 400 bucks. Haaaaa. :rolleyes:
 
evilsofa said:
He is doing graphics design. The OP said that in the first line of the post.

If either you or RoastedTiresX ever actually needed to do any color matching, you'd find out just what is wrong with TNs. But, clearly, you haven't, and likely don't even know what it means.
Click to expand...

Judging by his monitor currently in use, he was not doing professional graphic design. Most TNs would be an improvement.
 
evilsofa said:
He is doing graphics design. The OP said that in the first line of the post.

If either you or RoastedTiresX ever actually needed to do any color matching, you'd find out just what is wrong with TNs. But, clearly, you haven't, and likely don't even know what it means.

Please do not claim that TNs have 8-bit color. That is just WRONG.
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed TN panels to be anywhere near as bad as some people make them out to be.

We use TN panels for graphic design work, and it doesn't seem to be a problem. With calibration and the proper knowledge, they work just fine.
 
I had my brothers Samsung 2232BW LCD (TN panel) sitting next to my FW900 CRT and although the LCD is brighter and sharper that's where the positives ended .. We both couldn't believe how much better photo's looked on the CRT no matter how much we tried calibrating the LCD and the difference in black level performance between the two was staggering. I don't think a lot of people realise what an impact poor black levels have on overall image quality.

Personally I cant stand TN panel's limited viewing angle, when calibrating the monitor moving your head even a slight bit off dead center causes the gamma to change!
 
mathesar said:
Personally I cant stand TN panel's limited viewing angle, when calibrating the monitor moving your head even a slight bit off dead center causes the gamma to change!
Click to expand...

That's pretty much the primary reason not to use TN for graphics work. If the only position in which the panel is calibrated is 90 degrees straight from the center horizontally and vertically, then every position of your eyes not in that exact same location will be 'wrong'.

My housemate has two TN LCDs and I regularly work on the same desk next to him. As he has larger (19") panels, the flaws in TN are even more obvious. It's fun to rest my head on my arms for a bit while having them on the desk and observing his LCDs from that low angle. Both screens look like the image is rendered in negative :)

A CRT's image will be exactly the same, no matter from which angle you look. That alone is why I put more weight on CRT calibration than that of any LCD.
 
RuSty13 said:
I am looking for a large monitor to use for graphic design.

I am looking for a 24" - 26".
Currently I have a 19" CRT (Viewsonic E90)


I quite comfortable working on my CRT, with color accuracy and all that.

So my question is: What will the difference be going from a CRT like this to a TN panel?


Thanks,
-RuSty
Click to expand...

Any accountable advisor should tell you right away: 24-26" TN monitors are something opposite to graphic design.
Forget about them.
Vertical angle color shift is built-in defect and there is no cure for that.
From http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/:
laxr5.jpg

On top of color shift and 6-bit dithering, TN monitors are budget oriented, utilize the cheapest electronics and are the least equipped with image management features.

PVA/MVA monitors have horizontal angle color shift (loss of dark details from direct view). This defect is less obvious than vertical angle shift on TNs but still not good for graphic design. Horizontal color shift is PVA/MVA built-in defect and is not curable either.

Identical photos look differently on the same VA screen at the same time as viewing angles differ:
38445875lq5.jpg


You need to look for IPS-based monitor.
There are just a few attention-worthy models in the consumer market.
You also need to understand the difference between standard (sRGB) color gamut and wide color gamut monitors.

The first group consists of one monitor that is the best choice overall - NEC 2490WUXi.
The second group has it's leader NEC 2690WUXi and possible lower quality substitutes HP2475w, Planar 2611w.

Note.
The first group may be conditionally extended:
21" NEC 2190UXi - the King of 1600x1200
23" Apple Cinema - simply panel but old reliable
24" Apple Cinema (preliminary overviews) - glossy newborn, has strict connectivity limitation. Simply panel as well.

Note.
We have seen many people like this "I-am-in-the-market-to-look-for-a-good-sport-car-and-buy-Toyota-Yaris" in this forum and wasted much time on them.
If you are that person: disregard this post, go to your local grocery store and buy your graphic design monitor.
If you are not that person: organize your budget and buy what is suggested.
 
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