Using an analog connection (VGA to DVI-I cable) has been a gamechanger for me

cooldudz

Just recently got this monitor:

https://www.amazon.com/DELL-E173FPC-Black-REGULAR-STAND/dp/B003H1FYFK/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2RKEBNXZ8YOOF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FPWgP4R2Pmo8Aq1t7Dqi2oLT7ci0wuqK2gXH5EMJSVdbzwa1qF7LNCfcc95ot1gezQVRaf5R5cbAIdmTY4vWMav5RIdTAs7Nuy3_lMPR08utZkgbOEmwZtvoRcLxSx3lUoih8c400hALKmnhCZ_7fxWagjYRqcDSGCfiAHmxND6F-b1XeXUbd0-86k5yyt5-biU-pq6cTfyLtJWRBeKkSDYmMXNBMU8u3RLWrGq2tO0.5U2wxnWoZ3jNkNp8uwB4NXbaWR8QZsx9BZvUe-7Q92E&dib_tag=se&keywords=dell+e173&qid=1758407286&sprefix=dell+e173%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-7

*Note that I got it off an ebay seller for about $60 total (after taxes and shipping). I can't recommend getting one off amazon because idk how they will package it, etc. But it's a pretty damn inexpensive monitor to try if anyone is curious to see if it works for them.

Using this monitor since yesterday, and I'm experiencing like an 80% reduction in my symptoms. I used this monitor for 8 hours straight yesterday! For that amount of time, I should absolutely have felt like shit not only yesterday, but well into today as well. And yet, I feel somewhat okay. Again I'm still experiencing some symptoms, maybe at 20% strength, but that can also be chalked up into I've been in a flareup for some time now and I haven't taken sufficient time off screens to fully recover. So for me to use a new screen for 8 hours+ yesterday, and already 5+ hours today, while I'm in a flare, and generally not have it worsen that flare nor feel too bad is pretty game changing.

My previous monitor was a Dell 2208WFPt monitor, which is also CCFL-backlit and TN (like this new one is). However that monitor was matte (I do worse with matte screens), 22 inches (vs this one being 17 in so less visual stress), and I'm starting to suspect that the digital connection it used (HDMI to DVI-D) is somehow worse than an analog connection that I am on now with this new monitor (VGA to DVI-I). Through my own research and consulting with chatgpt, it seems that an analog connection can smooth out some of the dithering that happens with a digital connection and make movement smoother + make things look less sharp (which I'm starting to suspect is another component to screen sensitivity for me. Things look too crisp and high res seem to increase visual stress and strain for me).

I mean there are a lot of variables at play here, just to reiterate:

-Went from a 22 in screen to 17 in, thus reducing visual stress

-Went from a matte screen to glossy (I do worse with matte screens)

-Went from an digital connection (hdmi to DVI-D) to an analog (VGA to DVI-I)

-This new screen just seems less brighter. Idk the nits on either monitor, but yea. It just looks less brighter on this screen + that compounds with a smaller screen so overall brightness intensitiy is much lower

So yea, 4 variables at play here but for some reason I suspect the analog connection is the one doing the heavy lifting here. There's a great old thread on this for those wanting to read more:

https://ledstrain.org/d/214-hdmi-vs-vga-cable-and-eyestrain/2

jordan

What gpu are you running again? also MS basic driver or actual driver? This was actually one of the monitors I remember using as a kid

cooldudz

jordan I'm using nvidia geforce 970. Originally I was using ms basic driver, but just updated to a compatible nvidia driver like an hour ago so that I can play steam games. I had to use a driver version from like 2015 to be compatible with windows 10 1507, because if I tried to use nvidia app to get latest drivers, my computer would just constantly crash when it was installing those drivers. Noticed no immediate difference so far. Bout to start playing some steam games and see how I further feel

cooldudz

Just an update for everyone, I stand corrected on this. The monitor died on me today due to how the ebay seller haphazardly packaged and shipped the item, and I switched back to my dell 2208wfpt, but found out that actually had vga port, so I did an analog connection with that (vga to dvi-i cable) and I feel like shit still using it.

So there was something specific about that dell e173fpc screen that my body liked, and my best guess is brightness and how light was emitted. I felt like the light from the dell e173fpc was trapped behind the monitor screen, as if nothing emitted out and beamed at my eyes like any other screen I have. I say it felt like it was trapped behind because it's not as if the screen looked super dark or anything, so I can't say it was brightness level. But like the screen and how it was put together made it so that light stayed behind the screen to purely light it and not anything past it.