The Role of the Driver

Your display consists of three basic elements:

1. The monitor: The big "TV" screen you're looking at.

2. The Graphics Card: That card, mounted inside your computer, with a plug or two sticking out the back. Your monitor is plugged into it.

3. The Driver: The driver is the software interface between your monitor and video card. Drivers are upgraded occasionally by the manufacturer, and are provided for free download by both monitor vendors and graphics card vendors.

To get the most out of your hardware (monitor and card), you need the driver that was made for it. A generic driver may work, but a driver made specifically for your monitor and card combination will make the best use of your hardware's features.

What specific hardware do you have?

What's under the hood?

1. Identify the Monitor Make and Model

The monitor manufacturer may not be listed directly on the monitor (e.g the monitor may have "Intergraph" printed on the front, but the manufacturer may be Panasonic). A web search based on the numbers on the back of the monitor and the name listed on the front, with a bit of effort, should turn up the actual make and model of your monitor.

2. Identify the Graphics Card

Right-click on “My Computer” icon, then select “Manage”. Select “System Tools" and look for something like "Device Manager/Display Adapters". The card will be listed. Mine is an "NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 Ultra"

3. Get the Right Driver

Using the information you just collected about your monitor and graphics card, search online for the current driver that is appropriate for your specific combination. The hardware manufacturer's site is a good place to start.

4. Install It

Access driver information through the "Display Properties" panel: right-click the desktop, select "Properties", then the "Settings" tab. Click "Advanced"; at this point, the menu layout and available features will vary, according to your current driver. Look for a tab or button referring to the monitor and/or driver. After a few clicks, you should be able to find information about your current driver, and how to install a new one.

Follow the steps for installing the new driver. You may need to reboot.