Hi Guys, any help is appreciated. I read that both are compatible just wondering which would be best seeing they're both around the same price. Here's the stats on both... Also which would be easier for a newbie to strip? Thanks again guys..


DELL E153FP 15-inch Flat Panel Color LCD Monitor

Diagonal Size: 15"
Display Type: Flat Panel Display/TFT Active Matrix
Features: Anti-glare with hard-coating 3H, Thin bezel design, Small footprint, Lightweight
Image Max H-View Angle: 120°
Image Max V-View Angle: 100°
Color Support: Yes
Connectivity Technology: Cable
Device Type: LCD Monitor
Dimensions (WxDxH) / Weight: 13.54" x 5.31" x 13.87" / 9 lbs
Dot Pitch: 0.297 mm pixel pitch
Image Brightness: 250 cd/m2 (typical)
Image Contrast Ratio: 400:1
Max Operating Temperature: 95° F
Max Resolution: Up to 1024x768 pixels
Max Sync Rate (V x H): 76 Hz x 63 kHz
Min Operating Temperature: 41° F
Port(s) Total ( Free ) / Connector Type: 1 x 15-Pin D-Sub
Power: 100 - 240 VAC @ 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption Operational: 22 W - 26 W
Humidity Range Operating: 10% to 80% (non-condensing)

CMV CT-529A 15" LCD Monitor w/ Speakers

Panel Type: TFT Active Matrix LCD
Native Resolution: XGA 1024x768
Pixel Pitch: 0.297 mm
Brightness: 450 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 500:1
Response Time: 16 ms
View Angle: 170° (H), 120° (V)
Input Connectors: 15-pin D-Sub, Audio in
Features: Built-in 1.5W x2 Speakers, Slim & Light weight
Dimensions & Weight: 13.7" x 13.1" x 7.3" (WxHxD), 5.7 lbs
Manufacturer's Warranty / Phone No.: 3 years on parts and labor, 1 year on LCD Panel

From what I've read (from different threads & the monitor compatibility thread) is the Dell E153 FP's can have FFC issues that make them harder to install/deal with.

I've also read that the CMV is a great monitor for our purposes. Easy to strip, great pic & fair price. Try www.newegg.com or www.acnt.com

Hope that helps.

Unless you can get the 529A cheaper, I'd say get a 520D for $169 and free shipping from acnt.com. Same as the 529A but has DVI too.

I'm new to this, what is the DVI? Sorry like I said I'm new... The 529 is $179.98 w/shipping... So the 520 is better? Thanks for the help.

DVI is "digital video input" (or something like that). Some computer graphic cards have DVI outputs in addition to the analog VGA outputs. If yours doesn't, you may never use the DVI in on the 520D but I figure if it doesn't cost any more (and in this case $10 less) why not get it anyhow. Someday you might use it. I've been recommending the $169 deal from acnt.com in a few threads but it's the 1st time I ever got anything from them so I can't really vouch for them. I got my monitor pretty quick and I'm real happy with the picture. Now I just have to get around to tearing it apart and hope it still looks good when it's in my pj!

Thanks guys for the input. pretty sure I'm gonna go with the 520, hey 10 bucks is 10 bucks, right? $10 will get me a 12 pack and a tub of pop corn while I'm kicked back watching the first movie. Anyway, don't know if I can use the dvi right now, I have a ati radeon 9800pro at the present time. One more question, what's the difference between the 400 watt metal halide electronic ballast and the coil and core? There's a huge difference in price. Thanks again...

E-ballasts are more efficient, don't make any noise, and usually don't get hot. Coil and core ballast are usually the opposite.

How noisey and more importantly, How hot do they get? Is there a danger from the heat be it danger to the lcd or even a fire danger?

I'm going with a core/coil setup...I think I'll just try and soundproof the components.

Not so much annoyingly noisy. It's a high pitched noise like a high voltage transformer makes (gee, wonder why it's similar). They get hot enough to burn your skin but not near as hot as the bulb gets.


Good luck with that. The noise is a high pitched noise which makes it harder to soundproof. Also, something I neglected to mention before was the increased possibility of RF interference with the coil/core combo. This is almost a non-issue with the e-ballst because it's solid state.

Ok, one more question on the DVI, does this give a clearer picture? Does it allow for hdtv? I know the CMV CT 520D has the div input and the 529A does not. But the only places I have found the 520 has a dead pixel policy and for the 529 I can get at tiger direct fo 159.00 has no dead pixel policy. If it has even one they replace. Now my video card is the ati radeon 9800 pro so I don't know if it has a dvi out or not. Can anyone help. Is the dvi quality worth the dead pixel risk? And anyone know about the 9800 pro having dvi out? Thanks all...

Ok just saw where the ati radeon 9800 pro does have the dvi out. Now just for the other answer on exactly what it does... Anyone...

I think you'll get differnt answers from differnt people. I would think, theoretically, the dvi should be better. The signal is all digital so either you have it or you don't, there's no inbetween like an analog signal that can vary. That being said, I have the 520D hooked up the the computer using the dvi, with our regular vga 17" lcd as a dual setup (until I strip the 520D), and they both look great to me. I would assume there may be more noticable differnces during fast action in movies and games, and/or when the screen is 10' dia. I wouldn't push you to go either way, especially cause I'd feel bad if you got some dead pixels and couldn't return it. But I should also point out that TigerDirect has a very poor reputation when it comes to customer service. They might not refuse taking it back for a dead pixel, they might just ignore you instead