Display Technologies

Monitor technologies

• pixels: Monitors create images using tiny elements called pixels, each consisting of red, green, and blue light components.

• LCD Technology: Most monitors use Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology, which allow light to pass or not pass for each color in a pixel

• LCD backlights are fluorescent or LED lights and shine through the liquid crystals

• Organic LED (OLED) doesn’t use a backlight as the pixels make their own light

• Digital light processing (DLP) uses a grid of tiny mirrors that shine through a color wheel to create an image

• Types of Panels: There are different LCD panel types like TN (inexpensive, good speed) and IPS (wide viewing angles).

• Resolution: This is the number of pixels across and down the screen (e.g., 1920x1080).

• Brightness: Measured in nits, good monitors range from 200 to 500 nits.

• Response Time: The time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white and back, with good monitors having 1 to 4 milliseconds.

LCD Breakdown

• LCD Screen: The main part of the monitor is the LCD screen, which has millions of tiny wires and picture elements that create the image.

• Backlight: Behind the screen, there are fluorescent tubes (CCFLs) or LEDs that light up the screen evenly.

• Power Supply: The monitor has a power supply that converts electricity to the type needed by the monitor.

• Inverters: If the monitor uses CCFLs, it has inverters to change the power back to the type needed for these lights.

• convert to dc power back into ac power for fluorescent lights; LEDS don’t need invertere

• Connections: The monitor has inputs for video signals from the computer and a main connection to the LCD panel.
  Graphics cards and connections, part 1

• Graphics Card: This is a component in your computer that creates the images you see on your screen. It has its own processor called a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) and memory to store images.

• GPU: The GPU helps the computer quickly create and display images by handling many small tasks, like drawing shapes and icons.

• Memory: The graphics card has its own memory to store the images it creates, making the process faster.

• Connections:
  

  • VGA: An older type of connection that sends an analog signal.

  • DVI: A digital connection that can also support analog signals with an adapter.

  • HDMI: A modern digital connection that is commonly used today.

  • Nvidia, AMD (ATI), and intel make the majority of GPUs

  Key Points:
  

  • The graphics card is essential for displaying images on your monitor.

  • It has a GPU and its own memory to handle image processing efficiently.

  • Different types of connections (VGA, DVI, HDMI) are used to connect the graphics card to the monitor.

  
  Graphics cards and connections, part 2

• VI: An older type of connection that needed some configuration to work properly.

• HDMI:
  

  • What it is: A popular connection for video and sound.

  • Uses: Great for home theater setups because it can automatically configure and send both video and audio to your monitor or TV.

  • Types: Regular HDMI and Mini-HDMI (smaller version for devices like tablets).

• DisplayPort:
  

  • What it is: Another type of connection, often seen as a competitor to HDMI.

  • Uses: Preferred by some for high-quality video connections.

  • Types: Regular DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort (smaller version).

• Multiple Ports on Graphics Cards: Modern graphics cards have various ports (DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort) to offer flexibility and support different monitors.

• Default Port: Sometimes, a graphics card might have a default port it uses first, so if nothing shows up on your screen, try another port.
  

Simplified Explanation of "Resolutions and aspect ratios":

• Resolution: The number of pixels on the screen. More pixels mean a clearer image.

• Aspect Ratio: The shape of the screen, defined by the ratio of width to height.

Common Aspect Ratios and Resolutions:

• 4:3 Aspect Ratio:
  

  • VGA: 640x480

  • SVGA: 800x600

  • SXGA: 1280x1024 (technically 5:4)

  • UXGA: 1600x1200

• 16:10 Aspect Ratio:
  

  • WSXGA: 1440x900

  • WUXGA: 1920x1200

• 16:9 Aspect Ratio (common for HDTV):
  

  • 720p: 1280x720

  • 1080p: 1920x1080

  • 4K: 3840x2160

  • 5K: 5120x2880

Key Points:

• Higher Resolution: More pixels, clearer images.

• Common Resolutions: VGA, SVGA, SXGA, UXGA, WSXGA, WUXGA, 720p, 1080p, 4K, 5K.

• Aspect Ratios: 4:3 (older monitors), 16:10 (some laptops), 16:9 (modern HDTVs and monitors).

• Graphics Card: A component that creates images for your screen.

• Installation Steps:
  

  1. Choose the Slot: Find the PCIe slot in your computer. These are usually numbered (PCIe-1, PCIe-2, PCIe-3). almost all graphic cards use 16-lane PCIe sl

  2. Insert the Card: Carefully place the graphics card into the slot. Make sure it fits properly.

  3. Secure the Card: Use screws to secure the card in place. This prevents it from moving.

  4. Connect Power: Some high-end cards need extra power. Connect the PCIe power cables if needed.

  5. Check Settings: In your computer's BIOS/CMOS settings, choose which graphics card to use if you have multiple options.

  6. Boot Up: Turn on your computer and check if the graphics card is working by looking at the display and checking the device manager for any issues.

  7. Adjust Resolution: Make sure your screen resolution matches your monitor's native resolution for the best display quality.

  8. Update Drivers: Ensure you have the latest drivers for your graphics card. You can use Windows Update or download them from the manufacturer's website.

     • with multiple graphic cards define the primary card in system setup

     • some systems provide riser cards for extra graphics cards

     • always run the system at your monitor’s native resolution
       

Multiple monitors

• Why Use Multiple Monitors: More screen space for multitasking.

• No Special Video Card Needed: You can use built-in graphics and a separate graphics card.

• Different Sizes and Resolutions: Monitors don’t need to match, but it’s easier if they do.

• Setup Steps:
  

  1. Check Display Settings: Ensure your system detects both monitors.

  2. Identify Monitors: Know which is monitor 1 and which is monitor 2.

  3. Duplicate Display: Shows the same content on both monitors.

  4. Extend Display: Spreads your desktop across both monitors.

  5. Arrange Monitors: Position them side-by-side or top-and-bottom.

  6. Set Main Display: Choose which monitor shows the taskbar and start menu.

Projectors

• What is a Projector: A device that shows images on a screen, like a big monitor.

• Connections: Projectors have ports like HDMI and VGA to connect to computers.

• Types of Technology:
  

  • DLP: Uses tiny mirrors to project images.

  • LCD: Uses liquid crystal displays to project images.

• Light Source:
  

  • Bulbs: Traditional projectors use big light bulbs.

  • LEDs: Newer projectors use LEDs which last longer.

• Brightness (Lumens):
  

  • Small Rooms: 1,000-1,200 lumens.

  • Bright Rooms: 2,500+ lumens.

• Throw Distance:
  

  • Short Throw: Projects a large image from a short distance.

  • Long Throw: Projects over a longer distance.

• Geometric Adjustments:
  

  • Pincushion: Adjusts the image to avoid a bulging effect.

  • Keystone: Adjusts the image to avoid a trapezoid shape.

  • Skew: Adjusts the image to avoid tilting.

Key Points:

• Choose a projector with a long-lasting bulb, like LED.

• Consider the brightness (lumens) based on room size and light.

• Understand throw distance for your space.

• Be ready to adjust the image for perfect alignment.
  

Troubleshooting monitors

• Overheat Shutdown:
  
  

  • Issue: Video card gets too hot and shuts down.

  • Solution: Check if the fans are working and ensure the card has enough ventilation.

Dead Pixels:

• Issue: Pixels on the screen that are always off or always on.

• Solution: Contact the manufacturer for a replacement if the dead pixels are in the center of the screen.

• Artifacts:
  
  

  • Issue: Leftover images or parts of images on the screen.

  • Solution: Likely bad video RAM. Test with a different video card.

• Incorrect Color Patterns:
  
  

  • Issue: Colors on the screen look strange.

  • Solution: Check the cable connection or replace the video card.

• Dim Image:
  
  

  • Issue: Screen is too dark.

  • Solution: Increase brightness or replace old CCFL backlights.

• Flickering Image:
  
  

  • Issue: Screen flickers.

  • Solution: Check and reseat the cable connection.

• Distorted Image:
  
  

  • Issue: Screen looks weird or fuzzy.

  • Solution: Ensure the monitor is set to its native resolution.

Burn-In:

• Issue: Persistent image on the screen.

• Solution: Change the screen content to make it go away.

• Oversized Images and Icons:
  
  

  • Issue: Icons and text are too big or too small.

  • Solution: Adjust text size settings in Windows.