I will add my .02 on this matter too if it helps:
I build high-end systems as a hobby.
My main box is 2.5 Ghz CPU with a gig of 400 Mhz DDR RAM in it..I too, use the CRT monitor, a 21" sony CRT flat screen.. Yes it's HUGE and heavy, but I also use it as my gaming rig. In Poser, I do true 3d stereoscopic imaging, (using the LCD shutter goggles) to make things appear to jump into and an out of the screen at ya...takes it(Poser)(and gaming) to a whole new level.. reason I bring THIS up, is an LCD flat monitor dont have near the refresh rates a good CRT has. With REAL 3D (with goggles), it works by cutting the refresh rate in 1/2 and flashing 2 slightly panned images alternately back and forth from left eye to right thru the goggles, appearing to be how your human eye would see it... In other words, your right eye sees 1 render, while your left eye sees another, slightly panned viewpoint, render. The LCD goggles simply black out the screen on each eye opposite of what an eye is viewing, flashing back and forth with your refresh rate cut in 1/2 split 'tween each eye. So 144MHz refresh = 72 MHz per eye, which 72-80 is average rate of typical monitor we all see... make sense? The higher the refersh rate, the less "flicker" your eye detects...
My CRT is a 144MHZ refresh rate monitor on the gaming 3D rig. the LCD does NOT come anywhere near that, and does not work for tru 3D stuff Im doing...
I use a GeForce FX card, 256 megs on board, and even tho there are higher end stuff out there, I cannot imagine noticing any difference in "better" quality as this thing is hot.
I was an ATI fan until I tried a Geforce 2 card, and since then Ive upgraded as they (Nvidia) did and never looked back at ATI...I have my own reasons for that which are mainly subject to opinion and preference. However, I can honestly say by experience, whatever you go with for a Vid card, get the highest memory one you can...It makes a huge difference, and dont "tap in" to your system memory as much if it has a lot on the video card itself...
Blah Blah Blah, but if this sort o thing interests you in the future, CRT is the only way to go...
:)

Message edited on: 10/25/2004 18:32