Comparison CRT, LCD, Plasma

Further information: Comparison of display technology

This is a page that lists advantages and disadvantages with CRT, LCD, Plasma and OLED.

Comparison

CRT

Further information: Cathode ray tube

Pros:

• High dynamic range (up to around 15,000:1),^[1] excellent color, wide gamut and low black level. The color range of CRTs is unmatched by any display type except OLED.
• No native resolution; the only display technology capable of true multisyncing (displaying many different resolutions and refresh rates without the need for scaling)
• No input lag
• No ghosting and smearing artifacts during fast motion due to sub-millisecond response time, and impulse-based operation
• Near zero color, saturation, contrast or brightness distortion.
• Allows the use of light guns/pens
• Excellent viewing angle

Cons:

• Large size and weight, especially for bigger screens (a 20-inch (51 cm) unit weighs about 50 lb (23 kg))
• Relatively high power consumption at high brightness and contrast levels and fast scan rates
• Generates a considerable amount of heat when running
• Geometric distortion caused by variable beam travel distances
• Can suffer screen burn-in
• Produces noticeable flicker at low refresh rates.
• Apart from televisions, CRT monitors are normally only produced in 4:3 aspect ratio (though some widescreen CRT monitors, notably Sony's GDM-FW900, do exist)
• Hazardous to repair/service
• Color displays cannot be made in sizes smaller than 7 inches. Maximum size for direct-view displays is limited to about 40 inches due to practical and manufacturing restrictions (a CRT display of this size can weigh about 300 pounds).

LCD

Further information: LCD and LCD TV

Pros:

• Very compact and light
• Low power consumption, generally speaking. On average, 50-70% less energy is consumed than CRT monitors. ^[2]
• No geometric distortion
• Little or no flicker depending on backlight technology
• Not affected by screen burn-in (though an analogous but less severe phenomenon known as image persistence is possible)
• Can be made in almost any size or shape
• No theoretical resolution limit

Cons:

• Limited viewing angle, causing color, saturation, contrast and brightness to vary, even within the intended viewing angle, by variations in posture
• Bleeding and uneven backlighting in some monitors, causing brightness distortion, especially toward the edges
• Smearing and ghosting artifacts during fast motion caused by slow response times (2-8 ms) and sample-and-hold operation
• Only one native resolution. Displaying other resolutions either requires a video scaler, lowering perceptual quality, or display at 1:1 pixel mapping, in which images will be physically too large or won't fill the whole screen.
• Fixed bit depth. 8-bit S-IPS panels can display 16 million colors and have significantly better black level, but are expensive and have slower response time.
• Input lag
• Dead pixels may occur either during manufacturing or through use.
• In a constant-on situation, thermalization may occur, which is when only part of the screen has overheated and therefore looks discolored compared to the rest of the screen.
• Unacceptably slow response in low temperatures.
• Not all LCD displays are designed to allow easy replacement of the backlight
• Cannot be used with light guns/pens

Plasma

Further information: Plasma display

Pros:

• High contrast ratios (1,000,000:1 static or greater,) excellent color, and low black level
• Virtually no response time
• Near zero color, saturation, contrast or brightness distortion. Excellent viewing angle.
• No geometric distortion
• Softer and less blocky-looking picture than LCDs
• Highly scalable, with less weight gain per increase in size (from less than 30 in (76 cm) wide to the world's largest at 150 in (3.8 m)).

Cons:

• Large pixel pitch, meaning either low resolution or a large screen. As such, color plasma displays are only produced in sizes over 32 inches (81 cm).
• Image flicker due to being phosphor-based
• Glass screen can induce glare and reflections
• High operating temperature and power consumption. LCD and LED-based displays consume less power. ^[3]
• Relatively heavy weight
• Only has one native resolution. Displaying other resolutions requires a video scaler, which degrades image quality at lower resolutions.
• Fixed bit depth. Plasma cells can only be on or off, resulting in a more limited color range than LCDs or CRTs.
• Can suffer image burn-in. This was a severe problem on early plasma displays, but newer models have incorporated methods to reduce the chance of accidental burn-in.
• Relatively fragile; should only be transported, stored, and operated upright, as the glass screen can shatter under the display's own weight if not supported properly
• Cannot be used with light guns/pens
• Dead pixels are possible during manufacturing

OLED

Further information: Organic light-emitting diode

Pros:

• Excellent viewing angle
• Very light weight
• Excellent black level
• No ghosting and smearing artifacts during fast motion due to sub-millisecond response time
• Wide gamut and vivid colors because of no backlit

Cons:

• Can suffer screen burn-in
• Difficult and expensive to manufacture at the present time
• Organic materials used (as of 2011) are susceptible to decay over time, rendering the display unusable after some time

External links

• PixPerAn, software for testing motion blur (ghosting) on a monitor

References

1. ^ Display "Technology Shoot-Out: Comparing CRT, LCD, Plasma and DLP Displays", Dr. Raymond M. Soneira, DisplayMate Technologies website
2. ^ "CRT vs LCD monitor", EU Energy Star, EU Energy Star's Website
3. ^ "LCD vs Plasma TVs". Which?. http://www.which.co.uk/technology/tv-and-dvd/guides/lcd-vs-plasma-tvs/lcd-tv/. Retrieved 26 October 2011.