Specifications

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Chapter 15 Video Hardware
The term video adapter applies to either integrated or separate video circuitry. The term graphics adapter
is essentially interchangeable with video adapter because all video options developed since the original
IBM monochrome display adapter (MDA) can display graphics as well as text.
Monitor Selection Criteria
Stores offer a dizzying variety of monitor choices, from the low-cost units bundled with computers to
large-screen tubes that cost more than many systems. Because a monitor can account for a large part of
the price of your computer system, you need to know what to look for when you shop for a monitor.
Important factors to consider include:
■ Viewable image size
■ Resolution
■ Dot pitch (CRTs)
■ Image brightness and contrast (LCDs)
■ Power management and safety certifications
■ Vertical and horizontal frequencies
■ Picture controls
■ Environmental issues (lighting, size, weight)
This section helps you understand these issues so you can make a wise choice for your next display,
regardless of the display technology you prefer.
The Right Size
CRT-based monitors come in various sizes ranging from 15'' to 42'' diagonal measure. The larger the
monitor, the higher the price tag—after you get beyond 19'' displays, the prices skyrocket. The most
common CRT monitor sizes are 17'', 19'', and 21''. These diagonal measurements, unfortunately, often
represent not the size of the actual image the screen displays, but the size of the tube. Refer to Table
15.1 to see how CRT monitors’ viewing areas compare to LCDs’ actual sizes.
As a result, comparing one company’s 17'' CRT monitor to that of another might be unfair unless you
actually measure the active screen area. The active screen area refers to the diagonal measure of the
lighted area on the screen. In other words, if you are running Windows, the viewing area is the actual
diagonal measure of the desktop.
This area can vary widely from monitor to monitor, so one company’s 17'' monitor can display a 16''
image, and another company’s 17'' monitor can present a 15 1/2'' image. Typically, you can expect to lose
1''–1 1/2'' from the diagonal screen size to the actual active viewing area. Consult the monitor’s packag-
ing, advertising, or manufacturer’s Web site for precise information for a given model. For example,
ViewSonic lists the size of its G73f CRT monitor as the following: 17'' (16.0'' VIS [viewable image size]). I
recommend that you concern yourself with the VIS, not the tube size, when you select a CRT monitor.
Note
Most CRTs currently on the market are 17'' in size or larger; 17'' has become the current standard, with 19'' CRTs becom-
ing much more common since the prices have dropped below $400.
You can adjust many better-quality CRT monitors to display a high-quality image that completely fills
the tube from edge to edge. Less-expensive monitors can fill the screen also, but some of them do so
only by pushing the monitor beyond its comfortable limits. The result is a distorted image that is
worse than the monitor’s smaller, properly adjusted picture.
In most cases today, the 17'' CRT monitor is the best bargain in the industry. A 17'' monitor is recom-
mended for new systems, especially when running Windows, and is not much more expensive than a
15'' display. I recommend a 17'' monitor as the minimum you should consider for most normal appli-
cations. Displays of 19''–21'' or larger are recommended for high-end systems, especially in situations
where graphics applications are the major focus.
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