Summary
Thebest gaming monitoris probably going to be the latest and greatest available, right? While we are going through a display renaissance with monitors offeringincredibly fast refresh rates, stunning colors, andnearly unnoticeable input lag, a strong community still prefers a classic CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitor for their PC gaming setup. But why would anyone in their right mind choose a monitor that was released over 20 years ago and takes multiple adapters to use with a modern PC?
While it might seem contradictory to how tech is supposed to perform, CRT monitors can actually offer better gaming performance in some use cases. For retro gamers in particular, it is one of the few true ways to experience games of your childhood in the modern age.
Advantages of a CRT Monitor For Gaming
As long as you are willing to explore eBay and second-hand marketplaces to find a working CRT monitor in decent condition, there are a few advantages to using a CRT monitor for retro gaming (and in some cases, even modern gaming). While many CRT specs might not be dazzling on paper, once you actually get one in front of you, it is hard to deny how fun it is to game on one of these monitors.
One of the most significant advantages for gamers across the board is the incredibly low input latency. The exact number can vary from model to model, but for the most part, CRT monitors have near-zero input latency compared to the best LCD monitors, which usually sit around one to two ms of input lag.
In modern competitive games, this quicker input latency is not as noticeable because many modern games are made with a bit of input lag in mind, but when it comes to retro titles, this is key to having an excellent gaming experience. Even when playing emulators, CRT monitors make games feel like the original platform; there is no disconnect like when playing on all modern hardware.
Keeping with the immersive experience, CRTs' second most touted advantage is the natural and stunning color performance. CRTs tend to struggle more in harsh lighting conditions than their LCD counterparts, but in the right lighting conditions, the colors on a CRT offer the perfect retro vibe that blends so well with tons of games. Games with retro designs, likeHotline MiamiorThe Binding of Isaac, feel right at home when played on a CRT, but more surprisingly, even modern games likeRed Dead Redemption 2look amazing when played on a CRT. Granted, you will lose some resolution fidelity with modern AAA games, but as long as you are willing to sacrifice that, the color performance is outstanding for a piece of hardware that is 20 years old.
Disadvantages of a CRT Monitor For Gaming
Before you bid on that CRT you found on eBay, you should know it’s not all roses for CRT monitors. Made before many display standards like HDMI and DisplayPort were invented, hooking up a CRT monitor to a modern PC is quite a process that is not for the faint of heart. There are two paths you can go down to hook a CRT to your computer: using a display converter or installing a second GPU in your system that has native support for VGA or DVI inputs.
Video adapters like this one are not hard to use, but they can introduce lag and become unreliable fairly quickly. An older GPU, on the other hand, is cheap and provides a more reliable experience. However, you will need to mess with some Windows settings to use two separate display drivers, one for your modern monitor and the other GPU for your CRT monitor. However, it should be good to go after you get it set up the first time.
Secondly, if you were born before 2008, you have probably seen a CRT in person, and you know that no matter how small they are, these displays take up a lot of space. They can also be quite heavy. If you want a minimalist setup or don’t have a ton of desk space, a CRT monitor is not the way to go.
Finally, there is always a risk with buying used tech, especially when pretty much every CRT monitor you are going to find came out before 2010. There is no guarantee these displays will be in perfect working condition or how much life they have left. CRTs are known for burning out after a lot of use, so while everything might look amazing on the listing, a hefty purchase of a nice CRT monitor can be flushed down the toilet in a year or two.
Should You Get a CRT For Gaming?
If we are talking by modern standards and creature comforts, CRT monitors are definitely not worth it for most gamers, but that is not to say they are not a good investment for some. Even if CRT monitors don’t deliver the best performance when compared with the raw benchmarks of a modern LCD monitor, the experience of a CRT monitor is hard to compete with. There is only so much a modern display can do to look retro or produce similar colors to a CRT, whereas CRTs can just do it with base settings.
Whether you are looking for incredibly low input latency or just want to remember how gaming was when you were younger, CRT displays are truly a magical way to instantly improve the retro vibe of your setup. While Game Rant would not recommend using a CRT as your only monitor for your setup, as a secondary display, or in conjunction with a modern display, a CRT monitor is worth considering if your gaming setup lacks a retro element.
FAQ
Q: What is a CRT monitor?
A CRT monitor (Cathode Ray Tube) is a glass vacuum tube screen containing a charged cathode. Like LCD monitors, each displays red, green, or blue to create millions of colors; the cathode projects three electron guns, one each for red, green, and blue phosphor dots. When electricity is applied to them, these electron guns shoot rays onto a fluorescent screen, creating images.
Q: Are CRT monitors still used?
While new CRT monitors have not been manufactured for years, the retro gaming community has kept them alive. Now, even outside the retro gaming community, they are finding their way back onto desks. This probably won’t result in new CRT monitors being made, but who’s to say? Companies like Pentax are making new film cameras again; good retro tech will never fully die out.
