diff --git a/src/clock.py b/src/clock.py
index 0847d49e..202ebc69 100644
--- a/src/clock.py
+++ b/src/clock.py
@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ class Clock:
         self.timezone = self._get_timezone()
         self.last_time = None
         self.last_date = None
-        # Colors for different elements - using brighter colors
+        # Colors for different elements - using maximum brightness colors
         self.COLORS = {
-            'time': (255, 255, 255),  # Bright white for time
-            'ampm': (200, 200, 255),  # Light blue for AM/PM
-            'date': (255, 200, 200)   # Light red for date
+            'time': (255, 255, 255),  # Pure white for time
+            'ampm': (255, 255, 0),    # Bright yellow for AM/PM
+            'date': (255, 160, 0)     # Orange for date
         }
 
     def _get_timezone(self) -> pytz.timezone:
@@ -111,18 +111,18 @@ class Clock:
             # Draw time (large, centered, near top)
             self.display_manager.draw_text(
                 time_str,
-                y=2,  # Slightly higher
+                y=1,  # Move to top
                 color=self.COLORS['time'],
                 small_font=False
             )
             
             # Draw AM/PM (small, next to time)
             time_width = self.display_manager.font.getlength(time_str)
-            ampm_x = (display_width + time_width) // 2 + 1  # Closer to time
+            ampm_x = (display_width + time_width) // 2 + 1
             self.display_manager.draw_text(
                 ampm,
                 x=ampm_x,
-                y=4,  # Align better with time
+                y=3,  # Align with time
                 color=self.COLORS['ampm'],
                 small_font=True
             )
@@ -130,14 +130,11 @@ class Clock:
             # Draw date (small, centered below time)
             self.display_manager.draw_text(
                 date_str,
-                y=display_height - 8,  # Slightly higher from bottom
+                y=display_height - 7,  # Move up slightly
                 color=self.COLORS['date'],
                 small_font=True
             )
             
-            # Update display
-            self.display_manager.update_display()
-            
             # Update cache
             self.last_time = time_str
             self.last_date = date_str
diff --git a/src/display_manager.py b/src/display_manager.py
index 2f348885..9e7191ea 100644
--- a/src/display_manager.py
+++ b/src/display_manager.py
@@ -36,21 +36,20 @@ class DisplayManager:
         options.parallel = hardware_config.get('parallel', 1)
         options.hardware_mapping = hardware_config.get('hardware_mapping', 'adafruit-hat-pwm')
         
-        # Increase brightness and optimize display quality
-        options.brightness = hardware_config.get('brightness', 100)  # Maximum brightness
-        options.pwm_bits = hardware_config.get('pwm_bits', 11)  # Maximum color depth
-        options.pwm_lsb_nanoseconds = hardware_config.get('pwm_lsb_nanoseconds', 130)
-        options.led_rgb_sequence = hardware_config.get('led_rgb_sequence', 'RGB')
+        # Optimize display settings for maximum visibility
+        options.brightness = 100  # Maximum brightness
+        options.pwm_bits = 11  # Maximum color depth
+        options.pwm_lsb_nanoseconds = 130
+        options.led_rgb_sequence = 'RGB'
         options.pixel_mapper_config = hardware_config.get('pixel_mapper_config', '')
-        options.row_address_type = hardware_config.get('row_addr_type', 0)
-        options.multiplexing = hardware_config.get('multiplexing', 0)
+        options.row_address_type = 0
+        options.multiplexing = 0
         options.disable_hardware_pulsing = True  # Reduce flickering
         options.show_refresh_rate = False
-        options.limit_refresh_rate_hz = hardware_config.get('limit_refresh_rate_hz', 120)  # Higher refresh rate
+        options.limit_refresh_rate_hz = 120  # Higher refresh rate
         
-        # Runtime configuration
-        runtime_config = self.config.get('runtime', {})
-        options.gpio_slowdown = runtime_config.get('gpio_slowdown', 1)  # Reduce slowdown
+        # Minimal GPIO slowdown for better performance
+        options.gpio_slowdown = 1
         
         # Initialize the matrix
         self.matrix = RGBMatrix(options=options)
@@ -153,6 +152,9 @@ class DisplayManager:
         
         # Draw main text
         self.draw.text((x, y), text, font=font, fill=color)
+        
+        # Update the display
+        self.update_display()
 
     def draw_scrolling_text(self, text: str, scroll_position: int, force_clear: bool = False) -> None:
         """Draw scrolling text on the display."""