PC Hardware in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Installing and Configuring a Display

Physically installing a CRT monitor or FPD requires only connecting its video cable to the video adapter and plugging the monitor into the wall receptacle. The steps required to adjust the CRT monitor or FPD for best image quality vary according to the specific monitor you use. See the monitor manual for specific instructions.

Tip

We recommend using DisplayMate (see Chapter 2) when you install a new monitor or change video settings. In our experience, most monitors are not set for best image quality. Most people either use the default manufacturer settings or make a few arbitrary changes to brightness and contrast and let it go at that. Unless you’ve used DisplayMate to optimize it, chances are your monitor could be displaying a better picture than it is right now.

The steps required to configure the video adapter to use the monitor optimally vary by operating system, as described in the following sections.

Configuring a Monitor Under Windows NT 4

Windows NT 4 understands the capabilities of the installed video adapter, but has no knowledge of what monitor is connected to the system. Accordingly, it will permit you to configure video adapter settings that the connected monitor cannot display. In the worst case, you may configure the video adapter to use video settings so far beyond the ability of the monitor to display that using those settings for even a few seconds may physically damage the monitor.

Therefore, when installing a monitor on a ...