AmigaOS Manual: Workbench Monitors

There are many different types of monitors that you can use with your Amiga. Because of the numerous options involved, it can sometimes be difficult to find the optimum graphics configuration for the software and monitor you are using. This chapter describes the options and provides additional information about monitors and video modes that you need to know to take advantage of your Amiga's superior graphics capability. In particular this chapter includes information about:

• Your video system
• Monitor drivers
• Choosing a monitor
• Scan rates
• Screen display modes
• Screen centering and overscan
• Working with the AGA chip set
• Mode promotion

Your Video System

Your video system consists of one hardware and two software elements that work together to produce the image you see on the screen. These are:

• The monitor.
• The monitor driver, which is the Amiga software that manages the basic communication between the monitor and the computer.
• The display mode - a set of specific parameters supplied by driver - that controls the actual characteristics of an Amiga screen. These characteristics include the number of displayable colors, the available scan rates, and resolution.

The hierarchical relationship among these elements is illustrated in Figure 7-1.

Video System Hierarchy

For each type of monitor, you can select more than one driver and, within a driver, more than one display mode. You must, however, ensure that your selections are compatible. We strongly recommend that you read this chapter through completely before setting up or purchasing a monitor to use with your new Amiga.