PC Hardware

The Display System Monitors and Adapters

Early personal computers employed text-based displays, offering green, white, or amber characters against a black background. Today the average PC monitor can provide life-like colors and reproduce images of near-photographic quality. This dramatic change is the result of radical improvements in monitors and the display-adapter technology that drives them. This tutorial discusses how these devices work in unison to provide an acceptable display.

Lesson 1: Monitors

This lesson discusses the computer's most obvious and necessary output device: the monitor. It is important for the computer technician to understand the basics of how monitors work and are adjusted. In many cases, a simple modification can correct a problem; in others, the intervention of a specially trained technician is required.

After this lesson, you will be able to:
  • Identify the various types of monitors.
  • Recognize the components of monitor resolution.
  • Determine the amount of video memory your system requires.
  • Troubleshoot common monitor problems.
Estimated lesson time: 20 minutes

Before You Begin

An understanding of the principles of memory and expansion cards is essential. If you need a refresher course on these subjects, review Chapters 7 and 10.


About This Tutorial

Early personal computers employed text-based displays, offering green, white, or amber characters against a black background. Today the average PC monitor can provide life-like colors and reproduce images of near-photographic quality. This dramatic change is the result of radical improvements in monitors and the display-adapter technology that drives them. This tutorial discusses how these devices work in unison to provide an acceptable display.