What components make up the image on my monitor?
How are video bandwidth, horizontal scanning frequency (line rate)
and vertical scanning frequency (refresh rate) related?
Do your monitors have a 110/220 switchable power supply?
Why do some monitors have an aperture grille pitch
(ag) and the others have a dot pitch (dp)?
What is an Invar shadow mask?
What is multi-frequency and auto-scanning?
What is the difference between an interlaced and non-interlaced mode?
What video card do you recommend for my monitor?
What type of video inputs will your monitors work with?
How do I set the resolution and refresh rates of my monitor and what
determines how many colors I can use?
Should I connect my monitor to an UPS (Uniterruptible Power Supply)?
Can I use a power strip to power my monitor?
Can I use an extension cable on my monitor's video cable?
Do I need a Plug & Play video card to use your Plug & Play
monitors?
When I use my monitor at home the image seems to
jump or jitter, but when I try it at my office, the picture is
solid as a rock; what should I do?
I have color spots on my screen. Is this normal?
I'm not getting an image on my monitor, just a scrambled mess. What
do I do?
Do I need any special software to run the speakers?
How do I program the resolution and refresh rate on my monitor?
How long does it take for a monitor to ‘warm up’?
Why do some monitors appear less bright than others do?
What does the degaussing do?
When should I use a BNC type video cable?
Why does my Trinitron monitor have these two horizontal lines across
it?
My monitor is capable of 100 Hz vertical refresh rate. Can I run
all my resolutions at that rate?
My monitor/video card combination will allow me to run a resolution
that is not one of the presets listed in the User Manual.
I turned on my monitor and computer, and the monitor power light
changed from green to orange. Why did the monitor do that?
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| What components
make up the image on my monitor? |
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| The monitor image is
made up of several components. Surprisingly the monitor’s
capabilities are usually not the limiting factor in determining
what is displayed.
The hardware that limits the image you see is usually the video
controller (video card). Top |
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The components that make
up an image are:
a. Resolution - Standard PC resolutions are 640 x 480, 800 x
600, 1024 x 768, 1280 x 1024 and 1600 x 1200. Standard Macintosh
resolutions are 640 x 480, 832 x 624, 1152 x 870. Newer Macintosh
models can run most standard PC resolutions as well. While a
monitor may be capable of displaying any or all of these resolutions,
the recommended resolution for monitors is usually lower than
the maximum resolution it is capable of displaying.
The higher the resolution displayed on a monitor, the smaller
the individual characters and images will appear. Windows® compensates
for this by offering a large font option in its setup function.
Recommended resolution by CRT size is: 14" - 640 x 480,
15" - 640 x 480 or 800 x 600, 17" - 800 x 600 or
1024 x 768, 19" - 1024 x 768 or 1280 x 1024, 20" -
1024 x 768 or 1280 x 1024, 21" - 1280 x 1024 or 1600
x 1200.
b. Vertical Refresh Rate - VESA (Video Electronics Standards
Association) sets standards for vertical refresh rates at
certain resolutions. Standard vertical refresh rates are
60 Hz, 70 Hz, 72 Hz, 75 Hz and 85 Hz. Most monitors are capable
are running at refresh rates that fall in between (i.e. 73.6
Hz) or higher (i.e. 100 Hz) than these numbers. Using one
of the standard refresh rates simplifies monitor set up since
monitors contain many of the VESA standards as presets. The
plug and play function normally selects one of the VESA standards
when it sets up the monitor. A "flicker-free" refresh
rate is usually considered to be one that is 72 Hz or higher.
c. Horizontal Refresh Rate - The horizontal refresh rate
is usually the limiting factor of the monitor in determining
which vertical refresh rate the monitor runs at. The monitor’s
horizontal refresh range can be either continuous (30 - 70
kHz) or preset (31.5/35.5/38/48 kHz), the actual numbers
will vary depending on the monitor’s specifications.
Presets are usually setup to match the VESA standard resolutions
that a monitor can display so preset is not inherently inferior
to continuous.
d. Color Depth - Most color monitors can display an unlimited
number of colors. Color depth is measured in the number of
bits of color that are being displayed. One-bit color displays
8 colors. Popular color depths are 16 color (4-bit), 256
color (8-bit), High Color (16-bit) and true color (24- and
32-bit). The human eye cannot perceive even the number of
colors displayed in High Color, but if viewed side by side
subtle improvements can be seen between 16-, 24- and 32-bit
depths. Because of the large installed base of older systems
many games and Internet pages are built to view in 256 colors.
High Color is usually more than adequate for most applications.
The amount of RAM on the video card determines the color
depth you can use at a specific resolution. To get a rough
estimate of the amount of RAM needed to display the desired
color depth you take the number of pixels in the resolution
multiplied by the color depth desired divide by 8 and then
divide by 1,024,000 (i.e. ((1024 x 768 x 16-bit)/8)/1,024,000
= 1.57 Mb of RAM needed). |
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| How are video
bandwidth, horizontal scanning frequency (line rate) and vertical
scanning frequency (refresh rate) related? |
| When you configure
the video card for your system, you first select the resolution
you want to work at. A monitor's video bandwidth at that resolution
determines the maximum horizontal and vertical scanning frequencies.
Monitors with wider video bandwidths can, in general, allow
for faster horizontal scanning frequencies, and thus provide
faster refresh rates. When selecting a monitor, look for one
that will support a vertical scanning frequency (i.e. refresh
rate) of at least 75 Hz at the resolution you wish to work
at. Top |
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| Do
your monitors have a 110/220 switchable power supply? |
| All current models
have a universal power supply (auto sensing) to accept AC
voltage ranging from 90-264 volts. Older models without auto-sensing
power supplies have a manual switch on the back allowing
you to select either 110 or 220 V input. If you are not sure
if your monitor is auto sensing, please call us and ask before
using
your monitor in an area where the line voltage is different
from that which you normally operate your monitor under. Top |
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| Why
do some monitors have an aperture grille pitch (ag) and the
others have a dot pitch (dp)? |
| It depends on the type
of CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) used in the monitor. All color CRT's
use electrically charged red, green and blue phosphors to produce
images. Most CRT's on the market today employ a shadow mask technique
to display images. With this technique, phosphors are arranged
in a triangular formation with a different color at each corner
(these triangles are called triads) and use a screen called a
shadow mask to separate the individual phosphor dots. Other CRT's
use a technology developed by Sony (e.g. the Trinitron™ CRT's)
where alternating red, green and blue phosphor lines are used
rather than individual dots. The lines are separated by a series
of thin wires called an aperture grille.
CRT's that use a shadow mask are measured with a dot pitch.
The number given is the shortest diagonal distance between
two phosphor dots of the same color. CRT's that use an aperture
grille measure the stripe pitch by the shortest distance between
two lines of the same color.
There is a third type of CRT that uses a slot mask technology.
This is a hybrid of the shadow mask and aperture grille technologies.
While this type of CRT is more popular in television sets
than computer monitors. Top
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| What is an Invar
shadow mask? |
| Invar is a special heat-resistive
alloy. The brighter a picture gets, the greater the heat build-up
on the mask. If the mask gets too hot it will deform, resulting
in a loss of color purity. Top |
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| What is multi-frequency
and auto-scanning? |
| Multi-frequency monitors
can adjust to different resolutions and refresh rates that
are sent from the graphics adapter, providing those signals
fall
within the monitor's scanning range. Auto-scanning monitors
provide constant screen size across different applications
and environments.
Auto-scanning automatically adjusts the screen at the start
of each application to a pre-defined screen setting determined
by
the video mode of the application. Top |
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| What is the difference
between an interlaced and non-interlaced mode? |
| Interlaced is a technology
used in a standard television display. The electron gun will
draw the odd numbered lines from the top to the bottom of the
screen, then will come back to the top and draw in the even
numbered lines. Flickering occurs because the non-refreshed
lines fade
before they are redrawn. In the non-interlaced mode, the screen
is drawn from top to bottom, line by line, which produces less
flicker and less eyestrain for the user. Top |
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| What
video card do you recommend for my monitor? |
| We do not make specific
recommendations for video cards, however, the card you choose
should match the capabilities of your monitor to get the most
for your money. For instance, if you have a 8795SL, which will
support 1024x768 resolution at a maximum refresh rate of 117Hz,
you will not want a low-end video card that will not provide
at least 75 Hz refresh rate at this resolution.
As far as compatibility goes, there are set timing parameters
agreed to by VESA® (Video Electronics Standards Association)
and other industry norms that both monitor and video card
manufacturers adhere to in order to prevent hardware conflicts.
All monitors
from ICP are designed to operate under VESA and Industry
standard timing patterns. Top |
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| What type of
video inputs will your monitors work with? |
| All monitors from
ICP accept analog RGB signals with black at zero volts and
white at 0.7 volts. In addition, several models will also
operate on a zero to one-volt range. The horizontal and vertical
synchronization signals may be one of three types: separate,
composite or sync-on-green. These timing signals are assumed
to be at transistor-transistor logic (TTL) levels (except
sync-on-green). Our monitors can operate with separate
horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. Check your
User's Guide or call us to see whether your monitor can also
accept a composite or sync-on-green timing signal.
If the video signal from your computer is as described above,
the timing of the signal falls within the VESA® or Industry
standard timing patterns, and the horizontal and vertical
scanning rates are within the operating range of your monitor,
you should not have any compatibility problems. Also look
at the output port of the graphics adapter. If it is a 15-pin
mini D-Sub connection no other adapter is needed. Otherwise
a custom adapter to convert your graphics card output to
15-pin mini D-sub (or BNC if your monitor has the capability)
is required. Top |
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| How do I set
the resolution and refresh rates of my monitor and what determines
how many colors I can use? |
| The video card in your
computer sets these parameters. You should have a utility program
provided by the video card manufacturer that allows you to
install video drivers in your system. Note that your monitor
will have limitations as to how high the refresh rate can be
set, but there is no limitation to the number of colors your
monitor is capable of producing. If you do not know the maximum
refresh rates for your monitor, please call and ask. Setting
this value too high can cause permanent damage to your monitor.
If you want to know roughly how much memory you need on
your video card, there is a quick formula to calculate this
number based on how many colors you require at the resolution
you wish to run:
Horizontal Resolution x Vertical Resolution x Bytes per Pixel
= Amount of Ram Required (in bytes) Where:16 Colors = 0.5 Bytes per Pixel; 256 Colors = 1 Byte
per Pixel; 65 Thousand Colors = 2 Bytes per Pixel; and 16.7
Million Colors = 3 Bytes per Pixel; For example, 16.7 million colors (a.k.a. "true color")
at 1024 x 768 requires:
1024 x 768 x 3 = 2,359,296 bytes (approx. 2.4 MB).
Therefore, a video card with 4MB of video RAM is required
since video cards have memory in increments of 1,2,4 and
8 MB (another option is to lower the color depth or resolution,
then a 2MB card will suffice). Top |
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| Should I connect
my monitor to an UPS (Uniterruptible Power Supply)? |
| This is a good idea.
If you have a UPS for your computer, you will only want critical
equipment connected to it, to prolong backup time if there
is an extended power failure. Typically you will want to connect
only the computer and monitor to a UPS. Printers draw a lot
of
power when they are operating, and for the most part are not
critical during a power outage. In addition, a good UPS will
protect your monitor from dangerous spikes and drops as well
as surges and brown-outs experienced in many residential and
commercial power lines. If you choose to use a UPS, be sure
to size the unit properly for the load it will be supporting.
Top |
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| Can I use a
power strip to power my monitor? |
| Some power strips will
protect against most line voltage spikes, but be sure not to
run too many devices on the power strip or connect several
strips to a single wall outlet. Also, do not use the surge
protector
as a master switch to turn on your entire system. To avoid
possible synchronization problems between your monitor and
video card,
it is best to turn your monitor on a few seconds before powering
up your CPU. Top |
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| Can I use an
extension cable on my monitor's video cable? |
| You may be able to use
an extension cable, but there are a number of factors that
you should be aware of. Low-quality extension cables may cause
an
echo effect resulting in an outline of images on your screen
(called a ghosting effect). The reason being, the connector
and added cable length increase the impedance seen by the video
signal.
This increase in impedance creates a mismatch between the signal
that the video card sends and what the monitor receives causing
a portion of the signal to "bounce" back and forth
in the video cable. However, a single-piece cord is a better
solution. Image degradation should be expected with cable lengths
of twelve feet or more. Top |
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| Do
I need a Plug & Play video card to use your Plug & Play
monitors? |
| Yes and No. Yes, if
you want to take full advantage of a Plug & Play operating
system such as Windows® '95/98. No, if you just want a
monitor that works and you don't mind configuring your system's
video parameters
manually. That is to say, our monitors that are Plug & Play
compatible do have a Display Data Channel (DDC). If you have
a Plug & Play system, the display data will be used. If
you do not, the data will be ignored. Top |
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| When I use my
monitor at home the image seems to jump or jitter, but when I try
it at my office, the picture is solid as a rock.What should I do? |
| There are two likely
culprits to look for an unreliable power source and/or electromagnetic
interference. First, check your power source. If you are using
your computer's power supply or an overloaded power strip,
try plugging your monitor into a separate wall socket. Second,
check for electromagnetic interference. Usually poorly shielded
speakers, transformers sitting next to the monitor, or fluorescent
lights hanging too closely above the unit, cause this. Another
possible source is house wires behind the walls near the back
of your monitor. The best way to test for interference is to
try your monitor facing in a different direction, or moving
your monitor to a new location. Top |
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| I have color
spots on my screen. Is this normal? |
| No, you should have
good color continuity across the entire screen area. Most
likely the color spots are caused by magnetic interference.
The first thing to try is degaussing your monitor. All monitors
from ICP automatically degauss when first turned on. If your
monitor has a manual degauss, simply activate it. Note, however,
that for best result you must wait 30 minutes before re-degaussing.
If your unit does not have a manual degauss feature, simply
turn the monitor off for 30 minutes, then power it back up
again. If degaussing does not help, or if the spots come
back after a little while, try rearranging the equipment
near your monitor. Devices with magnetic properties (e.g.
speakers and transformers) can affect the purity of your
monitor. If color spots persist, give us a call for further
assistance. Top |
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| I'm not getting
an image on my monitor, just a scrambled mess. What do I do? |
| This is a synchronization
problem. The first thing to look for is a faulty connection
between the computer and monitor. Inspect the cables to make
sure no
pins are bent or loose. If the cable looks OK contact your
video card manufacturer to see what the horizontal and vertical
scanning
frequencies are of the video card at the resolution you are
running. They may be outside the range the monitor is capable
of using.
If this does not take care of things, try your monitor on another
system to see if it is the monitor or video card that is malfunctioning. Top |
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| Do I need any
special software to run the speakers? |
| No. The speakers do
not require any software. Only the sound or telephony card
in your
system requires special software to operate. Top |
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| How do I program
the resolution and refresh rate on my monitor? |
| You cannot change the
resolution from the monitor; the video controller (video card)
software controls resolution. Windows, OS/2 and Mac OS contain
resolution control utilities that can be used to set up your
display. Also, many video cards come with software utilities
that assist in setting up your display. Please consult your
operating system or video card user manual for information
on setting up
your display. Top |
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| How
long does it take for a monitor to ‘warm up’? |
| It takes at least 30
minutes for all of the circuitry in the monitor to warm up and
for the CRT to stabilize. You should wait at least 30 minutes
after you turn your monitor on before trying to adjust it. If
you suspect that you have a problem with your monitor image you
should wait at least 30 minutes after you turn the monitor on
before attempting to diagnose a problem. Top |
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| Why do some
monitors appear less bright than others do? |
| When comparing monitors
it is especially important to compare apples to apples. There
are so many factors that make up a monitor’s image that
it is hard to do a comparison anywhere other than a controlled
setting. At the minimum you must test both monitors on the same
computer, and be sure that each monitor is properly adjusted.
Testing just one of each brand will not necessarily yield results
that can be generalized to all models and sizes of a given brand.
The best way to select a monitor is to learn how to properly
adjust a monitor and then once you have personally adjusted the
monitors in question, select the one with the most appealing
image to you. Top |
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| What does the
degaussing do? |
| The purpose of degaussing
is to demagnetize the shadow mask or aperture grille to allow
the electron beams to pass freely through. Most monitors automatically
degauss when switched on, and many have manual degaussing buttons.
To find out if your monitor has this feature check the user’s
manual or manufacturer’s data sheet.
When you manually degauss a monitor the image will wobble
for a moment indicating that the degaussing circuit is working.
If the purity does not clear up wait at least 30 minutes
before degaussing again to allow the degauss circuitry to
recharge. If the purity problem persists a qualified technician can
degauss the monitor with a special tool.Top
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| When should
I use a BNC type video cable? |
| The standard DB15 connector
used on most monitors is adequate for nearly all applications.
If your monitor comes equipped with BNC connectors you may use
them instead of the standard DB15 connector by purchasing a BNC
cable. A BNC cable offers a larger bandwidth and better shielding
but the effects will only be noticeable when using the higher
resolutions and frequencies. Top |
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| Why does my
Trinitron monitor have these two horizontal lines across it? |
| This is a property inherent
to this type of CRT. The tube uses an aperture grille - a series
of thin wires - to separate the individual phosphor lines on
the tube. Damper wires are required to maintain the aperture
grille's alignment and will cast a shadow on the screen. In most
applications these lines will blend into the background, but
they will be visible against lightly colored screens. Top |
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| My monitor is
capable of 100 Hz vertical refresh rate. Can I run all my resolutions
at that rate? |
| No. The vertical refresh
rate is just one part of the image. Please see Monitor Basics
for a review of what goes into making up your image.
To find whether a particular refresh rate can be used at a
given resolution, divide the monitor’s Horizontal frequency
by the lines per frame in the desired resolution. For example
if you would like to run at 1024 x 768 and your monitor’s
maximum horizontal scan rate is 64 KHz, then the maximum vertical
refresh rate would be less than 83.3 Hz (64000/768 = 83.3 Hz)
because you need to take into account the lines needed for
retrace. In addition, you should not run your monitor at the highest
rate possible since this puts unnecessary stress on the monitor
components. It is recommended that you select the preset video
mode closest, but not exceeding, the vertical refresh rate
you are trying to use. That way your monitor is operating within
the limits of all of its components, not just the vertical
refresh rate. This allows for a greater range of adjustment
of the image using the image control functions of your monitor
allowing for the maximum image quality possible. Please remember that even if your monitor is capable of running
a specific resolution your video controller may not be able
to produce an image with those specifications. Top
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| My monitor/video
card combination will allow me to run a resolution that is not
one of the presets listed in the User Manual. |
| If your monitor has
a user mode to store adjustments you can save your adjustments
into the user mode. Consult your User Manual to see if your monitor
has this function and how to save your adjustments if it does.
Top |
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| I turned on
my monitor and computer, and the monitor power light changed from
green to orange. Why did the monitor do that? |
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