Computer display setup is easy right? Just plug in and go?

To a certain degree monitor setup it is just a case of plugging in to get a picture, but did you know a poorly setup monitor can cause the following..

a) Headaches – Image size/resolution.
b) Eye Strain – Refresh rate of the screen can also give eye strain and headaches.
c) Poor graphic performance – when setup for 32bit color when 16bit will suffice.
d) Image does not look sharp – DVI or VGA
e) Blurred Image – Compatible resolutions
f) shaky image – Electromagnetic interference

a) Headaches – Image size/resolution.

The higher the resolution the smaller everything is on the screen, this means you can actually fit more on the screen at once, but having the display setup resolution too high can mean straining your eyes, so the resolution should be as high as possible, but comfortable to your eyes.

To change the resolution – Right click on the desktop
(XP) – Properties – Settings tab – move the slider to the right to increase resolution and to the left to decrease.
(7 or Vista) – Personalize – Display – Adjust Resolution – Hit the resolution selector and lower or increase your resolution as needed.

b) Eye Strain – Refresh rate of the screen can also give eye strain and headaches.

The refresh rate is the speed at which the image is repeatedly updated on the screen, having this as fast as possible will give the most stable image, meaning less eye strain or headaches.

To change the refresh rate – Right click on the desktop again
and from XP select Advanced – Monitor and Windows will automatically show the supported refresh rates.

Windows 7 or Vista – Adjust Resolution – Advanced Settings – Monitor tab – Change screen refresh rate.

c) Poor graphic performance – why setup for 32bit color when 16bit will suffice.

Looking at an image using 16bit color as opposed to 32bit really makes no difference apart from lessening the load on the graphics card, making things a little quicker.

A very simple display setup tweak which can be achieved by Right clicking on the desktop yet again.

(XP) Settings tab – Color quality & change from High (32bit) to Medium (16bit)
(7 & Vista) – Display – Adjust Resolution – Advanced Settings – Monitor – Colors – change from True Color (32bit) to High Color (16bit)

d) Image does not look sharp – DVI or VGA

If possible use a DVI or digital connection from the pc to the monitor, for a crisper, sharper image rather than a VGA type connection which is analogue.

e) Blurred Image – Compatible resolutions

If the screen image looks blurry check the resolution, using a resolution with the wrong aspect ratio for the monitor can result in a squashed or stretched screen.

For square type monitor resolutions such as 1024×768 or 1280×1024 work well, or for wider screen monitors 1280×720 or 1440×900

The resolution can be changed as described above.

f) shaky image – Electromagnetic interference

If your monitors has an intermittent shaky image make sure there not any devices such as fans or microwave ovens too near.

Other quick display setup tips

Go into the monitor control panel and look for the reset option this will cause the display setup to revert back to its to its default settings.

For older type CRT screens from the monitors control panel look for the Degauss option and hit this, depending on how much charge the screen is holding you will hear a loudish crack, this is nothing to worry about as the Degauss procedure occurs.

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