LCD monitors more intensive than CRT?

[Unfocused]

It's been almost two weeks since I stopped using my PC with a CRT monitor and switched to a laptop with a backlight LCD (I don't even know if that's anything specific or a standard - "backlight" I mean). I find it more intensive than a CRT monitor.

In the GPU settings I lowered brigthness from default 50% to 40% and gamma from 1.00 to 0.60. I'm also using the 2/10 hardware brigthness setting of the monitor (10/10 being the default when it's plugged in and at max efficiency level - it's almost like staring at a lightbulb).

Yet still, especially when I'm looking at something with a bright/white background, it's a bit of a strain for the eyes. I don't want to go with the settings to far from the default ones, because I wouldn't want colors to look unnatural etc.

Anyone else suffered from this after switching from CRT to LCD?

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

An LCD monitor is too bright for you? Do you have one of these?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photophobia#Causes
(I kid, I kid)

Either your monitor is a real force-a-nature or what, I don't know. What is the manufacturer?

 

[No Limit]

A CRT will dim over time, so will an LCD. So if you have a old CRT and a new LCD it will appear a lot brighter as it is a lot newer. Over time the LCD will dim. How the brightness of a new LCD actually compares to a new CRT I'm not sure, I would guess that LCDs are a bit brighter.

 

[Asus]

The brightness and tint make a difference. Going from CRT to LCD get away from the annoying refresh rate (if you use 60Hz anyway). But going to LCD the color changes a bit too. The color of the light it gives off. One reason people who need color accuracy for editing didn't like LCDs at first.

HardOCP had a product review on this same topic.
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTY1MCwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9Na8BK3-sg

 

[VirusType2]

A new monitor will be much brighter. Make sure you don't have any glare on the screen. A light source should be placed behind the monitor so the contrast doesn't hurt your eyes or cause glare.

 

[Narcolepsy]

I know what you mean. I hated my LCD monitor at first for reasons like this. But you will get used to it, trust me. That said, LCD technology is a pain and I can't wait until we move on - the backlight is just a problem, both for the lightbulb effect that you mention, and the grey-ish blacks (because you can't fully block that backlight).

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

I know what you mean. I hated my LCD monitor at first for reasons like this. But you will get used to it, trust me. That said, LCD technology is a pain and I can't wait until we move on - the backlight is just a problem, both for the lightbulb effect that you mention, and the grey-ish blacks (because you can't fully block that backlight).

I can't wait either. I was a hold-out and ended up getting a really nice Samsung CRT monitor that I think could do 120Hz at 1600x1200 and have an LCD that sucks balls right now. Waiting on OLED and frankly getting a little impatient

 

[VirusType2]

I've never owned an LCD because I've been waiting for something better also. But I really want a widescreen and so I've been tempted to get a 24" Samsung LCD for a couple years.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Should've gotten it a couple years ago then
Though sounds like OLED monitors are coming out this year so now I guess you might as well wait. Assuming it won't be over the top pricing.

 

[VirusType2]

Should've gotten it a couple years ago then

But I didn't want to spend that much.

Though sounds like OLED monitors are coming out this year so now I guess you might as well wait. Assuming it won't be over the top pricing.

Wow, really?

Shame, but the price can't start coming down until they come out. lol

I do wonder what kind of prices to expect.

 

[Unfocused]

Hm, maybe it's the fact that it's new then. Cause the screen doesn't bother me on my father's laptop, which is a few years old. On the other hand, my LCD is the glossy type, while his is matte, or whatever you'd call it. I wonder if that can be a factor?

 

[VirusType2]

The monitor should have brightness and contrast controls, have you tried those?

In the morning, I sometimes need to turn them way down and slowly increase them as I wake up, even though my monitor is a 10 year old CRT.

 

[Saturos]

The problem your experiencing is simple. An LCD's contrast level cannot match a CRT. Never has, never will.

I'm using an LCD, but only out of necessity. Purely because it's almost impossible to find CRT's anymore.
I hate LCD monitors and even I'm using one of the best money can buy right now with a native resolution that won't bog down my GPUs.

I hope OLED is released soon with contrasts and color richness that rivals a CRT.

 

[Dinnesch]

My eyes always started burning after ~1 hour of using a CRT, so when I got a LCD it was a great improvement. Maybe it was related to the refresh rate(60Hz), because turning down the brightness didn't improve it.
I can't wait for OLED monitors to come(and it's price to drop), because it will have the advantages of both CRT and LCD.

 

[Saturos]

I never had any problems with eye strain and the CRT refresh rate. I've always been one with my PC.

 

[Warbie]

Maybe it was related to the refresh rate(60Hz), because turning down the brightness didn't improve it.

That's the problem - 60hz is fit inducingly low on a crt. You want around 85 to 100.

I'm also eargerly waiting for OLED. There isn't an lcd around that comes close to my Sony FW900 when it comes to handling motion and picture quality - it's just a same it's the size of a small house!

 

[Unfocused]

The monitor should have brightness and contrast controls, have you tried those?

Yeah, I wrote in my post, that I was using the 2/10 hardware brightness setting. No hardware contrast setting AFAIK.

I may be getting used to it, though. But I stay below 5/10 hardware brightness all the time; at night, when there's only artifical light in the room, it's usually 0-2/10.