So just how dangerous are magnets really?

[LucyDuke]

I'm sitting here playing with Magnetix, that building toy set with the magnetic-tipped rods and the steel ball bearings. Gets me wondering about something I sometimes wonder about - exactly how dangerous to computers are magnets? I mean I'm not about to go sticking refrigerator magnets on my tower case, but is it risky to have one of those weak-magnet-backed notepads in my laptop bag? Where's the danger zone? What kind of other electronic stuff is at risk?

 

[Aramazd]

Magnets can damage your hard drive, however a weak magnet is not likely to do any damage unless you stick it right on the drive. I wouldn't worry about those magnets.

 

[Grisu]

Magnets can damage your hard drive, however a weak magnet is not likely to do any damage unless you stick it right on the drive. I wouldn't worry about those magnets.

well, it doesn't really damage the hard-drive, just the data, but that's bad enough...flash-drives, cds/dvds are immune to it.

also CRT's (who still uses them) can be damaged by magnets (distorting the colours..)

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Your normal hard drive is exposed to magnets much more powerful than anything you would use in a toy or fridge magnet. (Every modern hard drive has two strong magnets in it). So I really wouldnt worry about it.
CRT's on the other hand, are still affected by a magnet because of the inherent nature of the CRT. So id keep the magnets away from those.

Oh yes, just because I said don't worry bout it, I wouldn't start sticking strong magnets on your hard drives. Those can actually damage the data ( In fact, strong electromagents can be used to completely wipe the data from a hard drive, also known as degaussing)

 

[Mise]

If you stood at magnetic north, would it steal your metaphorical megahurtz?

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I heard strong magnets (like the ones used to lift cars) are a good way to destroy data on a hard drive.

 

[Zelig]

Not very, fridge magnets on your case are safe, rare earth magnets on your harddrive, less so.

 

[Cutlass]

I heard strong magnets (like the ones used to lift cars) are a good way to destroy data on a hard drive.

or shotguns

 

[J-man]

I heard strong magnets (like the ones used to lift cars) are a good way to destroy data on a hard drive.

I don't think Lucy has any of those her laptop bag.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

or shotguns

Or a blowtorch

 

[WildFire]

also CRT's (who still uses them) can be damaged by magnets (distorting the colours..)

you'll find most serious first person shooter gamers use CRT's still

I heard strong magnets (like the ones used to lift cars) are a good way to destroy data on a hard drive.

do you type the first thing you think of regardless of if it'll answer the threads question?

 

[Zelig]

you'll find most serious first person shooter gamers use CRT's still

If so, it's from misinformation.

I've got a 22" Sony and a 24" Sony CRT in use at the moment, and while they're fantastic, they aren't any better for gaming, either anecdotally or technically, than comparable highend LCDs.

 

[Speedo]

If so, it's from misinformation.

I've got a 22" Sony and a 24" Sony CRT in use at the moment, and while they're fantastic, they aren't any better for gaming, either anecdotally or technically, than comparable highend LCDs.

Never heard of tearing? It's one of those things that hardcore gamers hate while the rest of us may not even notice. Only way to get rid it is with vsync.. but that often leads to a sluggish feeling that gamers also hate. CRTs have none of those issues.

 

[Zelig]

Never heard of tearing? It's one of those things that hardcore gamers hate while the rest of us may not even notice. Only way to get rid it is with vsync.. but that often leads to a sluggish feeling that gamers also hate. CRTs have none of those issues.

Tearing is a problem on both CRTs and LCDs, and either way, can be fixed by getting a better video card and keeping vsync enabled.

See here.

 

[Speedo]

Tearing is a problem on both CRTs and LCDs, and either way, can be fixed by getting a better video card and keeping vsync enabled.

See here.

In technical terms, tearing happens on all displays. In practical terms, it's effectively impossible to see on a CRT and much more noticeable on a LCD. It comes down to the fundamentals of how the two displays work. Vsync, as I already said, is something many gamers hate with a passion.

 

[raketooy]

also CRT's (who still uses them) can be damaged by magnets (distorting the colours..)

I used to play with my CRTs with magnets. It was quite sweet.

 

[Zelig]

In technical terms, tearing happens on all displays. In practical terms, it's effectively impossible to see on a CRT and much more noticeable on a LCD. It comes down to the fundamentals of how the two displays work. Vsync, as I already said, is something many gamers hate with a passion.

And in technical terms, those gamers need to upgrade their video cards.

Like I mentioned, I've got a Sony FW900 and a Sony CPD-G520P, and I can easily see tearing on either of them if I pick the right games and graphics settings.

The largest problem LCDs have in terms of gaming is input lag, which isn't a problem if you choose your panel carefully.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

I read in an old practical joke book (I think late 80s - early 90s) that a classic was to stick a fridge magnet to the side of a CRT, and it would make the picture wavy. It also mentioned deducting the cost of an new terminal from the paycheck.

another one, somebody had a 5 1/2 inch floppy for system restore, and he actually stuck it to a filing cabnet with a magnet! Something to do with the data being on the edges and he stuck in the middle. Anyways, the disk did work.

 

[WildFire]

it's ok to be wrong zelig

 

[Zelig]

it's ok to be wrong zelig

I could say the same thing.

Most of the CRT>LCD sentiment for gaming don't go on actual technical details in modern LCDs, they're based on limitations of previous generations of panels.

LCDs and CRTs both have advantages at different price points, but it's disingenuous to claim that every high-end CRT gives a better gaming experience than every high-end LCD.