LCD monitors: better to turn off or use screensaver?

Maurice2 · 09-19-2005, 04:15 PM

I turn on my computer in the morning and turn it off at night.

On several occasions during the day I am absent from my computer for 10 minutes or more (often a few hours). Is it better -- for the monitor -- to automatically turn itself off after 10 minutes (and be turned back on when I move the mouse) or for a screensaver to kick in (which means that the monitor will remain on all day)?

Many thanks.

tweaker · 09-19-2005, 04:28 PM

Doesn't really matter in the long run.

4W4K3 · 09-19-2005, 04:40 PM

Since it's an LCD, I would imagine leaving it on and using the screensaver is fine. It will save "wear and tear" on your power button lol

If it was a CRT, I would recommend turning it off. Simply because CRT's give off more heat and if you leave it on for hours and hours it can act as an oven for your room.

Both my parents set a time in "Power" options for the monitor to shut off, i think 20 mins? Hasn't affected there LCD's.

Maurice2 · 09-19-2005, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4W4K3

Since it's an LCD, I would imagine leaving it on and using the screensaver is fine. It will save "wear and tear" on your power button

What about the backlight? Does it wear out more quickly if you leave the monitor on all day or if you turn the monitor on and off (not by using the power button but by programming the computer to turn it off) several times during the day?

4W4K3 · 09-19-2005, 11:14 PM

As someone else staed in another thread, a typical LCD screen's life expectancy can be 24/7 for 2+ years. If you plan on keeping it for more than that then maybe turning it off is good.

Also, burning in an image (while less likely with an LCD), can still occur if the same image is on the screen for days on end or longer. So having the computer auto-shut off might also be good.

When the computer auto-shuts of the monitor, it doesn't literally cut the power to it. If it did, you'd have to hit the power button again. All it does is stop the image from being displayed, the LCD itself is still getting power.

Maurice2 · 09-20-2005, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4W4K3

When the computer auto-shuts of the monitor, it doesn't literally cut the power to it. If it did, you'd have to hit the power button again. All it does is stop the image from being displayed, the LCD itself is still getting power.

Do you mean to say that the monitor wears out equally whether a screensaver is on or the monitor is auto-shut by the monitor -- say over a period of several hours? But when the monitor is auto-shut by the computer, the pixels are not illuminated and the backlight is not on: the monitor in fact is in "Sleep Mode." So in my view it cannot possibly wear out as much: only the power mechanism is affected. Please explain.

4W4K3 · 09-20-2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maurice2

Do you mean to say that the monitor wears out equally whether a screensaver is on or the monitor is auto-shut by the monitor -- say over a period of several hours? But when the monitor is auto-shut by the computer, the pixels are not illuminated and the backlight is not on: the monitor in fact is in "Sleep Mode." So in my view it cannot possibly wear out as much: only the power mechanism is affected. Please explain.

Definelty not equal, but there is somewhat of a difference. What i mean is, while in sleep mode, the monitor is still getting power, but when powered off, it gets no power whatesoever. so while there is still no image being displayed through the LCD, sleep mode will still be sending power to your monitor.

if you want the absolutely most life out of the monitor as a whole, shut it off.
if you just want to save the screen, sleep mode is fine.

either way, the screen is off...

(im not sure i said anything about a screen saver, i was talking about sleep mode and completely off)

09-19-2005, 04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Maurice2 New Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Manhattan, NYC Posts: 15	LCD monitors: better to turn off or use screensaver? I turn on my computer in the morning and turn it off at night. On several occasions during the day I am absent from my computer for 10 minutes or more (often a few hours). Is it better -- for the monitor -- to automatically turn itself off after 10 minutes (and be turned back on when I move the mouse) or for a screensaver to kick in (which means that the monitor will remain on all day)? Many thanks. Last edited by Maurice2; 09-19-2005 at 04:28 PM.

09-19-2005, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
tweaker Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 30 Posts: 2,954	Doesn't really matter in the long run. __________________ Posting and you - CF edition www.tweaker.se FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

09-19-2005, 04:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
4W4K3 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lewisville, TX Age: 20 Posts: 6,886	Since it's an LCD, I would imagine leaving it on and using the screensaver is fine. It will save "wear and tear" on your power button lol If it was a CRT, I would recommend turning it off. Simply because CRT's give off more heat and if you leave it on for hours and hours it can act as an oven for your room. Both my parents set a time in "Power" options for the monitor to shut off, i think 20 mins? Hasn't affected there LCD's. __________________ My Computer I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe. Can I eat your brain? FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

09-19-2005, 11:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
4W4K3 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lewisville, TX Age: 20 Posts: 6,886	As someone else staed in another thread, a typical LCD screen's life expectancy can be 24/7 for 2+ years. If you plan on keeping it for more than that then maybe turning it off is good. Also, burning in an image (while less likely with an LCD), can still occur if the same image is on the screen for days on end or longer. So having the computer auto-shut off might also be good. When the computer auto-shuts of the monitor, it doesn't literally cut the power to it. If it did, you'd have to hit the power button again. All it does is stop the image from being displayed, the LCD itself is still getting power. __________________ My Computer I choose to believe what I was programmed to believe. Can I eat your brain? FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358

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