Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: Octavius on January 30, 2003, 11:09:57 PM

Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: Octavius on January 30, 2003, 11:09:57 PM: At a local computer store I found two 20" monitors for about $200. The guy said they had originally been worth $3500 back in 1995. They appear to be used for CAD design and look in relatively decent condition.

HP - model - A4033A. I looked it up:

Model: A4033A
Max Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Sync Type: Composite, Seperate
H Freq/ V Freq: 30-80khz / 50-120 hz
Tube Manufacturer: Sony
Monitor Type: Multi_Frequency
Tube Model:
Tube Size: 21
Connector: 5 BNC

The bastige said (before I looked it up) the thing could run up to about 1900 something resolution and had a decent refresh rate. Now, the size is decent, but the friggin thing weighs like 50 lbs! Its huge and probably not very power efficient. I'd use this monitor for my fun and use the current monitor for my brother's computer I'm building for him. I don't have much experience in the monitor department... so the question I have: is this piece a good buy?

Not sure how much I could haggle it down. The owner smells funny and this place is a dinky POS. I don't want to waste 200 bucks, thats all :p
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: Dowding on January 31, 2003, 01:37:12 AM: $200 for a 7 year old monitor with a max resolution 1280 x 1024?

I'd move on and buy yourself an NEC or Sony 19" Trinitron flat screen monitor, for not that much more dosh. They are pretty much the same monitor, although the NEC has better reviews generally - I have one and paid £550 for it 2 years ago (that's $850!). It's an amazing monitor with superb clarity and is as good as the day I bought it. I'm sure you could pick one up in the US for a lot less than I paid.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: SOB on January 31, 2003, 03:57:06 AM: Sounds shaky to me. With a Sony tube and BNC connections it was probably a real nice monitor in its day. What's the refresh rate at 1280x1024? Here's a cheap 19" flat tube to compare...

http://www.monitoroutlet.com/844490.html

SOB
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: mrsid2 on January 31, 2003, 04:34:34 AM: Check the monitor visually, if it has sharp and clear picture by all means get it.

If it has soft, blurry and pale picture stay away from it..
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: Dinger on January 31, 2003, 10:22:47 AM: don't do it. http://www.monitorsdirect.com will sell you a perfectly flat 19" with better resolution and refresh for not much more (check the site).
If you're really into used quality screens. I've got a 2-year-old NEC FE 950, 19" 85 hz in good condition that I'll get rid of for $200. Of course, I'm too lazy to take it to the shipper (it's 50 pounds). BUt if you live in Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee or Georgia, I'll be driving through tomorrow.

oh wait -- you're in Milwaukee. That's a 5-hour drive the other way up through dubuque. Too bad.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: qts on January 31, 2003, 10:36:12 AM: You may well find that it only does 1280x1024 at 60 Hz.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: Pongo on January 31, 2003, 10:52:04 AM: NO
get yourself a nice 19" modern monitor for 300 US.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: mrsid2 on January 31, 2003, 12:18:41 PM: You're probably right, -95 could be 1895 when it comes to hardware.

I wouldn't pay $200 for it, but I might take it for $50 though. I've never seen a monitor that's in good condition after that mileage, then again maybe it was never used? :)
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: BigGun on January 31, 2003, 12:22:57 PM: Just get video projection equipment & fly on 6ft screen. Actually have a squadmate that has done this, says it is amazing.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: mrsid2 on January 31, 2003, 12:29:53 PM: That sounds cool except for the fact that it takes quite a lot of space..

I have a projector but I don't use it for gaming. I'd have to setup the gear to the hometheater and that just sounds freakish.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: JB66 on January 31, 2003, 03:10:15 PM: Don't rule out the older monitors, I picked up a IBM 21 inch monitor on ebay for $60.00, shipping was about $20.00, using ups. The cable was a 13w??, I can't remember but it cost $15.00.
So for under $100.00 I now have a 21 inch monitor that can run 1600x1200 at 72 mhz. I usually run it at 1280x1024 at 85 mhz.
If you chose this route, be careful, some of those older monitors have something called fixed resolution, which you then have to use a special video card, or work around it, but it sounds pretty complicated.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: Ghosth on January 31, 2003, 03:57:27 PM: No way, You can get a good new 17" at any sams club for a flat 99$.

Or if you want bigger then feel free.

50$ would be my top offer for that big dinosaur.
Title: big bellybutton monitor
Post by: lord dolf vader on January 31, 2003, 06:46:03 PM: I have a similar mitsubishi monitor its a diamond pro 20 and has a really weird ouput ( 3 bayonet connectorys goint to a adapter for my vga) got the whole thing for 125usd at a private comp shop .

it is sharp and color is good but i can find no drivers for it and dont know what the max res is . i run it at 1200 x 1600 no prob tho.

i have a 3 position switch for ajustments to different resolutions it dosent do it automaticly . really odd.