Are Magnets Still Bad for Computers?

February 9, 2018 12:00 pm

Remember the days as a kid when your parents would warn you not to put a magnet to a television screen, as doing so would cause lasting damage? I’m guessing you still did it anyway, as children are very curious and easily get into mischief. All of a sudden, you would see an array of colors go across the screen, effectively distorting the picture. You knew you had messed up, and soon enough everyone else in the family would too, especially your parents.

So why did that happen? And does it still happen today with our exceedingly advanced electronics? Let’s find out:

  • Why – Back in the day, TVs and CRT computer monitors (the ones with the big back ends) used magnets to project the picture on the screen. This is why holding a magnet too close distorts the image, even if you swear it was an accident, an experimental one at that.
  • Computers today – Nowadays, monitors and TV screens are LCD and LED. With recent technological advancements, companies scrapped using magnets to project an image in favor of a sleeker style that only LCD and LED can provide. It’s proven everyday that magnets don’t affect these newer monitors. After all, the speakers next to your screen have magnets in them and you’ve seen no difference in picture, right?

While common household magnets are far too weak to cause any real damage to modern computer monitors and TV screens, it’s probably best to not have them anywhere near electronics just in case. As for more powerful magnets, they can easily harm not only the screen, but the hardware inside the computer as well, as computers use magnets to aid in various processes. For any issues you may encounter while using a computer, call M&H Consulting at 1-(866)-964-8324.

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