Unboxing and First Impressions: NEC AccuSync 70 CRT Monitor
As I sit down to unbox this lovely-looking box, I can't help but feel excited about what's inside. The NEC AccuSync 70, an 17-inch CRT monitor from around 2001, has been waiting patiently in its unopened packaging for who-knows-how-long. As a collector of retro tech, I'm always on the lookout for new additions to my collection, and this one seems like a great find. The monitor was picked up new-old stock, sealed and untouched, which means it's still in pristine condition.
I've been searching for a nice beige-y, white, gray CRT look to fit in with my computers, and this one seems to hit the spot perfectly. I'm not too concerned about the monitor's age or usage history; after all, it's not like it's going to be used for everyday activities or anything. The fact that it's still sealed up from its original packaging means that I don't have to worry too much about shipping and handling issues.
As I carefully remove the monitors from their packaging, I notice that the tape on each side is starting to come apart. However, the main body of the monitor remains sealed, which is a good sign. It's clear that the manufacturer took care when packing these units up for distribution, as the entire thing looks like it's been nicely protected.
As I lift the lid off the box, I'm greeted by a familiar sight – the classic VGA power cable and a set of documentation that promises to guide me through the process of setting up this new monitor. The monitor itself is neatly packed away in its own protective covering, which suggests that the manufacturer took extra care when shipping these units out.
With the monitor now exposed, I take a closer look at its design. The casing is sleek and clean, with a subtle sheen to it that hints at the quality of construction inside. The NEC logo looks crisp and clear, and the overall aesthetic is one of understated elegance. I'm not sure what I was expecting in terms of design – maybe something a bit more flashy or attention-grabbing? But this monitor's simplicity is actually quite appealing.
Now that we've got our monitor unboxed, let's take a closer look at its technical specifications. According to the specs, this baby has a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 at 66 Hz, although it's noted that it can go up to 120 Hz at lower resolutions. That's a nice spec sheet if I do say so myself – and who knows? Maybe I'll even be able to find some documentation or software to take full advantage of these specs.
Next, we've got the monitor itself, which looks like it's ready to spring into action. The power cable is neatly attached, and the documentation promises a straightforward setup process that should have me up and running in no time. With my trusty LGR Megaluminum Monster PC by its side, I plug everything in and press the power button.
The monitor springs to life with a soft whoosh of energy, and suddenly we're greeted by a picture that's almost too good to be true. The shadow mask is remarkably sharp and clear, and the overall image looks incredibly vibrant – even if it does have a slightly muted tone that might require some adjustments. I take a deep breath and sit back in my chair, ready to put this new monitor through its paces.
First things first, let's take a look at the settings menu. As I scroll through the options, I notice that the 640x480, 16-bit setting is currently selected – which isn't too far off from what I had before this purchase. That's reassuring, as it suggests that this monitor will be able to seamlessly integrate into my existing setup. Now, let's see if everything else is working as expected...
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en- Oh yeah, it is new old stockretro tech time once again here on LGR.Greetings and check outthis lovely looking box withpresumably a lovelylooking CRT inside. Yeah.This is the NEC AccuSync 70,17 inch CRT from around 2001.Or at least that's when it firsthit store shelves, and yeah.It's something I picked up newold stock, unopened, sealed up,never been used because well,one of the monitors I was goingto be using for a project iskind of on its last legs I think.It was just being a little weird.So I grabbed this one asa backup because yeah,I prefer to get new oldstock ones because they're,they're obviously unused. So that's nice.You don't have a lot of hours in the CRT,but also just because it's all nicelypacked up from the factory,you don't have to worry as muchabout shipping these acrossthe country. Yeah.Because I don't have anothervideo lined up this week,that is what this is gonna be,just a simple unboxing video,taking a look at this monitor,seeing how it looks works andall that kind of stuff with anold PC. But yeah,the reason I don't have anothervideo this week is becauseI'm going to actually be atVintage Computer FestivalMidwest in Elmhurst, Illinois,September 11th to 12th.And you know, some days beforeand after that, if all goesaccording to plan butjust kind of hanging out,doing an LGR Thing there.Yeah,I haven't actually set up anexhibit, a table at a show likethat before, and that'swhat I'm going to be doing.If things work out as Ihope, I mean it's 2021,you never know, but we'regoing to try anyway.So I needed a monitor, a nice one.Nice reliable one.So I'm going to be taking afew and this one I just hadn'topened yet and I was goingto open it anyway. So I,you know, whatever,let's go ahead and do exactlythat in this video. And yeah,I mean,it seems like a pretty decentlittle monitor for again,like 2001, 2002.NEC/Mitsubishi AccuSync 70.So yeah, $200 0.27 millimeter dot pitch.Maximum res 1280x1024 at 66 hertz.I think it goes up to 120hertz at lower resolutions.Just according to whichseries of specs you look up,this I found on CNET.It seems to say that actually hasa 0.23 millimeter dot pitch,which would be reallynice and yeah, 120 hertz,maximum vertical refresh atlower resolutions. We'll see.All I really want is anice beige-y, white, gray,whatever, you know, that kind of late 90s,early 2000s CRT look tofit in with my computers.Okay. That part is already coming apart.Looks like the tape on each side was.It actually shipped to me in this box,It wasn't like protected or anything.So this part is still sealed at least.Yeah. As long as it looks like a periodcorrect monitor and it functions.That's all I need.I just need something nice forthe show and for future LGRvideos, because CRTs don't last forever.So it's good to have.A couple extra.Ooh, this is feeling freshalready, nicely packed.Oh yeah.I can smell the smells.All the plasticky computery-ness of it.All right. So we get a fresh power cable,fresh documentation.Don't know if this willhave any like software,probably not, but we'll see.Base right here, basically.All right.Look at that.I don't actually haveany monitors from NEC.I do have a couple LCDsbut no CRTs from them.So this is neat.I like the way this looks.So the monitor cable is attached.Just nice classic VGA, right there.Smells delectable. Now thelittle thing right there,it's just offset with abit of gray. So that's fun.Nice round power button.Lovely looking tube.Or at least the glass.And I was admiring thetop of the back hereas I was unboxing it. 'Cuz yeah,it just tapers togetherin a nice end there.It's not as angular or squared off asa lot of my other monitors.Nice NEC logo looking clean.The whole thing looks clean, of course.Okay. So this actually says April 2004.So a little bit later than I thoughtin terms of when it was manufactured.These went on sale in likeearly 2001 originally.So I guess they kept up therange for a little while. Yeah,I'm fine with it beingmanufactured as late as possible,as long as it's got the rightlook to it for my purposes.And this does.All right. Go ahead and get the base.Nice.Oh man.Fresh power cables.Almost toxic smelling.Look, you got to smellyour old components.They've been around a while.They've earned that aroma.Check that out. Always exciting.Going back like 17 years, having a new,old display to try out.All right, enough of this,let's go ahead and getit plugged in and thensee how it looks,just gonna check and see ifthere's anything in here.Eh, not really just some basic stufflike here's how to cleanyour monitor, don't ruin it.Make sure you're sitting infront of it. Not behind it.Press the controls to do things.Let's get this turned on,plug it into some stuff.And play with an old PC.Okay. All ready to go here.Plugged into the LGR Megaluminum Monster,which is one of the machinesthat I'm going to betaking to VCF Midwest.Let's get it powered on.Nice little dunk from thedegauss doing its thing.There we go.Ooh, yeah.Warming up alreadylooking incredibly sharp.Nice.Yeah.That's looking great.Very nice and bright, as expected.Super sharp. That is apretty nice shadow mask.That's what it looks like anyway. Yeah.- Oh yeah. Crappy speakersover there doing their thing.And this looks,absolutely fantastic here in person.Hopefully that's coming across on camera.So let's see what we got interms of the settings. Yeah,the 640x480, 16 bit.That's what I had before this.The other monitor I had plugged in.The monitor itself detectedjust as \"plug and play monitor.\"That's fine.And oh, hey look at that.So we can go all the way up to120 hertz at this resolution.So let's give it a shot.Ooh, that looks real good.At least in person, youmight be able to see a line.Yeah. It's just synchronizationnot being quite right with mycamera, but here in person,I mean, that looks phenomenal.Like sometimes if you'relooking at a CRT and I can justlike, look off to the side alittle bit and I'll see sort ofa flicker going on.There's none whatsoever.That just looks beautiful.The brilliance of highrefresh rates. Old displays,new displays, whatever, it's awesome.Yeah. Skifree at 120.Not like it reallymakes too much of a difference,but hey whatever.Dude this CRT looks fantastic.Geometry looks amazing, alittle off center right nowsince I changed therefresh, but that's okay.Colors are nice and punchy, super crisp.I was reading in themanual that it is, in fact,a 0.27 millimeter dot pitch, not 23,like the CNET spec sheet said.Which it also said the27 right on the box,if I had been paying attention.So that's that. Whatever thoughit looks great at this sizeand refresh rate.But even though 120 hertzis amazing here in person.It's not terribly usefulfor making this video,especially since many ofthese games I've got on here,won't run at 120 FPS anyway.Both due to the lackinghorsepower of this PC,and the fact that most ofthese games are just gonnadefault right back to whateververtical refresh it normally uses.60, 70, 75, whatever.It'd make perfect sensefor like, old 3D shutterglasses, for instance.And 120 hertz was a big sellingpoint back in the day forlow flicker,less eyestrain while doingactual work and stuff.But that's that.So there's not a whole lotof point to me having a highof a refresh on here right now.So let's just put it back down to 75.Like I think it was before.Yeah. And yeah, this is thespread of games and software.That I'm going to be havingfor folks to play and messaround with at VCF Midwest,some of them anyway.These are just some of the mainWindows ones I have on here.I've got an awful lot more interms of DOS games and things.So just gigabytes and gigabytesand gigabytes of games,various types. Try outthis menu system,on-screen display here.Brightness and contrast,some RGB individualsettings for the colors.Button was sticking there for a second.Horizontal, vertical adjustments,panning around, stretching.All your standard geometry stuff,pin cushion rotation, allthat. Degauss here.Oh yeah.Nice. And you can just gothrough some presets for colortemperature and whatnot.Cool.Oh hey.And we can change the color of that.I like that one.Now that's handy, so that shows thecurrent status of refresh rates forwhatever mode you're in at the moment.Let's try a game or two realquick just cause why not?How about Command and Conquer: Red Alert?Yes.\"Rescue Einstein.\" Okay.Such smooth scrolling.Looks real good.Nothing like a nice new sharpCRT for any of these kind of,just little characters going around,sharp pixel art andall that kind of stuff.Well, anyway, now I'mjust gonna get sucked intoplaying Red Alert.We can go all the way up to1280 by 1024 if I remember.Ooh, well that's a thing, such resolution.Of course now my camerais not cooperating, but.We'll fix that.Turns all the way down to 60, which eh,it makes sense for a monitorlike this, this size,this max resolutionsupported and all that.Look at all this real estate.It's too small for my taste.You know, 1024x768 is about the maxI really like optimally on a monitorthat's this size, 17 inches,but still look at all that.You can just move the cardall over the place.Now ski free is just ridiculous.Little tiny ski man down there somewhere.Let's see.I'm assuming Yoot Tower actually willbenefit quite a bit fromthe high resolution.Eh we're at 256colors, it's fine.Nice, nice.Again, it's you know, on theverge of being too small,but still.That's awesome. You can seeso much of your tower at once.So if you ever take it down to yeah.768.Yeah.Let's see. Ah, here we go.Again, that's optimal for my taste andreally for what this screenis designed to handle.Anyway, yeah.I'll probably put it downlower for the actual show justcause so many other gameson here are going to runat a lower resolution.Like Duke 3D, for example.- Let's rock.- Yep. This looks great.Time to die.I don't know. It's pretty awesome, dude.So yeah.I guess that is about it for this video.Duke 3D is actually somethingI'm going to be having alsoset up at the VCF table,the LGR Things table.So I'm going to have thiscomputer and another one or maybeone or two others who knowsat least a couple of computerslinked together, networked.So we can play multiplayerDukematch, among other things,you know.I'm gonna have all kinds ofstuff set up there so yeah,I'm pretty excited as you can tellto get this going and I'm really happyto have another new old stockmonitor to fall back on,especially since one of myothers was kind of not doing sogreat. I think it's justcapacitors going bad, but still,you know,I don't have time to fix itbetween now and the show,which at the moment the showis probably ongoing when you'rewatching this, or it's alreadyhappened. Like I said,September 11th to 12th, 2021.And that's pretty much it.I hope that you enjoyedseeing this very quick rambleunboxing thing. This wasgoing to be a Blerbs video,but like I said,I didn't have anything elsegoing up this week here at LGR.So I just figured eh, I have this,it's better than nothing I hope.And if you did enjoy this,check out some of my othervideos that are usually much morebetter put together thanthis one. And that's yeah,that's it, man.Thanks for watching!\n"