Tips on How To Take Care of Your Computer's Monitor
A computer's monitor is our window into the digital world. Through it, we can watch videos from YouTube or any of the streaming services available like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. We also play video games, work, and even create art through a computer's monitor. You might even be reading this using your computer monitor now.
However, a computer monitor can be as costly as the computer itself. And when a monitor doesn't display anything, you'll know something along the line went wrong.
A monitor that doesn't display anything can mean many things. These things include a broken motherboard, a broken cable or wire, and a broken monitor.
Here are some tips for you to keep in mind so that the last instance won't happen to you for a long time.
Keeping the Monitor Clean
Your monitor is one of the computer's hardware parts that is unfortunately exposed to the elements, and as such, it is vulnerable to dust, dirt, fingerprints, and other things that can affect monitor performance. If a monitor is not cleaned regularly, it could display a distorted image rather than a clear one, making text difficult to read.
The dirt and dust on a monitor could also cause permanent damage due to overheating.
Regardless of what type of monitor, whether it is an LCD or LED-screen monitor, you have to clean it. To do so, start with turning off your monitor and unplugging it. Doing so will let your monitor cool down.
After the monitor has cooled down, get a dry microfiber cloth and wipe your monitor down. According to PC Gamer, the cloth is ideal for the job due to it being able to attract dust and absorb oils. It also won't damage or scratch your screen because it is soft and smooth.
Never moisten the cloth with alcohol as it is a corrosive substance. If you want to get the cloth wet, use distilled water or mix up a cleaning solution of 50% distilled water and 50% white household vinegar.
Keep in mind to do wide wipes as a windshield wiper does, and not a circular motion like people do when buffing a car.
Use a Power Surge Protector
As with all electronics, a monitor can only do so much when it is put through a power surge or spike. According to Easy Tech Junkie, power surges are unpredictable and can happen due to lightning strikes, power outages, and energy spikes from power companies.
When unprotected, a monitor could go belly up because of fried capacitors or wires due to the surge overloading your monitor's circuits.
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To protect the monitor from such an unpredictable opponent, a surge protector is a must. It serves as a "middle man" between the power outlet and your monitor. This device "absorbs" the excess power while keeping your monitor powered up and functioning without the fear of it breaking.
Provide Proper Ventilation to the Monitor
A monitor, just like any other electronic, can overheat. And so, when a monitor is subjected to too high a temperature, it can be permanently damaged.
That is why HP advises people to keep the slots and openings of a computer's monitor cabinet open for ventilation and should never be blocked or covered. Needless to say, shoving or pushing things into these slots and openings is not a good idea.
Although HP's tips are meant for LCD monitors, they are still applicable to LED monitors.
Check the Connections
As a monitor is an exposed part of the computer's hardware, it would need a power cable to turn it on, and another cable, usually an HDMI or VGA cable so the computer can send a visual output to the monitor, enabling it to function as intended.
However, these cables can go loose over time due to the monitor and system unit being moved too much. As such, checking the cables if they are properly plugged can save you a lot of trouble as dust, dirt, and other substances can enter the holes and sockets that a cable would've covered otherwise.
LinkedIn also advises people to make sure that the cable between the monitor and the video card is firmly attached at each end and is not crimped or pinched. A bad cable can do as much damage as a loose one.
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