LCD displays still don't match the responsiveness of clunky CRT screens (2019)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

State of Modern Displays vs. CRTs

  • Many commenters say modern high‑end LCD and especially OLED gaming monitors now match or exceed CRTs in refresh rate and input lag, making the 2019 article dated.
  • Others argue CRTs still feel more “instant” and responsive, especially for older 60 fps content and competitive play.

Responsiveness, Motion Blur, and Latency

  • CRT strengths cited: effectively zero signal‑to‑phosphor lag, ability to “race the beam,” high refresh rates (120–160 Hz), and lack of sample‑and‑hold blur.
  • Critics of LCD/OLED emphasize sample‑and‑hold motion blur as the main issue, not pixel response time. Higher refresh (144–240+ Hz) helps but doesn’t fully fix it, and much content is locked to 60 fps.
  • Others reply that modern gaming LCDs/OLEDs with 1–6 ms delay are effectively indistinguishable for most people and can outpace CRTs in full‑frame latency.

Burn‑in, PWM, and Eye Strain

  • Several users are wary of OLED for desktop use due to burn‑in; others report years of use without visible issues and cite improving warranties.
  • Some experience aggressive brightness limiting and noticeable “pulsing” on OLED TVs.
  • PWM dimming on OLED/LCD causes headaches or eye strain for some; others don’t notice.

Use Cases: Retro and Rhythm Gaming

  • Retro and rhythm gamers are strong CRT holdouts: they report old consoles and music games feeling noticeably worse on modern flat panels due to added latency and motion characteristics.
  • Others point to modern 120–240 Hz arcade cabinets and TVs/monitors with sub‑10 ms lag as now superior.

Ergonomics, Size, and Practicality

  • Heavy weight, depth, heat, power draw, flicker at low refresh, geometry and convergence issues, dust and static, and radiation concerns are common complaints about CRTs.
  • Many celebrate the move to thin, light, large‑diagonal LCD/OLEDs despite any modest latency tradeoffs.

Image Quality, Resolution, and Aesthetics

  • CRT pros: flexible resolutions without scaling artifacts, great motion clarity, analog “glow,” and good handling of low‑res pixel art designed for them.
  • Modern display pros: higher practical contrast (especially OLED), much higher resolutions, wider color gamuts, sharper text, and brighter screens usable in daylight.
  • Some see CRT enthusiasm as largely nostalgia; others insist even high‑end OLEDs still don’t fully recapture CRT motion and feel.