Ways to improve display quality

The appearance of your computer's display can be influenced by several factors. The monitor you use and its settings, how Windows is configured, and how you use your computer can all have an effect on display quality.

To ensure that your monitor is calibrated correctly, check the instructions that came with your monitor. To learn how to configure Windows display settings, see Getting the best display on your monitor.

Trying to run too many programs at the same time can cause display problems such as jittery or choppy video. If you notice erratic or reduced visual performance on your computer, try one or more of the actions described below.

 Reduce the number of open programs or windows

The more programs you have open, the more system resources Windows needs. Try closing programs that you're not currently using, or reducing the window size.

 Avoid running too many graphics-intensive programs at the same time

Even if you have only a few programs running, some programs (such as video-editing programs) and features (such as high-definition television) use a lot of system resources. Running too many of these programs at the same time puts a strain on system resources and might degrade display quality or make video appear jittery or disconnected.

 Reduce your monitor's resolution

On some computers, very high resolutions require a lot of system resources to display properly. If you notice problems at high resolutions, try lowering the resolution until the problems disappear.

1. Click to open Display.
2. In the left pane, click Adjust resolution.
3. In the Resolution list, click the resolution you want, and then click Apply.

For more information, see Change screen resolution.

 Turn off automatic resizing in programs that aren't designed for high–DPI display

If you set the dots per inch (DPI) higher than 96, and you're running the Aero desktop experience, the text and other items on the screen might appear blurry in some programs that aren't designed for high–DPI display. To avoid this problem, follow these steps:

To make text and on-screen items clearer in programs that aren't designed for high DPI

1. Click to open Display.
2. In the left pane, click Set custom text size (DPI).  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. In the Custom DPI Setting dialog box, select the Use Windows XP style DPI scaling check box, and then click OK.

For more information, see Make the text on your screen larger or smaller.

 Upgrade to a more powerful video card

A computer's video card contains dedicated memory that it uses to display graphics. The more memory the card has, the better the quality. If your computer's display isn't as good as you want it to be, consider upgrading to a faster video card.