Setting up a new display can be fiddly – we explain how to do it
Not only are flat-panel LCD monitors cheaper than ever, but they are also bigger, brighter, clearer and easier to use.
Replacing a bulky old display with a newer, thinner, better one is a great way to add new life to an old PC.
But although installing a monitor should be as simple as plugging it in and turning it on, it is often not quite as straightforward. Has it got the right connector? Is it compatible with my graphics card? Why does Windows look squashed or blurred? How do I use two monitors together? These are questions we regularly hear from Computeractive readers, so here we’ll provide a definitive guide to installing and configuring a monitor.
Connecting cables We will assume you have already bought a monitor but our advice should be useful to anyone struggling to set up an existing monitor. If you’re thinking about investing in a new display, see 'Buying a new monitor' at the end of this feature for some useful pointers to help you pick the best model.
First connect the monitor to the computer. The three common connector types, VGA, DVI and HDMI, all provide a digital connection between the PC and monitor, except VGA, which is analogue-only. VGA connectors are the oldest type, but very common. For a quick way to identify sockets, look at their colour: VGA sockets are usually blue, while DVI ones are white.
DVI can get a little confusing as there are several different types of cable and socket: one carrying only a digital picture, one carrying only analogue, and one (DVI-I) that does both. If your computer has a DVI output, it’s almost certainly this type, so any type of DVI monitor will connect to it without problems.
One common problem is finding that a PC and laptop has a white DVI-I socket, but that a display has only a blue VGA one. This is easily solved by plugging a small DVI-to-VGA adapter into the PC. These are often included with monitors and computers, or can be bought online. When buying adapters, make sure you get one with the sockets and plugs the right way around: a male (M) connector has pins sticking out, while a female (F) one has sockets for those pins.
