How To Install a New Computer Monitor


By Arindam Roy

This all-inclusive guide is perfect for anyone who wants to know how to install a new computer monitor. It goes through everything you’ll need:

Why Monitor Installation Is Important

Monitor installation can ensure that your monitor stays firmly in place

How to Install a New Computer Monitor

  • The first step is ensuring that the new monitor will fit on your desk, PC tower, or any other surface you may have it on.
  • Step two will be opening the box and pulling out the contents. You will need to find the monitor, a power cord, and if there is a disc, make sure to read the instructions on it.
  • Most of you will have a VGA cable that goes from the back of your computer to your monitor. However, you will not always have one. Make sure to get one so you can connect your new monitor.
  • If you have more than one video output on your computer, make sure that you are using an adapter that allows multiple types of connections.
  • Next step is taking off all the components on the old monitor.
  • Be careful with flat-panel monitors because they are very fragile and can break easily.
  • Any open boxes will also need to be removed, especially if the packaging is thick.

Things You’ll Need

  • A computer monitor
  • The type of cables that link you monitor to your PC will vary. If you purchased a VGA cable from your local hardware store, it should fit your computer.
  • If you have an LCD TV that has VGA inputs or something similar, it may work as well; however, most TVs are analog and not digital. They usually have an A/V cable that may work as well.
  • If you are planning on connecting your monitor to a digital TV, you will need an HDMI or a DVI cable.
  • Another option is purchasing the HDMI-to-VGA adapter; however, some of them do not work unless the analog to digital converter is used in conjunction with it.
  • Step two is ensuring that your monitor and cable are compatible to each other. This can be done by looking for VGA ports on either the monitor or the computer tower. If they match up, then you should be good to go. If not, you will need a new cable.
  • The next step would be to set up the signal capacity on your monitor.
  • Make sure you have the correct cable for your monitor. If you don’t, try using the other cable as an adapter. If that doesn’t work, you will need to purchase a new cable.

Also read: Difference between LCD and LED Monitors: Explained

How to Connect Your Monitor to Your Computer

  • 1. First thing start by connecting your power cord from the power supply into the back of the monitor without connecting anything else.
  • 2. Next is connecting the video cable into one of your computer’s VGA inputs. If you are unsure of where your VGA input is, you can usually find it by following the cables from your monitor.
  • 3. Another option is purchasing a VGA cable to connect to the back of your computer. This cable will be compatible with both the back of your computer and the monitor.
  • 4. If you don’t have a VGA adapter, make sure that all of your computers’ ports are set up correctly. Ask someone that knows what they are doing if you need help doing this.
  • 5. Your images should look much clearer at higher resolutions than lower ones. A good rule of thumb is to keep the size at 16×9. Larger than this has a negative impact on your computer’s performance and can cause eyestrain.

Also read: Should You Get a 1440p Monitor or A 4K Monitor?

How to Connect Your Monitor to a Digital TV

  • 1. Another option is buying an HDMI cable or an adapter that will allow you to connect your monitor directly to your digital TV without using an A/V cable. Make sure that your digital TV has multiple inputs; otherwise, you will need a DVI cable.
  • 2. Next, make sure that you are connecting the correct cable for the back of the monitor. It is very important that you do not plug in any of your computers’ cables into your monitor.
  • 3. Your digital TV will need to be set up right before it can be connected to the monitor.
  • 4. Plug in your HDMI cable to the back of your digital TV.
  • 5. Next, plug in the other end of the HDMI cable into your monitor. Make sure that it is connected correctly. If you need assistance, please ask someone that knows what they are doing.
  • 6. Now turn on both of your devices and make sure that the picture quality is alright. You may need to adjust a few items on each device to improve the image quality. If you need help doing this, please ask someone that knows what they are doing.

How to Connect Your Monitor to a Digital Camera (DSLR)

1. Digital cameras rarely have ports that support monitor connections. Even if you have one, it is very unlikely that it will work with your computer.

2. Please consider purchasing a digital camera with a USB, SD, or Memory Card slot. These are much easier to use and way more versatile than other options. If you do not own one of these types of cameras, please see my article on Digital Cameras to find which types are best for you. You will be able to connect your digital camera directly to your monitor by using a USB, SD, or Memory Card slot.”

Related article: Type of monitors & Their Uses: Explained

How to Connect Your Monitor to a Digital Projector

1.Please refer to Using a Projector for further instructions.

Video Resolution (TV and Computer)

The video resolution is measured in pixels. With higher resolutions, you will be able to fill more of the screen with your images. This makes it much easier and comfortable to edit your images and videos. The higher the pixel count, the sharper it will fill up the screen. This is an important aspect to consider when choosing a display.

I have outlined the very basics about video resolution below. You can find more detailed information on Wikipedia.

1. The resolution of a computer display, often measured vertically in pixels and horizontally in pixels, or horizontally in pixels and vertically in scan lines, is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed.
2. Higher resolutions allow for higher-quality images to be displayed on screen. It should be noted that an image with higher horizontal (pixel) resolution does not necessarily mean it has more detail than lower horizontal (pixel) resolutions. A 1920 x 1200 pixel display has the same number of horizontal pixels as a 1280 x 960 pixel display, but the 1920 x 1200 image has more vertical pixels than the 1280 x 960 image. This is because when a 640 × 480 image is blown up to full screen, it must use more horizontal scan lines than in order to fill out the same area of the screen. In addition, it may be necessary for musicians or graphic artists to use higher resolutions as an aid in visualizing and seeing their designs and drawings. However, a higher resolution will not always result in better pictures.”

You can find more information about what types of resolution you are looking for below. 1)

1. Display size : The pixel dimensions of the display device, usually expressed in inches or centimeters. For example, a standard 20-inch monitor has a width of about 1 meter and a height of about 0.33 meters (1 foot). Your display’s pixel dimensions are measured in the same units. For example, a 1280×1024 monitor has a horizontal pixel dimension of 1280 pixels and a vertical pixel dimension of 1024 pixels.

For more information about resolution, see “DPI” on page 122.

2. Windows display mode A visual way to display the desktop or applications. Windows display modes include (resolution) modes and multiple window (windowed) modes. You might be able to select your workflow better based on whether you work primarily with one application at a time in a full screen mode or whether you regularly switch among multiple applications at the same time in an adjacent window mode. See “Display Modes” on page 131.

3. DPI: Dots Per Inch : The dots per inch (DPI) is a measure of the resolution capacity of a display. To match your eyesight with the display, you should set your display to 150% of the DPI that corresponds to your screen size. This will ensure that you do not strain your eyes when looking at it.

Read here: What Type of Monitor is Ideal for Gamers: A Quick Guide

Screen Type

A screen type is a term to describe the technology used in LCD monitors and other devices. A screen type is not the same thing as resolution. The resolution of an LCD monitor, from highest to lowest quality, is as follows:LED screens have the same resolution but can be made even thinner due to their superior technology. If you are looking for a new LCD monitor, LED technology should be your top choice.”

Each type has various pros and cons.

I will outline the various screen types below. If you are interested in learning more about each screen type, you can use Google to find additional information on them.

  • 1. TN – Twisted Nematic
  • 2. The most popular screen type for LCD monitors. TN screens are generally the most affordable to purchase and make up the majority of monitors offered by Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Sony, and others.
  • 3. They have good color reproduction with a bit of a blue tint. This can be fixed by calibrating your monitor.

IPS – In-Plane Switching

Most IPS displays have good color reproduction; however they do not offer as much brightness as TN or AMOLED displays do. They are also more expensive than TN or AMOLED displays.

This is one of the latest screen technologies and has been widely considered as the next step in LCD monitor technology.

AMOLED – Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode

AMOLED screens offer very good color reproduction but they suffer from a lack of brightness. They are also more expensive than TN and IPS screens.

STN – Super Twisted Nematic

STN screens have a green tint that can be fixed by calibrating your monitor. I would not recommend purchasing a monitor that uses this technology.

PVA – Panel of Vertical Alignment

PVA screens are very bright; however, they have poor color reproduction and viewing angles.

LED – Light Emitting Diode

LED screens are the newest screens to come onto the market. They have the best color reproduction and viewing angle; however they suffer from a lack of brightness. They are also more expensive than TN or IPS screens. If you are looking for a new LCD monitor, LED technology should be your top choice.”

Please refer to my article on LED (Light Emitting Diode) Monitorshere.

Relevant reading: What Screen Resolution do I Need for My Monitor: A Detailed Guide

Resolution: Resolution Is Not Color Depth

1.

The resolution of the display is the overall number of pixels that are horizontally or vertically displayed on the screen at any one time. This includes all display types, sizes and resolutions. Technically, resolution is the horizontal and vertical pixel dimensions of a screen. Resolution is measured in pixels and Dots Per Inch (DPI). When we say resolution, we are referring to the number of pixels that can be displayed at one time.

The different types of resolutions described below include the following:

2.

  • Resolution
  • Horizontal DPI
  • Vertical DPI

In the past, higher resolutions meant more color depth. However, with newer screen types like LED and IPS (In-Plane Switching), this is no longer always true. A higher resolution does not always mean more color depth. For example, an IPS monitor may have a higher horizontal DPI than a TN monitor of the same size due to the use of IPS technology.

I will outline the various display resolutions below.

Widescreen

Widescreen is used to describe a display ratio that is greater than or equal to 2:1 (more than twice) and less than or equal to 4:3 (more than four times). Widescreen displays are commonly used in television and computer screens.

Keep in mind that if you increase the width of a computer display, it does not necessarily mean that you will have a higher resolution. The height of the screen is more important. The resolution for a display device is measured horizontally and vertically, and is expressed in pixels. Some high-end monitors are 16:10 and have a 1920 x 1200 resolution, which provides more space for viewing your pictures at 11″ x 8.25″ or 12″ x 10″ (see also “inches”).

If you are looking for a monitor with a widescreen ratio, please refer to my article on Widescreen Monitors. here.”

Related post: Computer Monitors Troubleshooting: Easy Fix Guide

Resolution: The Resolution of My Computer Monitor Is Too High!

You have no control over the display on your computer. However, some monitors have a “backlight bleeding” issue where the backlight can be faintly visible on the edges of the screen when displaying images. This is not a defect with the monitor but rather a design flaw. If you find this to be an issue, there is nothing you can do about it.

If your computer display has a high resolution, you may notice that text and images are not as large as you would like them to be. For example, if the resolution of your computer display is 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA), you will not be able to display a full Word document on one page.

If this is an issue for you, I would recommend purchasing software such as Microsoft Office Touch Pack for Microsoft Office Professional 2007 Home and Student Edition or Salesforce 1-Click Upsell. Both of these programs allow you to click on a word and change the font size. The font sizes are much easier to read than the default font sizes.

There are some other settings you can activate within your operating system. Go to the Control Panel and select “Performance” from the “Tools” drop-down menu. You can then select “Adjust appearance and performance.” You may want to change this setting so that your computer does not display bitmaps with a 1:1 aspect ratio, which would make text very large, when possible.

You may also want to put your screen resolution at 1024 x 768 or lower. This will give you the best viewing experience for everyday computing tasks and will conserve energy. You can also lower your resolution to use less power during the day. If you have a high resolution, please refer to my article on Wallpaper. here.

Color

Color is used to describe the intensity with which red, green, and blue light is being transmitted through a display device. In computer screens, this is expressed in RGB (Red-Green-Blue).”

The intensity of red, green, and blue light can be adjusted to compensate for different lighting conditions. In a dark room, you may want to use more red light because the only light available is from your monitors – for example if you turn off the lights at night.

What is the difference between screen resolution, framerate, and response time?

Screen resolution refers to the horizontal size of a monitor’s pixels. If you have an old CRT monitor with 800×600 (800×600) resolution, that means your monitor has 640 pixels across by 600 lines down. This is equivalent to what most people refer to as 800×600 or “standard.”

Currently, monitors are measured in physical inches or centimeters rather than dots per inch. This means that if you have a 21-inch monitor with 1920×1080 (1920×1080) resolution, that actually translates into 1080 vertical lines on the screen and counts 20 inches of space across by 1080 pixels down.

Response time is the amount of time it takes for a pixel to change color. Newer LCD monitors can change colors in nanoseconds, while older CRT monitors took a fraction of a second to react.

Framerate is the number of times per second that the image on your screen refreshes. Since most monitors refresh at 60Hz, or 60 frames per second, you will get a fluid motion from fast-moving games and movies only if your framerate matches that rate — for example, when playing Counterstrike online at 60Hz, you’ll get smooth motion only if your graphics card is pumping out pictures at least sixty times every second.

Read more: Best Monitor under ₹5000 in India – Top Picks & Reviews

How do I tell if my computer monitor is defective?

If your monitor is 5 years old or newer and still doesn’t have a DisplayPort in place, it’s probably not broken. Newer monitors may simply not support anything before DP ports are included. It’s perfectly okay for a new monitor to not support these older standards. The very first monitors shipped in 2009 with HDMI 1.4 but didn’t support any of the more robust features until 2011 and 2012 respectively.

A properly functioning monitor should be able to accurately display colors, refresh faster than 60Hz, and accept resolutions of 1920×1080 and higher (and above). The quality of the screen should be clean and fast enough to give smooth motion in high-end graphics cards.

If a monitor that’s been around for a few years, like some of the initial Apple Cinema Displays or some of Dell’s older monitors, are running at 1680×1050 or lower and can’t accept higher resolutions, there is probably something wrong with them — they’re broken. The easier way to tell is if the backlight is flickering or dimming. I do not recommend trying to fix such things yourself as it’s possible you could damage your monitor beyond repair.

Is there any noticeable difference in display quality if I choose a 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratio?

It depends on a lot of things. The primary factor is the size of the monitor — if it’s bigger than around 24″, you may not really notice any difference in quality as long as you can accept the change in screen size. Most movies are shot for a 1.85 aspect ratio which means there will be black bars on the sides of a 16:9 monitor. If you’re a competitive Counterstrike player or League of Legends player, you may find yourself in need of a monitor that can offer support for at least 165Hz.

If you plan to watch television shows and movies with your monitor, probably not. For the most part, television shows are shot in standard 16:9 aspect ratios — sports and news are limited to 4:3 aspect ratios (and previously 4:3 was standard). As far as I know, the only reason 4:3 is used by television stations and broadcasters is because it’s compatible with older CRT monitors (which were analog sets that used vacuum tubes).

When you watch a movie, the composition of the frame is fixed. Either 16:9 (1.77:1) or 4:3 (1.33:1). 16:9 first appeared on movie screens in 1997 and early television broadcasts were also 16:9. The only reason 4:3 became common is because most sets are CRT monitors with analog inputs, which was introduced in 1958.

Benefits of having a high refresh rate monitor

The benefits you’ll see from having a monitor that refreshes faster than 60Hz will vary depending on what games you play and what your goals are as far as gaming is concerned.

If you’re playing competitive games like Counterstrike, League of Legends, or DOTA 2 and need to match your FPS at 165Hz+, you’ll likely be happier with a monitor that goes into overdrive when it needs to refresh rather than take the time to wait for a wireframe image to appear on the screen.

High-refresh rates can help with double-click response time as well. If your mouse has no latency (flag), it’s going to be noticeably faster when moving your cursor around the screen. This is because the reaction time is completely dependent on how fast the monitor can flip between different frames of information.

How can I discover what refresh rate my monitor is at?

Well, if you’re in doubt on this: take a look at your screen and take note of how fast or slow it flickers. Really, the easiest way to do this is by using a program like MSI Afterburner (free). If you’re looking to get a new monitor and monitor manufacturer doesn’t mention anything about refresh rates in their spec sheets — don’t buy it. You might like it and think that everything is just fine, but there’s no way of knowing until you try it yourself.

What are HDR monitors and what are the benefits?

HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. When a monitor or TV is in HDR mode, the color range especially the range of the different shades of white and black is expanded. You can see deeper color gradations and characters on screen than ever before.

If you have to choose between buying a monitor with a higher resolution than your current monitors or paying more for an HDR monitor, which would you choose?

Personally, I’d go with an HDR monitor. If your computer’s monitor can’t handle 1080p (standard definition) then get a new one. If you’re ok with standard definition and want to save some money, then wait for HDR monitors to be cheaper now that they’re more widespread.

In this article, I will review several HDR monitors. After each review I will tell you whether or not it is worth buying an expensive monitor and if you should wait for the price to drop.

Are monitors as important for gaming as they would be to office work?

This is a very good question. There are two types of gamers: First-person shooter (FPS) gamers who want to see everything in front of them clearly and people who game without a headset where the sound quality is important, like RTS, simulation and multi-player online battle arena (MOBA) gaming. For these two groups, a great monitor is extremely important when playing their games. (see table below)

High-quality monitors can be used for office work. There are monitor that have a “smart” picture with the same features as the TV and movies. Some of them, for example, can automatically detect faces so that you don’t need to wear glasses while watching a movie or an episode of your favorite TV series. Is it worth buying an expensive monitor?

An important aspect to consider is whether your needs are basic or whether you want all the features of a high-end HDR monitor. You might also want to consider what will happen when you upgrade your computer. If you’re upgrading to a more powerful computer, you’ll probably need a monitor with more features. All this is important because if you buy an expensive monitor, it will probably cost you a lot of money when you change your computer.

If your computing habits are constantly shifting (and they probably are), then an expensive monitor can be a good investment. Even in five years’ time, the most suitable gaming monitors will still be useful for entertainment and productivity programs. However, if all that you use your PC for is word processing and checking email, then save yourself some money and buy a cheap 1080p or 4K monitor now and see how much longer it is before you need to upgrade your PC again.

How to change the refresh rate of your monitor?

This is a very simple question. Every monitor has a refresh rate. This is the number of frames per second (FPS) that a display can display. The refresh rate determines how fast moving objects appear and how smoothly do they appear. So what you’re asking is, “How do I change the refresh rate of my monitor?”

Overall, there are two ways to change the frequency of your monitor: through software and through hardware. Through software:

You might know it as “overclocking”, changing the frequency of your computer’s processor, with special software that lets you choose your refresh rate in Hz. Through hardware:

With this method you need a good graphics card that supports either Nvidia’s G-Sync or AMD’s Freesync technologies.

You will need to buy a compatible monitor, as well. However, with these monitors, when you use them in conjunction with these technologies, your PC will adjust the refresh rate automatically and smoothly to the highest value possible. This doesn’t work with all games and may not be as effective as overclocking your monitor through software; however, it is still a viable option for non-enthusiasts.

What are the differences between glossy and matte screens?

Glossy screens provide more clarity and color quality than matte screens. This is because their pixels emit more light, which results in a sharper image. Laptop displays use a mix of both.

 

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