1

Chapter Overview

Traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors

Flat-panel displays (FPD) Display adapters Choosing and troubleshooting display

systems

2

Basic Monitor Operation

3

Internal CRT Operation

4

Screen Resolution and Pitch

5

Additional Monitor Considerations

The larger the CRT, the more expensive the monitor is.

Higher bandwidth equals greater maximum vertical refresh rate (VRR).

Interlacing (painting alternate rows) saves money but causes eye strain.

6

Power-Saving Features Display Power Management Signaling

(DPMS) modes reduce power use when the monitor is idle.

DPMS places the monitor in an inactive status if the system is inactive for a specified time.

The inactive states are On Standby Suspend Off

7

Tuning the Monitor’s Display

8

Monitor Maintenance

Do not work inside a monitor; it is dangerous.

Properly ventilate the enclosure. Clean the face of the CRT gently. Do not push the monitor beyond its

operating guidelines. Use energy-saving features.

9

Monitor Troubleshooting

Check the cables, including the power and display cables.

Check the front panel controls. Check the display drivers and reinstall

them, if needed. Try another display adapter. Refer the problem to a specialist.

10

Comparing CRT and Flat-Panel Displays

11

How Flat-Panel Displays Work FPDs use transparent organic polymers

sandwiched between polarizing filters with some form of backlighting.

An electrical charge determines if light passes or not.

Light-emitting diode (LED) displays have adjoining cells, each with a different color.

Active-matrix displays have largely replaced passive-matrix displays (PMDs).

12

Emerging Flat-Panel Technologies

Electroluminescent displays (ELDs) Emit light from phosphors Have lower-quality color and require higher

power usage Plasma display panels (PDPs)

Work much like fluorescent lights Use phosphor films to produce a color image Have lower contrast and brightness and

require higher power usage

13

Installing and Maintaining FPDs In general, FPDs are installed and

maintained the same as CRTs. You must use a compatible display card. The operating system must have drivers. Multisystem switches might be

incompatible. You should wipe the screen with a dry, soft

cloth to remove dust. You should use an uninterruptible power

supply (UPS) and/or surge protector.

14

Early PC Card Display Adapters

Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA) Color/Graphics Adapter (CGA) Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA)

15

Video Memory and Processor Demands

The amount of memory determines the amount of color and resolution.

Color depth multiplied by resolution determines the amount of memory needed.

More colors at a higher resolution require more memory and processor power.

Display coprocessors handle tasks that would normally slow down the PC.

16

Advanced Display Adapters

17

Video Memory

Fast page-mode RAM (FPM RAM) Video RAM (VRAM) Extended data out DRAM (EDO DRAM) Window RAM (WRAM) Synchronous graphics RAM (SGRAM) Multibank DRAM (MDRAM)

18

Memory/Video Resolution

19

Display Drivers Text-based adapters under MS-DOS do not

require software drivers. Microsoft Windows, OS/2, and other

graphics-rich environments require drivers. Display drivers adjust the refresh rate,

resolution, and other features. When installing a new card or operating

system, you should check the manufacturer’s Web site for the latest display drivers.

20

Choosing a Display System Consider the maximum viewable area that

you need. For faster graphics applications, use a fast

graphics adapter with VRAM or WRAM. For multimedia systems, consider TV out,

TV tuner, and hardware DVD acceleration. If desk space is limited, consider an FPD. Consider the tradeoffs in cost and

performance.

21

Troubleshooting Display Systems Verify that power and adapter cables are

properly attached and that the adapter is fully seated in the expansion slot.

Boot the system. If you get an image but the computer does not load the operating system, suspect memory or drivers.

Reset the card to 640 480 in 16-color VGA mode at 60-Hz refresh.

Make sure you are not exceeding the approved monitor refresh rate.

Try a different display adapter or monitor, or test on a different PC.

22

Chapter Summary Resolution is a function of horizontal pixels,

vertical lines, and the refresh rate. Traditional monitors with CRTs have higher

resolutions but take more desk space. FPDs require special graphics adapters. Monitors enclose very high voltages, which can

be lethal. The video card is the interface between the

expansion bus and the monitor. 24-bit cards with VRAM or WRAM are required

for true color.