Has my monitor seen better days?

TangyZizzle

I'v a feeling my monitor has seen better days and it's about to die on me. An example of the problems I'm looking at right now. If you were to have a white web page with a large black square in the centre, the black would seem like it were painted on and someone had wiped it to the right.. as in.. the black seems smudged.
And a new problem I'v just noticed while typing this. There is a solid black bar going down the length of the right side of the screen.

Give it to me straight computer people - Is it time to invest in a new monitor?

I'v had this one since December 2007 or there abouts.

fionny

Probably, the solid black bar sounds like dead pixels tbh.

Purely out of curiosity what make is the monitor?

TangyZizzle

It doesn't say anywhere on it, but I'm assuming it's a Compaq since that's what the computer is.

fionny

No worries was just curious it does sound like its dying though, you can pick up a decent one for small money these days, try amazon.co.uk (surprisingly good value for computer parts and brilliant customer service) or komplett.ie, pixmania.ie

Just avoid places like argos and pc world where you'll pay over the odds.

TangyZizzle

Lovely. I was just about to post asking where I could get one for a good price. Adverts.ie isn't quite cutting it. Cheers.

fionny

No worries, Id suggest a samsung panel if at all possible as they are quite good and have a 3 year warranty on them.

wing52

OP you could try a website called www.fossiltoys.com

There's a monitor test card/s there.

Would eliminate a duff graphics card ect.

Worth a shot.

TangyZizzle

I cant find that site, buddy.

TangyZizzle

So...

I unplugged it then plugged it back in and it's grand. But in saying that - it was grand when I turned it on today but after a while it went weird again.

Im hoping this means its just the monitor thats bandy and not the computer itself.

ricman

go to the monitor menu, settings, degauss , click that, when the monitor is on ,switch the pc off first.OR try monitor, menu, reset to factory settings.How old is your pc.IS it a lcd monitor.

TangyZizzle

Its an LCD bought in December 07ish.

Overheal

ricman wrote: »

go to the monitor menu, settings, degauss , click that, when the monitor is on ,switch the pc off first.OR try monitor, menu, reset to factory settings.How old is your pc.IS it a lcd monitor.

Degaussing? That was for CRT monitors. Which used magnets to guide the cathode ray. Degaussing reset the magnetic field, basically. No such feature (or need of a feature) exists for LCD and LED.

So OP you have a 4 year old screen that was manufactured on the cheap, which is basically what compaq is: HP's sub-brand for Cheap. Just like Dell has a sub-brand for expensiveness: Alienware. Probably a good bet to invest in a decent screen. Im having good luck so far with my Samsung screen, and I recommend the newer LED panels for several reasons, they're easier on the eyes, the screen has much better control over white and dark contrast, and you dont rely on a single fluorescent lightbar to drive the screen: if one LED were to crap out, you'd still be able to function.

Even if the screen keeps functioning for a while, in buying a new one you can dual-screen for a while until it dies completely. Rather than wait for it to die and then have your PC incapacitated while you get a new one.

fionny

I read the degauss one on my phone last night and had to chuckle to myself a the memories of a day gone by... leaving speakers too close to the screen!

Korvanica

That ghosting wont go away OP. And it'll keep getting worse.

Its not a Philips monitor is it? Seen a lot of problems with ghosting on them.

I'd say its time to retire it. Or use it as a secondary monitor, for watchin movies while you use the computer...

Overheal

Its not a Philips monitor is it?

Worse: Compaq

Khannie

I have a decent sony 21" CRT that you can have free o' charge if you like? (it's dell branded, but a trinitron monitor). It's capable of 1600x1200 @ 85hz.

Overheal

Just thinking about CRT monitors makes me think of Bourne Identity and how horribly out of place they were.

Khannie

LOL!

TangyZizzle

No problems from when I turned it off and on yesterday until now. Everythings looking peachy :P