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Xbox360 Forums => Xbox360 Hardware Forums => Xbox360 Audio/Video Technical => Topic started by: Carlo210 on October 22, 2005, 05:50:00 PM

Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 22, 2005, 05:50:00 PM
I plan on playing Xbox 360 with my 15" monitor (yes, it does 1280x1024).
The problem is that my monitor is naturally dark. I have my contrast and brightness bars all the way up, and the screen is still too dark.
When looking at a picture of, lets say, Kameo, the sky is reasonably bright enough. The whites look clear and vivid, but other objects, like a trees top or a castle, are dark and are mostly black on my screen. Basically, to say the least, everything but whites are dark.
Since gaming on a screen like this is impossibible, I would like to know if any of you know any way I could play Xbox 360 with good brightness and contrast. My monitors settings cannot play a part because everything is set to the max brightness but it's still too dark (older monitor). Maybe if theres a way to acess a factory config screen or something, but I don't think monitors have those.
Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated. If I didn't clarify my problem and how my monitor is, then you can ask questions - but basically, my monitor has maxed contrast and brightness, but I need even more.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 24, 2005, 02:28:00 PM
Side note: It's not my monitors the 'dim' screen that bothers me, it's the blacks that bother me. I wouldn't mind a dim picture, but in my case, it's pitch black blindness where 'not being able to see anything in many circumstances' is the issue.
Also, shadows off of almost anything appear as black, as well as parts of objects which are not getting exposed to light.
Hope there's a contrast/brightness setting for Xbox 360 in the dash or in every game, or else I'm gonna have to resort to gaming on a 15 year old 480i tv. Maybe theres a way to manually change my monitor's brightness (ie: maybe opening it up and acessing a panel, or acessing a digital advanced settings screen).
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 24, 2005, 03:43:00 PM
blink.gif  huh.gif *eek*

I dunno if I should go ahead and do that or not...
I'll se if the Xbox 360 has brightness/contrast settings before I attempt it.  beerchug.gif

I might open it up soon to see how it looks or if it looks safe (ie: if knobs are deep within the monitor and hidden behind capacitors, forget it).

On a sidenote: Are you sure that this 'knob' will be there? As in most crt monitors.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Lancer852 on October 24, 2005, 07:54:00 PM
Yea it should be there, ive had to do it before...
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Foe-hammer on October 25, 2005, 01:31:00 AM
That is good info about the control knobs inside the monitor; i did not know that.  Thanks thax.

As far as the 360 having a picture control center, i highly doubt it.  The xbox never had it, and i do not think any console has had one.  But that would be awesome if the 360 did indeed incorperate it.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 01:18:00 PM
Yes it would.
I'm gonna look for a screwdriver now (no long ones not in my dads toolroom for some reason).
My 15" monitor is also a bit shotty (picture wise), but it beats paying for a new monitor, at least I think it does.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 01:27:00 PM
I might give it a shot.

So you want me to turn it off, wait a bit, then open it up, then service it? Or did you want me to turn it back on after opening it up.

I'd like to see how much I'd have to turn the knob, so having it on would be a good idea, but not if I can get shocked....


Sidenote: Do you know what the little bends are on the screen? Kinda looks like magnetic interference. Is there any way to get rid of it?
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Foe-hammer on October 25, 2005, 01:30:00 PM
Where are these knobs generally located inside the monitor?

Once i find the knobs, do i plug the monitor back in to adjust them?
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 01:35:00 PM
beerchug.gif
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 02:02:00 PM
My monitor doesn't have knobs, so it seems.

Instead, it has little holes with things like YBH, ATL (i think), etc. I have no idea what they mean. Can you explain, thax?
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 02:46:00 PM
Only 2 of them had screws in them, so I adjusted them, but only the red and blue colors started to burn. I did this with the monitor off, so when I turned it on I noticed it. Anyways, it's not working out for me, so I guess I'm better off just buying a new monitor.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Ballz2TheWallz on October 25, 2005, 02:55:00 PM
whats the bran model NO.?
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 03:06:00 PM
I dunno. It was made in 1987. It's made by KDS.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 05:27:00 PM
Yeah that's what I figure.

Anyways, it shouldn't be too hard to get 100-120 bucks to get a new monitor.
I'm thinking of the IBM ones because they are tough as nails.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Alex548 on October 25, 2005, 05:34:00 PM
I bought an ATI Radeon video card which used software to compensate for a crappy monitor.

My father in law's 17 inch monitor was so dark we couldn't see anything, but he refused to throw it away since he paid $350 for it back in the day.

I installed the Radeon card, used the ATI video settings, and that damn thing is now brighter than my monitor. You'll notice when the software compensates for the crappy monitor.

Give that a try....

**Alex**
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 25, 2005, 05:36:00 PM
I don't care about using it with my pc. I have a GAMMA program by adobe that lets me fix the problem, but unless the Xbox 360 has a gamma/brightness/contrast setting, it makes no difference to me.
My monitor is basically screwed now either way, what with the blue and red bleeding. Oh well, the moire hurt my eyes anyways.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 26, 2005, 06:34:00 AM
beerchug.gif

CRTs are typically half the price of a similar sized/featured TFT
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: LowProfileWurm on October 26, 2005, 09:05:00 AM
If you're in the Atlanta area, I have a 19" computer CRT that I'll unload.  It's in good shape (Viewsonic 910, 5 yrs old I think).  Grab a VGA kit for the 360 and you should be golden.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: twistedsymphony on October 26, 2005, 09:47:00 AM
QUOTE(LowProfileWurm @ Oct 26 2005, 11:16 AM)
If you're in the Atlanta area, I have a 19" computer CRT that I'll unload.  It's in good shape (Viewsonic 910, 5 yrs old I think).  Grab a VGA kit for the 360 and you should be golden.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: LowProfileWurm on October 26, 2005, 09:58:00 AM
QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ Oct 26 2005, 12:58 PM)
Unfortunately I think he's in Canada  laugh.gif
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 26, 2005, 01:05:00 PM
I would be interested, but yes I live in southern Ontario. For the meantime, I have TigerDirect and FactoryDirect near me (stores with websites).
My dad recently bought a monitor for my brother (Samsung 755df 17" crt) at Factorydirect http://www.factorydi...st.php?cat=MO15. It came out to around 100 bucks with the taxes and everything. The only gripe is the wavy lines on the monitor, mostly the sides, probably caused by magnetic interference (right?).

Anyways, I'm thinking of going to tigerdirect http://www.tigerdire....asp?CatId=166 and getting an IBM g-series monitor. There are some of them at my school in the library and they look great.
That should come to around 100-110 bucks, give or take a few.
Title: My Monitor Is Dark
Post by: Carlo210 on October 26, 2005, 06:37:00 PM
No, the corners aren't different colors (they wore off in the past week). Instead, you see bright waves going from both sides of the screen, then bend (usually upwards) inwards.