Check any set-up disk which came with the monitor. This may include special software to make sure you have the best possible settings for the particular screen you have bought.
Make sure you have the latest driver. Unlike most hardware, you can’t usually get the best drivers for LCD monitors through Windows’ Device Manager. Instead you should go to the website of the manufacturer and check for updated drivers.
When changing settings on an on-screen menu, you’ll probably find the default brightness is too high. Many manufacturers set it this way so that the screen stands out more when it is displayed in a brightly-lit store.
If you have any DVDs of movies produced by Lucasfilms (such as the Star Wars or Indiana Jones series), you should be able to click on the THX logo in the set-up menus to access a series of tests to make sure the brightness, color and contrast on your screen are set to their most effective levels. These test are designed for TVs but can work well on a monitor if you play the disc on your computer.
If you find you have a jittery picture when watching animations or video, it may be due to your monitor having a slow refresh rate. (This is a figure measured in milliseconds which tells you how long it takes a pixel to change from black to white and back again). There’s no way to change this, but it may be worth looking into and then considering when you come to replace the computer. Generally slow refresh rates aren’t a major problem unless you play a lot of fast-moving games.
