Computer related issue

[MrHorror]

Hi. I am currently on an old gateway comp from back in 2001. I have taken extremely good care of it, upgraded ram, and parts when need be and all of that. The monitor, a Gateway EV700 recently went out on me. I liked the model, so I went ahead and got a replacement ev700 off amazon. But this monitor is an ev700B. My old one was an ev700A. This monitor has the bubble button beneath the screen that can be pressed and turned left or right to increase or decrease brightness, contrast, etc.

Instead of using the four buttons beneath the screen, which the ev700A did. This monitor however doesn't show text and stuff as crisp and flawless as my other one did. The text seems blurry. As do images such as banners, pics, vids, etc. As if some wrap or plastic is keeping the colors from coming through vivid, sharp, and perfect. Considering this is an ev700 CRT like my old monitor, I doubt it's a driver issue. But I have the latest drivers installed. Plus I'm on windows XP so it automatically does the plug n play thing.

My resolution is currently set at 1024x78. At 60 hertz. So what might be the problem here with fuzzy text and images? My only thought is the vga cable. This monitor has 15 pin holes in the back. My tower has 15 pin holes in the back too. But the guy who sold me the monitor sent me a Belkin vga cable with 14 pins. I could use the vga cable from my old gateway monitor which has 15 pins, but that monitor has the vga cable built into the back of the monitor somehow. The cables bottom half then plugs into the tower.

[setishock]

Look in the monitor's menu for focus. Adjust as needed. If there isn't a setting in that menu, look on the back of the monitor for a small holle with the word focus molded in to the case.
If neither one of those fly then take it to a computer shop and let them open it up. The focus control if not accessable from the software or a spot in the case, most likely is inside on the control board.

[MrHorror]

Checked and see no focus buttons on the back of the monitor. Nor do I see any focus controls in the OSD menu. I didn't even know crt monitors had a focus menu.

[setishock]

Just a tibbit, next time get a used monitor from a local shop. The small shops take crt and flats in on trade when a client upgrades their hardware. If you shop around you can get some killer deals. And you get to see the monitor in action before you plunk your money down.
Most likely whats happened with the one you have is it took a blow and the yoke moved just enough to knock it out of focus. If no adjustments you can get to you'll have to have it serviced.

[Zachariah]

Check for EMI (Electromagnetic interference)
- Take a look to see if there is any power cables tangled with your VGA cable.
- Move the location of the CRT on your desk. I have seen large power trunks of wire in walls that power the house / apartment that "bleed" all over the CRT's that result in warping the signal and making the screen fuzzy.


If I were to have the SCRN @ my house:

1) Try 72 or 75 HZ vs. 60HZ on the refresh.
2) OSD options - Degauss to demagnetizes the screen.
3) Look to see if there is a pin bent on the VGA cable.
4) Look for VGA cable damage
5) After that I would open the case and look to see if if there was a focus POT inside the unit on the circuit board. Most of the time there is a brightness, contrast, and focus PCB mounted trimmer potentiometers, or "trimpots", intended for infrequent adjustment. Once found adjust with jeweler screwdriver.

** If you have never worked with TV's or CRT's know that there is 30,000 volts of electricity inside the tube that can discharge through your body that might result in death.


You might want to look for a LCD
http://www.pricewatch.com/monitors/

Gateway EV700
CRT - 17 inches diagonal (15.7 inches viewable), anti-reflective/anti-glare, 90? deflection, 0.28 mm dot pitch
Maximum resolution - 1280 ? 1024 non-interlaced
Display colors - Unlimited
Video bandwidth - 100 MHz
Synchronization - Horizontal, 30-69 KHz
Vertical, 50-120 Hz
Power input - 100-240 VAC
Certifications - UL, CUL, DHHS, and FCC Class B

[setishock]

That's why I advised to take it to a shop.

[Zachariah]

Originally Posted by setishock

That's why I advised to take it to a shop.

@ 60$-100$ for new 17-22 inch LCD
- There isn't much point in taking to a shop if you cant fix yourself.

The $$ you save in electricity alone on LCD vs. CRT is worth the investment. (IMO)
My older 19" CRT @ 120 Watts
My newer 24" Wide LCD @ 41 watts (2 years old)

[MrHorror]

Originally Posted by setishock

Just a tibbit, next time get a used monitor from a local shop. The small shops take crt and flats in on trade when a client upgrades their hardware. If you shop around you can get some killer deals. And you get to see the monitor in action before you plunk your money down.
Most likely whats happened with the one you have is it took a blow and the yoke moved just enough to knock it out of focus. If no adjustments you can get to you'll have to have it serviced.

Thanks for the reply. I just got a new VGA cable today and plugged it in. Still no difference. I also noticed that this monitor is having issues displaying webpages as fluid, quickly, and smoothly as my earlier ev700 did. It seems to jam up on some pages.

--------------- Added [DATE]1319842364[/DATE] at [TIME]1319842364[/TIME] ---------------

Originally Posted by Zachariah

Check for EMI (Electromagnetic interference)
- Take a look to see if there is any power cables tangled with your VGA cable.
- Move the location of the CRT on your desk. I have seen large power trunks of wire in walls that power the house / apartment that "bleed" all over the CRT's that result in warping the signal and making the screen fuzzy.


If I were to have the SCRN @ my house:

1) Try 72 or 75 HZ vs. 60HZ on the refresh.
2) OSD options - Degauss to demagnetizes the screen.
3) Look to see if there is a pin bent on the VGA cable.
4) Look for VGA cable damage
5) After that I would open the case and look to see if if there was a focus POT inside the unit on the circuit board. Most of the time there is a brightness, contrast, and focus PCB mounted trimmer potentiometers, or "trimpots", intended for infrequent adjustment. Once found adjust with jeweler screwdriver.

** If you have never worked with TV's or CRT's know that there is 30,000 volts of electricity inside the tube that can discharge through your body that might result in death.


You might want to look for a LCD
http://www.pricewatch.com/monitors/

Gateway EV700
CRT - 17 inches diagonal (15.7 inches viewable), anti-reflective/anti-glare, 90? deflection, 0.28 mm dot pitch
Maximum resolution - 1280 ? 1024 non-interlaced
Display colors - Unlimited
Video bandwidth - 100 MHz
Synchronization - Horizontal, 30-69 KHz
Vertical, 50-120 Hz
Power input - 100-240 VAC
Certifications - UL, CUL, DHHS, and FCC Class B

My monitor is plugged into a surge protector so I don't think wiring is the issue. I tried the hertz thing earlier. Didn't work. As for opening the back of the monitor. Yeah I have heard about the focus button inside the monitor. Problem is, getting those screws out seems to be a real problem. I've tried with a filet screw driver and no dice.

--------------- Added [DATE]1319842483[/DATE] at [TIME]1319842483[/TIME] ---------------

Originally Posted by setishock

Just a tibbit, next time get a used monitor from a local shop. The small shops take crt and flats in on trade when a client upgrades their hardware. If you shop around you can get some killer deals. And you get to see the monitor in action before you plunk your money down.
Most likely whats happened with the one you have is it took a blow and the yoke moved just enough to knock it out of focus. If no adjustments you can get to you'll have to have it serviced.

I've had my crt for like 9 years. Liked the model which is why I sought out the ev700 first before anything else. I live in NYC, so finding a gateway ev700 crt monitor locally is NOT an option here. Everyone is doing the LCD/HD flatscreen thing. I am not a fan of that look of monitor which is why I didn't ever try to get one.