Sony · Trinitron

GDM-F520

Released 2001

A 19.8-inch viewable FD Trinitron CRT computer monitor with a uniform 0.22 mm aperture-grille pitch, two analogue video inputs and a four-port USB hub.

Size: 19.8″
Resolution: –
PPI: –
Panel: CRT
Refresh: –
Brightness: –
HDR: –
USB-C power: –

What reviewers say

Reviewers praise the sharp image, colour quality and accessible controls. TwojePC found excellent geometry but minor corner convergence errors and a high price. PC Watch judged it a substantial improvement over the F500R, while TwojePC found the overall image-quality differences smaller.

From pc.watch.impress.co.jp and twojepc.pl

Product links

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 19.8″
Panel: CRT (Flat FD Trinitron aperture-grille CRT; marketed as a 21-inch tube with a 19.8-inch viewable image. No fixed pixel matrix or native refresh rate.)
Colour modes: PROFESSIONAL, STANDARD and DYNAMIC Picture Effect modes; EASY, PRESET, EXPERT and sRGB colour settings; 5000 K, 6500 K and 9300 K presets with 5000–11000 K adjustment in EASY
Pixel pitch: Uniform 0.22 mm aperture-grille pitch across the screen; not an LCD pixel pitch
Supported signal modes: Sony specifies a maximum 2048 × 1536 at 85 Hz and recommends 1600 × 1200 at 85 Hz. Horizontal scan range 30–137 kHz; vertical scan range 48–170 Hz. These are supported timings, not native resolution or refresh. Maximum viewable area approximately 403.8 × 302.2 mm; standard image area 388 × 291 mm (4:3) or 364 × 291 mm (5:4).
Screen coating: High Contrast AR screen coating
Calibration: RGB gain/bias, horizontal/vertical convergence, top/bottom vertical convergence, corner landing, geometry and moiré controls; automatic/manual degaussing and Image Restoration after a 30-minute warm-up

Connections

Video inputs: VGA
USB-C charging: None
USB ports: 4 × USB-A
Other connections: One HD15 VGA input and one analogue RGB video input comprising five BNC connectors (R, G, B, horizontal sync and vertical sync). Separate/composite sync and sync-on-green supported; DDC Plug & Play is available over HD15 only.
USB hub detail: One square USB-B upstream connector and four rectangular USB-A downstream connectors on the right side; hub operates while the monitor is on or in power-saving mode

Design

Stand adjusts: Tilt, swivel
Weight with stand: 30 kg
Tilt: 5° down to 15° up
Swivel: 90° left or right
Size with stand: Approximately 497 × 499 × 487 mm (W × H × D)
Weight detail: Approximately 30 kg for the complete monitor; Sony's instructions say not to remove the stand
Controls: Front input selector, Picture Effect button, menu button and up/down/push control button; automatic sizing/centring, control lock and nine menu languages

Power and support

Power use: Up to 145 W in normal operation and up to 3 W in active-off deep sleep, without USB peripherals connected
Power supply: International operating instructions specify 100–240 V AC, 50–60 Hz, 2.0–1.0 A; Japanese archive specifies 100 V AC. Use the appropriate supplied regional mains lead.
Software: DDC2B/DDC2Bi over HD15, with stored preset/user timings and GTF support; exact signal support also depends on the graphics card
Certifications: ENERGY STAR, TCO'99 and MPR II in the international operating instructions; Japanese archive also lists VCCI Class B and FCC Class B
In the box: Power cord, HD15 video-signal cable, USB cable, Power Mac G3/G4 adapter and operating instructions (international manual; regional contents may vary)

Pros and cons

Pros

Sony supports a 2048 × 1536 at 85 Hz signal mode, with a recommended 1600 × 1200 at 85 Hz
HD15 and five-BNC inputs allow two computers to be connected
Extensive colour, geometry, convergence and landing adjustments

Cons

Approximately 30 kg and 487 mm deep
Analogue inputs require a compatible converter for modern digital-only computers
Normal aperture-grille damper-wire shadows can appear against light backgrounds

Closest rivals

Model	Size	Resolution	PPI	Panel	Refresh	Brightness	HDR	USB-C power	Released
AppleStudio Display (21-inch CRT, 1999)	19.8″	–	–	CRT	–	–	–	–	Jan 1999
AppleMultiple Scan 20 Display	19.1″	–	–	CRT	–	–	–	–	Mar 1994
AppleAppleVision 850	19″	–	–	CRT	–	–	–	–	May 1997

Sources

Photo: sony.jp

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