Lesson 2

High response rates (over 20 ms) can lead to-

"ghosting" or "trails" when the image changes quickly.

Digital Visual Interface:

(DVI) Video adapter designed to replace VGA port. It supports digital only or digital and analog signaling.

for VGA the connector is a _____ -_______ type ____________ with screws to secure it to the port.

D-shell type (HD15M)

noted for their professional-level cards:

M-Audio, RME, and Apogee

A projector rated at around 3000 lumens will be able to-

display clear images with a small amount of ambient light (a room with the curtains closed and overhead lighting dimmed, for instance).

Coatings. A display can come with either a-

matte or a gloss coating. A gloss coating helps the display to appear "richer" but also reflects more light, which can cause problems with screen glare and reflections of background objects.

With a flat panel, you want to evaluate how bright it appears when you look at it. With a projector,-

you want to evaluate the brightness of the image it projects onto another surface.

Cable Ratings for HDMI?

•Cable ratings: •Standard (Category 1) •High Speed (Category 2) •Premium High Speed (up to 18 Gbps) •Ultra High Speed (up to 48 Gbps)

DisplayPort Connectors:

•Connectors: •20-pin •DP++ enables connection to DVI-D and HDMI devices Mini DP

3D cards need a substantial amount of memory for processing and texture effects. A dedicated card may be fitted with up to-

12 GB GDDR RAM at the high-end; around 4-6 GB would be more typical of current mid-range performance cards.

SXGA (Super XGA)Specs:

1280x1024 5:4

HD Specs:

1366x768 Widescreen (16:9)

WSXGA Specs:

1440x900 Widescreen (16:10)

CD-quality audio is sampled at____________ but professional cards may sample at___________ or better.

16-bit/44.1 KHz 24-bit/192 KHz

HD+ Specs:

1600x900 Widescreen (16:9)

The maximum data rate for a 4-lane link is-

17.28 Gbps.

Modern TFTs will support either-

18-bit or 24-bit (or higher) color.

Full HD Specs:

1920x1080 Widescreen (16:9)

Typically, TFTs are between how many candelas per square meter?

200 and 300 cd/m² though panels designed for home entertainment or gaming may be 500 cd/m² or better.

QHD (Quad HD) Specs:

2560x1440 Widescreen (16:9)

DisplayPort-certified copper cable must be capable of supporting-

2560x1600 (WQXGA resolution) over 2 m

Most audio connectors are-

3.5 mm (⅛ inch) mono or stereo jacks (also referred to as phono plugs or mini TRS [Tip, Ring, Sleeve] connectors).

4K UHD (Ultra HD)Specs:

3840x2160 Widescreen (16:9)

Like HDMI v1.4, there is support for-

48-bit color, 3D, 4K/UHD, and HDCP.

Versions support different bandwidths:

4K (4096x2160@24Hz) ALSO, Ultra HD (3840x2160) @ 24, 25, 30Hz At the time of writing, HDMI is on version 2.1. This supports 48 Gbps bandwidth, or up to 10K at 120 Hz.

VGA specifies a resolution of-

640x480 with 16 colors (4-bit color) at 60 Hz.

The best quality TFTs have a response rate of-

8 ms or lower.

SVGA was originally-

800x600 @ 4-bit or 8-bit color. This was very quickly extended as the capabilities of graphics cards and monitors increased with the de facto XGA standard providing 1024x768 resolution, better color depths, and higher refresh rates.

Webcam: def:

A digital camera connected to a computer that can be used to stream and record video.

(Troubleshoot Adapter and Monitor Faults In addition to the possible effects of a faulty cable or connector, be aware of these issues and possible solutions:) Unexpected shutdowns. If you are experiencing unexpected shutdowns:

A faulty display adapter or display adapter driver is a common cause of STOP errors, or Blue Screens of Death (BSoD). If the problem occurs only in specific circumstances, the fault could lie in some sort of compatibility between the driver and a particular program (typically a 3D game). If the problem occurs more randomly or at bootup, the issue is more likely to be a fault in the adapter itself. 3D graphics cards come bundled with high performance GPUs and memory and as such are prone to overheating, especially in laptops. Make sure the system is being adequately cooled as prolonged overheating will cause permanent damage to the card.

Digital camera: def:

A version of a 35 mm film camera where the film is replaced by light-sensitive diodes and electronic storage media.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI): def:

Allows a computer with a sound card to drive MIDI-compatible musical instruments, or for a synthesizer to drive a computer audio application

OLED Displays

An OLED (Organic LED) display is a newer type of device, often used for small screens (in smartphones, for instance), though more full-scale OLED monitors are starting to appear. One advantage of OLED is that it does not require a separate backlight, making the representation of "True Black" much better and allowing the display to be thinner, lighter, and consume less power. Also, OLEDs can be made from plastic with no requirement for a layer of glass. This means that the display can be curved to different shapes. Manufacturers are even experimenting with flexible, roll-up displays.

What are the resolutions for single and dual link?

Bandwidth: •Single link: 3.7 Gbps, full HD resolution, 1920x1200, at 60 fps •Dual link: over 7.4 Gbps, HDTV, 2560x1600, at 85 fps

(Troubleshoot Adapter and Monitor Faults In addition to the possible effects of a faulty cable or connector, be aware of these issues and possible solutions:) Burn-In. If you have burn-in:

Burn-in is where a static image is displayed for so long that the monitor's picture elements are damaged and a ghost image is "burned" permanently onto the display. Older monitors were highly prone to burn-in, which is why most operating systems include the option for an automatic screen saver to activate after so many minutes inactivity. Modern flat panel monitors are not so susceptible to burn-in, though it is still worth using a screen saver or power saving mode just in case. Some plasma screens are vulnerable to burn-in and additional care should be taken when using a consumer TV device as display screen.

Increasing any one of resolution, color depth, or refresh rate increases the amount of bandwidth required for the video signal and the amount of processing that the-

CPU or Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) must do and the amount of system or graphics memory required.

Webcams record video images using a-

Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and usually feature a microphone to record audio.

Image quality. If there is a problem with image quality, such as a flickering or misshapen image or missing colors, try these actions:

Check the video cable and connector. If the connector is not securely inserted at both ends, this could cause flickering. If a pin is bent and not lining up with the video card connector, this can cause a missing color. If the cable is poor quality, higher resolutions may not be supported. If video playback does not work, try lowering or disabling hardware acceleration (using the slider on the Troubleshoot tab). If this solves the problem, check for an updated display driver. Increasing DPI makes text larger at a particular resolution. This is useful for flat panels that support high native resolutions (using a lower interpolated resolution would make the display "fuzzy"). However, this can cause graphics rendering problems with older software. Also, Windows may set a high DPI automatically when using a high resolution display device. If using a CRT monitor, check refresh rate and resolution settings for the video driver. If resolution is too high or refresh rate is too low this can cause the screen to flicker. On a TFT, check that there is no problem with the backlight.If a CRT image geometry is distorted (a pincushion effect where the edges appear to bulge, for instance), try adjusting the monitor's image control knobs. If a TFT image is distorted, check that the panel has not been bent or physically damaged. If a projector image is distorted, try to ensure the projector lens is lined up with the display screen or whiteboard. The position of the lens within the projector may be adjustable using a knob or dial. If the lens is above or below the screen, there may be a keystone effect where the top of the image is wider or narrower than the bottom. If the projector or lens cannot be repositioned, there may be a keystone correction control, accessed via the OSD menu, that allows you to adjust the digital image to compensate for this.

GPU cards are differentiated based on the following features:

Clock speed—as with the CPU, the clock speed is the basic measure of performance, but the internal architecture (pipeline) of the GPU is another important factor. Shader units—support the special effects built into games and other software. These units perform calculations that allow for 3D shading, realistic shadows and lighting, surface textures, translucency, and so on. Frame rate—the basic test for a GPU is the frame rate it can produce for a particular game or application. 30 frames per second (fps) is the minimum for today's basic computer games.

most notable vendors of consumer sound cards:

Creative, Terratec, RealTek, and Turtle Beach

What do DACs do?

DACs convert the digital signals generated by the CPU to an analog electrical signal that can drive the speakers.

DVI to HDMI

DVI is not supported on many consumer devices, so you may use this type of adapter to connect a laptop to a TV set. There is no signal conversion involved, so this can be performed by a passive cable.

Protected content. If you encounter an error that indicates unauthorized content or an HDCP error:

DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt all provide support for the Digital Rights Management (DRM) mechanism High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). HDCP allows a content source (such as a Blu-ray disc) to disable itself if the display adapter and monitor and/or speaker system do not support HDCP and fail to authenticate themselves with the playback source. There have been various iterations of HDCP (at time of writing the current version is 2.2) and backward-compatibility can be problematic as authentication may fail between devices that support different versions of the standard.

There are five types of DVI, supporting different configurations for bandwidth and analog/digital signaling. The pin configuration of the connectors identifies what type of DVI is supported by a particular port. What are the five types?

DVI-A DVI-D (single link) DVI-I (single link) DVI-D (dual link) DVI-I (dual link)

HDMI is backward-compatible with-

DVI-D using a suitable adapter cable. This means that (for example) a DVI-D graphics adapter could be connected to an HDMI port on the display device.

(Troubleshoot Adapter and Monitor Faults In addition to the possible effects of a faulty cable or connector, be aware of these issues and possible solutions:)

Dead pixels. If you have dead pixels: Defects in a flat panel monitor may cause individual pixels to be "stuck" or "dead." If a TFT panel has stuck (constantly bright) pixels, and the panel cannot be replaced under warranty, there are software utilities available to cycle the pixel through a series of relatively extreme color states to try to reactivate it. Note: Many vendors stipulate that they will only replace a screen if the number of manufacturing defects exceeds a stated threshold. Fixed pixels can also sometimes be reactivated by gently pressing or tapping the affected area of the screen with a stylus or pencil eraser, though there is the risk of causing further damage or scratching the screen. Dead pixels (solid black) cannot usually be fixed.

(Troubleshoot Adapter and Monitor Faults In addition to the possible effects of a faulty cable or connector, be aware of these issues and possible solutions:) Dead pixels. If you have dead pixels:

Defects in a flat panel monitor may cause individual pixels to be "stuck" or "dead." If a TFT panel has stuck (constantly bright) pixels, and the panel cannot be replaced under warranty, there are software utilities available to cycle the pixel through a series of relatively extreme color states to try to reactivate it. Note: Many vendors stipulate that they will only replace a screen if the number of manufacturing defects exceeds a stated threshold. Fixed pixels can also sometimes be reactivated by gently pressing or tapping the affected area of the screen with a stylus or pencil eraser, though there is the risk of causing further damage or scratching the screen. Dead pixels (solid black) cannot usually be fixed.

DisplayPort: def:

Digital A/V interface developed by VESA. DisplayPort supports some cross-compatibility with DVI and HDMI devices.

The basis of a sound (or audio) card is the-

Digital Signal Processor (DSP) chip, which contains one or more Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs).

Sound Cards designed for use with Windows should support Microsoft's-

DirectSound3D (part of DirectX).

raphics APIs To work with 3D games and design applications, graphics cards need to be compliant with the specified version of one of the major graphics application programming interfaces (APIs):

DirectX—Microsoft's specification; DirectX also specifies sound and multimedia APIs OpenGL—developed by Silicon Graphics Vulkan—AMD specification NVAPI—NVIDIA specification Metal—Apple specification

Display Device Types

Display devices include monitors, projectors, and VR headsets. You will work most often with monitors, as they are required by practically every desktop and portable computer. Some notable manufacturers of display devices include Acer, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, and Viewsonic.

There are a number of different types of LED lighting:

Edge lit—the LEDs are arranged around the screen rather than behind it. A diffuser is used to try to make the light evenly bright across the whole of the screen. Backlit—the LEDs are positioned in an array behind the TFT. This should illuminate the panel more evenly. The disadvantage is that the panel will be slightly thicker. A full array LED backlight can also allow for local dimming, where the LEDs can be selectively dimmed in zones, improving contrast ratio (and power efficiency). Color temperature—the backlight can either generate a uniform white light (WLED) or be composed of some combination of RGB or GB LEDs, to allow for different color "temperatures."

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)

Flat panel Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) are the standard display type for PC systems and laptops. Liquid crystals are chemicals whose properties change with the application of voltage. In modern types of LCD, voltages "twist" the molecules in the liquid crystal to block the passage of light to some degree to set the pixel to the required color.

the core of a video adapter is the-

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). This is a microprocessor like the CPU, but designed and optimized for processing instructions that render 2D and 3D images on-screen.

Tethered headsets, such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, require an-

HDMI port plus a number of USB ports on the host PC. While not current at the time of writing, it is likely that most systems will adopt a single USB-C cable in the near future. Tethered VR headsets have substantial system requirements for the CPU, graphics adapter, and system memory.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI) is a video cable type designed for flat panel display equipment. While popular for a short period after its introduction in 1999, DVI is now being phased out in favor of better-established technologies, such as-

HDMI, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt. You are unlikely to see DVI used on new display devices or computers.

Frame Rate is expressed in-

Hertz or Frames per Second (fps).

High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) def:

High-specification digital connector for audio-video equipment.

Color issues. If there is a problem with color:

If a computer is used to produce digital art, it is very important that the display be calibrated to scanning devices and print output. Color calibration (or workflow) refers to a process of adjusting screen and scanner settings so that color input and output are balanced. Color settings should be configured with the assistance of a color profile. You can use the Color Management applet in Control Panel along with test card color patterns and spectrophotometers to define a color profile and verify that the display matches it. You may also come across color glitches, such as purple or green horizontal lines or colors changing unexpectedly. These are usually caused by a faulty or loose connector or cabling that is either faulty or insufficient quality for the current image resolution. Try replacing the cable. If this does not fix the issue, there could be a hardware fault.

(Troubleshoot Adapter and Monitor Faults In addition to the possible effects of a faulty cable or connector, be aware of these issues and possible solutions:) Artifacts. There are two main sources of unexpected objects or patterns appearing on the screen.

If the artifacts are "static" and completely out of context with their surroundings, the likelihood is that the cause is a faulty adapter. Some TFTs can suffer from "image persistence," where the crystals become slightly less responsive because they have been left in the same state for an extended period. The problem can usually be solved by turning off the display for a few hours. In terms of 3D graphics performance and possible motion trails or slowdown (especially with computer games), you need to ensure the card is one that is capable of playing the game and that the latest driver and version of DirectX are installed. If there are still issues with frame rates (the speed at which images are displayed), try disabling video effects or using a lower resolution. Make sure that you are using the correct (and latest) drivers for your video card. The FAQs will list any issues with particular applications that the driver addresses.

Dim image. troubleshooting

If the image is dim, check the brightness and contrast controls to make sure they are not turned all the way down. It is possible that a power saving mode is dimming the display. It is also possible that an adaptive brightness, auto-brightness, or eye-saving feature of the device or operating system has been enabled. These reduce brightness and contrast and can use lower blue light levels. This type of feature might activate automatically at a certain time of day or could use an ambient light sensor to trigger when the room is dark.

Audio Settings contd

If you have multiple devices connected at the same time, you can choose the defaults here and test levels for audio input and output. If you have a multimedia keyboard, there are usually keys on that for adjusting the volume. Also, laptops have push-buttons and special function (Fn) keys to adjust the volume. In Windows, use the Speakers icon in the Notification Area to control the volume and switch between playback devices.

A standard sound card will have several of these for different equipment.:

Jack Description Audio in (light blue) Audio in (or line in) is a low-level (1V) stereo signal as supplied by most tape decks, video players, tuners, CD players, and so on. Microphone input (pink) This is generally a mono-only analog input. Audio out (lime) Audio out (or line out) is a low-level (1V) analog stereo signal suitable for feeding into amplified speakers or headphones. Audio out (black) Carries the signal for rear speakers in a surround sound system. Audio out (orange) Carries the signal for the subwoofer in a surround sound system.

VGA mode. If there is a problem with low resolution or color depth:

Low resolution or color depth (VGA rather than SVGA) can make the image look blocky or grainy. If a computer boots in VGA mode without this being specified in the boot configuration, check the display driver. Note: Windows 10 does not actually support VGA resolution anymore. The minimum resolution is SVGA (800x600).

Audio subsystem: def:

Made up of sound card and one or more input and output devices.

No image. If no image is displayed on the monitor, try these actions:

Make sure that the monitor is plugged in and turned on. Check that the monitor is not in standby mode (press a key or cycle the power to the monitor to activate it). Check the connection between the video card and monitor. Make sure the cable is connected securely at both ends and is not loose. Make sure that the cable has not become stretched or crimped. If there are dual display ports, check that the cable is connected to the right port. If the monitor supports different display inputs (VGA and HDMI, for instance), check that it is switched to the correct one using the On-Screen Display (OSD) controls. Try the monitor with a different PC and see if it works.

note about VR headsets:

Note: Make sure the surrounding area is free from obstructions and trip hazards so that the wearer is less likely to hurt themselves or damage anything in the nearby environment.

Oversized images and icons. If images and icons appear oversized:

One way for screen objects to look "too large" is to use a low resolution, such as VGA. Another way is to use a high DPI scaling setting, as described previously. You should also check whether a zoom tool is in use. Windows comes with accessibility features to allow the screen to be magnified. A user might unwittingly activate the screen magnifier (especially if it is configured with a hot key activation) and not know how to turn it off.

Cards designed for use with games should also support-

Open AL and EAX, which provide extensions to DS3D for special sound effects.

WXGA (Widescreen XGA) Specs:

Resolution Aspect Ratio WXGA (Widescreen XGA) 1280x800 Widescreen (16:10)

for digital cameras The following table lists the best output that can be expected from images of a particular resolution:

Resolution Uses Less than 1 MP On-screen viewing only. 1 to 2 MP On-screen viewing and small prints (up to about 7 inches). 3 MP Larger prints (up to about 12 inches, or letter sized). 4 to 8 MP and higher Poster prints (30 inches and larger).

DisplayPort was developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), the organization largely representing PC graphics adapter and display technology companies. It is a

Royalty-free HDMI alternative

In the types of flat panel used for computer displays, the liquid crystal elements and transistors are placed on a-

Thin Film Transistor (TFT) and such LCD panels are often just referred to as "TFTs."

Audio Settings

To set up the audio subsystem, connect the microphone, headset, or speakers to the appropriate ports on the card or motherboard. Use the Sound applet in Control Panel or Windows Settings to test the hardware and configure settings.

The card's circuitry and cabling introduce some degree of noise or distortion into the sampled audio. Noise levels are measured using ________________ and __________________

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) and Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR).

TFTs designed for use with PCs are usually of two types:

Twisted Nematic (TN)—has a good refresh rate and response time. Images are displayed faster in a shorter period. In-Plane Switching (IPS)—the different arrangement of the cells delivers better color reproduction at a wider range of viewing angles (especially vertical angles). The trade-off is slightly worse response times that can lead to motion blur and trails.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU): def:

Type of microprocessor used on dedicated video adapter cards or within a CPU with integrated graphics capability.

Low quality cable may only be able to support 800x600. The cable may be marketed with the highest resolution it can support—

UXGA (1600x1200), for instance.

VR Headsets

VR headset: A headset worn like goggles to interact with images displayed in the headset. •Sensory input from computer applications. •Handheld controllers for moving your avatar and interacting with the VR environment.

The VGA standard is long obsolete but was further developed by the-

Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) as Super VGA (SVGA).

Each lane can be given a different data rate. In v1.2 of the standard, each lane can be allocated-

a 1.62, 2.7, or 5.4 Gbps data rate.

(LCD Backlights) A TFT panel must be illuminated to produce a clear image. In cheaper displays, the backlight is-

a Cold Cathode Fluorescent (CCFL) bulb.

Multiple Displays: A computer can be set up to use two (or more) display devices. In terms of hardware, the PC requires-

a graphics adapter with multiple display ports, multiple graphics adapters, or monitors with input and output DisplayPort or Thunderbolt connectors for daisy-chaining.

(Digital Projectors) A video projector is: (def)

a large format display, suitable for use in a presentation or at a meeting. The image is projected onto a screen or wall using a lens system. Some types of projectors are portable; others are fixed in place.

Contrast ratio is-

a measure of luminance of white compared to black.

Higher end sound cards will include a Sony/Phillips Digital Interface (S/PDIF) jack. S/PDIF can either use coax cabling with Radio Corporation of America (RCA) connectors (or phono connectors) or fiber optic cabling and connectors, which can either be in-

a square form factor (TOSLINK) or use 3.5mm jacks. S/PDIF is most often used to carry digital data for surround-sound speaker systems.

As well as playing sound via speakers, a card supporting Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) functions can be used to control MIDI equipment (such as-

a synthesizer or drum machine).

A CRT requires-

an analog signal from the display adapter to form the picture. CRTs are also very bulky.

A privacy filter prevents

anyone but the user from reading the screen. A privacy filter restricts the viewing angle to the person directly in front of the screen.

In most modern TFTs, the backlight is provided by an-

array of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) rather than a fluorescent bulb.

Many digital monitors can take an incoming analog video signal but need to convert it

back to digital (so the signal is being converted from digital to analog and then from analog back to digital).

A basic sound chip may be provided as part of the motherboard chipset, but-

better quality audio functions can be provided as a PCI or PCIe expansion card. Pro-level cards may also feature onboard memory, flash memory storing sound samples (wavetables), and multiple jacks for different input sources.

When using a PC to record music, the acoustic performance of components such as the hard drive and fans is very important, so as not to-

cause interference with analog inputs. Locate an internal sound card in the slot farthest from any other components.

In LCD, Each pixel is addressed by a transistor to vary the intensity of each cell, therefore-

creating the gamut (range of colors) that the display can generate.

Note: The adapter and monitors must support Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to use-

daisy chaining. To set up the chain, connect the first cable from the graphics adapter port to the "IN" port on the first monitor. Connect a second cable from the "OUT" port on the first monitor to the "IN" port on the second monitor.

Each pixel can be a-

different color.

TFTs are driven by a-

digital signal, but many older models come with analog-digital converters so they can accept an analog signal from an interface such as Video Graphics Array (VGA).

Flat panels use-

digital signaling, are much thinner and lighter, and use less power than CRTs.

A projector rated at 6000 lumens would be able to-

display a clear image in a sunlit room. Do note that the larger the image, the greater the projecting power needs to be to maintain the same image clarity.

Higher ratios (above 600:1) indicate that

displays can display "true blacks" and better saturated (more intense) colors.

DisplayPort supports both copper and-

fiber-optic cabling.

The DSP also provides functions-

for playing digital sound (synthesis) and driving MIDI compatible devices.

VR is mostly used for-

games but has other obvious applications for meetings and social networking that is likely to see it more widely adopted in business networks in the next few years.

Each picture element (pixel) in a color LCD comprises cells (or subpixels) with filters to-

generate the three additive primary colors (RGB, or red, green, and blue).

When evaluating projectors, the critical performance factor is-

illuminance or light projecting power rather than luminance/brightness.

A matte coating may be superficially less impressive but-

is generally better suited to office work.

TFT displays use digital signals, but some support-

legacy analog signals, too.

Note: Having audio hardware built into a computer may be susceptible to noise from other internal components when using recording functionality. Consequently,-

most audio interfaces designed for professional use are now external units connected via USB or Thunderbolt.

Viewing angle and privacy filters. The image on a flat panel darkens and distorts to some degree if-

not viewed straight on. Although this is not an issue for desktop use, it can affect use of the screen for viewing movies or as a presentation device.As mentioned a few pages back, IPS-type flat panels perform better at wide angles than TN-type panels.

If the refresh rate is not high enough (below about 70 Hz), there will be a-

noticeable flicker as the image is redrawn. This can cause eyestrain and headache. TFTs are not refreshed in the same way and do not suffer from flicker, but the refresh rate in a TFT still has an impact on the quality of the image (in particular, how smoothly objects in motion are displayed).

ow-end graphics adapters are likely to be included with the motherboard chipset or as part of the CPU itself. This is also referred to as an-

onboard adapter or onboard graphics. If a computer is to be used for 3D gaming, Computer Aided Design (CAD), or digital artwork, a better quality adapter is required. This can be installed as an add-on card via a PCIe slot. Most graphics adapters are based on chipsets by ATI/AMD (Radeon chipset), nVIDIA (GeForce and nForce chipsets), SiS, VIA, and Intel.

THD is measured as a-

percentage and SNR in decibels (dB). For both, smaller values represent better performance.

In the last decade or so, flat panel displays have-

replaced CRTs.

Sound Recording Equipment: To record an analog sound wave, the sound card must-

sample the wave. The sampler divides the wave up into a number of slices per second (sampling rate) and records information about each slice (resolution). The higher the sampling rate (measured in Kilohertz [KHz]) and resolution (measured in bits), the better the representation of the source is.

The width and speed of the memory bus between the graphics RAM and GPU are also important. Low end cards use-

shared memory (that is, the adapter uses the system RAM). Some cards may use a mix of dedicated and shared memory.

Better quality cables (generally speaking, the thicker the better) use-

shielded coaxial wiring and support longer lengths at better resolutions.

As with graphics cards, sound cards are designed to support-

sound APIs.

Audio playback is achieved via-

speakers or headphones, which are connected to the sound card via an analog or digital audio jack.

The 15-pin Video Graphics Array (VGA) port (HD15F/DE-15) was the-

standard analog video interface for PC devices for a very long time. Up until a few years ago, even new video cards and monitors usually included it, though it is starting to be phased out completely now.

The screws very frequently become-

stuck, or the housing bolt comes undone when you try to unscrew the connector.

Most VGA cable does not exceed 5m, but a good quality cable might be able to support-

sub-HD resolutions at lengths of up to 30m.

There are many different types of video connectors and cabling. An individual model of any one video card, monitor, or projector will often-

support more than one cable type.

There are two main types of VR headsets:

tethered VR headsets are self-contained devices, whereas mobile VR headsets are designed to use a specific smartphone model (or range of models) to provide the display.

Resolutions for modern display systems use some variant of-

the XGA "standard" (in fact, these are labels rather than standards) or a High Definition (HD) resolution, similar to that found on consumer electronics and media.

Antiglare covers are available if-

the ambient lighting causes problems with the display.

The total number of colors supported in the image is referred to as-

the color depth (or bit depth). Early (very early) computer monitors had limited color support, such as 8-bit (256 colors).

A video card (the component that generates the screen image) can support a number of resolutions (limited by the card's bandwidth; higher resolutions require more data). If the resolution set is greater than the monitor's maximum resolution, then-

the display will be unstable or will not show anything.

The refresh rate needs to be synched to-

the frame rate. For example, a display device with a 120 Hz refresh rate displays a 30 fps video stream at a ratio of 4:1. Standard TFTs have a refresh rate of 60 Hz with more expensive models featuring 120 or 240 Hz.

The video subsystem is-

the main type of output provided with a PC. Graphics output is provided by some sort of display unit or monitor plus a video card, which generates the signals to drive the monitor.

Resolution and analog versus digital output. Resolution is

the number of pixels (picture elements) used to create the image. Resolution is quoted as the number of horizontal and vertical pixels (for example, if the resolution is 640x480, the image is 640 pixels wide by 480 pixels high).

Whereas refresh rate is the number of times the display device updates the display (regardless of whether the image is changed or not), the frame rate is-

the number of times the image in a video stream changes per second.

Luminance is-

the perceived brightness of a display screen, measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m²).

IBM created Video Graphics Array (VGA) as a standard for-

the resolution and color depth of computer displays.

Historically, computer monitors used-

the same sort of cathode ray tube (CRT) technology as consumer television sets.

The video card (or graphics adapter) generates-

the signal to send to the monitor or projector. The video card may make use of the system CPU and memory, but most add-in cards are highly sophisticated pieces of equipment, essentially computers in their own right. Be aware that the terms video, graphics, and display are used interchangeably to refer to these adapters (or cards).

Refresh rate. In an analog device, refresh rate is-

the speed at which the CRT redraws the image, measured in hertz (Hz).

Response rate is-

the time taken for a pixel to change color, measured in milliseconds (ms).

Screen size and aspect ratio. For flat panels, the quoted screen size is always-

the viewable area, measured diagonally. Most screens are around 20" but premium models are available up to 30."

Aspect ratio is-

the width of the screen divided by the height. Flat panels are either 4:3 or widescreen (16:9 or 16:10), with widescreen models now dominating the market.

Output devices are-

those that transmit information from the computer system to the user, whether as video/graphics (display), audio (speakers), or hard copy (printer).

A 5.1 digital system (Dolby Digital or Digital Theatre System [DTS]) has-

three front center, left, and right speakers, two left and right rear speakers, and a subwoofer for bass sounds.

A 7.1 system (Dolby Digital Plus or DTS-HD) has-

two extra side speakers. A speaker system will usually have controls for adjusting volume, bass, and treble plus optionally EQ or preset sound effects.

The interface is analog, meaning that it carries a continuous,-

variable signal for Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) component video.

HDMI supports both-

video and audio digital streams, plus remote control (CEC) and digital content protection (HDCP).

The High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is the most-

widely used graphic device interface. It is ubiquitous on consumer electronics, such as televisions and Blu-ray players, as well as computer equipment.

Configuration Tools for Display Devices

•Automatic detection and installation via Plug-and-Play. If the computer has an onboard adapter, you may need to disable it via the system setup (BIOS) program after installing an add-on card. In some cases though, the utility supplied with the adapter will support selecting the default input and specifying use of a particular adapter for a particular task or process. Settings such as resolution, etc. •OS tools like Windows Settings or Control Panel. •Vendor configuration utility.

What DVIs support what kind of video?

•DVI-A: analog only •DVI-D: digital only •DVI-I: analog and digital

•Windows display modes:

•Duplicated display. •Extended display. •Show only on 1/2.

Thunderbolt and USB-C Ports and Connectors

•Emerging trend is to use USB-C. •Can carry HDMI and DisplayPort signaling, but most often seen in use with Thunderbolt 3.

Headsets

•Headsets contain headphones and a microphone. •Used for VoIP calls, and meeting and conferencing applications. •Connections are usually USB or wireless (Bluetooth).

Common Display Issues

•No image is displayed on the monitor. •Image is dim. •Image flickers or is distorted. •Images have low resolution or color depth. •Images and icons are oversized. •Incorrect color patterns. •Dead pixels. •Image is burned into the monitor. •Unexpected objects or patterns appear on the monitor. •Overheating. •Protected content.

DisplayPort data transfer:

•Packetized data transfer. •Similar to PCIe. •Lanes can have different data rates.

Webcam facts

•Records video and audio. •Relatively low quality video. •Used for online video conferences, website feeds, and surveillance. •Integrated or external peripheral.

Digital cameras

•Still pictures and video recording. •Images stored on flash memory cards. •Photo properties adjusted via software. •No viewfinder. •Available in many models. •Primary quality metric is resolution (megapixels).

MIDI Equipment

•Synthesizers and electronic drum sets. •Information about a sound is shared, not the sound itself. •Sample •Volume •Pitch •Tempo •MIDI devices use 5-pin DIN connectors or USB connectors.

What are the 4 types of HDMI connectors?

•Type A 19-pin •Type B 29-pin for dual link (less commonly used) •Type C Mini HDMI •Type D Micro HDMI