DISPLAY OPTIMIZATION
We provide the following general information as a courtesy on PC screen resolution settings. For specifics, please consult your PC User's Manual, tech support or system administrator.
Display Settings
Windows chooses the best display settings, including screen resolution (how much information is displayed on the computer screen, measured horizontally and vertically in pixels), refresh rate (the frequency at which the screen is redrawn), and color, based on your monitor. These settings differ depending on whether you have an LCD or a CRT monitor. If you want to adjust your display settings, or these settings were changed and you want to restore default (manufacturer) settings, use the following recommendations.
For both type of monitors, it's typical that the higher the dots per inch (DPI), the better the fonts will look.
Change screen resolution
Screen resolution refers to the clarity of the text and images on your screen. At higher resolutions, items appear sharper. They also appear smaller, so more items fit on the screen. At lower resolutions, fewer items fit on the screen, but they are larger and easier to see. At very low resolutions, however, images might have jagged edges.
For example, 640 × 480 is a lower screen resolution, and 1600 × 1200 is a higher one. CRT monitors generally display a resolution of 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768. LCD monitors can better support the higher resolutions. Whether you can increase your screen resolution depends on the size and capability of your monitor and the type of video card (computer hardware that converts electronic information into the text, images, movies, and animations that are displayed on a computer screen) you have.
The best display for an LCD monitor
If you have an LCD monitor, check your screen resolution, which helps to determine the clarity of on-screen images and objects. It's a good practice to set LCD monitors to the native resolution—the resolution a monitor was designed to display best, based on its size. The monitor manufacturer or reseller should be able to provide the native resolution. If you can't get this information, you can try setting the monitor to the highest available resolution, which is usually the native resolution.
The best display for a CRT monitor
For a CRT monitor, it's important to change the screen resolution to the highest resolution available that gives 32-bit color and at least a 72-Hertz refresh rate. If the screen is flickering, or viewing the screen is uncomfortable, increase the refresh rate until you are comfortable with it.
Monitor Size | Recommended Resolution |
|---|---|
15-inch monitor | 1024 × 768 |
17- to 19-inch monitors | 1280 × 1024 to 1440 x 900 |
20-inch and larger monitors | 1600 × 1200 and above |
These are only recommendations. Feel free to adjust your screen based on personal needs and visual requirements.