Dell PP24L manual Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate, Dual Independent Display Mode

Setting Display Resolution and Refresh Rate

To display a program at a specific resolution, both the graphics card and the display must support the program, and the necessary video drivers must be installed.

Before you change any of the default display settings, make a note of the default settings for future reference.

NOTE: Use only the Dell-installed video drivers, which are designed to offer the best performance with your Dell-installed operating system.

If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values.

1Click the Start button and click Control Panel.

2Under Pick a category, click Appearance and Themes.

3Under Pick a task..., click the area you want to change, or under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Display.

4In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab.

5Try different settings for Color quality and Screen resolution.

NOTE: As the resolution increases, icons and text appear smaller on the screen.

If the video resolution setting is higher than that supported by the display, the computer enters pan mode. In pan mode, the entire screen cannot be displayed at one time. For example, the taskbar that usually appears at the bottom of the desktop may no longer be visible. To view the rest of the screen, use the touch pad or track stick to pan up, down, left, and right.

NOTICE: You can damage an external monitor by using an unsupported refresh rate. Before adjusting the refresh rate on an external monitor, see the user’s guide for the monitor.

Dual Independent Display Mode

You can attach an external monitor or projector to your computer and use it as an extension of your display (known as "dual independent display" or "extended desktop" mode). This mode allows you to use both screens independently and drag objects from one screen to the other, effectively doubling the amount of viewable work space.

1Connect the external monitor, TV, or projector to the computer.

2Under Pick a category, click Appearance and Themes.

3Under Pick a task..., click the area you want to change, or under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Display.

4In the Display Properties window, click the Settings tab.

NOTE: If you choose a resolution or color palette that is higher than the display supports, the settings adjust automatically to the closest supported values. For more information, see your operating system documentation.

Using the Display 49