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| Thread ID: 14038 | 2001-12-27 03:18:00 | Monitor lifespans | Guest (0) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 28730 | 2001-12-27 03:18:00 | Question: what is a'typical' lifespan of a monitor? I have a Phillips 15B which I think has died yesterday (clicking sound, no video). Friend recommended a repair shop but charges $73 for inspection (whether monitor is serviceable or not). Is it worth it or should I go for a new one? |
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| 28731 | 2001-12-27 04:16:00 | Well, it really depends on your needs, for example, I've got a very old (5-6 years old) Compaq SVGA monitor, and still works well, excellent should I say! Getting it inspected is quite expensive, if there were any problem, I'm pretty sure it would be 100-200 dollars. Because from the inspection price, I assume the people are ripping you off. Where abouts are you. I don't believe the inspection takes more than one hour, so if it was at a guy in North Shore, AKL it would only take about 30 dollars. You should check your computer before you take it to the repair guy, because it could be your video card thats the problem or other stuff, if you have access to another computer, even if it means taking it down the road to another family's house, borrow their main computer box and plug in to that and see if it goes. from past experience I can still remember a relative with blank screen after a virus hit, can't remember if it was just the monitor or what. So like I say, get it check with another computer if you can. If there really is a problem, unless if your monitor is a LCD or is so new and powerful and expensive etc. then either buy a second hand monitor, or get a new one (if you can afford it -but should not if your machine is very old) or if you are getting a computer just leave it there or sell the stuff you have left (even the monitor if you like -just say selling as it is...) If the machine you're using this one is newer then you could (if you can afford it) buy a new one or upgrade to a more powerful larger one. So it is really up to you to decide what you want to do with it, but do get it checked with another computer first. As with the lifespan I do not have a clue, wish somebody could tell me! Hope my advice helps, |
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| 28732 | 2001-12-27 04:49:00 | Haven't you seen the 'Limited Lifetime Guarantee' you get with floppies? When it dies, the guarantee expires.;<) A monitor should last a few years. If the 'clicking sound' is 'tick ... tick ... tick ...', and the power LED is flashing in synch with that, something is shorted and this is shutting the power supply down. If it is 'SPLAT' there's an EHT fault ... The trouble is that repairs are economic only if you have a (competent) friend or can do it yourself. At the rates a shop has to charge to cover their costs even a simple fault is going to cost big money. Though $73 to open thre case seems high. Second-hand 15' monitors don't cost that much. That might be the cheapest fix. |
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| 28733 | 2001-12-27 05:50:00 | It's Xmas, go and get a brand new 17', you will never look back. It doesn't matter how old your computer is, when you come to upgrade you will already have the monitor. You might need a new graphics card as well. If you are not sure, tell us what you have now, and what you use the computer for, and we will give you some advice. |
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| 28734 | 2001-12-27 06:00:00 | Well Tom, after the usual cracks about how long is a piece of string, monitor lifetimes are not that hard to guesstimate. Firstly, a monitor is no more than a TV set without the RF/IF front end so the usual TV lifespan can be expected. However, in my experience the CRTs in monitors seem to be manufactured to a higher standard than those in your average TV and for users who never turn their computer/monitor off, a lifespan of 3 to 4 years can be expected before the image gets dim, out of focus or develops an unacceptable tint. I find that 14-15' monitors screens will usually last longer than bigger screens and 19' or 20' monitors may only last 2.5 to 3 years before the image quality deteriorates to an unacceptable level. If you never turn your monitor off then three years might just about be your lot. Three years of full time running is about 26,000 hours and the rated life of the tube is probably less than 20,000 hours. (The average TV tube is rated for 10-15,000 hours.) There is a minor trade-off between the effects of switching on only when needed and the effects of leaving on all the time, but turning off daily usually provides considerably better life in terms of years, if not total hours. Moderate use could see a monitor last 10 years or more. Taking care not to operate at full brilliance and/or contrast will also considerably prolong the CRT life. Monitors that go into standby after a period of inactivity are the best bet and they should give excellent life. Electronic failures are another matter and can happen at any time between taking it out of the box and never. If you get through the first three months and don't keep the computer in a damp or over-hot environment you can expect a trouble-free life of at least 4 years. Keeping the ventilation holes free of dust and not standing things on top that block the airflow is also important. And the answer to the age old question 'How long is a piece of string?' That is easy, it's exactly twice the distance from one end to the middle! Cheers Billy 8-{) |
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| 28735 | 2001-12-27 06:43:00 | Generally the Life span is rated in Hours Typically 5-6 thousand. Runnning 8 hours a day during a working week makes for 3years..Hence the 3 year warrenty..A domestic user can expect 5 years.. The main factor for failing mointors at that age is the drying up of Electolitic capacitors and this is an age thing more than use. As for your monitor I would suspect the main 'chopper' Transistor that feeds off the EHT..a common cause for this is running your refresh rate higher than recommended manufactors rate.. Good Luck ==Orac== |
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| 28736 | 2001-12-27 09:23:00 | Well, they just don't make them like they used to. I have just replaced (and only because it only displays at 640x480 at 16bit) the monitor on my wife's computer... it was bought in 1989 and the only thing wrong is that we've had to replace the switch 4 times. And its been used a LOT (way back when I was talking to people online via BBSs on my 1200bps modem every night...) 3 years is nothing... I wish I didn't have to upgrade it :) |
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| 28737 | 2001-12-27 09:55:00 | and i'm forever amazed people still use 20+ year old tv's....go K9 ;-) | Guest (0) | ||
| 28738 | 2002-01-01 20:04:00 | Firstly, thanks guys/gals for the excellent replies. Yes, I took K O's advice and got another Philips - 107S. It was the right price-point for my budget. The reason I posted the question in the first place was because I felt I got good value out of the old Brilliance 15A and I am hoping that there was still a bit more life left in it as the most of you seem to suggest with electrolytic caps drying out etc. Those caps sure bring back memories (now where did I leave that soldering iron ???). My old man back home had a 26' B&W Zenith running for 15yrs which gave 5 more yrs of good telly after a savvy tech replaced all dried up paper and oil caps. Graham described the symptoms accurately - problem is, I don't know how much I'll get charged to have it fixed and whether the other parts are on the way out. I did not want to spend say, $150 this time and then another $150 a year later when I can easily and economically upgrade with no down time and get the benefits starting today. Yes - the lady said there was a $73 inspection fee!!! Email me if you want to avoid the little rippers. I also intend to get an AGP card, but maybe a few weeks later - gotta give the plastic some rest otherwise it melts from HOS holiday overuse syndrome ;) I run circa w95 w98 games on a 233MMX plus some low-end scanning so no need for those graphic cards-cum-bakery oven for me. The cheapest AGP with 32Mb should be fine (I'm after the videoram more than the anything else - doubt my games are coded for AGP). Billy T - I enjoyed the feedback on total service hrs (MTBF ???); that was what I had in mind when I say 'typical lifespan'. I got 6 yrs out of the monitor at approx 4hrs ave daily BUT WITH APPROX 3-4 ON/OFF CYCLES. ie, youngest plays with Barbie for 1hr, switch it off, big sister wants to netchat 4ever so switches it on but is told off after 1.5, young son wants to blast a few aliens, Mom has to work O/T - you get my drift. Come to think of it, the frequent cycles may have contributed plus the fact that my son wanted his games a bit brighter (must be the fading B T was referring to altho not very noticeable - kid just wants his blasts in full glory/gory). Heat is another - monitor is snug in a small cavity on the w/station. Need to ventilate more. Thanks for the reminder about the screwdriver Heather. I heard the savvy techie say the same thing. When you're holding a screwdriver and get zapped, you'll most likely break the neck of the tube - with or w/o the deflector yoke on. Oh, and yes I still get good pictures out of my 13yr old Sony 19'. Changed the power switch once. TV guy charged < $5 for the actual H/W plus his hourly rate. When it broke again, I opened it up and hardwired it ON and now use the remote. |
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