LCD monitors + Fluxbox = bulbs dont turn off on powersave

wakeboarder3780 · 01-14-2007, 11:44 AM

I accidentally posted this in the hardware category and then realized it's not a hardware issue. My appologies. Here's the issue:

I am using Slack 10.2 with Fluxbox as my window manager. For some reason when the monitors are supposed to go into powersave mode, the bulbs don't actually turn off. Instead, they go black, but the bulbs are still on, and it keeps me up at night, so I have to manually shut them off.
These same monitors do actually shut off in powersave mode in Windoze, and I would like to get the same activity in linux. If this doesn't make sense here is another way of saying it:

In an lcd monitor, there are bulbs that must be on to display a picture.

Case1 windows:
Powersave initiates, the light that display TURN OFF, and displays NO picture (equivalent to turning off the monitors, but of course it comes back on just by moving the mouse instead of manually turning both on).

Case2 Linux:
Powersave initiates, the light that displays STAYS ON, and displays a BLACK picture.

The reason it matters to me is that it saves the life of the monitor. I realize I could just shut off the monitor but I don't know everytime i walk away from my computer how long I will be away. That's why powersave was made in the first place. If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know.

Eternal_Newbie · 01-14-2007, 12:01 PM

Does the monitor section in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf should look anything like this?

Code:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "My Monitor"
    HorizSync   31.5-60.0
    VertRefresh 60-70
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

If you are missing the DPMS line, try inserting it and see what happens.

hitest · 01-14-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboarder3780

I accidentally posted this in the hardware category and then realized it's not a hardware issue. My appologies. Here's the issue:

I am using Slack 10.2 with Fluxbox as my window manager. For some reason when the monitors are supposed to go into powersave mode, the bulbs don't actually turn off. Instead, they go black, but the bulbs are still on, and it keeps me up at night, so I have to manually shut them off.
These same monitors do actually shut off in powersave mode in Windoze, and I would like to get the same activity in linux. If this doesn't make sense here is another way of saying it:

In an lcd monitor, there are bulbs that must be on to display a picture.

Case1 windows:
Powersave initiates, the light that display TURN OFF, and displays NO picture (equivalent to turning off the monitors, but of course it comes back on just by moving the mouse instead of manually turning both on).Case2 Linux:
Powersave initiates, the light that displays STAYS ON, and displays a BLACK picture.

The reason it matters to me is that it saves the life of the monitor. I realize I could just shut off the monitor but I don't know everytime i walk away from my computer how long I will be away. That's why powersave was made in the first place. If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know.

As root navigate to /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Add Option "dpms" to your monitor section. Save and then your monitor will go into power save. This works with the 2.6.13 kernel in Slackware 10.2, not sure if it works with the stock 2.4xx kernel.
It works for me in Slackware 11 using 2.6.17.13 and 2.6.18. Here's a copy of my monitor section in xorg.conf. Good luck:-)

Code:

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier  "My Monitor"

# HorizSync is in kHz unless units are specified.
# HorizSync may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    HorizSync   31.5, 35.15, 35.5

#    HorizSync	30-64         # multisync
#    HorizSync	31.5, 35.2    # multiple fixed sync frequencies
#    HorizSync	15-25, 30-50  # multiple ranges of sync frequencies

# VertRefresh is in Hz unless units are specified.
# VertRefresh may be a comma separated list of discrete values, or a
# comma separated list of ranges of values.
# NOTE: THE VALUES HERE ARE EXAMPLES ONLY.  REFER TO YOUR MONITOR'S
# USER MANUAL FOR THE CORRECT NUMBERS.

    VertRefresh 40-150
    Option "dpms"

EndSection

mattydee · 01-14-2007, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternal_Newbie

Does the monitor section in your /etc/X11/xorg.conf should look anything like this?

Code:

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "My Monitor"
    HorizSync   31.5-60.0
    VertRefresh 60-70
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

If you are missing the DPMS line, try inserting it and see what happens.

Thanks!
That worked for me.

H_TeXMeX_H · 01-14-2007, 03:58 PM

Thanks for bringing this up, I was wondering about this but never cared enough to ask, investigate, bring it up, etc.

wakeboarder3780 · 01-14-2007, 05:44 PM

Added that line for both my monitors, worked great. Also, is there anyway to modify how long it takes to go to powersave, not that its that important. I was just kind of wondering.

This is a perfect example of why I continue using slackware. IMO, slackware is one of the most difficult distros to pick up and use. I keep using it because of the awesome support (and it rocks). I have never had a problem with slackware that I couldn't fix by asking you guys. Thanks for the continuous awesome support, everyone.

H_TeXMeX_H · 01-14-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboarder3780

Added that line for both my monitors, worked great. Also, is there anyway to modify how long it takes to go to powersave, not that its that important. I was just kind of wondering.

I think that's in /etc/rc.d/rc.M

Code:

# Screen blanks after 15 minutes idle time, and powers down in one hour
# if the kernel supports APM or ACPI power management:
/bin/setterm -blank 15 -powersave powerdown -powerdown 60

MS3FGX · 01-15-2007, 03:50 AM

As I understand it the line in rc.m is for the console itself, not necessarily X.

To set the times in X, I have used the options "StandbyTime" and "OffTime". For example, I have this in my xorg.conf "ServerLayout" section:

Code:

Option "StandbyTime" "10"
Option "OffTime" "30"