Remember those big, bulky computer screens that sat on almost every desk? Those were CRT monitors, and for a long time, they were the only way to see what your computer was doing. Now, most people use flat screens, but CRTs still have a special place for some. Maybe you’re thinking about getting one, or perhaps you’re just curious about these old-school giants. It can be tough to figure out which CRT is best for you, especially when there are so many different kinds and some are quite old!
Choosing a CRT monitor today can feel like a treasure hunt. You might want one for its unique look, its fast response times for gaming, or its authentic feel for retro computing. But where do you even begin? What makes one CRT better than another? It’s easy to get lost in all the technical words and confusing choices. This guide is here to help you navigate the world of CRT monitors without the headache.
By the time you finish reading, you’ll understand what makes CRTs special, what to look for when buying one, and how to avoid common mistakes. We’ll break down the important features so you can confidently find the CRT that’s just right for your needs. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of cathode ray tube monitors!
Top Crt Computer Monitor Recommendations
- [GREAT FOR HOME AND OFFICE] 17 Inch monitor for PS3/PS4/Xbox 360/Switch, PC monitors, Laptop extend monitors.
- [LED Monitor] 1280X1024 native resolution screen. LED Screen 250 nits brightness. 1000:1 Contrast Ratio, Aspect Ratio Standard (5:4)
- [Interface]] HDMI is a future-proof video standard that delivers true digital picture and audio clarity.
- [User-Friendly Features&Flexible Connectivity]The VESA 100mm Wall Mount compliant feature allows you to have the monitor mounted on the wall with the appropriate mounting accessory.
- A 17-inch 5:4 monitor offers extra vertical space, ideal for editing documents, coding, or browsing. For camera adaptation, it’s perfect for photographers reviewing high-res images or videos, especially with square or medium format compositions. Its aspect ratio and color accuracy enhance precision in post-processing workflows.
- 【Your Mini Monitor Solution】 Haiway small monitors offers exceptional portability and competitive pricing. With clear user manuals provided, users can effortlessly connect various devices through different input ports. Moreover, all monitors are manufactured in our own factory, ensuring a level of quality and affordability that outshines the competition.
- 【Meeting a Variety of Needs】 Our 10.1 Inch Mini Monitor designed with multiple ports including HDMI, VGA, AV, BNC, USB. This small hdmi monitor provides convenient connectivity for various devices. Easily connect your computer, laptop, gaming console, camera, TV-Box or security camera and more, expanding the versatility of your setup.
- 【Unleash Your Visual Experience】 This impressive Haiway 10.1 inch security monitor with HD 1024*600 resolution, 400 cd/m2 brightness, 16:9 aspect ratio and wide viewing angle demonstrate a super-exclusive imaging capability and brings users a spectacular usage experience.
- 【Optimizing Your Space】 The small hdmi monitor can be easily mounted on the wall with the industry-standard VESA 75 mount (not include) Or mounted on the desktop by provided adjustable mount stand. The 178° wide-angle, provide a comprehensive view.
- 【Covering All Your Bases】 The small computer monitor with two built-in speakers, immerse yourself in an all-in-one entertainment experience. Come with conveniently remote control, allowing you to easily adjust the settings without ever leaving your seat. A coiled spring vehicle power cable, convenient for you to use in your car or truck.
- Vibrant Images: Crisp, true-to-life colors come alive in Full HD 1080p resolution. Movies and games appear more real and dramatic, and small details and text are clear with 1920x1080 resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio.
- Adaptive-Sync Support: Get fast refresh rates thanks to the Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible) product that matches the refresh rate of your monitor with your graphics card. The result is a smooth, tear-free experience in gaming and video playback applications.
- Up 100Hz Refresh Rate: The 100Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver an ultra-smooth 2D motion scene. With a rapid refresh rate of up to 100Hz, Acer Monitors shorten the time it takes for frame rendering, lower input lag and provide gamers an excellent in-game experience.
- Responsive!!: Fast response time of 1ms enhances the experience. Fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting.
- ZeroFrame Design: With a KB220Q monitor, you’ll want to see as much of the display as possible. Get more real estate with the near bezel-less design, allowing you to see more and do more. The ZeroFrame design lets you place multiple monitors next to each other for a seamless, almost uninterrupted view.
- Incredible Images: The Acer KB242Y G0bi 23.8" monitor with 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio presents stunning, high-quality images with excellent detail. The zero-frame design provides maximum visibility of the screen from edge-to-edge.
- Adaptive-Sync Support: Get fast refresh rates thanks to the Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible) product that matches the refresh rate of your monitor with your graphics card. The result is a smooth, tear-free experience in gaming and video playback applications.
- Responsive!!: Fast response time of 1ms enhances the experience. No matter the fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be all rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting. With up to 120Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver smooth 2D motion scenes.
- 23.8" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen IPS Monitor | Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible)
- Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz | Response Time: 1ms VRB | Brightness: 250 nits | Pixel Pitch: 0.275mm
- Incredible Images: The Acer KB272 G0bi 27" monitor with 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution in a 16:9 aspect ratio presents stunning, high-quality images with excellent detail.
- Adaptive-Sync Support: Get fast refresh rates thanks to the Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible) product that matches the refresh rate of your monitor with your graphics card. The result is a smooth, tear-free experience in gaming and video playback applications.
- Responsive!!: Fast response time of 1ms enhances the experience. No matter the fast-moving action or any dramatic transitions will be all rendered smoothly without the annoying effects of smearing or ghosting. With up to 120Hz refresh rate speeds up the frames per second to deliver smooth 2D motion scenes.
- 27" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen IPS Monitor | Adaptive-Sync Support (FreeSync Compatible)
- Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz | Response Time: 1ms VRB | Brightness: 250 nits | Pixel Pitch: 0.311mm
- 【INTEGRATED SPEAKERS】Whether you're at work or in the midst of an intense gaming session, our built-in speakers provide rich and seamless audio, all while keeping your desk clutter-free.
- 【EASY ON THE EYES】 Protect your eyes and enhance your comfort with Blue-Light Shift technology. This feature reduces harmful blue light emissions from your screen, helping to alleviate eye strain during long hours of use and promoting healthier viewing habits.
- 【WIDEN YOUR PERSPECTIVE】Our sleek minimal bezel design ensures undivided attention. The nearly bezel-free display seamlessly connects in a dual monitor arrangement, delivering an unobstructed view that lets you focus on more at once, completely distraction-free.
- [ FHD 1080P PORTABLE MONITOR ]: KYY using a 15.6''(8.8"x14.2") advanced IPS screen with 178° wide viewing angle, Delivers 1920*1080 breathtaking viewing quality and HDR technology, KYY portable gaming monitor has excellent color rendering ability, provide you the clearer, smooth, excellent performance in gaming/multimedia. It can effectively reduce blue light radiation damage, no flickering, eye-care, and make it easier to watch for a long time
- [ WIDE COMPATIBILITY ]: KYY portable monitor for laptop equipped with 2 Full Function Type-C ports and Mini-HDMI port, easy access to your favorite devices with 1 cable solution as long as your device support Thunderbolt 3 or 3.1 USB-Type-C, compatible with most laptop, smartphone, PC, PS4, XBOX and more.
- [ ULTRA-SLIM PORTABLE DISPLAY ]: KYY USB C portable monitor features a 0.3inch ultra-slim profile(1.7lb), it is easy to slides into your bag, allows you to carry it everywhere, ideal for a simple on-the-go dual-monitor setup or extend your phone screen for movies or games. No driver needed and equipped with 3.5mm audio inputs and 2 built-in stereo speakers to enhance entertainment experience
- [ DURABLE SMART COVER ]: Comes with a scratch-proof smart cover made of durable PU leather exterior, doubles as a stand, provides comprehensive protection and frameless magnetic design for this portable computer monitor. There are two grooves in the cover base to give at least some choice of viewing angle for your comfort for less cumbersome installation
- [ LIGHTWEIGHT BUT POWERFUL ]: KYY portable external monitor can work in both landscape and portrait mode, can be used as a gaming monitor, screen extender for laptop or phone. It has a unique designed Premium gray metal appearance, 2 built-in speakers to play audio, a friendly menu control wheel for setting, and 24/7 professional support team
- MSI's 21.45-inch Full HD VA gaming monitor (1920×1080) delivers an outstanding 4000:1 contrast ratio — producing significantly deeper blacks and richer shadow detail than IPS alternatives, with wide 178°/178° viewing angles for accurate colors from any position.
- TÜV Rheinland certified Flicker Free and Low Blue Light — eliminating the ~200Hz screen flicker common on standard monitors and reducing harmful blue light exposure to minimize eye strain and fatigue during extended gaming or work sessions.
- 120Hz high refresh rate delivers noticeably smoother motion and sharper tracking than standard 60Hz or 75Hz monitors — reducing screen tearing and stuttering for more fluid gameplay, streaming, and everyday computing on a 21.45-inch Full HD VA panel.
- MSI's built-in Eye-Q Check provides a vision assessment tool to help optimize display settings for healthier long-term viewing — designed for professionals and students spending extended hours in front of a Full HD VA screen.
- VESA 100×100mm wall mount compatibility provides full flexibility to mount on any standard monitor arm, wall bracket, or multi-monitor stand — saving desk space and enabling ergonomic positioning for a more comfortable gaming or work setup.
Choosing the Right CRT Computer Monitor: A Blast from the Past
CRT monitors, also known as cathode ray tube monitors, are the old-school computer screens that used to be in every home and office. While flat-panel LCDs and OLEDs are popular now, CRT monitors still have a special place for some users. This guide will help you find a great CRT monitor if you’re looking for one.
What to Look For in a CRT Monitor
Key Features to Consider
- Screen Size: CRTs come in various sizes. Bigger screens offer a more immersive experience. Think about how much space you have on your desk.
- Resolution: This tells you how many pixels are on the screen. Higher resolutions mean sharper images. For gaming or detailed work, aim for a higher resolution.
- Refresh Rate: This is how many times the screen updates per second. A higher refresh rate makes motion look smoother. Gamers often prefer high refresh rates to reduce motion blur.
- Dot Pitch: This measures the distance between pixels. A smaller dot pitch means a sharper image.
- Brightness and Contrast: These affect how vibrant and clear the picture looks. Good brightness and contrast make colors pop and details stand out.
Important Materials
CRT monitors are mostly made of glass, plastic, and metal. The glass screen is the most important part. It’s coated with phosphors that glow when hit by an electron beam. The plastic casing protects the inner workings. The metal parts provide structure and help with cooling.
Factors Affecting Quality
What Makes a CRT Monitor Great?
- High-Quality Electron Gun: This is the part that shoots electrons at the screen. A good electron gun creates a focused beam for sharp images.
- Uniform Phosphor Coating: The phosphors need to be spread evenly on the screen for consistent brightness and color.
- Good Internal Electronics: The circuits inside the monitor control the electron beam and display the image. Well-made electronics ensure accurate colors and stable images.
What Can Lower the Quality?
- Screen Burn-in: If a static image stays on the screen for too long, it can leave a permanent mark. This is called burn-in.
- Geometric Distortion: Sometimes the image might not be perfectly flat or square. This can happen with older or lower-quality CRTs.
- Flicker: Lower refresh rates can cause the screen to flicker, which can be tiring for your eyes.
User Experience and Use Cases
Who Uses CRT Monitors Today?
While not for everyone, CRT monitors are still loved by certain groups. Gamers who play older games often prefer CRTs for their low input lag and vibrant colors. Some graphic designers and artists also like the color accuracy and the unique look of CRT displays. People who collect vintage electronics might also seek them out.
For Gaming: CRTs excel at fast-paced games. They offer excellent motion handling and quick response times. This means less blur when things move fast on the screen. The colors can also be very rich and deep.
For Retro Enthusiasts: If you love playing old video games or using classic computer software, a CRT monitor brings back that authentic experience. The look and feel are just right.
For Specific Art & Design: Some professionals find that CRTs offer a color reproduction that is hard to match. They might use them for tasks where precise color is critical.
Downsides: CRTs are bulky and heavy. They also use more electricity than modern monitors. Finding a good working CRT today can be a challenge.
CRT Monitor FAQs
Q: Are CRT monitors still good for modern computers?
A: They can be, but it depends on your graphics card and the monitor’s capabilities. You might need adapters to connect them.
Q: Why do people still like CRT monitors for gaming?
A: They have very low input lag and excellent motion handling, which is great for fast games. The colors can also look very punchy.
Q: Can I fix screen burn-in on a CRT monitor?
A: Usually, screen burn-in is permanent and cannot be fixed.
Q: Are CRT monitors safe to use?
A: Yes, they are generally safe. However, they do contain a vacuum tube and can be heavy. Handle them with care.
Q: How do I clean a CRT monitor screen?
A: Use a soft, damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the screen coating.
Q: Where can I find a CRT monitor today?
A: You might find them at thrift stores, online marketplaces like eBay, or from collectors.
Q: Do CRT monitors use a lot of electricity?
A: Yes, they use more power than newer LCD or LED monitors.
Q: What is “ghosting” on a CRT monitor?
A: Ghosting is similar to burn-in, where a faint image remains visible after it’s no longer on the screen.
Q: Is it hard to find replacement parts for CRT monitors?
A: Yes, it can be very difficult to find replacement parts as they are no longer widely manufactured.
Q: What are the benefits of a CRT over an LCD for certain tasks?
A: Benefits include better motion clarity, lower input lag, and sometimes more natural color reproduction for specific applications.