LCD Flat Panel: preserving the backlight

[Chewbaccax]

OK, I recently got a sweet deal on an Iiyama flat panel, which rocks for web browsing and stuff like that but pretty much sucks for most games (not enough contrast and noticable motion blur). Anyway, I was just hoping someone could enlighten me about how to preserve the backlight, since it seems to be the component most likely to fail (knock on wood). Is it better for the backlight to simply leave it on all the time and use a screen blanking screensaver, or turn it off whenever its not in use and use a power saving screensaver that shuts it off? I've heard conflicting views about this for CRTs, and I just wanted to know what's best for LCDs.

 

[Chewbaccax]

Anyone?

 

[jaywallen]

The backlight is preserved by using Power Management features to shut it off, or just by powering it off manually when it's not in use. Using a blanking screensaver does nothing whatsoever to preserve the backlight. The backlight's life is measured in total time of operation, not in power on/off cycles, so there's no reason to not turn it off.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Chewbaccax]

Thanks for the response, that is kind of what I suspected. Its really too bad that flat panels don't handle games better. As it is, I think I'll be switching to a dual monitor setup so I can use my CRT monitor for games.

 

[jaywallen]

I love using my flat panel for games, but then again, I play slow games -- as befits an old guy. Are you saying that FPS games are not working well on that panel? I only play stuff like Myst and Riven and Zork, on the rare occasions when I do play. Movies play back very well on the SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) unit.



Anyway, hope it all works out well for you, and that you enjoy the toys. That's what it's all about!

Regards,
Jim