CRT Monitor Drivers

A CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube monitor driver is used by the monitor to interface with the Video Graphics card and operating system and provide full functionality for the monitor being used. Most high end CRT monitors require the driver to be installed in order to use its full features such as color settings, resolution and color bit depth.

When you first start your system after a fresh install or after replacing the monitor, you may find that you are not be able to adjust the video settings to a desired resolution or color setting. If this is the case then you will need to load the CRT monitor driver in order to enjoy the full benefit of your CRT monitors capabilities. Even though there are generic monitor drivers which some operating systems may load, they will usually allow fewer settings than what your monitor may support. You will also find the more advanced features of your monitor are non-functional.

The driver for your monitor provides many functions which it is important to be aware of. One of the most overlooked features, which can affect the quality of the image, is the frequency setting. A frequency setting that is set too high can lead to ghosting, poor or blurry image, and the rapid wear out of the monitor itself. Generally monitor frequencies should be set in the 60 to 90 Hertz range, depending on the monitor. Most CRT monitor drivers feature some form of color correction ability. Over time a CRT may start having a yellow cast to the screen. Adjustment of the screen is usually a simple matter of restoring it to factory settings, then adjusting the gamma and color to the desired level.

CRT monitors are also subject to interference by magnetic or electrical fields. You would want to keep your system speakers and other electronics at least a foot away from the monitor itself. A distorted image or colored blotches at the edges of the screen can be signs that there is something that is interfering with the monitor. All monitors have a degaussing circuit which should be used regularly to help prevent interference.

Generally monitor drivers are very robust, in that they rarely have resource or system conflicts with the other drivers in your system. One exception would be with the video card. The CRT driver has to work in tandem with the video card driver in order for you to get the full graphics capability of your system.

Trouble shooting a monitor driver problem is fairly straightforward. Depending on the issue, you would first want to check for any hardware problem, such as a loose cable, Physical monitor settings such as the brightness and contrast, or interference. If the hardware is good, then you would want to uninstall then reinstall the driver to see if that corrects the issue. Next you would want to check for updated drivers for both your video card and your monitor, as it is usually a conflict with the card that causes a majority of monitor driver problems.