Comparison: Seven 21" and 22" CRT Monitors

ViewSonic G810

Like the Cornerstone c1035, the ViewSonic G810 uses a Shadow Mask tube. So, this is a low-range 21" monitor with a screen that curves a bit at the edges. The actual diagonal is 20 inches, the pitch 0.25mm over the entire surface and the bandwidth 200 MHz. The maximum horizontal refresh rate is 97 kHz, giving a resolution of 1600 x 1200 at 77 Hz. This is a very low rate - there are good 17" monitors with equal performance at the same resolution.

So the G810 is not designed for use in 1600 x 1200, rather, in 1280 x 1024, a resolution where it can reach 85 Hz. The tests showed this was just right for a monitor of this size. In practice, we observed a maximum rate of 77.5 Hz in 1600 x 1200, and 92 Hz in 1280 x 1024.

For its connections, the G810 confines itself to the very minimum with no USB hub or second RGB input, just a captive 15-pin RGB wire, so no bonus points there; if the wire or input were damaged, you'd have to have the entire monitor changed, which is not what you could call practical. The model we tested has a recessed compartment to take a USB hub, but those released after July 2002 will not have this feature.